3PTH Weight Box Ideas Please

Dale39 · Jan 26, 2017

I have an MF 250 tractor with a 236 loader on it, the loader is a bit big for the tractor so the back end gets light. I'd like to build a nice looking 3PTH weight box for it, possibly concrete-filled. I'm looking for ideas, pictures of what you've all done!

I apologize in advance if this topic has been covered before, I am relatively new to the forum.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 26, 2017

Neighbor built a weight box out of wood and metal. He used concrete blocks to fill box. After a few years of bouncing around, the box broke up. I used the metal 3 pt part and welded it to a 55 gallon oil drum. Estimating he was lifting large bales of hay that may weigh in at 1000#+ and the hay he was lifting was a greater distance from the front wheels than the ballast weight would to be behind the rear wheels, we filled drum with concrete, about 1250#. Works just fine

Tractor numbers and loader numbers means nothing to me without looking up your tractor. What I will say, google how much weight your 3 pt can lift and don't exceed that. Avoid bouncing the ballast, you could damage your tractor. Use my idea with a 55 gallon drum, fill it with dirt to get an idea how much weight you need. Or fill with concrete a little at a time.

A second thing to consider besides weight, is how far back you hang the weight. Another thing to try is use a brush hog to get an idea of weight and distance.

I've seen some people with loader ram loader into a dirt pile to fill front bucket. The sudden stop could damage your 3 pt if you have a rear ballast. Use your head. Take it easy.

old · Jan 26, 2017

Why not kill 2 birds with one stone and hang a back blade on the 3 point and then have some suit case weights on the blade that way you have a used able implement on it at the same time.
This is what I have on the back of my 841S ford to off set the loader it has. It has 6 85lbs suit case weights plus a wheel weight on the center link area

Geo-TH,In · Jan 26, 2017

Old, good idea to use what you have. You can fine tune the ballast by adding more weight too. So estimate your total weight and distance from rear wheels.
geo

Dale39 · Jan 26, 2017

Great idea!

old · Jan 26, 2017

That 3 point back blade has been on this old 841S for well over a decade. I cannot even remember the last time I have had any thing but that on it and with it there and the loader I can use the blade to smooth out things I dump out of the loader plus off set the loaders weight. But even with all that on I can and have lifted a back tire or both rear tires off the ground at times when I try to lift to much

ohiojim · Jan 26, 2017

lot of people here cut a hole in a 55 gallon drum, slide a drawbar through it and add concrete...

Nick m · Jan 26, 2017

I used 2/3 of a 55 gal barrel filled with concrete. Tipped it on it's side and picked it up with pallet forks. Much easier to take on and off.

Nick m · Jan 26, 2017

Was told a full one weighed about 1000lbs.

Mike Groom · Jan 26, 2017

I used a cardboard barrel,I think it was a 30 gallon,cut the holes in it for a 3 point draw bar to slide through and put a bar for the top link buried in the concrete sticking out the top.After it was dry I peeled the card board off and it was good to go,not as heavy as a 55 gal drum but still pretty handy.

John730D · Jan 26, 2017

I never wanted all that weight back there bouncing on my hydraulic system for the 3 pt. I always found some way to tie the load up and relieve the load on the 3pt. I usually used a big chain.

MARK ROBKE · Jan 26, 2017

Like old said below you can put something like the back blade on the 3pt.My suggestion if you are digging packed dirt is mount a plow. You can use the plow to loosen what you are going to dig.Mark

Hobo,NC · Jan 26, 2017

What ever you use don't use a yard spiker if it comes lose it can ruin a tire. Don't ask me how I know

While I am at it this is my fix A Cotter key.

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Russ from MN · Jan 26, 2017

I don't have a picture, but I made one out of 1/2 of a 55 gal. plastic barrel full of concrete, with lots of scrap iron in it. Steel is a lot heavier than concrete. It's important to have a top link bracket on it so it doesn't swing, also I have a drawbar sticking out the back. You never know when you might want to move a trailer.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 26, 2017

Old,
What many don't realize is when you lift the rear wheels off the ground, you are putting all the weight of tractor, loader, and what's in the loader on front wheels. Tire ballast won't transfer weight off front wheels, only rear ballast will. geo

Traditional Farmer · Jan 26, 2017

I use a bale of hay on the 3pt bale spear,easy to load and unload(LOL)

Adirondack case guy · Jan 26, 2017

George, I think most of us learned that fact of physics when our counterpart bailed off their end of teeter tauter. HeHe.
Loren

Dale39 · Jan 26, 2017

From what I am hearing, I can see myself making some kind of frame up to take the stress off the 3PTH arms as we bounce around picking up bales etc- maybe supported by the drawbar somehow.

Thanks for the responses.

old · Jan 26, 2017

Yes I know an over the many years of having this 841S I have broken more then one spindle and most of the time when I was not in a good place to have it break. The first year I had my NH850 round baler I found out the hard way that one can make a bale that is so heavy the rear tire or tires can come off the ground and that is not at all fun. That summer I used the Cat 950 to move the hay bales till I found out I needed to use 3rd gear on the S88 instead of first gear

Geo-TH,In · Jan 26, 2017

Loren,
I haven't told people on YT I have a BS and MS in Math and Physics.
geo

Ron Muhlenkamp · Jan 26, 2017

A car tire filled with concrete will weigh about 300 lb. 3 or 4 can be stacked on lower lift arms. A pipe in the center of each allows a chain to be run thru to keep all in place.

mj · Jan 26, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:03:03 01/26/17) Old,
What many don't realize is when you lift the rear wheels off the ground, you are putting all the weight of tractor, loader, and what's in the loader on front wheels. Tire ballast won't transfer weight off front wheels, only rear ballast will. geo

Yep - weight against the inside of a pickup tailgate will transfer weight to the rear wheels and let you push a lot more snow than centering the weight over the axle. 8)

Traditional Farmer · Jan 27, 2017

Called leverage some thing works having a longer drawbar on a pulling tractor,works good up to to the point the front end comes up too high.

3PTH Weight Box Ideas Please

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