Counter weight? - forgive my ignorance please

[Brent_Baumer 5]

I see in the johnny bucket post, as well as a few other posts over the last couple years, references to using a rear counter weight to aid in lifting front mounted attachment. I can see how it would help traction, but how would it help you to lift? I pull back on the lift lever to raise all attachments, no matter if front, belly or rear. Seems to me adding weight on the rear would only increase the amount of force required to pull the lift lever back thereby raising the front attachment. What am I not seeing here???? Guess I should try it and find out. Brent

[MikeES 469]

You are correct it will not help on the 3300,3400,7000,7100 Sims and the 700 and 900 ACs. It works on the pre 1971 tractors with the direct connect lift (without cables). Those tractors you lift the rear attacments by pushing the lever forward. Mike S.

[SmilinSam 4,245]

By golly Brent you are right! I wasn't thinking properly about the setup on the post 1970 tractors. MPH's comment on the Johnny Bucket post caught me off gaurd.

[Brent_Baumer 5]

Thanks Mike. Not fortunate enough to own any older than '74. No wonder I didn't understand. Brent

[Roy 0]

I think it will work on my AC B-1 that has a solid rod to rear hitch. The litt lever moves forward to drop the dozer blade and picks up the rear hitch. When the lift lever is pulled back to raise the blade a rear weight should help lift the blade. My Simplicity 700 or 725 works the same way. Roy.

[BillC 0]

The rear mounted counterweight will work the same whether the tractor has a solid bar or a cable to the rear hitch.

[ScottS 0]

A question asked is never ignorance. I have collected many old body building weights and have used them for several applications. I'm sure you'll find many uses and they sure are cheaper than buying the originals made by mfg'rs. Note..Make sure you use a long enough piece of shaft to be able to add or subtract the number of weights for varied applications. If you use a "jamb" collar on both sides of weights you can slide them up or down the shaft for fine tuned counter-weight adjustments. Have a happy holiday season.

[SmilinSam 4,245]

Brent, As Bill stated, I think I read somewhere that the rear lift can be used for a counter weight by relocating the cable to the other hole on the lift handle cross shaft (haven't tried it myself yet). However, one of my tractors has a different type cross shaft than my others, and different from what is illustrated in the parts book (only one hole).