Front end slab weights

[Tony730]

Recently I purchased 5 slab weights from a tractor parts place in northern Indiana. I got them home and I had them sandblasted and I primed and painted them. I found out quickly they are not Deere made plates. They don't stack against each other well at all and they are different sizes between each other and don't look decent. So I am going to return them all. The 3 I do have from the beginning have the part number that starts with an R. And they are the correct P/n from Deere. And they fit together perfectly and look decent. The ones I got from the tractor parts place have no numbers and my guess is they are foundary slab plates. I know of a guy who is selling plates that have RE and the P/n on them. Are they Deere slab plates? If they aren't, will they fit together against my plates and are they the same size? How many different company made these slab plates?

 

[larryanderson]

Most factory weights always start with an R.Front slabs and starters seem to be going up in value and bring about the same as newer front suitcase weights.Seems like B&H foundry was one company and they are usually found at the bottom of a stack if buying and you are correct they usually don't fit quite right.If noticed they bring about 50% less.

 

[JD Seller]

In the 1960s and 1970s there where hundreds of small foundries that made JD "knock off' weights. You could turn cast steel that is worth maybe $500 a ton (then) to weights that are worth $1000 a ton. Good profit margin.

I have rear weights with over ten different companies names on them. Some are just as good as the JD weights. Some look like concrete as they are such a rough casting. Unless you making a show queen a weight is weight. I like the off brand rear weights they sell cheaper. So put them in the middle or against the casting and you can hardly tell them apart.

Since yours do not fit correctly then return them and makes sure and get the JD weight your wanting. The front slab weights are going up in values but are still not that high a price.