Making a rear ballast for my BX1870. Weight opinion?

[Baymee]

The orange paint will hold it together.

 

[Carnut]

It's a side counterweight off a 966 Cat loader with a custom frame built out of 2"x2" tubing. View attachment 65664

Thanks, Crummy. That looks nice and clean.

 

[Baymee]

Finished product. I can drive on level surfaces with no weight on the front but more difficult on on an incline.

 

[mcmxi]

Looks like you had to grind some concrete to make clearance for the Quick Hitch levers.

 

[jyoutz]

I am making a rear weight ballast on my BX1870 for FEL use, mostly for snow.

At this point, I can still reduce the form to make it lighter. With the weight of the quick hitch, the steel framework for the pins and 2.5 cubic feet of concrete, it will come in around 450#.

Is this too much weight? It would be removed when the FEL is removed. Will this amount of weight damage the tractor?

Why not just attach a rear blade and maybe add more weight to the blade if needed? I attached (welded) some rod stubs on the top of my blade where I can stack gym weights. Then you have a useful implement on the tractor instead of just weight.

 

[Baymee]

Yeah, I thought I had enough clearance for the QD but the prototype got me.

I knew about the rear blade option but I couldn't think of a single use for one. The weight is only for the front end loader.

 

[Springer]

It's a side counterweight off a 966 Cat loader with a custom frame built out of 2"x2" tubing. View attachment 65664

You should be market that. It's beautiful.

 

[Crummy]

You should be market that. It's beautiful.

Sourcing the counterweights would be tricky. I'm sure they would cost a fortune new from Cat. I found this one in the weeds outside a buddies shop.