QA or bucket attached - that is the question?

[some zilch]

you can buy used ssqa forks from equipment rental yards all day long. i bought mine from a rental place, they are bobcat brand, and used. paint was beat up, but the frame was straight, the forks slid on their tracks, and for $300 i couldnt complain

 

[wolc123]

My JD 4120 came with a JD version of QA, and forks are available direct from JD and from a few aftermarket locations for prices similar to those for standard QA forks. But, I also need forks only about 6 times a year, so getting a set would be financially irresponsible. I found that making my own forks was the best option. I simply cut a couple lengths of heavy angle iron that I had out behind the barn and drilled a couple holes in the bucket (zero cost). The "forks" bolt to the holes already in the front edge, and the two new holes, onto the bottom of the bucket. They have got the job done for me every time I have needed them. I guess I could now be $1000 or so poorer, to save maybe 15 minutes a year by buying a seperate attachment. I use them mostly for lifting logs, but I also use them to lift the cap on and off my pickup by attaching a couple wood "spears" to the forks. That saves my wife's back as I used to need her help every time I wanted that cap on or off the truck. My JD does have the heavy duty bucket and I doubt this setup would work with a standard duty bucket. I am still glad I have the JD QA bucket however, as I like to drop the bucket when using the tractor for its primary task - bush-hogging fields. This leaves the tractor better ballasted with the big, heavy, 6-ft mower on the back than it would be if the whole loader was removed, yet eliminates all the "bounce" that occurs when the bucket is on. Also, it provides forward visibility nearly as good as if the whole loader was removed. One thing I find on this site is that other folks are quick to spend your money (get a cab, get the biggest hp, get a hydro, etc.). At least spending that money might give the economy a boost it sorely needs right now. Me, I am real happy with lots of extra cash and a gear trans, properly sized, open-station tractor, and without any unnecessary attachments.

 

[jinman]

I'll bet I know the answer ... but I have to ask anyway.

My L3400 did not come with a QA adapter. Dealer I purchased from did not know one was available. Of course one is and will run me ~500$ now, + ~$125 for a QA plate for my bucket + some time in the workshop doing a welding project which I don't mind at all.

I'm pondering some forks as I've run into a few cases where I think they would be handy. I'm not lifting vast quantities of pallets of anything to full height. Forks would just be convenient the 1/2 dozen or so times a year I might need them.

All the stuff is pricing out pretty expensive though for something I only need a few times a year and manage to work around with chains and such.

Some day I would like to upgrade my tractor and so I would like to limit the money I put into it as I doubt I will ever get it back. Realistically the day of the upgrade is not looking like it is anytime soon. My tractor has done everything I can ask of it. A cab would be nice, but I've gotten by just fine without it so far. I'd say a new tractor is at LEAST 5 years out.

I priced out some QA forks and they were $900! So Forks + QA adapter + bracket = ~1500+. I might add a front hay spear to that (~500-600 bucks).

I can pick up a set of bucket attached forks and spear for quite a bit less I think and I figure I could resell them some day if I went to a new tractor. Forks and a spear for the bucket would likely fit nicely into a $800-900 budget.

Thoughts?

My opinion may not be popular, but I don't think you need to spend the money. If you don't know what you'd use the qa for beyond what you've described, you can get a set of clamp-on or chain binder attachment forks for your bucket and a bale spear for your 3PH. If you wanted to add a grapple, another bucket, blade, snowplow or blower, or other attachment, I would be the first to say you should switch. However, you have a workable solution for everything you mentioned and can add the spear and forks for about $750 if you pay a premium price. I think you should be able to add both for $500. My first rule of addons is that I must have a use for them. Adding attachments and then looking for a use is backwards in my opinion. I have a QA and many attachments, but I would still have a pin-on bucket if I had not had specific uses for my QA.

 

[Adiredneck]

I'll bet I know the answer ... but I have to ask anyway.


Thoughts?

My dad helped me grind off my bucket flanges 1 1/2 yrs ago. It took 6 hours to strip the flanges off and weld the new q/a plate on and pin on the new adapter.

This spring, my father was using my tractor to move some logs around with the q/a forks. My dad, who is one of the cheapest men on the planet said "this was one of the best things WE did to YOUR tractor".

I also got the light duty 42" Bradco's rated at 2500#'s for $575.

I find myself piling stuff on pallets, like concrete blocks, lumber, etc to keep them off the ground, and to move them around easier.

