Metal fatigue/ stress crack in a 1520 loader

[Phillip w]

You right it is getting cracks everywhere. Pretty sad. The only fix is a new bucket or start cutting some plates say 3/16 or 1/4 to weld in there to patch and reinforce it. I don't think simple welding it will do the trick. The thing seems pretty flimsy. I think it is made with 10 gauge metal which is about 1/8 inch. My koker loader on my other tractor it is kind of a Hercules. It bolts to the tractor using bolt the take 1 1/8 inch socket. Lots of heavy framing and bracing. It has quite a bit of 1/4, 5/16 3/8 and 1/2 inch material in it. In short you don't worry about that loader, just the front axle on the tractor

 

[CalG]

Buckets come in various duty ratings. Light to heavy duty. You can pretty much tell by comparing weight which is which. Depending on application, buckets are pretty much "wear items".
You had it when you made the reference to the owner with small acreage.

The 1520 is marketed to just that population. A group where a light bucket offers some "sales" advantage due to the limited lifting capacity of the overall package.

You can get heavier duty buckets I'm sure.

 

[CADplans]

Have you ever used that bucket to drag a gravel driveway?
Or any other use that would cause LOTS of vibration?

Those cracks look like the type of failure that results from vibration.

The only "fix" is to move the frequency of vibration.
The easiest way to change the vibration frequency is to change material thickness.

 

[Phillip w]

That loader has done about everything. Dig up water lines, scoop manure, back drag rock and dirt, pull fence post, lift and load things, haul square bales of hay etc etc etc. That is the life of a loader on the farm. Obviously this tractor belongs in the city and not on the farm. Very very sad and the dealer pitch how good this tractor was and then could not understand why I don't want a 1700 series

 

[Phillip w]

Ps. Changing material thickness should have been an agco.engineers job before it rolled out of the factory,.

 

[CalG]

Good luck with your next purchase. All the new ones are going for "light weight". The profits are higher if there are savings in material costs.

I suggest you negotiate with your next dealer on a heavy duty bucket from the get go.

In fact, For about $1000 , you could fit one on the tractor you have.

WIN WIN, in that you wouldn't take the beating on trade in. ;-)

 

[Phillip w]

Nice idea, but the tractor is worse than the loader. System failures multiple times. This tractor has an extremely weak front axle, an extremely weak pto, and other issues. This is by no means a rugged tractor as billed to me. This tractor belongs in town. If you can't get 8000- 10000 hours out of a tractor, it ain't much of a tractor.

 

[TSO]

That loader has done about everything. Dig up water lines, scoop manure, back drag rock and dirt, pull fence post, lift and load things, haul square bales of hay etc etc etc. That is the life of a loader on the farm. Obviously this tractor belongs in the city and not on the farm. Very very sad and the dealer pitch how good this tractor was and then could not understand why I don't want a 1700 series

I think you're being a tad bit unreasonable... To say "this tractor belongs in the city and not on the farm" suggests that you think a small, 2500 lb tractor with a loader only rated at 960 lbs, should be considered a dedicated farm tractor. I mean, what would you expect in a loader that small? If you put a heavy duty bucket that weighs 500 lbs on it, you've just cut your lift capacity in half. Shoot, i have a spare 66" heavy duty SkidSteer bucket I'll sell to you for $500 if you're interested. But as soon as you try to lift a load of dirt, you won't be able to get it up.

Point is, a thinner, lighter duty bucket is appropriate for that light duty compact Tractor. It's like buying a Ford Ranger and then expecting it to handle pulling 14000 pounds all the time... Instead of just buying an F350 to begin with. It's not Fords fault if you stress the Rangers frame while asking if to perform like an F350.

 

[CalG]

Nice idea, but the tractor is worse than the loader. System failures multiple times. This tractor has an extremely weak front axle, an extremely weak pto, and other issues. This is by no means a rugged tractor as billed to me. This tractor belongs in town. If you can't get 8000- 10000 hours out of a tractor, it ain't much of a tractor.

Look at the SAME Runner
D-F Agro-Kid tractors for your next compact.

But choose the loader carefully. The Allied Buhler is OK, but nothing special.

 

[Phillip w]

Please elaborate, I'm unfamiliar