front end weight

[chevrat68 19]

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas how to add weight to a 84 312-8 front end? When I plow the front end is all over the place. Just looking for some ideas that might help. The tires are too small to fill with liquid for any real weight. I have weights and chains for the rear.

Edited December 5, 2014 by chevrat68

[whfan74 2,066]

Roller chain wrapped around the front tire has had a lot of success.

 

Check here: 

[Hodge71 664]

Roller chain wrapped around the front tire has had a lot of success.

 

Check here: 

I didn't try this yet but it was next on my list of options. I had some really good success this year with MTD cast iron weights I scored of Ebay for $22 plus 11 to ship them. I the aired the front tires down to 4 PSI so they were good and flat instead of humped in the middle. That plus the weights completed stopped the sideways slide my boys Charger 12 had last year.

[C-85 681]

My C-85 was suffering from not getting traction in the back, so I made a rear weight box for it.  As a result the front end of my tractor was getting light.  My little engine (although very powerful) didn't counteract all the weight I had in the back very well, so I made a front weight carrier (bottom photo), put on front wheel weights (which were yellow, but I fixed that), and snow hog tires and it steers pretty good now and has great traction.  If I had known about the wrapping the roller chain around the tires idea though, I think I would have gone with that option, instead of buying the snow tires.  This what I've done to mine to make it work better, good luck with yours!

 

 

[bean 85]

I made the weight on the front of my '73. it weighs 25lbs.

while 25lbs wouldn't help your tractor much, you could make something similar in the 50lb+ range.

also, you should have plenty of room in front of the 8hp to put some steel or cast iron weights

Edited December 6, 2014 by bean

[KC9KAS 4,741]

C-85 nice looking front weight frame you made.

Did you build it in the kitchen?

[rollingflat 123]

 Tried to only use rear weights on my horse but didnt work!!         

[C-85 681]

Hi RedSquare Pro,

 

Are you kidding, I had enough problem just getting this into the house to take the picture, let alone trying to build it in there.

 

But maybe I should push this idea with of building in the kitchen with headquarters ( my wife)?

 

Then I again, I think I'll play it safe and keep the majority of my W/H stuff out in the garage!

 

C-85

[Tankman 3,518]

Are we talkin' plowing the earth or dozin' snow?

 

Never needed up front weight pushin' snow but, plowing the garden was front end up, lost steering.

 

I fab'd a front bumper and used suitcase weights to keep the steering on the earth. 

 

Wheel weights and chains when pushing the driveway stone or shovin' snow out of the way.

 

I can see, and have lost a bit of steering usin' the dozer but, backup a bit and push slow usually does what I need to do.

[AMC RULES 37,127]

     

horse.jpg Tried to only use rear weights on my horse but didnt work!!         

[bean 85]

 

Did you build it in the kitchen?

it also doubles as a paper towel dispenser

[squonk 41,017]

I built a weight similar to Bean's but the plow hits it when raised.

[bean 85]

I built a weight similar to Bean's but the plow hits it when raised.

Mike,

the plow hits my weight also, but being round, it just rolls on top of the frame.

I made the weight to compensate for the weight difference between the kohler k181 cast iron engine and the 29lb Honda engine.

and also, to keep the grandson from doing too many wheelies

Edited December 12, 2014 by bean

[chevrat68 19]

Well looks like I'm going to fir up the welder and see what I can do. Thank you all for your input. I'll find someplace to attach it. Just thought someone found an easy place to mount it. The chain around the tires would work but I have a paved driveway and i think it would skate around worse and leave marks. The snow we get is usually wet and heavy. The plow gets to the pavement but leaves a thin coat just enough to let tires slide with blade angled.