DIYSS BROS Crane Ballast Weights - Can't Believe It Was This Simple - Model Care

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DIYSS BROS Crane Ballast Weights - Can't Believe It Was This Simple

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Don L

Posted: Monday, November 21, 2016 5:15:34 PM

Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member

Joined: 8/11/2016
Posts: 200
Location: Orlando, FL

Here is another Do It Yourself Simple Stuff (a.k.a. DIYSS BROS) project for adding crane ballast weight. I can't believe it was this simple.

Honestly, before I stumbled on the right size and shape of lead that would work on the cranes I have, I wasted several dollars. I also now have about 40 pounds of lead weights laying around now the house. So I am sharing this tip in the hopes that someone else may benefit from my learning mistakes. Again, this is beginner stuff... but then again, I AM a beginner so it's all I have to offer. Teeth

Normally, I practice the tips and tricks that I learn in the DHS forum on cheap(er) cranes. That way when I screw up, it is not a huge financial loss. I have been kit-bashing some old Conrad Liebherr HS 8xx cranes, and during that process I decided to see if I could add some extra ballast to these cranes.

It turns out that 6oz size flat no-roll lead sinkers worked out really well.

You can see the weight lay perfectly against the side walls inside the crane body. The only thing you have to watch out for is not to block the holes for the drum turning tools. I secured the weights with hot glue, and since no one will ever see these, I decided to be very liberal and extra tacky with the glue application. Teeth

With the weights inserted, this Conrad Liebherr HS 881 passes my ballast test. This is the lowest angle I have ever been able to lower any of my cranes, and this is with a 6 oz weight tied on it. The boom can go even lower, but the rear starts to tip past this angle.

Don L

Posted: Monday, November 21, 2016 5:16:39 PM

Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member

Joined: 8/11/2016
Posts: 200
Location: Orlando, FL

OK, it's graduation time now. Let's try this out these weights on an expensive "big boy".

I plan to significantly extend a Manitowoc 16000 executive edition crane that I am in the process of assembling, so I will need significant ballast. I have some extra 16000 counterweights to use, but I also wanted to see if I could also add some lead to the ballast trays.

Using a Dremel tool to notch the 6 oz flat no-roll sinker weight (so it would fit around the screw post), the 6 oz weight fit perfectly into the 16000 ballast tray. It actually wedged in so nicely so that I did not need to use any glue to secure it.

I have not seen a ballast weight kit for sale for the 16000, so this is my "poor man's ballast weight kit." It worked so well, that I plan to replicate this on my other 16000 as well, when I decide to assemble it.

Obviously, I could have filled the ballast tray up with round split shot lead sinkers and poured a ton of hot glue in the tray, but I thought this was a much cleaner way to add ballast to my 16000. Also, it will be easier to remove, if/when Weiss Bros. actually does manufacture and sell a ballast weight kit that will fit precisely into the 16000 ballast tray.

Hope this helps.

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