How Heavy For A Counterweight?

[winesalot]

I am going to build the metal framework and use concrete for a FEL counter weight. I have an L4701 with the LA765 FEL. I am about to begin a fairly large landscaping project and will be moving countless loads of topsoil and rock with the bucket. I am wondering what you all would recommend for the weight of the concrete block?

 

[Creature Meadow]

I have the older cousin to yours a L4600DT.

I use my carryall as my ballast, it weighs in around 750#'s to 800#'s. I use the carryall itself, 5 80# buckets of concrete, and 150#'s of weights secured under the carryall.

This seems to work well for me, with bucket full off dirt but kept low when moving it seems to handle well.

I like the carryall as ballast as it can serve a number of uses when not needed for ballast. I have $200 in the carryall and the concrete and broken bricks and blocks less than $20.00. If I need more ballast I can buy a 80# bag of concrete grab a 5 gallon bucket from the barn and presto more ballast.

I remove the buckets which have lids and stack until needed next time.

If you like my idea you can search my post for carryall build and gets more ideas details.

Good luck.
Jay

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Around 1500lbs would be about right.
Do you already have loaded tires?

 

[Dave_eng]

From memory concrete's density is 150# per cubic foot.

For NIW's recommended 1,500#, you would need 10 cubic feet.
2.5' x 2' x2'

Build it wide and low so the weight greatly adds to the roll stability. Tall ballast weights like a drum filled with concrete end up putting the weight up high and don't help much for roll stability.

Steel at 490# per cubic foot works great if you have a plate shop nearby.

I bought some pieces of 3" thick plate which were left overs so sold to me for a little above scrap prices.

Dave

 

[winesalot]

Around 1500lbs would be about right.
Do you already have loaded tires?

Yes I do. That should factor in to the equation. When I was using the rock bucket I used my 100 gallon sprayer full of water but I was nervous every about damaging it while focused on the task up front. I would feel more comfortable with a smaller indestructible concrete ballast..

 

[WFM]

I bought a steel john deere ballast box from a trader on Craigslist. A factory made box. All poured. The guy said it weighs 700 lbs. Without measuring I'm guessings its 30" wide x 24" deep x 30" tall. When I drop it to remove it. I drop it on a pallet so I can move it with my pallet forks.

 

[edritchey]

Wolfman hit the nail on the head I have a tractor about the same size as your's and it does well with 1500 lbs on the back as long as I keep it as low as I can. My tires are filled also.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes I do. That should factor in to the equation. When I was using the rock bucket I used my 100 gallon sprayer full of water but I was nervous every about damaging it while focused on the task up front. I would feel more comfortable with a smaller indestructible concrete ballast..

I thought you already had loaded tires so I did factor that in.

 

[winesalot]

Alrighty then, 10 cu ft it is.

 

[Tim Horton]

It appears most cat1 ballast boxes are in the 5 cubic foot size. So the weight of the box plus that much concrete would equal about 800 lbs.

Personally, if I needed a dedicated ballast like that I would home build. A cat1 draw bar is a bit less than $50 CDN, a length of 7/8" hot roll bar stock is maybe $25. Some re-bar, and flat stock to make a top link attachment point and good to go.

I have enough pieces of plywood to build a form very close to the size of a purchased box and pour my own. I already have loaded tires and with my size tractor the combination of all this is about equal to the capacity of my loader.

So far, I've never had an occasion to need ballast in a confined enough area to justify a box. I usually use my brush hog or disk as ballast.

My 5 cents of opinion.

 

[winesalot]

What I have decided to do is buy a 3 point hitch from Titan which happens to be on sale right now ( https://www.palletforks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=TDRLWv2 ) then weld on some extensions off the back, build a 2x2x2.5 ft box around the extensions, and pour concrete in the box equaling 10 cuft. The Titan hitch arrives today. I'll post a few pictures of the project when I am done.

 

[KennysNewFarm]

What I have decided to do is buy a 3 point hitch from Titan which happens to be on sale right now ( https://www.palletforks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=TDRLWv2 ) then weld on some extensions off the back, build a 2x2x2.5 ft box around the extensions, and pour concrete in the box equaling 10 cuft. The Titan hitch arrives today. I'll post a few pictures of the project when I am done.

Cheap way to go find a round bale for ballast. Depending on the size of the bale would be a cheap counterweight. Bales on my place are around 2k each. Just food for thought.

 

[winesalot]

Here is the final product. Exactly 2'x2'x2.5' for a weight of 1500 lbs.

(Not sure why this site turned them sideways)