3PH Loader Bucket

srjones · Jan 16, 2007

Before anyone asks, "Why would you put a loader bucket on the 3PH," let me give some background. Since getting my tractor a year ago and fabricating a FEL 3PH Quick hitch, I've only had the bucket on a small fraction of the time. So, the time has come for me to figure out a way that the loader bucket will fit to a 3PH quick attach.

I think I have a design, but I want to get some feedback from the forum.

1. Base for the bottom hitch links is a 48" x 1" cold rolled steel bar. If I can find them, I'll put case hardened sleeves on the points where the bottom links lift.

2. Wanting to do the minimum amount of alterations to the bucket, I've decided on a welding a bracket on the top lip of the bucket. This will be the anchoring point for the 3PH attachement assembly. In addition it will provide an anchor point for some *light* duty pulling and/or tie downs. I haven't decided on 3/16" x 3" flat bar or 3/16"x 3"x3" angle iron. If I go with the angle, it will spread the stress on a much larger area.

3. What I haven't quite figured out is if the qa will stay in the plane that is parallel to the original geometry of the bucket, or will rest on the top edge of the bucket.

Thoughts?

Brad_Blazer · Jan 20, 2007

You are using the lower pin positions, why not use all 4? Are you planning on using the bucket on the front or back? On the front I think it will be a weak, sloppy connection compared to being pinned on. Bobcat style is the way to go there. On the back it will be a handy carry-all or even do more if you have a hyd. top link.

Just my 2c

Brad

DocHeb · Jan 20, 2007

Be careful - the three point linkages on tractors are designed to be stressed in tension, not compression. There have been multiple posts in the past showing bent 3PH hardware from using the tractors backwards against resistance.

john_bud · Jan 20, 2007

The 3/16 metal for the top link is no where near strong enough!

Use some 1/2" thick by 2 1/2" wide material. Bend them into an L shape and weld them to a plate that is 3/16 thick (minimum) and 6" wide (Use same width as the angled part of the bucket) and 2' long. They are your top link mounts. Weld that plate to the angled back of the bucket. Inside the bucket weld as piece of 3/16 x1 1/4 angle under the L brackets along the entire width of the bucket. If you don't the bucket will become quickly bent in any kind of real use.

jb

m7040 · Jan 20, 2007

I have Bradco 3 point to quick attach plate that allows me to attach anything to the rear that has quick attach mounting such as the pallet forks and bucket. Also having hyraulic top link makes it easy to use

srjones · Jan 20, 2007

Wow...I thought this thread was forgotten...

Brad,
My first thought was to use all 4 pin holes, but I abandoned the idea because I thought it would put too much stress on the top set of pins. That, and the pins are about 8" apart whereas the top link is about 18" from the bottom links of the 3PH. The bucket will be used mainly on the front QA, but there will be sometimes where it go on the back QA. In either case, the tolerances will fairly tight to minimize slop.

Doc_Heb,
Thanks for tension/compression reminder. When the bucket is mounted to the rear 3PH it would only be used small cargo carrier like Brad suggested. If I can get ahold of a much bigger bucket, I would do something similar as well.

John,
I think I understand what you're saying, but then again I'm not completely sure. Here's what I'm struggling with. Right now, on each side of the bucket there are 2 3"x3/16" plates which connect all 4 pins. Essentially, I'd be moving the stresses of the two top pins to the center. I could be completely off base, but I would think it would make no difference or possibly be stronger having 3 points spread in a 18'x28" triangle rather than a 40"x8" rectangle.

Sometimes I think I should have majored in mechanical engineering so I have a better handle on this stuff

BTW, I should have mentioned, this is the M104 loader for a Mahindra 2015HST. If it was a bigger tractor, I'd certainly be thinking more steel.

m7040,
Getting remote hydraulics would open a world of possiblilites for me (including a hydraulic top link)

JoeL4330 · Jan 21, 2007

m7040 said:
I have Bradco 3 point to quick attach plate that allows me to attach anything to the rear that has quick attach mounting such as the pallet forks and bucket. Also having hyraulic top link makes it easy to use

I do not see such an adaptor listed at the Bradco site ...can you provide some detail/pix

thnx

john_bud · Jan 22, 2007

srjones said:
Wow...I thought this thread was forgotten...
John,
I think I understand what you're saying, but then again I'm not completely sure. Here's what I'm struggling with. Right now, on each side of the bucket there are 2 3"x3/16" plates which connect all 4 pins. Essentially, I'd be moving the stresses of the two top pins to the center. I could be completely off base, but I would think it would make no difference or possibly be stronger having 3 points spread in a 18'x28" triangle rather than a 40"x8" rectangle.

)

See attached (really poorly drawn) picture.

jb