concrete ballast box

[tlefire]

Ok, just poured a ballast box. 26 inches x24 inches x 24 inches. Uused 11 80 pound sacks of Sakrete high strength concrete mix. My question is how long should I leave it in the form before I take it out. Not use it, but just take it out. I will need to lay it over on a side to take the bottom off before I remove the sides.

 

[BAP]

Should be able to take the forms off tomorrow

 

[tlefire]

Thanks BAP. One other question I should have ask is how long before use?

 

[BAP]

I would wait a few days to let concrete cure some before bouncing it around on the back of your tractor if it is not in a box or barrel. You don't want it to crack on you because it wasn't strong enough yet.

 

[Creature Meadow]

Have a picture of it, curious how it is made?

Weather would play a big role in curing time but I looked online and it said for SET time allow minimum of 24 hours so for cure time make it 48 or more I would think.

 

[tlefire]

Here's a couple pictures........I used 3 inch angle to weld the pins to with 2 inch flat iron for the top link welded to that. The wood you see sticking up is to allow the box to fit inside my quick hitch closer to the lower arms. 2 pieces of 4 inch pipe for chains with holes at the bottom for drainage. Wood for the form is 15/32 OSB.

 

[Newlyme]

If I remember correctly....

Concrete will reach 90% of its strength in seven days and 100% in thirty days.
Seven days isn't too much to wait for a lifetime of use.

 

[Stmar]

Not to hijack the thread but I was hesitant about putting weights on my 7' Rhino blade like I did on my 8N. I have a couple of old cutting edges that I hung on the blade. I thought that might be too much weight for my B2650 but if you are putting 880 pounds on your tractor I may have to rethink it for winter as it would give more traction. I would say the blade and weights would be about in the 600 pound range. Is that too much for a B2650? It seems to be no problem with just the blade but I did not want to overload.

 

[tlefire]

I'm not sure about your tractor, but the loader manual for mine says to use enough ballest for whatever job your doing. It list different implements ranging from a 550 pound tiller, 990 pound box blade, and 1990 pound backhoe. My tiller weight is around 450 pounds and is not near enough weight with a loader full of dirt.

My rear lift is about 1900 pounds at the pins and 1400 24 inches out. Is 880 pounds too much weight? I guess I'll found out when I get to use it, but I don't think so.

 

[tlefire]

I just looked at the specs on your tractor. About the same physical size but your lift is about 300 pounds more than mine, so 880 pounds would be no problem.

With everything I've read, it's like night and day difference with that kind of weight when doing loader work. As far as traction in snow, I'd think it woud be also. But here in the deep south, we don't know what snow is.

 

[Stmar]

I just looked at the specs on your tractor. About the same physical size but your lift is about 300 pounds more than mine, so 880 pounds would be no problem.

With everything I've read, it's like night and day difference with that kind of weight when doing loader work. As far as traction in snow, I'd think it woud be also. But here in the deep south, we don't know what snow is.

I grew up in Florida and didn't even know I needed 4wd when I moved to Wyoming, found out real quick and now all my vehicles including tractor and ATVS are 4wd. The old adage "You don't have to shovel sunshine" hit home last winter, lol, I did my share of plowing and shoveling.
Sounds like I should put my weights on before winter, thanks for the info.

 

[geoff]

NewlyMe is right, 7 days should see you good to go, I would cover the top with a plastic bag to stop it drying out and break it out the box after a week.

 

[Missouribound]

The first thing to fail on a homemade ballast box will be the pipe you used for the 3 point. Then it's an anchor.

 

[D2Cat]

The first thing to fail on a homemade ballast box will be the pipe you used for the 3 point. Then it's an anchor.

Here's what tlefire said about construction, "I used 3 inch angle to weld the pins to with 2 inch flat iron for the top link welded to that."

What pipe was used for the 3 point?

 

[Stmar]

I have noticed that these ballast boxes are positioned in the middle of the 3pt. Is that the optimal positioning of ballast? Reason I ask is that I hang 2 metal plates off my blade by hooks and I can put them just about anywhere along that 7' span. Normally on my 8N I had them equal distant from the middle (3pt) to the ends but don't know why.

 

[tlefire]

The first thing to fail on a homemade ballast box will be the pipe you used for the 3 point. Then it's an anchor.

Sounds like you talk from experience, so I guess it's a good thing I took the advice of an engineer friend of mine.