Home made Category one counterweights

[RichardAaronlx2610]

These started life off as a big counterweight for an old Manitowoc crane, after retiring the crane they got taken off and set aside some 20 something years ago. Some time after that they got cut in half to what you see now and put back out to use yet again. Than after retiring them for a second time we decided to cut the stack in half and make some category one counterweights out of them. So far i finished One and still need to finish the second one for my Lx2610. The first painted one weighed in at 890 lbs. the second one has a little thicker square stock, so I’m sure it’ll at least be 900lbs. Let me know your thoughts and what you would have done differently, if anything at all.

Rich

 

[Motion]

I think it looks great, 900#'s puts you right close to what your loader can handle. Have you tried attaching a trailer to the hitch, does the receiver stay parallel to the ground when lifting? If this ballast is going to be kept outside I'd suggest weep holes below the pins to allow condensation out, I'd make the receiver longer so it hangs over by 2-3 inches and add a piece of 3" by 5/8" long box iron as a gusset and if you have goose neck trailers add an additional receiver at the top behind the top link. When on the tractor does the three point lift high enough to allow a straight pull from your draw bar? Just my .02

 

[RichardAaronlx2610]

I think it looks great, 900#'s puts you right close to what your loader can handle. Have you tried attaching a trailer to the hitch, does the receiver stay parallel to the ground when lifting? If this ballast is going to be kept outside I'd suggest weep holes below the pins to allow condensation out, I'd make the receiver longer so it hangs over by 2-3 inches and add a piece of 3" by 5/8" long box iron as a gusset and if you have goose neck trailers add an additional receiver at the top behind the top link. When on the tractor does the three point lift high enough to allow a straight pull from your draw bar? Just my .02
[/QUOTE]

Thank you and appreciate it. The painted one is on my bosses tractor and he loves it so far. Moves trailers with it all the time and it stays parallel. At 900 It’s just a tad lighter than the backhoe. So it seems to be a good weight. Either one of us own a gooseneck so don’t need that. But a great idea in the future if needed. Why do you say make the receiver a little longer? Just to be able to add a gusset?
And yes you can get a straight pull from draw bar. I need to take more pictures to post.

 

[Motion]

Most receivers are normally 7-8 inches long. When installing the hitch pin spring clip I prefer to push down to install and pull up to remove, the hole in the bent hitch pin is in line with the bent portion. What you have will work fine.

 

[RichardAaronlx2610]

Most receivers are normally 7-8 inches long. When installing the hitch pin spring clip I prefer to push down to install and pull up to remove, the hole in the bent hitch pin is in line with the bent portion. What you have will work fine.

Oh ok i see What you are saying

 

[Motion]

Here's what I made, it's 8" sch 40 pipe filled with concrete, it weights 583#'s with 40 foot of chains. I should have used 10", I may make another but I had this one sand blasted and powder coated. It's 6 feet wide and does a great job of smoothing out dirt, gravel and ruts. I like it better than my chain harrow.

.

 

[RichardAaronlx2610]

Here's what I made, it's 8" sch 40 pipe filled with concrete, it weights 583#'s with 40 foot of chains. I should have used 10", I may make another but I had this one sand blasted and powder coated. It's 6 feet wide and does a great job of smoothing out dirt, gravel and ruts. I like it better than my chain harrow. View attachment 64631 . View attachment 64632

Very nice man! I dig It!

 

[DustyRusty]

Here's what I made, it's 8" sch 40 pipe filled with concrete, it weights 583#'s with 40 foot of chains. I should have used 10", I may make another but I had this one sand blasted and powder coated. It's 6 feet wide and does a great job of smoothing out dirt, gravel and ruts. I like it better than my chain harrow. View attachment 64631 . View attachment 64632

Do you have any pictures of it in action?? thanks

 

[RichardAaronlx2610]

Do you have any pictures of it in action?? thanks

I don’t. I’ll have to snap some!

 

[DCM303]

I'm new at this but have done a lot of research on counterweights, I have to say this one is by far my favorite. I have a 55 gallon barrel filled with 800 pounds of concrete. It works fine but this one is very nice.

 

[RichardAaronlx2610]

I'm new at this but have done a lot of research on counterweights, I have to say this one is by far my favorite. I have a 55 gallon barrel filled with 800 pounds of concrete. It works fine but this one is very nice.

Thank you very much!! The second one is going to be a little fancier, with some chain holders and possibly a shovel/saw holder. I’ll post pics of it as soon as i have the time to finish it.

post up a picture of yours! Creativity is all that matters! I’m not here to judge anyone

 

[DCM303]

 

[DCM303]

I used ten bags of #80 quickcrete. Works great, made a BIG difference how the tractor performed. It needs more concrete and a slot cut for the upper link to travel in. That'll happen when at the farm next.
I did weld some rebar to the upper link receiver, they make a triangle and go about 16" into the concrete.

 

[RichardAaronlx2610]

View attachment 64834

That’s a solid idea man! Not gonna lie, it works! That’s all that matters!