Convert 70's tractor to quick attach plate, use original mount?

[petebert]

The bucket is falling apart on my Ford 3600. I'd like to convert it to quick attach. Should I cut the mounts off my bucket and have those welded on or is there a mount piece I can buy for pins that can be welded on?

 

[Southernspeed]

I've seen SSQA attachment assemblies for sale but can't for the life of me remember the companies. They bolted directly to your FEL and you were ready to use SSQA equipment. Some online searching may find something but I have a feeling it may have been a vendor on here? Maybe someone else can chime in.

 

[petebert]

There's a few hundred SSQA plates available online but they don't have brackets, probably because there's 1 bazillion bracket configurations. Which leads us pack to my post, cut off and weld on my original bracket or is there a pin bracket available I should weld on?

 

[CliffordK]

Make sure you purchase the tractor/skid steer plate (with latch), and not the implement plates.

 

[LHF2019]

I know not "cheap". Have 2 from this company and well worth it. If they don't have the correct one they will build.

New Holland & Ford Implements & hitch adapters

New Holland & Ford Implements & hitch adapters. washburn Company can custom build. Made in Lamar, Mo USA

hayspear.com

 

[Rustyiron]

This can get expensive.
If you had a welder fix up your bucket you'd probably save money vs making the change and buying a SS bucket.

 

[petebert]

This can get expensive.
If you had a welder fix up your bucket you'd probably save money vs making the change and buying a SS bucket.

I'll get a picture up, the bucket is pretty trashed. Plus I like the idea of bringing the load closer to the tractor and the increased visibility when moving round bales.

 

[rScotty]

I know not "cheap". Have 2 from this company and well worth it. If they don't have the correct one they will build.

New Holland & Ford Implements & hitch adapters

New Holland & Ford Implements & hitch adapters. washburn Company can custom build. Made in Lamar, Mo USA

hayspear.com

That seems like a good outfit. I see they make a SSQA adapter with adjustable bolt mounts for the pin size & spacing - no need to cut and weld the existing mounts on the old bucket.
Only reason to cut and weld would be to fit the old bucket with a SSQA plate.

The prices look reasonable to me.

 

[BlueKnife]

Which leads us pack to my post, cut off and weld on my original bracket or is there a pin bracket available I should weld on?

Making and placing the bushings is the hardest part of building brackets like that. If the bushings on your bucket are still good, I would cut off those brackets and weld them to this Skid Steer Hitch Adapter With Blank Heavy Duty Frame That bucket and brackets aren't going to be of any use after you do the conversion anyway. If, however, you've got sloppy bushings, as is often the case with a machine that old, I wouldn't bother and would just make new brackets.

I'll get a picture up, the bucket is pretty trashed. Plus I like the idea of bringing the load closer to the tractor and the increased visibility when moving round bales.

With SSQA, the load is further away, not closer. Your capacity will be reduced a bit.

 

[petebert]

Making and placing the bushings is the hardest part of building brackets like that. If the bushings on your bucket are still good, I would cut off those brackets and weld them to this Skid Steer Hitch Adapter With Blank Heavy Duty Frame That bucket and brackets aren't going to be of any use after you do the conversion anyway. If, however, you've got sloppy bushings, as is often the case with a machine that old, I wouldn't bother and would just make new brackets.

With SSQA, the load is further away, not closer. Your capacity will be reduced a bit.

clamp on forks and bale spears are definitely further away when using a bucket