Go BottomBallast Box
 | Jim
Join Date: Posts: 1 
|
1999-07-29 6418
Just received my 4300 HST with 430 loader. The manuals have me scared stiff. Talks about NEVER using loader without ballast box on 3 point. I havent checked yet, but I am sure that will be pretty expensive. Any ideas what else I could use. I plan on getting a back blade, will that suffice. Which brand of back blade would you recommend. Not much more $$ left.Thank you in advanceJim
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| bo
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
1999-07-29 6420
not as much of a problem as the manual indicates. All that happens is light in the back and heavy in the front. Any implement that weighs over 200-300 lbs will do. Or, to be real cheap. Make up a plywood box 2x2x3 or so and fill it up with concrete after you istall the two hinge pins and a top link attachment. I have loaded with no weight on the back in a pinch and had no problem being real carefull. Have a jd 870 Incidently a wieght box isn't that expensive and makes a great place to put heavy stuff like tow chains , lead or what ever you have. ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| Dave Miner
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
1999-07-29 6421
Check out what these ingenius tractor owners have donehttp://www.his.com/~msimpson/tractor/hacker.htm ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| Vince
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
1999-07-30 6427
Jim,All good ideas posted so far. I bought used weight box, filled it with 9 bags of premix concrete, works well. In my neighborhood I have seen 55 gal drum filled and mounted vertically, plastic pool chemical containers (drums or tubs) filled and mounted horizontally, and all sorts of implements. The weight box fits close and provides good balance and manueverabiltiy. Vince ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| MichaelSnyder
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 0
|
1999-07-30 6430
Jim,I'm with the other guys who posted. Its important to remember that JD or any Manufacture has to spec' worst case. The JD 4100 calls for +750lbs in the ballast box, and 6 wheel weights, @60lbs a piece. Weighing in at a minimum of 1100lbs of ballasting. I have the Ballast box filled with sand, weighing in at ~500-550lbs, plus ONE set of wheel weights, bringing me to about ~650lbs of ballasting. A smidge more than 1/2 of what is called for, and haven't had a problem yet. I will say this, If you head the do it yourself route. Design something that can maintain a low center of gravity. Like a dumb schmuck, I was using the loader, with the 3pt/ballast box as high as it could go. BAD MOVE.... Needless to say I was on 3 wheels real quick. The little lady wouldn't have been happy with me had something happened to a 6 (clock hour, not Hourmeter) old tractor After that, kept the weight low, hasn't been a problem since. I would also highly recommend swapping the rear wheels, to allow for increased negative offset. This definitely gives more lateral stability when using the loader. Having a 54" deck, we will Probably have to switch them back if we ever get rain, meaning we might have to mow for the first time this summer. ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| Keith
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
1999-07-30 6440
Jim, you mean to tell us that you had all 5000 lbs or so balanced on one little skinny front tire??? ;-) Man, I bet that was enlightening! (No pun intended) ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| mike
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
1999-07-30 6445
All the comments are good so far. be sure to remember that all the ballast in the world won't help you if you go sidehilling with the bucket full and the mast high. There is something to be said for the rush you get when your tractor rolls over for the first time. You need to be careful. As soon as the wheels come off the ground you will know. If you need to haul a load across a hill do it at the flat and then climb to the point you need the fill. DON"T CROSS A HILL WITH A LOAD IN THE BUCKET!!I had a welder put together a bunch of strap iron in a stack about 6x24x12 inches and then make a 3 pt hitch at the top. works well and is easy to handle. ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| Steve in CT
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
1999-07-31 6460
Jim,On the last 2 JD's I have purchased, the dealer has included the grill guard, bucket level indicator AND ballast box with the loader purchase. You might want to have a little chat with your dealer? You've just spent $20K+ for a new tractor/loader and now the dealer is going to nickel and dime you for the ballast box? Doesn't sound right... My $.02 Good luck :)) ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoBallast Box
| MichaelSnyder
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 0
|
1999-07-31 6470
Keith,Starting your response with "Jim" under my posting, I'm not sure if your responding to Jim or me? Ah, I'm just busting your stones!! I will admit, 5000lbs on one front wheel would be quite enlightening, but fortunately as I posted previously ("I was on 3 wheels real quick.") Meaning that 3 were still on the ground and one of the rears was about 4-6" off the ground, but it felt like 2'feet! Hope that clears things up for ya.. ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add Photo
Go Top
Share This