Great Bend or JD loader?

   / Great Bend or JD loader? #1  

jyoutz

Super Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2000
Messages
6,892
Location
Edgewood, New Mexico
Tractor
Kubota MX6000
I've been considering the purchase of a Great Bend 220 loader for my JD4100. The specs seem to be the same as the JD 410 loader, but the price is $500 less. I will be using the original JD SCV valve and joystick that was factory installed. My dealer tells me that even though he's a Deere dealer, he sells a lot of Great Bend loaders due to price. According to him, he's had no quality complaints, and the only real difference is that the JD loader detatches a little quicker with pins, while the Great Bend requires the removal of 2 bolts. Great Bend is a subsidiary of Bush Hog company. Any thoughts on this? Anyone have a Great Bend loader?
 
   / Great Bend or JD loader? #2  
jyoutz,
For some tractor owners it doesn't matter the name of FEL or backhoe,and price does mean a lot.

I like to keep the same name brand of the tractor on my attachments...but thats just me. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
 
   / Great Bend or JD loader? #3  
I, too, prefer a loader that's the same brand as the tractor; however, Bush Hog and Great Bend have good reputations and make good equipment, so I might have a hard time deciding if there's a $500 price difference.

Bird
 
   / Great Bend or JD loader? #4  
jyoutz,

The JD FEL on my 4700 comes off/on real easy. I would assume the 410 on a 4100 does the same thing. All I have to do is remove a pin, lift a latch, move a lever down, and push the FEL control lever forward. Pretty simple. Harder to describe than do.

If all the other FEL stats are the same I guess it would get down to two things, is it worth $500 to have all Green implements AND easy placement/removal of the FEL?

Only you can decide. :cool:

Hope this helps....
Dan McCarty
 
   / Great Bend or JD loader?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Well, My dealer is going to mount up a GB220 loader on a JD4100 and let me compare to another 4100 with the 410 loader. He says I can operate both of them and test them out on the dirtpile and detatch and attach both models. Pretty good dealer to work with. I'll do this next week and then post my thoughts.
 
   / Great Bend or JD loader?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Well, I thought I would get back to everyone with my info regarding Great Bend loaders. I have a great JD dealer. He made a trip to my house today with a JD4100 with a Great Bend loader installed (he trailered it 125 miles) so that I could see the install and test performance. The GB220 loader is very well constructed and works well with the 4100. Construction seems very durable, lift and dump times are fast. Fits quite well on the tractor too-doesn't seem like the mismatch I have observed on other aftermarket loaders. BUT, LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE BUYING A JD 410 LOADER INSTEAD, EVEN IF IT DOES COST $600 MORE. MAJOR BUMMER- THE GREAT BEND SUBFRAME MOUNTS TO THE SAME FRAME LOCATION AS MY MID-MOUNT MOWER LINKAGE AND IT IS SIMPLY INCOMPATABLE WITH THE MOWER. I don't mind removing the loader to install the mower deck, but I'm not going to pull the subframe and retorque bolts every time I need to switch. The 410 loader can actually be used along with the mower deck installed (not that I would do this-but the subframe is compatable with the mower set-up). For anyone who doesn't need to use a mid-mount mower, I would recommend the GB loader as a very suitable and economical loader choice.
 
 
 
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