BX ballast-400lb enough?

[ve9aa]

Hey Y'all

Not much I can do about this at the moment, but with the quick hitch, ballast box, and various stuff in the box( weighed it all), I am at almost exactly 400lbS on the 3pt. (in the summers I ALSO have the 200lb MMM mounted.) I won't be filling my tires. My yard is mostly flat and only has trees on the perimeter 30' all around the 2 acres. We have little gardens here and there. etc. The usual "couple of acres in the country".

Previously I ( usually) had nothing back there except the quick hitch and found it very "tippy canoe" lifting more than 100lbs with the FEL or Pallet forks LOL

I know I could go more,(concrete, rocks, cast iron engine blocks, lead weights), but I won't be doing much in the way of "serious digging" or moving anything probably more than 300lbs around the yard, so the question is, given this, would only 400lbs ballast satisfy you if you were light duty, weekend warrior Mr. homeowner on 2acres (bx2380) ?

P.S. I am thinking of making a small "carry-all" attached to the back of the LP WB10 ballast box. (picture a very simple wooden "L" just to move things that may not fit in the bucket.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

I have a hilly property. I always have fluid (rimguard) in my rear tires..for B and MX. when I had a BX i had fluid in those as well…that’s just for normal use. If you have any concern about tipping, I am not sure what the reason would be not to have filled tires IMO. If I plan to use the loader then I have ballast on the 3pt end as well. The more the better. (I normally leave the ballast box on…even when I am mowing…it may not be necessary but it doesn’t hurt anything that I am aware of. If it’s too much weight the 3 pt won’t lift it.

 

[ve9aa]

The BX's primary purpose (believe it or not!) is to snowblow.

Here in a high spot in NB, Canada we get cr@zy amounts of snow. It is not unusual to wake up to 4' drifts or even more. I could tell stories, but I won't bore you.

2nd purpose is a backup mower to my TG1860. My yard is ROUGH. Backbreaking rough. So I won't be filling the tires or mowing with the ballast box on. (less air =, less cushion.....if you;'re not old, with any luck, you will be,....you'll see !)

3rd purpose is to move stuff around including lifting....luv my pallet forks !

Distant 4th might be for small digging/pushing projects. (dirt/rock/whatever)

I think I'll be good with 400lbs for all the times I'll need it but did want to see what others thought. I have my (what I feel are good) reasons for nothing in the tires.

I have ~42hrs on the BX in 1.25yrs and maybe 8hrs is with the bucket and forks and the rest is snowblowing.

 

[bcp]

From BX2360 manuals:

Loader manual recommends a maximum of 420 pounds on the rear as loader ballast.

Tractor manual recommends a maximum of 275 pounds on the front as rear implement ballast.

Bruce

 

[ve9aa]

From BX2360 manuals:

Loader manual recommends a maximum of 420 pounds on the rear as loader ballast.

Tractor manual recommends a maximum of 275 pounds on the front as rear implement ballast.

Bruce

BX2360 a typo or ?

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Everyones situation is different. For me extra weight means extra traction. Does your tractor run out of HP or traction when working it? Extra weight helps IMO. Think about some of the great tractors from ford 8n and 9n and other makes that are similar…they did not make much power but they weighed a lot. My B certainly doesn’t weigh very much, neither did my BX…little extra helps keep the rubber side down and more ground pressure means more traction.

 

[OrangeKrush]

Hey Y'all

Not much I can do about this at the moment, but with the quick hitch, ballast box, and various stuff in the box( weighed it all), I am at almost exactly 400lbS on the 3pt. (in the summers I ALSO have the 200lb MMM mounted.) I won't be filling my tires. My yard is mostly flat and only has trees on the perimeter 30' all around the 2 acres. We have little gardens here and there. etc. The usual "couple of acres in the country".

Previously I ( usually) had nothing back there except the quick hitch and found it very "tippy canoe" lifting more than 100lbs with the FEL or Pallet forks LOL

I know I could go more,(concrete, rocks, cast iron engine blocks, lead weights), but I won't be doing much in the way of "serious digging" or moving anything probably more than 300lbs around the yard, so the question is, given this, would only 400lbs ballast satisfy you if you were light duty, weekend warrior Mr. homeowner on 2acres (bx2380) ?

P.S. I am thinking of making a small "carry-all" attached to the back of the LP WB10 ballast box. (picture a very simple wooden "L" just to move things that may not fit in the bucket.

My yard sounds like yours minus that much snow but still get pretty good drifts. The rear blade and bucket takes care of that. I do have loaded tires but if it was used for mowing my flat yard.. they wouldn't be. My rear blade is 300-350lbs and has been plenty for what I have done with the bucket and the forks. 4 rows of 7 stepping stones 12"x12"x2" =476lbs about the heaviest I've hauled.. that made the rear a lil light but hot the job done.
"Don't forget I have loaded tires!"

My box blade weighs 500+ so if I need more it's there.

 

[xrocketengineer]

The BX80 manual has the same values. I have been using four 16x16x4 in. concrete blocks from Lowes that weigh about 67 lbs. each on a small hitch cargo carrier with some ratchet straps to secure the blocks. Also my tires are filled with water. Obviously, I did not go this way because I am cheap.

 

[Kurtee]

I would suggest that when you think you have enough on the rear go and attempt to lift loader max. If the loader stalls and the rear end stays on the ground it is likely enough. If you can feel the rear end lift add more. Over kill is a good thing with loader balance. Put the ROPS up and fasten the seat belt when using. Sudden stops can get you airborne and or dismounted from the tractor. Seat belt use was summed up well by a MN state patrol officer. When you lose control you have no chance to regain control when you are not in the seat.

 

[RalphVa]

My 400 to 518 # implements are good on the 3ph plus filled tires on every tractor I've owned for heavy FEL lifts, but the implements are quite a ways back. You'll need more on a more compact ballast box.

 

[Jchonline]

Depends on what you are doing with the FEL. With a 500lb loader capacity 400lb seems about right. However its really easy to test!