How much ballast are you using? I have enough weights now for 300 lbs so now I can get rid of the box. The box stuck out to much for my liking. Just wondering when is to much ballast. Thanks.
BX owners, chime in
- Thread starter Bearcatrp
- Start date
My standard ballast is 500 lbs of suitcase weights; however if you match (or exceed) the weight in your bucket or forks you should be fine.
JimDeL
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Equipment
BX2380; R4 tires; 54" MMM; FEL w Pirahna bar; Ballast Box; BXpanded skid plate.
RCW
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Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
With either my box blade or carry-all, I'm probably in the 250-300# range.
I'll put something on the carry-all if needed, but only needed that a couple times.
I'll put something on the carry-all if needed, but only needed that a couple times.
Thanks folks. Picked up today some more weights to get me to 300 lbs. Barbell weights with 2 inch hole. Nice not to be sticking out so far with my other ballast box. After seeing that post about using barbell weights for ballast, thought that would be the best way to do this. I know if I have no ballast in the back, and try to lift a full bucket load, the rear end comes off the ground. Will stick with 300 lbs for now to see how it does. Thanks again for the feedback.
I was previously BX owner, not sure that qualifies for this thread or not.
to your question about ‘when is to much ballast’…it’s a moving target based on terrain and your tasks, but when you can not safely drive or steer it…that’s when it is too much IMO…you’ll know if the steering is getting light. (Watch your tires…that is also a good indicator as to where the weight is (or isn’t).
keep the rubber side down.
If you have trouble steering ... You got too much! 
On my SCUT in this application I'm running more than most ... My own home made Ballast Box weighs 707 Lbs, I also have 275 Lbs of barbell weight plates, and 70 Lb wheel weights on both filled rear tires, plus the tongue weight of the trailer, as the tote is forward of the axle ... I like weight!
But note that my ballast box has a recess in it to put my 69 Lb QH into it, so the front of the ballast box is about where the lower pins are, and the weights plates are forward of that too ...
My pallet forks weigh 347.4Lbs, empty tote weighs 134.0Lbs, I only put 50 gallons of water in it, as that's as much as it will lift!
Put about 125 gallons in the back tote, as it gets "top heavy" ...
Was that in addition to the empty ballast box itself?
On my SCUT in this application I'm running more than most ... My own home made Ballast Box weighs 707 Lbs, I also have 275 Lbs of barbell weight plates, and 70 Lb wheel weights on both filled rear tires, plus the tongue weight of the trailer, as the tote is forward of the axle ... I like weight!
But note that my ballast box has a recess in it to put my 69 Lb QH into it, so the front of the ballast box is about where the lower pins are, and the weights plates are forward of that too ...
My pallet forks weigh 347.4Lbs, empty tote weighs 134.0Lbs, I only put 50 gallons of water in it, as that's as much as it will lift!
Put about 125 gallons in the back tote, as it gets "top heavy" ...
I believe that is a good place to start! As the manufacturer builds the TLB version, they know you are using the loader, and no good way to add ballast, other than scoop/clamp something in the bucket, and/or stretch out the BH ...
armylifer
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Equipment
BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
I use barbell weights for ballast on my tractor. A big benefit to using barbell weights is that they are compact. This means that I can leave the weights on the tractor when I am mowing. I don't have to worry about accidentally hitting something when I am backing up or turning. One suggestion that I can make to you that may be of some use is adding chains to limit the downward travel of the barbell. If you do use chains, be aware that your mower deck travel downward will also be limited, so make the chains long enough to allow the mower deck to go as low as you want it to go. You can easily see how I attached the upper part of the chains but the lower part is not easy to see. I used a "U" clamp to attach to the lower link of the chain. On the upper part of the chain you can also use a snap link instead of the type link that I have shown in this picture. Here is a picture of the chains that I use on mine.
