bam747
Silver Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2004
- Messages
- 200
- Tractor
- John Deere 4720 (2007)
I need some advice on choosing a FEL bucket width versus the total width of the rear tires on a tractor.
I have a 1973 vintage 2WD John Deere 1020 utility tractor with a John Deere model 48 FEL rated in its manual at 2,200 lbs of lift capacity. It came with a 60" wide bucket although the manual does list both 72" and 84" wide buckets as options.
The tractor has 16.9-24 tires and I have the rear tire tread width set at its practical minimum. Even so, the outside width of the rear tires is about 76".
This combination has worked OK with the exception of having to dig through very deep wet snow drifts that can't be bladed out of the way with the rear blade. In this situation, the rear tires end up digging through unplowed snow.
Realistically, with a set of chains on the rear tires, I've always been able to bash my way through this situation using he "push, turn, lift, and pile to the side" technique when needed. The problem with the chains is that they will severely mark up asphalt or concrete driveways whenever the tires spin.
I am contemplating replacing the 60" bucket with a new 78" replacement bucket. The reason I'm looking at a 78" bucket rather than the more common 72" bucket is that I want the new bucket width to completely cover the total width of the rear tires in a straight ahead situation.
I believe this will be a big improvement when digging in snow since the rear tires will not be digging through unplowed snow and this will provide enough of an improvement in traction that I will not have to use chains and therefore will not do as much damage to asphalt or concrete.
I know that if I bought a new tractor with FEL today, I'd be dang sure to get a bucket that covers the tires on the tractor at a reasonable tread width setting. Well, that, and it'd for sure have 4WD! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Since it appears I'll have to spend around $1500 for a replacement bucket, I'm hoping to get a real warm fuzzy feeling that it will make a significant improvement in my snow handling situation before making the commitment.
Does anyone have any experience or recomendations for this situation?
I have a 1973 vintage 2WD John Deere 1020 utility tractor with a John Deere model 48 FEL rated in its manual at 2,200 lbs of lift capacity. It came with a 60" wide bucket although the manual does list both 72" and 84" wide buckets as options.
The tractor has 16.9-24 tires and I have the rear tire tread width set at its practical minimum. Even so, the outside width of the rear tires is about 76".
This combination has worked OK with the exception of having to dig through very deep wet snow drifts that can't be bladed out of the way with the rear blade. In this situation, the rear tires end up digging through unplowed snow.
Realistically, with a set of chains on the rear tires, I've always been able to bash my way through this situation using he "push, turn, lift, and pile to the side" technique when needed. The problem with the chains is that they will severely mark up asphalt or concrete driveways whenever the tires spin.
I am contemplating replacing the 60" bucket with a new 78" replacement bucket. The reason I'm looking at a 78" bucket rather than the more common 72" bucket is that I want the new bucket width to completely cover the total width of the rear tires in a straight ahead situation.
I believe this will be a big improvement when digging in snow since the rear tires will not be digging through unplowed snow and this will provide enough of an improvement in traction that I will not have to use chains and therefore will not do as much damage to asphalt or concrete.
I know that if I bought a new tractor with FEL today, I'd be dang sure to get a bucket that covers the tires on the tractor at a reasonable tread width setting. Well, that, and it'd for sure have 4WD! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Since it appears I'll have to spend around $1500 for a replacement bucket, I'm hoping to get a real warm fuzzy feeling that it will make a significant improvement in my snow handling situation before making the commitment.
Does anyone have any experience or recomendations for this situation?