Homemade loader for Branson tractor

[ptsg]

Thank you Nuno.

The loader is finally done. Or it's 99% done. Just need to touch up the paint here and there.

The painting process came out nice, although the paint we bought doesn't match the tractor paint quite well. Even though we took two parts from the tractor to the paint guys, they still couldn't quite match it right.

I'll eventually do a slideshow video with some machining clips and the pictures from the whole build.

 

[LouNY]

Very nice, beautiful workmanship.
Do I detect a lack of the front mounted bar?
Enjoy using your new loader.

Lou

 

[ptsg]

Thank you again Lou.

Do you mean a cutting edge on the bucket? I do have one. I just beveled and welded a piece of flat bar all the way across. We don't get any snow here, so I don't wear cutting edges that much.

 

[LouNY]

No I was mentioning the front mounted rops originally on your tractor.
I could see where that would be in the way quite often.

 

[ptsg]

Oh that. It's just folded. It folds over the hood. I have a lot of trees here in my home and I can't really do any work with the ROPS up but it's a flat place, no hills or anything like that. 50 miles away, where I put most of the hours on the tractor, is very hilly, so I always run in the ROPS up and I also put it up whenever I'm roading the tractor.

 

[LouNY]

Thats interesting I had no idea that they would fold down like that, certainly makes it more user friendly being able to fold it.

I went back and looked more closely and then I saw it, nice to be that foldable.

 

[ptsg]

It's indeed a very nice feature. With a rear mounted ROPS, even folded, would create me a lot of issues. I can get a much lower profile with this style of ROPS.

 

[Oldpath05]

The color looks good to me but maybe it's because I'm to far away, why is there two controls on valve bank, on e long handle a shorter one?

Could be an optical illusion but the lift ram looks like it could hit that horizontal bar and the only weak point I can see is at the front, maybe the side plates should be bigger.

 

[ptsg]

On the controls, I have a Rexroth 3 spool valve. I believe it came from a Case loader or backhoe. I've converted 2 of the spools to a joystick used for the loader functions, while the third spool has its own lever and controls the winch or also allows me to add a 3rd function to the loader if I ever need it.

It's optical illusion. The cylinders won't hit the horizontal bar, plus when fully retracted, it doesn't get below the top of the bar.



As far as the weak point, it may or may not be, depending on the use but I don't think I'll ever push the loader that hard. If it gives me any problems, I can always add some plates like you drew.

 

[Oldpath05]

Ok so the long lever control's the FEL, great job, you ever use that front winch much? Wow that picture angle really shows the ram clearance...:thumbsup: