Dirt Moving Cub Cadet 8454 Buy It?

airbiscuit · May 8, 2017

Keep at it. I couldn't exactly tell from your pics how things were lining up. The first critical measurement will be width - so your loader arms fit well into the loader mounts. It is easier to make the mounts wider, but more difficult to make them narrower.

The second critical measurement will be front clearance, so your loader clears the front weight bracket and you can open the hood (you already figured that out). Tough to sort that out with heavy parts, but you will get it.

CANMAR · May 11, 2017

I am wondering if any Cub Cadet 8354/8454 owners or Kioti DK35/45 owners with loaders could help me out.Looking at the specs the CC8454's wheelbase is 6in longer than the CC8354.The CC642/Kioti KL1470 loader's reach from the front axle is 2in longer than CC640/Kioti KL1450.So if there is over 8in of clearance between the front of the tractor and the loader on the CC8454/CC642 or Kioti DK45/KL1470,my CC640 loader should not hit the front of my CC8454.

CANMAR · May 11, 2017

Thanks for your reply airbiscuit,I found that the cross member for the loader mount,that bolts to both sides of the loader mount from underneath fits with the mounts bolted to the tractor.So the width is correct at the loader mounts rear bolt location,so the frame of the CC8354 and CC8454 is the same width at this area of the frame,and my loader should fit.
The front bolt location is further toward the front on my CC8454's frame than the CC8354.The width of this bolt location looks to also be the same on the CC8454 and CC8354.I have to add length to my front loader mounts to reach these both holes.

I found a way to make it easy to get the mounts in position and bolt them,and take them off again and again.I know my cinder block garage is scary looking.

airbiscuit · May 11, 2017

CANMAR said:
I am wondering if any Cub Cadet 8354/8454 owners or Kioti DK35/45 owners with loaders could help me out.Looking at the specs the CC8454's wheelbase is 6in longer than the CC8354.The CC642/Kioti KL1470 loader's reach from the front axle is 2in longer than CC640/Kioti KL1450.So if there is over 8in of clearance between the front of the tractor and the loader on the CC8454/CC642 or Kioti DK45/KL1470,my CC640 loader should not hit the front of my CC8454.

The more data points you can get from Cub Cadet 8354/Kioti DK45 owners the better. The best ones would be from the center of the loader arm pin (where the loader arm mounts to the upright) to the front of the weight bracket (you would need to use a level).

The second useful measurement would be from the rearmost (frame) mounting bolt to the front edge of the weight bracket.

Good luck!

airbiscuit · May 11, 2017

CANMAR - The front bolt location is further toward the front on my CC8454's frame than the CC8354.The width of this bolt location looks to also be the same on the CC8454 and CC8354.I have to add length to my front loader mounts to reach these both holes.
View attachment 509103 View attachment 509105

Given that your tractor's wheel base is 6" longer, you may have to add length to the rear of your mounts so you retain front clearance for the bucket. That would kind of suck because those those rear bolt holes line up so well.

DK35vince · May 13, 2017

My loader has been off for mowing season, so I can't get the measurements your looking for.
Loader will be off till I need it again.

airbiscuit · May 13, 2017

DK35vince said:
My loader has been off for mowing season, so I can't get the measurements your looking for.
Loader will be off till I need it again.

You might still be able to measure from the frontmost or rearmost mounting bolt hole location to the front of the weight mounting bracket.

DK35vince · May 14, 2017

Center of the rearmost mount bolt to the front of the frame (where the grill guard mounts is 42 1/2") on my DK 35.

CANMAR · May 16, 2017

Thanks for your posts,I measured the frame on my CC8454 and it is 49" from the rear bolt on the mount to the front of the frame.I did not think about adding to the rear of the mounts to gain clearance for the loader at the front of the tractor.
So DK35vince has a measurment of 42-1/2" and I have 49" on my CC8454(DK45).There would have to be over 6-1/2" of clearance between the front of a CC8354(DK35) tractor,and the CC640(Kioti KL1450) front loader frame.Lokking at picture's online it looks like there would be enough clearance so the loader would not hit the front of the frame.
At this point I hope the extra 10HP of the CC8454 will be worth all this extra work.I made the new parts for the front of the loader mounts and have fit them on the frame,ready for tack welding in place.I did bevel grind the parts so I should get a better weld.My wire feed welder is only 225Amp but that is at 90% duty rating,so it should weld 3/8" steel no problem.

It is hard to see but I cut off the front of the mounts where the new pieces will be instead.I will post pics after welding and Installing the mounts.

DK35vince · May 17, 2017

The length difference in the front is likely the 3 cylinder in the 35 vs 4 cylinder 45.

airbiscuit · May 17, 2017

I hope you have enough clearance. Be sure to test it with the bucket tilted fully up and the loader arms fully down. If you're good you're good. If not, you obviously have the skills to add 6" to the rear.

CANMAR · May 18, 2017

Thanks for your replies and help.There sure is extra room on my CC8454 frams for the motor,looks like I could fit two 45HP motors there.I bet there is extra room in the Kioti DK35 where the motor is,Kioti must have wanted them this way?
After looking at pics online of CC8354,CC8454 tractors and Kioti DK35,DK45 tractors with loaders,I found to that most likley way for the loader to hit the front of the tractor is with the bucket down and tilted up.It seems to make a big difference on clearance.The specs for the CC640 and CC642 loader show only a 2" greater reach for the loaders with them lowered to the ground?I know the longer wheelbase of my CC8454 will change things.This is measured from the center of the front wheel to the front of the bucket?This spec does not seem correct when checking my Cub Cadet 7305 with CC417 loader,but only 2" of difference between my CC640 loader and the one I am supposed to have is encouraging.
I am welding up the loader mounts and a new crossbrace that mounts under the tractor for the loader.I just copied the one I have for the CC640 loader,had to change where it bolts to the transmission housing.I will have to get the new work primed and painted,but should have them back on soon.Then I will be on easy street with this project I hope.
I already have the new rear rail braces for the CC642 loader I bought from Cub Cadet online.I am impressed with the pricing they have for their parts online.Not cheap but not completely outrageous like all the other brand tractors I have owned.On the Kioti forum they complain about prices at the Kioti dealer being outrageous?I wonder if it is that way to cover the brick and mortar overhead the dealers have.

CANMAR · May 23, 2017

I bolted on the refabed loader mounts and success,so far.

teg · May 23, 2017

Looks good, that will be a pretty kick butt tractor once you get it together...

CANMAR · May 25, 2017

I am ready to mount the loader on the tractor tomorrow.It sure makes hooking up the hydraulics easy when everything comes with the loader,and you do not have to hunt for parts and piece together,like I have done before.I installed new radiator hoses and the hose that joins the hydraulic return pipes for the pump,I wanted to replace it before I bolted the loader mounts on.
The clearance for the front of the tractor looks really close.I think the loader will only clear the front of the tractor by about an inch when it is lowered past the frame.

CANMAR · May 28, 2017

Thanks for your comment teg,it seems like a kick butt tractor already with everything not even together yet.
As far as comparing this tractor to a skid steer it seemed to lose a few more advantages to a skid steer.The loader controls are very fast like a skidsteer,I won't be able to load dirt or gravel into anything more than a few feet above the ground.The loader has little reach for dumping after raising more than a few feet,I will just use it for spreading gravel and fill after it is delivered.I do like the loader not sticking out far in front of the tractor most of the time,easier to move around.It takes up more room than a skid steer,and not near as easy or fast to turn.
Here is a pic of the loader and the front frame of the tractor,some clearance is better than no clearance.