Front-End Loader What skid steer attachments WON'T work on a front end loader??

[ArTrvlr]

HCJ's recent post "Anyone used a Markham back hoe (on FEL)?" got me to thinking... Apparently he has ordered a loader with skid steer QA for his tractor and is dreaming about all the SS attachments he will be able to use. The quick response was that the BH is a bad idea. But to broaden the scope of his thread, are there any other attachments designed for a SS that we should NOT consider using on our tractors?

I have been wondering if a trencher attachment would be a good idea. I realize it would require a third function hydraulics (or a hose from a rear remote) to run the hyd. motor that drives the chain. And I have no idea what the GPM requirements are. Beyond that, my thinking is that you would have to be careful not to turn the front wheels and create a side load on the trencher boom. I think you could make a long, sweeping curve, but because of the different geometry of turning while backing up vs. going forward, turns would be more limited, compared to a conventional trencher with the boom mounted on the rear of the machine. Of course when used on a SS you are faced with a similar situation, but they are steering quite differently than a tractor.

So, for the SS trencher, what is the recommendation, Yea or Nea?

And, besides the BH, are there any SS attachments we should NOT consider suing?
jp

 

[HCJ]

ArTrvlr, I'll be watching this post because I was wondering the same thing. Check out the U-Blade attachment that Dapper recommends on the "Favorite QA attachment" forum. It looks pretty cool. I asked him about digging a trench with it and he say it works great for this. I guess it depends on the depth and size of the trench. Of course a dedicated trencher certainly works better for laying electrical line or long pipe, but for an occasionsal need to cut a small trench or ditch, this could be a way cheaper method.

 

[AKfish]

HCJ's recent post "Anyone used a Markham back hoe (on FEL)?" got me to thinking... Apparently he has ordered a loader with skid steer QA for his tractor and is dreaming about all the SS attachments he will be able to use. The quick response was that the BH is a bad idea.
I have been wondering if a trencher attachment would be a good idea. I realize it would require a third function hydraulics (or a hose from a rear remote) to run the hyd. motor that drives the chain. And I have no idea what the GPM requirements are. Beyond that, my thinking is that you would have to be careful not to turn the front wheels and create a side load on the trencher boom. I think you could make a long, sweeping curve, but because of the different geometry of turning while backing up vs. going forward, turns would be more limited, compared to a conventional trencher with the boom mounted on the rear of the machine. Of course when used on a SS you are faced with a similar situation, but they are steering quite differently than a tractor.

So, for the SS trencher, what is the recommendation, Yea or Nea?

And, besides the BH, are there any SS attachments we should NOT consider suing?
jp

My buddy has a Bobcat S250. He wanted to buy the BH attachment. Local dealer let him use it for a week. Guy drops it off and informs him that the BH attachment has the greatest number of injuries/deaths for any attachment that Bobcat makes....!!

He didn't like the performance of the implement - regardless.

I wouldn't attempt to put the SS "dozer" blade on the front end of my tractor's FEL! Depending upon width - the 7' weighs over 1,500lbs - I can only imagine the twisting forces that could be generated with that thing hangin' off the end of the FEL arms and then smackin' into rocks, roots, etc.!

I don't think I spend alot of time considering a mulching head for my SS mounts on my FEL, either. Very heavy and huge GPM needed with lot's of heat for your hydraulic system to digest, too.

As a matter of fact; the constant flow hydraulic SS attachments can create quite of bit of heat for a tractor (or any machine) to dissipate. Including a trencher, post hole auger, etc. And excess heat can lead to early failure.

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[IslandTractor]

Tractor hydraulic pumps are not generally sized the way SS systems are so implements that require high output hydraulics are generally not going to work well on a tractor FEL. For example, hydraulic powered brush cutters or snow blowers would probably not work well. Even the Toolcats which are cousins of the SS come in regular and high output versions and only the high output versions are rated for some of these implements.

 

[deereguy]

The tractors may spec in similiar ways to a skid loader but they aren't designed the same way. For buckets, spears, grapples, blades, and one poster here has a post hole digger and they all seem to work fine but most attachments for a skid loader are designed for a skid loader. I have a 6' Rockhound with the skid quick-attach, it would be great if it worked on he front loader, but I really need a skid loader that lifts a min 2500lbs to be very effective, my JD tractor specs that it does 2400lbs, but anything more than 1800lbs and the rear feels light, even with the BH attached. Other attachments I wouldn't consider for an ag tractor front loader would be a power broom, trencher, or anything that required a constant hydraulic flow, but if your talking about a JD 110 or similiar, that's a diferent ballgame- from what I have read.

 

[Reg]

ANYTHING that fits will fit.
So what ?, just because it "fits" doesn't make it a wise or even SANE idea to try and use it.
Skid steers and tractors are "different", SOME tasks are better suited to one than to the other.
There is SOME overlap in function - again, so what ?

Typically implements needing a lot of hydraulic flow will not perform well on most tractors, unless you add a high volume PTO pump.
Implements that require a lot of PUSH are more likely to fold up a tractor's front end loader than a skid steer.