Loader 60" bucket on 26 Max XLT?

[Ben in VA]

I put a "bolt-on" grapple on my original 54" bucket (required allot of welding and totally a subject for another post). Long-story-short, I'm wanting to cut the sides out of the 54" bucket, reinforce, and make a true grapple bucket out of it.

I have found a new 60" Kubota SSQA bucket locally for a good price, but am a little worried about the extra capacity and subsequent weight.

Have any of you folks ever put a larger than stock bucket on a 26 MAX XLT, 26 Max XL, or 28 MAX? If so, any problems? 6" isn't much width difference until it is full of wet gravel.

Thanks,

 

[RNeumann]

60" bucket on 26 Max XLT?

If you are lifting feathers or mulch it will work great. Otherwise the goal with a grapple on a small machine is light weight (read small or narrow). This way you can actually lift rocks and logs.

 

[atsah]

I put a 60 inch CA bucket on my SCUT and for most things it worked perfectly.. If I was moving gravel or something really heavy I would take a smaller bite, it's nice to have the bigger but digging and taking a full bite of something heavy was a problem.. For my needs moving firewood, a little gravel, loam, mulch etc, worked great..

 

[Browneyesvictim]

I put a "bolt-on" grapple on my original 54" bucket (required allot of welding and totally a subject for another post). Long-story-short, I'm wanting to cut the sides out of the 54" bucket, reinforce, and make a true grapple bucket out of it.

Please do tell! I would love to add a grapple to my Max. Any regrets on going the "bolt-on" route vs an actual grapple? How did you go about the 3rd function?
I'm about to pull the trigger on the Everything Attachments 55" Root Grapple with the W.R. Long 3rd function. I'm on the fence about leaving it a pinned connection vs converting to SSQA in the process.

If you cut the sides out of the bucket, I'm going to venture to say you will need additional support added back in somewhere. There's strength in those bucket sides.

 

[Ben in VA]

Browneysvictim,

I do have a regret. I wish I had gotten a true 48" grapple bucket instead of doing the bolt-on. I have the quick attach system and I thought that it would be easier to get the grapple on-off the bucket than it is. First, there is welding required to "bolt-on" the WR Long "bolt-on grapple" to the 54" MAX bucket. Also would not have worked if I didn't have a replaceable cutting edge that makes the bucket deeper.

My 3rd function valve is WR Long and was dealer installed. It is AWESOME to have the grapple function, but if I had it to do over again, I would opt for leaving the original 54" bucket alone and buying the lightest 48" grapple bucket I could find. Keep in mind, you only have so much lift capacity. the more the grapple equipment weighs, the less you can lift with it. I'll be glad to send you pictures of my set-up if you want. It fights above its weight class....

 

[Browneyesvictim]

Thanks Ben in VA.
Does your 26 have the ML202 loader? I'm thinking no, based on my memory.. but that is what I have on my Max 25. But I'm recalling they are close to the same lift rating anyway, though... But in any case, the E.A. 55" Wicked Grapple weighs in at 200 lbs! They make a smaller grapple sized for the BX, but the 55" is impressive strength to weight ratio and fits the Max capabilities better IMHO. I've researched till I'm blue in the face. Thanks for your input on the "bolt-on". I'm more convinced now than ever this is the direction I want to go. Still saving my pennies to pull the trigger.