clamshell/4:1 loader bucket

[RobertN]

My B-I-L wants to add a clamshell bucket to his L2950 with LA450 loader. I see ATI, which advertises here has them. Gearmore has them too. Are there any other companies to look at?

He wants to install a universal skidsteer attach at the same time. If he does that, is there any reason not to look at skidsteer clamshells? Seems like skidsteer buckets have a different shape to them compared to a typical bucket on a CUT or Utility sized tractor.

Any thoughts or recomendations?

 

[dieselmotorhead]

The ATI 4 in 1 looks the same as the one the JD dealer supplied ( most likely less $$ also). Other than the getting the third function down the loader arms it should go on very easily. Once you have the 4 in 1 the original bucket will sit and rust, you will nver go back!. My machine is a large frame CUT with a 2400# lifting force. The 4 in 1 is heavier than the stock medium duty bucket- I never measured it's weight. It just feels heavy. So if those models are weight limited you might want to think about the extra weight. It steals capacity.

 

[MarkV]

Robert, you might want to look at www.wrlonginc.com also. They make a number of different sizes as well as valve kits to add the hydraulics to the front of the tractor with a rocker switch on the FEL joy stick to operate it.

As Deiselmotorhead said, weight can be an issue if your FEL capacity is limited and your needs call for as much as you can get. The models you will see for skid steers are generally heavier which can be a draw back. Skid Steer buckets are generally longer front to back which is great for grading with that long flat bottom. The trade off is that your point of contact with the dirt is farther from the pivot point on the loader so you have less break out force. From what I see you can plan to spend somewhere around $2500 for the bucket and hydraulics.

MarkV