If I am working in the woods and I think I'll need both the bucket and the forks, I just lift up the bucket with the forks and bring both with me.

One of the best things I have done. I now own a 6' snowplow with q/a bracket.

 

[canoetrpr]

I finally bit the bullet on this. I'm starting a small hobby Galloway cattle herd. I'm sinking more money on this hobby than anything I could have imagined.

I decided that I needed a bale spear to lift the rounds into bale feeders. Decided I might as well get the SSQA adapter for that and added on the forks as a bonus (some justification was required - forks needed to move feeders around from time to time).

Bought the two prong type spear and forks with 48" tines from a local outfit that competes with Horst et. al. The quality looks fantastic and the price was right for around here. I've left my bucket with them as they are going to take off the brackets and weld on a QA plate for me.

I feel a bit silly for having to pay them for the shop time to convert my bucket for me when I have a perfectly good Millermatic sitting there that has been looking for a project. Unfortunately I tried to get into the brackets with my 4.5" angle grinder and a cutting disk and decided that the cutting would have taken way too much time. Perhaps I should have had the cattle justify a torch as well . I had to stop somewhere however.

Anyway - I can't believe I didn't get these sooner! especially the forks. Lifting stuff out of my truck is a BREEZE! Today I am going to lift my 300 lb dog box which I have in my bed. I never dared taking that out before and always regretted not having my full bed when I needed it for something.

 

[magicheater]

My opinion may not be popular, but I don't think you need to spend the money. Adding attachments and then looking for a use is backwards in my opinion. I have a QA and many attachments, but I would still have a pin-on bucket if I had not had specific uses for my QA.

I'm with you on this. I have a couple of loader attachments and no SSQA for the loader. What I do have is Loader Buddy on my loader and find I can accomplish almost all of my work with it. I do have a grapple but seldom use it. I built a set of three point forks for my tractor which pretty much stays on all the time and has a clip on back blade that fits when the forks are off. The design shortens up the footprint of the tractor, handy in the woods, while still giving back blade versatility. I also put down pressure on it which allows establishing grade. You can see the forks in the pic and also see the original prototype of Loader Buddy lifting a log. more loader buddy pics

 

[TomWhite]

I built a set of three point forks for my tractor which pretty much stays on all the time and has a clip on back blade that fits when the forks are off.

Can you explain the "clip on" blade, or do you have a picture?

 

[magicheater]

Can you explain the "clip on" blade, or do you have a picture?

I do not have a pic as the blade is snowed in and I have the winter set-up on the tractor. I will try to explain. When you take the forks off you are left with the 1/2" plate and rails, (back plate). I took an old back blade, welded some angle iron on for stiffening and created a cradle for the back plate and welded side keepers on. I welded a piece of angle iron on the back side of the blade, up high so when I extend my top cylinder out the back plate contacts it. Now I am contacting the back blade up high and down low. I configured a set of brackets on either side of the back plate, tractor side so not to interfere with the forks when they were on. A corresponding set of brackets on the blade and now the blade clips on with two pins, I used 3/4" ones. I welded a couple of pipes to act as holders for the pins on the back of the back plate when the blade was not in use. It is amazingly solid and very easy to put on, the shorter footprint of the tractor is VERY desireable and you still have the extra weight in back. I will get some pics when I can.

 

[MotorSeven]

I went from fixed on my 30 hp tractor to the QA on the 40hp. I have a bucket, forks & spear.....they all get used a lot. I would hate to go back to the fixed bucket & bucket forks...no comparison.
Shop around for some better prices or used attachments, but you won't ever regret going QA.

RD

 

[TomWhite]

I do not have a pic as the blade is snowed in and I have the winter set-up on the tractor. I will try to explain. When you take the forks off you are left with the 1/2" plate and rails, (back plate). I took an old back blade, welded some angle iron on for stiffening and created a cradle for the back plate and welded side keepers on. I welded a piece of angle iron on the back side of the blade, up high so when I extend my top cylinder out the back plate contacts it. Now I am contacting the back blade up high and down low. I configured a set of brackets on either side of the back plate, tractor side so not to interfere with the forks when they were on. A corresponding set of brackets on the blade and now the blade clips on with two pins, I used 3/4" ones. I welded a couple of pipes to act as holders for the pins on the back of the back plate when the blade was not in use. It is amazingly solid and very easy to put on, the shorter footprint of the tractor is VERY desireable and you still have the extra weight in back. I will get some pics when I can.

Oh, OK. So it is something you created, yourself. I though it was something you had bought.