Ballast weights

Bearcatrp

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BX1880 with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
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Minnesota
Were is a good place for ballast weights. The box I have is a bit intrusive sticking out in the back. Just looked at suit case weights. Are these things filled with gold? Dam they are expensive. Looking at this weight bracket to go on my 3 point quick attach. Anyone have these or is this a bad idea?
 

armylifer

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BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
Mar 26, 2013
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Here are two cheap ideas for ballast.The barbell weights are on my BX1860 and the keg filled with sand is on my neighbor's BX2350. Both are about 250 lbs as shown. Since I took this picture I have replaced some of the weights with heavier ones.

Counter Weights.JPG

20190110_122225.jpg
 
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The Evil Twin

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L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
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$2 / lb has been the going rate for steel for a while. Suitcase, kettle bell, barbell..... at least for the past 4 years or so.
If you want to go cheap, fab something up and use truck brake rotors. The 1 ton brakes are about 50 lbs each. Most brake shops will give you as many as you want.
 
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Bearcatrp

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BX1880 with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
606
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Minnesota
Appreciate your replies. I like the weight version armylifer posted. After I posted this question, checked out CL for weights. Found a few ads selling barbell weights. Around 300 to 400 bucks. Cheaper than those suit case weights. Wanting around 250 to 300 lbs.. That keg is a good idea. Just trying to get the least amount sticking out the back. Thanks again folks.
 

Runs With Scissors

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L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
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Michigan
$2 / lb has been the going rate for steel for a while. Suitcase, kettle bell, barbell..... at least for the past 4 years or so.
If you want to go cheap, fab something up and use truck brake rotors. The 1 ton brakes are about 50 lbs each. Most brake shops will give you as many as you want.
+1

Swing by any Auto shop and I'm sure they will load you up. Maybe try a specialty "truck repair shop" ?
 
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GreensvilleJay

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Apr 2, 2019
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Greensville,Ontario,Canada
things are different up here ,north of the 49th. there's a bounty (core charge) for rotors as well shops haul to scrappers for delivery to China.

If they were all the same, AL's setup could be a 'packer'....
 
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Chapel Hill Vann

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B2601, bush hog, pallet forks, boom pole, scraper blade
May 1, 2022
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Chapel Hill NC
I used a 20 gallon trash can filled with concrete-it weighs about 275#
used a standard bar and top link connected with rebar inside.
ballast_0500.jpg
 
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D2Cat

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Mar 27, 2014
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I helped a neighbor remove an exercise machine from his basement and he gave me the weights. Had an old dirt scoop that I modified to put the weights in.....1000#. The weight is stamped on each weight.
 

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armylifer

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BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
Mar 26, 2013
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Thurston County, WA
I got all of my weights for free by searching CL. That was about 10 years ago though. It is getting much harder to find barbell weights for free these days. They can still be found for about $1 per pound around here. Here is a sample of what can be found around here.

 

The Evil Twin

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L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
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things are different up here ,north of the 49th. there's a bounty (core charge) for rotors as well shops haul to scrappers for delivery to China.

If they were all the same, AL's setup could be a 'packer'....
Here, they now charge shops to dispose of the "recycleables" they used to haul for free. Oil, tires, batteries and rotors. It used to be they would do it for free and make their money on the back end.
If the shop hauled the steel and batteries to the yard themselves, they could get some cash.
 

Old Machinist

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Kubota LX3310 cab, JD 4310, NH 575E cab backhoe, JD F725, Swisher 60", etc.
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If you are not in a hurry you can save searches on CL so it emails you when certain search words are posted. I have about 300 lbs of barbell weights mounted on my box blade. I paid $40 for one set and got the rest for free. I recently hung a couple of 100 lb suitcase weights on the rear of it I picked up for $50 for the pair. I picked up the 6 ft box blade for $200 WITH scarifiers. All in for $290 and some time.

Not pretty but makes the box blade work better and doubles as a 1000 lb ballast.

ballast2.jpg
 
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armylifer

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BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
Mar 26, 2013
2,038
770
113
Thurston County, WA
If you are not in a hurry you can save searches on CL so it emails you when certain search words are posted. I have about 300 lbs of barbell weights mounted on my box blade. I paid $40 for one set and got the rest for free. I recently hung a couple of 100 lb suitcase weights on the rear of it I picked up for $50 for the pair. I picked up the 6 ft box blade for $200 WITH scarifiers. All in for $290 and some time.

Not pretty but makes the box blade work better and doubles as a 1000 lb ballast.

View attachment 141835
How do you save searches and have CL email you? I cannot see any way to do that. Please elaborate.
 

Old Machinist

Member

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Kubota LX3310 cab, JD 4310, NH 575E cab backhoe, JD F725, Swisher 60", etc.
May 27, 2024
92
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NE FL
How do you save searches and have CL email you? I cannot see any way to do that. Please elaborate.
You have to have a CL account and be logged in. On my screen there is a SAVE icon to the far right. You can search in a specific category or if you want to be alerted if a key word is posted in any category just search under the For Sale heading. After you get the search results you click on the Save button. It will take you to the saved searches screen where you need to check the box to turn on alerts.

Choose your search words carefully and avoid using a sentence. It will notify you if an ad is posted with ANY word you put in the search. I try to stick to a single word search.
 
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Mark_BX25D

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Bx25D
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After I posted this question, checked out CL for weights. Found a few ads selling barbell weights. Around 300 to 400 bucks.
If you can afford to wait, just watch CL Free section. People give away the Walmart weights (the plastic coated ones) all the time.
 
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armylifer

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BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
Mar 26, 2013
2,038
770
113
Thurston County, WA
You have to have a CL account and be logged in. On my screen there is a SAVE icon to the far right. You can search in a specific category or if you want to be alerted if a key word is posted in any category just search under the For Sale heading. After you get the search results you click on the Save button. It will take you to the saved searches screen where you need to check the box to turn on alerts.

Choose your search words carefully and avoid using a sentence. It will notify you if an ad is posted with ANY word you put in the search. I try to stick to a single word search.
Thank you very much. I appreciate that you took the time to be very descriptive in your reply.
 
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