New BX 1880 Owner

[armylifer]

If you don't want a box sticking out back far, get a weight set and put 300 lbs back there. Works great. Don't have to worry about the back swing. Get the one inch bar. It took me 2 years to source the weights off craigslist.

View attachment 166268

I have been using barbell weights for ballast for many years. It is really compact and provides excellent ballast on these small BX tractors. I have 360 pounds of weights, plus the bar on mine. If you move those two heaviest weights on your tractor to the far edges of the bar you will gain stability on inclines and you will also be able to remove them easily when needed. That way also distributes the weight more evenly on the rear tires, especially when mowing crosswise on an incline. When I need to remove the weights, I place them on a rubber pallet. I do not have to manhandle the weights at all. I just back up to them and pick them up with the quick hitch. I have them secured with chains to limit how far they will go down when I lower my mower deck. Of course I have to disconnect the chains before putting them on the pallet.

Like you, it took me some time (years) to source the weights for free. I have gone through several iterations of these weights through the years but now that they are all metal instead of the original concrete filled ones that I had, I am happy with these. Here is a picture of what I currently have.

 

[Bearcatrp]

I’ll give that a try in the spring.