Managed to complete another little project before the weather gets too crummy here. Even though I'm pretty new to all this small tractor stuff it didn't take long to realize the truth of what everyone says about how unstable these machines can be when the bucket is loaded. While I have not come close to rolling or anything like that, it sure felt sketchy when lifting stuff at near capacity with my pallet forks out of the bed of my truck.
My rear tires are filled with rim guard from the factory but it feels like ballast would help. I had this old ammo can that has been hanging around here for years awaiting a noble purpose, so i welded some angle iron to it so it would attach to my 3 point.
As the box is not huge I wanted something dense and heavy as possible to fill it with. I was able to get some scrap lead from a bullet trap at a local gun club. I did not want to just fill the box with lead dust and small particles, so I melted the lead down, skimmed the crud off and poured it into these tomato sauce cans. After removing the tomatoes, of course. Filled up, each one weighs about 19 pounds. I dropped the old can tops on and hammered the rim down over it to hold them in place. Not pretty, but keeps the lead contained and makes it easier and cleaner to handle.
I have about 200 pounds of lead, but have not gotten it all into cans yet. But I put the 8 I had done into the box, along with some old cast iron window sash weights I had. Currently there is a bit over 200 pounds of ballast there. Though I've not done a lot of lifting with it on there yet it makes a noticeable difference in the way the machine handles and feels. Once I have all of the lead cans in there, I think I'll still have room to drop a square of plywood on top and have a bit of room to store a chain or a few tools on top under the cover. The box is nice and compact and is easily unloaded for storage or if I need to adjust the amount of weight for some reason.
As
My rear tires are filled with rim guard from the factory but it feels like ballast would help. I had this old ammo can that has been hanging around here for years awaiting a noble purpose, so i welded some angle iron to it so it would attach to my 3 point.
As the box is not huge I wanted something dense and heavy as possible to fill it with. I was able to get some scrap lead from a bullet trap at a local gun club. I did not want to just fill the box with lead dust and small particles, so I melted the lead down, skimmed the crud off and poured it into these tomato sauce cans. After removing the tomatoes, of course. Filled up, each one weighs about 19 pounds. I dropped the old can tops on and hammered the rim down over it to hold them in place. Not pretty, but keeps the lead contained and makes it easier and cleaner to handle.
I have about 200 pounds of lead, but have not gotten it all into cans yet. But I put the 8 I had done into the box, along with some old cast iron window sash weights I had. Currently there is a bit over 200 pounds of ballast there. Though I've not done a lot of lifting with it on there yet it makes a noticeable difference in the way the machine handles and feels. Once I have all of the lead cans in there, I think I'll still have room to drop a square of plywood on top and have a bit of room to store a chain or a few tools on top under the cover. The box is nice and compact and is easily unloaded for storage or if I need to adjust the amount of weight for some reason.
As
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, you guys distract him till I get the truck loaded