Got 55gal Counter Weights Built.

Hobo,NC · Jan 3, 2018

Took all day I got Three 55 gal. counter weights built. Just need to fit pipe in for shoves and fill with concrete. I built them all a little different I am going to pick one I like and sale the other two, I built one cat 2.

donjr · Jan 3, 2018

Mine is very similar, but I used a big blue plastic barrel......

jeffcat · Jan 3, 2018

Very nice work. One hint I found concrete is damn heavy. Just be sure
you want that much weight.

Hobo,NC · Jan 3, 2018

Metal ones were free to cheap to buy plastic... Maybe next time

... I sure would have loved to have all three like the blue one it welded like a dream the others were not welder friendly. Yes I welded the draw bars in just for the practice. I tried out a metal diamond metal cutting blade in my hand grinder they are slick luv it...

Greenpully · Jan 3, 2018

My 55 gallon weight full of concrete weighs 1280 pounds. GP

Russ from MN · Jan 3, 2018

I used 1/2 of a white plastic barrel, and when I poured the concrete I put a lot of scrap iron in it, iron is about 3 times heavier than
concrete. It has been out in the sun for 15 years and the plastic is starting to crack, but the concrete should be fine without it. I have a
drawbar sticking out the back so I can still pull trailers around when using it.

Hobo,NC · Jan 3, 2018

Its a counter weight not a trailer puller I can not see pulling a trailer with it at this time. YMMV

Hobo,NC · Jan 3, 2018

1280 would be OK I am shooting for 9/1K lbs... the more the better...

fixerupper · Jan 3, 2018

1200lb makes a big difference in traction on a 50 HP class tractor. It also makes the tractor more stable if it is carried low.

teddy52food · Jan 3, 2018

What would it weigh if you filled it with wheel weights?

JD Seller · Jan 3, 2018

One question?? Why do you have the drawbar back in the barrel so far??? That is making the effective counter balance less. It also makes it to where you had to notch the barrels to miss the top link. The ones I have done have the hitch at the very edge/front of the barrel. This keeps the weight towards the back and allows for top link clearance. I can use a quick hitch with them.

Hobo,NC · Jan 3, 2018

Its 6" back from the front.

showcrop · Jan 4, 2018

Fancy shmancy! When I was a kid all anybody did was put the drawbar between the lift arms, set barrel with the lid off on it, then throw a bunch of rocks and scrap metal in it. It was also a place to keep a chain and other tools. To remove it you just lowered it and tilted it back.

jamstra · Jan 4, 2018

Nice work! Did exactly that first time round for my MF 135 (but not quite so fancy!) Worked great, but was a bit of a sod to mount/demount.

However, next time round I threaded some front weights (like the kind in the photo, with the 'handle' slot at the top) onto the same kind of drawbar as you have used, bolted them together to stop them swinging about, lifted the assembly with the position control and locked it at the right height with the drawbar stays. So much more compact, easier to mount/demount, at least in my set up.

ed will · Jan 4, 2018

Hi, back in early 50's we had a smaller barrel with
no top link. Just a shaft through the barrel about
1/3 of the way down for the lift arms to hook onto.
It really didn't swing much. It's better with the top
link for sure I think. We used the stabilizer bar
though. Nice job! Ed Will Oliver BC

47fivewindow · Jan 4, 2018

Wheel wts? About 40 lbs because the bottom of the barrel would fail

rrlund · Jan 4, 2018

I'd put a hitch out the back of it if I was you,just in case you want to move a wagon or something.

Hobo,NC · Jan 4, 2018

Hitch delete model it is gonna be. I am savaging for 2" PVC have enoufh for one barrel time to get out in the snow and scavenge

.
Wait I just remembered I have a pair of old work boots.

I do run down the road for a load of mulch a couple times a year no more than it weighs the counter weight can stay home...

Hobo,NC · Jan 4, 2018

(quoted from post at 21:14:34 01/04/18) I'd put a hitch out the back of it if I was you,just in case you want to move a wagon or something.

Y'all sure are hard to please How Bout THIS.... I measured the square tube'N wrong on the hitch I thought,,,, had to fish plate it together all in said and done I measured it right it came out to long Whoops. I liked about five min's of being done on all three of'em and my welder quit :evil:

showcrop · Jan 4, 2018

I bet that you will be glad about the hitches. After all they are to go on a TRACTOR.

Hobo,NC · Jan 11, 2018

Got'em filled today a bud (one of the buyers for one) hauled them to a local concrete plant today $147 to fill'em

.... BTW the concrete co said a 55 gal drum full of concrete weighs 1085 lbs... It took a little less than a yard to fill all 3 of'em... I guess I will let them cure a few days before I move them off the trailer.

showcrop · Jan 11, 2018

Make sure that you epoxy prime them before the base coat clear coat so that incase they get scratched they won't rust so bad.

Hobo,NC · Jan 11, 2018

I am gonna paint mine orange... Bud did say they drew a crowd at the concrete plant... He asked if he should take something to poke'em to get the air bubbles out I told him no he would bounce them enoufh to vibrate any trapped air in'em on the way home... I was ticked to death to get out for 147 they quoted 200 over the phone...

Dave G9N · Nov 13, 2023

(quoted from post at 18:20:30 01/11/18)
I am gonna paint mine orange... Bud did say they drew a crowd at the concrete plant... He asked if he should take something to poke'em to get the air bubbles out I told him no he would bounce them enoufh to vibrate any trapped air in'em on the way home... I was ticked to death to get out for 147 they quoted 200 over the phone...

hey paid you $53 for the entertainment. Good show!

As far as balancing the front bucket, distance from the fulcrum counts as much as mass. 500 lb held 2 feet from the rear axle takes the same load off the front wheels as 250 lb 4 feet behind the rear axle. It also helps with traction on soft ground because decreasing the load on the front wheels reduces drag.

Why not use a carry all and a pile of sandbags? A carry all is a handy thing to have anyway. If you have or make one like the King Kutter or CountyLine it will work as a fork lift and you can add a box. I welded one up out of angle iron and built a box for it. In retrospect, 1/4" thick angle would have been much better than 3/16.

Got 55gal Counter Weights Built.

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