2518 rear suitcase weight bracket?
 

I would like to put some suitcase weights on my 2518 to help with plowing. I have 140# (total) wheel weights but need more. I will eventually get around to filling the tires with ballast but would also like suitcase weights.

Does anyone know which would fit my 2518?

The ones I see out there for looks pretty chinsy, not sure if they even fit... They look like they are 1/8" steel!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010OMGNE...a-310347781137

Could I just take a piece of thick plate steel and stick it into channel in the frame rail and bolt it in, angle irons to make the 90 degree and another flat plate for the suitcases to rest on?

Here is a pic of the frame "slots" - I haven't measured the height/width, but some substantial steel would slide in them. I believe this is how my plow bracket is mounted to the front... if I remember right.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EJ1xsjwMe1A/maxresdefault.jpg I believe there may be threaded holes on the other side of those but haven't confirmed.

If you already have 140# of weight..... more likely isn't going to make any difference. If you don't have them, you need chains.

There is a point in which more weight doesn't help. I've ran full fledged farm tractors trying to push snow with an 8' blade. On snow and ice, they just spin. Adding chains and you can do the same thing with less weight.

I run loaded tires and chains. I've added the wheel weights too sometimes, but I can't see that it made any difference. I can do just as well without them. If you have no weight..... sure it makes a difference.

All that said, if you still think you need more weight, it's better to load the tires. I don't like hanging more weight on the frame. You have to carry it with the axle bearings when it hangs on the frame. On the wheel, no stress is added to the machine.

The link you posted to Amazon, those weights are plastic filled with concrete and "shot"/ junk metal. They are about 2.5" wide each. Metal looks thin, but I'm confident it will hold the recommended weight.

Cub sells a weight bracket that should fit your tractor. This is for a 2165, pretty much the same tractor as what you have.

http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/s...rocessARIParts

I have that bracket and 2 suitcase weights on my 2185.
it's only adds about 85lbs

I loaded my tires with WW fluid, got 9 gallons in each tire, about 130-140lbs in weight.

chains are a must have too

OK thanks. That bracket looks a little better than some of the other ones.

Chains I have and the 70# wheel weights but I will think about fluid in the tires. Unfortunately I used Slime to seal 1 of the rear tires so I think anti freeze may loosen up the slime and maybe it starts leaking.

Could be useful just to have around anyway though? I tried to move a small 5' pine with root ball recently and the my front lift could lift it fine , but no traction due to off weighting the rear.

These weights any good? They are saying they are cast iron. Look very similar in dimensions than the plastic Cub Cadet ones.. https://www.homedepot.com/p/John-Dee...itcase+weights

Yes, they are good weights. But they are green and have a Deere logo on them. They weigh the same as the MTD weights.

If you put slime in one tire, then the tire will not be good for fluid. If you fill with fluid, pull the tire, wash out the slime with water. Tube BOTH tires and fill with fluid. Don't use tire slime. It softens the rubber to vulcanize the hole. It basically ruins the inside of the tire. Makes all the inner rubber pasty soft. That stuff should be outlawed.

I ended up getting the weight bracket, found it on sale from mtdparts.com on black friday ($140 shipped).

4 weights. Waiting to be delivered. Will deal with the tires and removing slime and adding glycol but will wait until it gets warmer for that.

The bracket is pretty sturdy - it seems like it is either 3/16 or 1/4 steel.

We got 8" yesterday and the plow is doing pretty well. I think the weights will help a little and will also be good for moving heavy stuff with the bucket, etc.

Weight bracket interferes with the hitch ball unfortunately. Not that big of a deal.

wow! you already are using chains AND 140# of weights and you are still having traction issues? You must have some serious hills you are trying to run.
I wonder at what point you are going to have steering issues. The weights are close to the rear axle but they will still lighten the front a bit

I think part of the problem could be the 10.5" wide rear tires I went with... the driveway is pretty flat but I have gotten stuck on it.. The 8.5's would have been better. Front traction could definitely be an issue if it starts taking weight off the front.

that explains it. Skinny is better in snow.