Vigo327
Platinum Member
Glad this went so well. That adapter plate is basically the least annoying adapter plate ive ever seen! It barely adds any weight or thickness to the assembly.. thats as good as it gets for an adapter!
The John Deere tractors have a different version that’s not compatible with SSQA.
Most JDQA stuff is pretty flimsy, because the compact line maxes out at about 2500. SSQA can go about triple that. I have both in my fleet, and there really isn't any good reason to share attachments due to the capacity disparity. However, I did weld hooks and pins onto a flimsy SS trailer hitch adapter to use at a lot that has both a CAT CTL and deere CUT available to use. I mow with the deere, so now I don't have to switch machines to use the SS trailer hitch adapter to mow under the trailers.
I believe there is guy down your way that makes a kit that changes the fel mount from JD to typical skid steer mount.After researching grapples, I decided to pull the trigger on a third function for the FEL on my Kubota Grand L 4740. Had the dealer install the kit and I should be ready to go. After looking at a number of companies and reading people's opinions, the Wicked 55 was my choice. Called to talk about ordering only to find out the extremely long wait. I was told 8-12 weeks minimum.
So... Scoured the net for a used one. I found only one, but it was only two hours away. 2009 model that was barely used. Yay me. Drove up, saw it operate on the ground hooked up to rear remotes on a non FEL Deere on the lot. It's a JD dealership. He said he didn't have anything else to demo it working. The salesman knew I was putting it on a Kubota. I didn't think to ask, even though it looked different, about the set up. I was more concerned about leaks, and working cylinders and got distracted. You can probably see where this is going.
Get home only to discover it's built for JDQA, my Kubota is of course SSQA.
Am I screwed, or is there a cost effective way to hook up this grapple? It's the only used one in the country I can find. With the wait time for a new one being SO long it will be fall before I could get one and I have projects I was planning in the coming weeks. Don't want to waste money renting. Most are too heavy to leave me much lift capacity. Loaders themself eat up about half of my capacity on the LA 854 FEL.
Signed,
Befuddled in Kentucky
Great info for the thread Stevehogan and mo 1. Thanks.I did a search. His name is Neil Koch his email is nkoch1976@gmail.com he’s located in Harlan, Indiana
His U tube channel Dig-Drive-DIY . Good luck