Weight Box

[Lee1977 7,416]

I have had this metal building steel around 40 years decided to make a front weight out of it. Got it cut out and tacked together.

Turn into a joint project with Kevin as he welded it up. Had enough steel left so I cut another one for Kevin. It has around 2" of sheet lead inside.

Best guess it weights 50 #.

[ebinmaine 74,925]

Niiiiice! 

 

Got a bar on the back to mount in the front hitch? 

[ri702bill 10,227]

I was going to say why not wheel weights - looks like those narrow rims have no thru holes for weights...

[kpinnc 15,929]

4 hours ago, Lee1977 said:

Had enough steel left so I cut another one for Kevin.

 

I'll try to get mine welded up by the weekend Don. Thank you very much! A very cool idea! 

 

I think I'm gonna use it as my hood stop on the newest tractor. I gotta pick up some lead too. 

 

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Got a bar on the back to mount in the front hitch? 

 

Yes they do. Don made up a bracket that uses a 5/8 bolt and a standoff to fit in the front hitch. 

[kpinnc 15,929]

3 hours ago, ri702bill said:

I was going to say why not wheel weights -

 

The one disadvantage to Vanguard engines (if one exists) is that they are much lighter than a Kohler. Since Don and I both have more than one machine with a Vanguard in it, the box makes sense that it can quickly move from one to the other. 

 

Also mine have 1 inch spindles and none of my wheel weights fit. 

[Lee1977 7,416]

One reason I used a 5/8" bolt in the hitch is you can tighten it once it's in the hitch. Stops any movement.

The wheels came off a trailer that why the don't have weight holes.

Edited November 6 by Lee1977

[ri702bill 10,227]

Got it. Perhaps a "when you have the time" project would be to fab a pair of homemade weights using the WH spacing. Both my 854 and C81 have a dedicated set of barbell plate weights - different hole spacing. I have a guy locally that buys & sells used gym equipment - his selection of incomplete weight sets is rather extensive. Tapping cast iron is a chore - the grain structure of those castings is quite coarse; much more difficult to drill & tap than Machine Tool fine grain castings. I recall using a carbide masonry bit to get the holes started...

 

 

[Wayne0 1,386]

I made one out of a .50 cal ammo can that mounts on the front tachomatoc and rests on the plow frame for down pressure. Pivots up and down with the plow.

There is a thread on here somewhere.

Found it. 

 

Edited November 6 by Wayne0

[peter lena 9,492]

 @Lee1977  https://www.google.com/search?q=isolation+pad+%2C+for+heavy+weight&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS866US866&oq=isolation+pad+%2C+for+heavy+weight+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyCggEEAAYgAQYogQyBwgFEAAY7wUyCggGEAAYgAQYogQyCggHEAAYgAQYogTSAQk0NDk0N2owajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8  have a number of these in use , regularly  used them back in my day  , really helps  soften and  isolate , on cast areas , have one on the bottom of  all my rear hitches , that  long  metal to metal , set up  was added years ago , pete   

[kpinnc 15,929]

On 11/5/2025 at 5:28 PM, Lee1977 said:

Turn into a joint project with Kevin as he welded it up.

 

Got mine started tonight. Sides are on, just gotta set up the attachment hardware on the back and fill her up. 

Edited November 8 by kpinnc

[kpinnc 15,929]

Got a bucket full of lead wheel weights from a buddy of mine. When I melted them down, I found out only about half were actually lead. I had no idea. 

 

So I covered everything in a little concrete just to keep it from rattling around. I'll weld on a cover when it dries.

 

So far it's 80lbs. Prolly go up a little when I finish it up. 

 

 

Edited November 17 by kpinnc

[Handy Don 14,856]

12 hours ago, kpinnc said:

When I melted them down,

I sure hope that was an outdoor event and that you stayed upwind!

[kpinnc 15,929]

37 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

sure hope that was an outdoor event and that you stayed upwind!

 

Garage door was open and I wore a respirator. 

[peter lena 9,492]

@ri702bill realise its not on subject , c-81 start a penetrating oil soak / or  mineral oil , let it sit for days or more , paint should  darken to the patina stage , would rub run it down with a clean cloth  and more lubrication . would not , scratch pad that at all , darker  base color  / stage , tells you what's left , once its gone , it,s  repaint time . all my stuff is  patina based saved colors . pete

[kpinnc 15,929]

Got a few minutes to finish mine up today so far as welding. Made a test fit just for giggles. 

 

This thing is hard to get situated. I thought I had something crooked until I saw the right side of the nose hitch is bent. Handles or not, the floor jack is a must. It weighs just over 80lbs.

 

Now to figure out how to paint this thing!

 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 14,856]

16 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Now to figure out how to paint this thing!

 

Sometimes I just give up and accept that I cannot support a part accessibly for painting in one session. 😉

[ebinmaine 74,925]

7 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Sometimes I just give up and accept that I cannot support a part accessibly for painting in one session. 😉

 

Trina does that quite often and on purpose.

A little more time consuming. But far easier.

[Lee1977 7,416]

I turned my weight  box up side down and painted the bottom a hitch let it dry then painted the rest.

I  have three tractors that the back side of the sheet metal is painted black with the red on the exposed side.