Stepped off, and it almost tipped over (lifting a snowmobile) !

[dragoneggs]

Man... I love this site. I could figure it out myself but I get a reply or three, before I do the math! :laughing:

 

[Sodo]

Yep I agree it's a good place to get good info, but does require a pretty good filter at times.

Concrete is about 18-20 pounds per gallon, and around 140-150 pounds per cubic foot. Bruce

I'm thinking of casting a concrete ballast with 3 chains hanging out. I have this notion that it should be VERY easy to attach to the 3-point. What if it attaches loosely, for super easy hookup? What are the drawbacks to a ballast that is loose? I suppose if you have to travel with it in 3rd gear that could be a problem, but I don't see that as likely for me.

The biggest problem I see is forgetting its there and backing into stuff with it, so shorter is appealing.

 

[RaydaKub]

YI'm thinking of casting a concrete ballast with 3 chains hanging out. I have this notion that it should be VERY easy to attach to the 3-point. What if it attaches loosely, for super easy hookup? What are the drawbacks to a ballast that is loose?

A couple things with this. First, it will sway back and forth, so if you do any turns it could throw you off a bit. That might not be an issue, but you should be aware of it. Second, depending on the length of the chains and how you do this, it will tend to hang to the downhill side of the tractor. It probably would still be uphill from the hinge point of the outside of the downhill wheel, but hanging offsides it will not provide as much benefit as if you could hold it on the uphill side.

 

[RaydaKub]

YI'm thinking of casting a concrete ballast with 3 chains hanging out. I have this notion that it should be VERY easy to attach to the 3-point. What if it attaches loosely, for super easy hookup? What are the drawbacks to a ballast that is loose?

A couple things with this. First, it will sway back and forth, so if you do any turns it could throw you off a bit. That might not be an issue, but you should be aware of it. Second, depending on the length of the chains and how you do this, it will tend to hang to the downhill side of the tractor. It probably would still be uphill from the hinge point of the outside of the downhill wheel, but hanging offsides it will not provide as much benefit as if you could hold it on the uphill side.

 

[Sodo]

Good points. I was thinking about "3 chainlinks" of slop.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay Sodo... I know you got some grief for stepping off and taking a three wheel picture. I thought I would join the club and submit myself to ridicule as well! :drink:



It's not quite like it appears... I was trying to pull a stump off of a big pile of clearing that I am whittling away on.

 

[Sodo]

Wow! Tell us how it feels to get a second lease on life.

 

[Xfaxman]

Here is mine with both rear wheels in the air!


The front axle is bolted to the frame, the rear axle pivots, so not scary at all.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Two things:

What's the loader capacity vs. the snowmobile weight?

Tell me you unbuckled your seatbelt before starting to exit your tractor.

 

[coobie]

Wow! Tell us how it feels to get a second lease on life.

The wife tells me it,s always funny until someone gets hurt.LOL

 

[Sodo]

What's the loader capacity vs. the snowmobile weight?

Loader is LA402 402kg x 2.2 = 885lbs, snowmobile 450lbs

Rarely use seatbelt (working on changing that!)

 

[Sodo]

What's the loader capacity vs. the snowmobile weight?

Loader is LA402 402kg x 2.2 = 885lbs, snowmobile 450lbs

Rarely use seatbelt (working on changing that!)

 

[dragoneggs]

Loader is LA402 402kg x 2.2 = 885lbs, snowmobile 450lbs

Rarely use seatbelt (working on changing that!)

yes... maybe hard to teach an old dog new tricks but I put my seatbelt on religously when mounting my tractor... can't say this is true for when in my car/truck but something tells me a tractor is something to take seriously.

 

[TerryR]

That's interesting. I've religiously used seatbelts in highway vehicles since I was 16 (that was in the days when you had to install them yourself in the used cars most of us drove) but I only use it on my tractor when I'm going to be working on a hillside.

Terry

 

[dragoneggs]

I guess it was just instilled in me here on TBN that you absolutely wear your seatbelt with ROPS up. And vice versa if you don't. My place is one big hill so even if I am hopping on/off frequently, I buckle up. No bells needed to remind me. In a car or truck, if the bells don't chime I tend not to reach for the belt.

 

[arrow]

Yep I agree it's a good place to get good info, but does require a pretty good filter at times.

I'm thinking of casting a concrete ballast with 3 chains hanging out. I have this notion that it should be VERY easy to attach to the 3-point. What if it attaches loosely, for super easy hookup? What are the drawbacks to a ballast that is loose? I suppose if you have to travel with it in 3rd gear that could be a problem, but I don't see that as likely for me.

The biggest problem I see is forgetting its there and backing into stuff with it, so shorter is appealing.

I made a ballast by mixing concrete and pouring it into a 4' long 10" Sonotube . I took 2, 1/2" thick , 12" long eyelets and bolted them across the tube. I then filled with the mixture. All I do to hook this up is to mount my 3 pt draw bar and through the holes on the drawbar, place a couple of "hooks" through the hole and thread the hook through the eyelet. I made the hooks with some threaded rod and bent them over. A bolt at the top prevents the hooks from falling through the drawbar holes. Takes about two seconds to engage and disengage with enough leeway to only have to get the tractor "in the vicinity".

 

[dragoneggs]

I made a ballast by mixing concrete and pouring it into a 4' long 10" Sonotube . I took 2, 1/2" thick , 12" long eyelets and bolted them across the tube. I then filled with the mixture. All I do to hook this up is to mount my 3 pt draw bar and through the holes on the drawbar, place a couple of "hooks" through the hole and thread the hook through the eyelet. I made the hooks with some threaded rod and bent them over. A bolt at the top prevents the hooks from falling through the drawbar holes. Takes about two seconds to engage and disengage with enough leeway to only have to get the tractor "in the vicinity".

arrow... do you have any pics of this?

 

[arrow]

arrow... do you have any pics of this?

I have something else on the 3 pt so can't demonstrate but this should give you the idea.

 

[My Hoe]

Load your back tires.

Always have a rear counterweight, when using the FEL (at least on SCUTS and CUTS).

Pic was very helpful, but not sure it was worth the risk--only the OP knows for sure, but, admittedly, that dramatic pic is certainly a valuable teaching aid.

Glad no one was hurt.

Subscribed.

 

[Sodo]

That's interesting. I've religiously used seatbelts in highway vehicles since I was 16 (that was in the days when you had to install them yourself in the used cars most of us drove) but I only use it on my tractor when I'm going to be working on a hillside.
Terry

Same here. Not being belted in (in a car) gives me the willies. Minor crash=broken bones whereas belted in = walk away.

On the tractor I'm getting on and off so often being belted-in is not appealing sometimes. For example standing up to look over the loader bucket, chaining stuff to the bucket, lots of times its not feasible. What scares me is the unknown (this happens!). Sometimes two simple, insignificant things happen at the same time which combine to be serious. Example some event in front takes your full attention causing you to forget about an embankment behind.

Lately I've been excavating an ATV trail on a steep hillside (mini-excavator) and haven't once skipped the seatbelt. Seatbelt is like a good friend its the first thing I do. Excavator is a little different though - anything you pull on or fall against is a "hydraulic control" that does a significant and powerful "action". With a tractor it could be the SAME, its just not so obvious.