kthompson
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2008
- Messages
- 3,497
- Location
- South Carolina
- Tractor
- Kubotas B2710, M6800, L6060 cab, Volvo EC excavator, 2 ZTRs and various implements.
I bought a JD 5525 with a 541 loader (used) July of 2015. First loader for me and used it a good moving and loading dirt. Enjoyed it reasonable well but there were a few things that were not sweet spots to me. On Oct 8th we were hit by Hurricane Matthew which brought us lots of rain and many many down large trees. Of all the hurricanes in my life time the first one to put a tree on anyone's house was then. My mother in law's house had tree that had one large limb come totally through the roof even the ceiling but very fortunate as it was not inside the enclosed house but a breeze way. Still felt urgent need to remove it and did but in the process twisted my 541 loader to where it had to be replaced. Ended with a new 240 as the 541 is no longer being made and not happy about the having to fork out the money very happy with the differences in the two. Some are design differences and two are option differences. The reason I am doing this not sure where but I read a thread somewhere very negative on the loader and caused me some concern till I saw what they complain about and think they are making an issue where there is no issue.
What I read concern about was the platform for connecting the hoses and how it was position to easy tear it off. My tractor tires are on 6 foot spacing but that mount is totally protected by the tires. If it gets damaged on my tractor then the tractor is in a place it should never be. It is heavy enough any vine I have ever seen would not stand up to it and in our southern trees we have some big vines or at least two inch if not three inch diameter. This set up is so much better than under the tractor where they were. On the quick disconnect under the tractor you had to tie the hoses up to prevent them hanging low and really being exposed to getting caught on stump, limb or such. If you only run in clean areas no issue with either, sorry mine works as has been pointed out with trees also. It is so much easier to use than under the belly is. Especially if in mud or water.
I had asked questions on installing a camera to see the position of the bucket and know it was option on the 541 but buying used did not have one but the 240 is it standard (boy the price to buy as parts was costly!). I do like the coil wrap they use for it prevents rod being jammed by trash falling into a tube and you can see how low the rod is. I am still getting use to this.
The self leveling bucket option which my 541 did not, I really like. One less thing to worry about as you are lifting a load and moving helps you keep your eyes on tractor movement and not having to watch the angle of the bucket for the lift. Do not suggest you never do a visual check on the load with this option for some loads will shift and can roll out even with level bucket. It does not replace "thinking". Do realize it adds a few inches to the height of the loader boom which does interfere with vision some. If memory is correct a $700 price but an option I strongly recommend after using it once. Sure beats dumping any load on the hood or worse a load that could roll out the bucket onto you.
One thing on the 541 and the 5525 that I wondered and wondered about over and over was where do you put a tool box. There was no where to unless you made a mount to bolt to the fel mount which had angle iron on it you could use but was on angle so custom mount was required. The 240 comes with a good size tool box platform. Some of you know what the tool box is and it I think will prove to be great. It is a 50 caliber ammo box. Bought on sale at TSC for about $12 right before Christmas and then one can of JD Green. I like it being weather proof to keep even dust out. Now that does bring a tight light to open and close but a reasonable price to keep weather out.
Have not dropped it yet but the legs are mounted to the fel and not removed and placed inside the cross tube as on the 541 which to me was decent but there was the possibility of one coming lose and being lost or damaged. Never had an issue with one coming loose and would say would only happen if you totally failed to properly store it. Almost missed it the cross tube is lower helping with front vision at times.
This hit every thing about the 541 I had that I was not pleased with. Can not tell you I notice any quicker cycle times but per JD specs are but when operating the fel, speedy I am not. The FEL mount that bolts onto the tractor may look like the one for a 5431 but it is not the same. Difference in diameter of one of the pins used is my understanding. As to JD specs between the two if memory holds in most specs it out performed the 541 but seems there was one they did not.
If my 541 had not gotten damaged would I have made the change...if I had know the difference in the two and had a good used 541 to sell leaving me a couple of thousand to pull out of my pocket, yes. Had not damaged my 541 would not have thought about it at all. Just put up with those four issues. One disappointment with the 240, JD did not get coat of paint on the inside of the cross tube fully but I handled that. Oh yeah, that new fel sure made the whole rig look sharper as the 541 had fine rust coat to it.
What I read concern about was the platform for connecting the hoses and how it was position to easy tear it off. My tractor tires are on 6 foot spacing but that mount is totally protected by the tires. If it gets damaged on my tractor then the tractor is in a place it should never be. It is heavy enough any vine I have ever seen would not stand up to it and in our southern trees we have some big vines or at least two inch if not three inch diameter. This set up is so much better than under the tractor where they were. On the quick disconnect under the tractor you had to tie the hoses up to prevent them hanging low and really being exposed to getting caught on stump, limb or such. If you only run in clean areas no issue with either, sorry mine works as has been pointed out with trees also. It is so much easier to use than under the belly is. Especially if in mud or water. I had asked questions on installing a camera to see the position of the bucket and know it was option on the 541 but buying used did not have one but the 240 is it standard (boy the price to buy as parts was costly!). I do like the coil wrap they use for it prevents rod being jammed by trash falling into a tube and you can see how low the rod is. I am still getting use to this. The self leveling bucket option which my 541 did not, I really like. One less thing to worry about as you are lifting a load and moving helps you keep your eyes on tractor movement and not having to watch the angle of the bucket for the lift. Do not suggest you never do a visual check on the load with this option for some loads will shift and can roll out even with level bucket. It does not replace "thinking". Do realize it adds a few inches to the height of the loader boom which does interfere with vision some. If memory is correct a $700 price but an option I strongly recommend after using it once. Sure beats dumping any load on the hood or worse a load that could roll out the bucket onto you. One thing on the 541 and the 5525 that I wondered and wondered about over and over was where do you put a tool box. There was no where to unless you made a mount to bolt to the fel mount which had angle iron on it you could use but was on angle so custom mount was required. The 240 comes with a good size tool box platform. Some of you know what the tool box is and it I think will prove to be great. It is a 50 caliber ammo box. Bought on sale at TSC for about $12 right before Christmas and then one can of JD Green. I like it being weather proof to keep even dust out. Now that does bring a tight light to open and close but a reasonable price to keep weather out.Have not dropped it yet but the legs are mounted to the fel and not removed and placed inside the cross tube as on the 541 which to me was decent but there was the possibility of one coming lose and being lost or damaged. Never had an issue with one coming loose and would say would only happen if you totally failed to properly store it. Almost missed it the cross tube is lower helping with front vision at times.
This hit every thing about the 541 I had that I was not pleased with. Can not tell you I notice any quicker cycle times but per JD specs are but when operating the fel, speedy I am not. The FEL mount that bolts onto the tractor may look like the one for a 5431 but it is not the same. Difference in diameter of one of the pins used is my understanding. As to JD specs between the two if memory holds in most specs it out performed the 541 but seems there was one they did not.
If my 541 had not gotten damaged would I have made the change...if I had know the difference in the two and had a good used 541 to sell leaving me a couple of thousand to pull out of my pocket, yes. Had not damaged my 541 would not have thought about it at all. Just put up with those four issues. One disappointment with the 240, JD did not get coat of paint on the inside of the cross tube fully but I handled that. Oh yeah, that new fel sure made the whole rig look sharper as the 541 had fine rust coat to it.
