garden tractor loader

[qwerty15]

I want to build a loader for my jacobsen. What kind of steel should i use? What about bushings and grease zerks? What should the angle on the boom be? Is any design better than another? I was thinking about designing it like kubotas L35. I want the loader linkage to have at least a 4o degree rollback angle. I would also like a lift hight of 6 feet and a lift capacity of 350lbs. The loader is going to stay on the tractor so should i bolt it or weld it on. Any diagrams or close up photos of loaders would be helpful.

 

[PowerMax]

Try cadplans.com for building plans.

Jeff

 

[qwerty15]

ive seen cadplans but dont like the product. seems like they went overkill with all that steel on the loader arms and bucket

 

[RoyJackson]

ive seen cadplans but dont like the product. seems like they went overkill with all that steel on the loader arms and bucket

There's a lot of stresses on a loader. You don't want them to break after a limited number of hours. You also don't want to break the tractor because the loader is too much attachment for it.

If you think CADPLANS are overbuilt, you may be underestimating the stresses that will be generated. And, since they sell their plans and kits, they have to ensure their designs are robust enough to handle the abuse they will surely receive. There are Product Liability issues here as well.

You might want to try some of the lawn tractor web sites. . Per your description, they may have more or better information for you.

I've seen a few Wheelhorse lawn tractors with loaders on 'em (sorry, I don't have the URL's). I thought about putting a loader on a 12 HP Wheelhorse I own, but determined the tractor would not be heavy enough (structurally) to be of much use.
However, that shouldn't stop you. I think your project would be interesting. If you can find some lawn machines that have loaders installed, you can measure the components and do your own design. This would sort of like "reverse engineering".

This would also make an outstanding project in school, if your school has classes in Vocational Technology. If you did it in school, you have the advantage of other persons' (teacher, class mates) help and experience. Reckon you'd have to pay for all the materials though.

BTW, do ya know how to weld?

 

[RanchMan]

<font color=blue>should i bolt it or weld it on</font color=blue>

Can't help you on the specifics regarding design stuff other than to say my vote says definitely to "bolt" it on and not weld. Someday (maybe never, but never say never /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) you may want to take it off (e.g. sell it, something breaks, want to put something else on, etc.) Welding will make that a LOT more difficult. I don't know of any "factory" FELs that aren't bolt on (could be wrong here I suppose though), so there isn't anything wrong with the concept of a bolt on device.

 

[qwerty15]

Maybe i am underestimating the stresses that a loader will put on my tractor. There plans are very expensive also. The cadplans loader doesnt have the rollback angle i am looking for which will make loading the bucket easier.

 

[frank_f15]

there is a lot of thought and design that goes into building a fel, if u don't do everything right it will not work right and could be hard on the machine and hard on youself. not saying it can't be done but be careful if u do it.

 

[PowerMax]

Attached is a picture of a Danco loader that is mounted on a Simplicity 4041. The loader has a full length frame that is bolted on, cross members, resevoir in the left upright, and hydraulic pump driven off of the front PTO. This loader is really built heavy duty and is not a quick detach. Since I no longer own the tractor anymore, I don't have access to spes's in the manual. I seem to recall that the loader weighed 600# and had a lift capacity of around 500#.

Jeff

 

[kyoders]

Is your heart set on a conventional loader? If not, try looking at http://www.Johnnyproducts.com/. He builds dumpable scoops that fit many L&G tractors. I also know that he can make them for a Cat 0 three point hitch, if you have it. I had him build one to put on my ATV with an aftermarket three point hitch. The bucket itself works great, is very well built, and the fit and finish is excellent. The real problem was that my ATV just couldn't deal with that much weight on the hitch (I couldn't get enough weight on the front end to let me steer). If you are looking purely to move material from point A to point B, and can live with a limited lift height, this might be a very economical choice.

I no longer have the URLs, but if you go to yahoo's clubs, there are several L&G ones that talk about loaders, as well as a "home-built" implement one where several people have built them. I think you're going to find the project a bit more expensive than you might think. Unless you already have the hydraulics (pump with enough capacity, cylinders, etc.), you will probably be looking at in excess of $1500.00 in materials to build anything functional. And with the specs you are trying to achieve, probably more.

Try looking for information on John Deere 400 series tractors. JD makes a front-end loader for them, I think it's a model "40", or something like that. When I looked, the going price for them was close to $3,000.00, and the specs aren't up to what you are looking for (I think the lift capacity was only 250lbs). But, it might give you some ideas.

Kevin

 

[bubenberg]

i concur with powermax ..... john at cad plans is a very good eng and an excellent mechanic/welder, i met with him and am impressed how his stuff works and the simplicity, but sturdiness of his products he sells plans and building kits for.

why we went with power trac rather than with cad plans all terrain vehicle is twofold. for just a few hundred dollars more, we had a finished product and availability of 40 pt attachments and possibility of converting many other mini skidloader attachments for our pt400 machine.

and second we are just good enough to weld something together we broke.

cadplans loaders are excellent, if you run into any problems, john over the phone, is very patient to help you with any problems.

good luck with your loaders project.