Yes, it does! Moreover, because the center of mass is so far behind the rear axle, its effect is amplified. So, if counterbalancing the FEL on flat ground, the 850 lb. of that brush hog might have similar counterbalancing effect to 1200 lb. in a
ballast box tucked up tight to the 3-point.
However, with that offset length also comes additional peril, as it can be more prone to causing the tractor to go wheelie, or other counterintuitive side roll when climbing a hill at an angle. So, do be careful when using anything so far aft of the axle as counterbalance on hills or when swinging fast turns.
Impossible call from here. Consult your manual. You may choose to use a multiplier on the weight of the brush hog that's equivalent to brush hog center of mass (eg. 36 inches from pintels) relative to ballast box center of mass (eg. 10" from pintels), and then perhaps half that multiplier for safety margin.
Many here use implements for ballast, a box blade maybe being the most common, as they're heavy and don't stick out very far. Carrying it low helps maximize stability, and prevent walk-over if it ever does cause you to go wheelie. I prefer ballast boxes, because I'm often operating in tight quarters, and they're very compact.
