homemade bucket help

[casetractor]

i have a case 446 and i was planing on putting a bucket on it. i hav 3 linear actuators for it(2 for pushing it up and 1 for the bucket to move) that i was planning to use. i was actually wondering how thick the metal should be. i already know it is going to be sqaure tubing. any and all info would help. thanks

 

[PutnamVictor]

I really like the look of the Case 446, should be a nice project when complete. Your best bet is to do a search on the Web for plans, the cost will be well worth it. If you over engineer, the weight will render the little loader useless, especially since you don't have power steering. Post picture of the progress.

 

[casetractor]

yea i tried that and it helped me some but i am on a low budget. that is why i am using linear actuators instead of hi drolics. and i will post pictures of my progress if i decide to make a bucket:thumbsup:

 

[Craig Clayton]

Your 12V linear actuators are going to need power and a heavy control system, I built a Power King look alike RIP and used a car power steering pump at 1.0 GPM @ 1000 PSI and it was slow. I would suggest you watch your local dealers for budget new cylinders
and spool valve and modest pump. You can make the loader around the cylinders. A modest pump at maybe 2 GPM 1500 PSI.
Craig Clayton

 

[casetractor]

yea i understand that the actuators arnt going to have alot of power but lik i said before i am on a low budget project. this bucket is not going to lift a whole lot and i understand that. and i was thinking about using hydrolics but the cost to use ratio means that id rather just use actuators. besides 2 actuators should lift atleast 300 pounds and that is more than enough for wat i am doing

 

[casetractor]

i have to ask. can anyone that has made a front end loader, please post the pictures and any plans that you followed. thanks:thumbsup:

 

[Gary Sweat]

i have to ask. can anyone that has made a front end loader, please post the pictures and any plans that you followed. thanks:thumbsup:

Built this loader and used 1/8" steel for the bucket. It's been holding up great so far and I have pushed over small 1 to 3" trees with it. Also picked up a 18" diameter by 20' section of a tree and didn't damage it and dug a bunch of 1' diameter rocks up. For what you are doing 1/8" should work fine.

What helps is a good cutting edge material and the small down turned piece along the top edge of the bucket.

 

[casetractor]

"Built this loader and used 1/8" steel for the bucket. It's been holding up great so far and I have pushed over small 1 to 3" trees with it. Also picked up a 18" diameter by 20' section of a tree and didn't damage it and dug a bunch of 1' diameter rocks up."

thanks that was going to be my next question. that looks like a pretty cool setup you got and i would love to have on like that. i actually might be able to get a loader(way to big)but i will have to cut it down thou and i would rather use that because it has hydraulics

 

[Gary Sweat]

"Built this loader and used 1/8" steel for the bucket. It's been holding up great so far and I have pushed over small 1 to 3" trees with it. Also picked up a 18" diameter by 20' section of a tree and didn't damage it and dug a bunch of 1' diameter rocks up."

thanks that was going to be my next question. that looks like a pretty cool setup you got and i would love to have on like that. i actually might be able to get a loader(way to big)but i will have to cut it down thou and i would rather use that because it has hydraulics

Check out the loader plans that PF Engineering has. They are designed for lawn tractors but can be scaled for any size you need.

 

[workinprogress]

I made a small bucket for a Cub Cadet garden tractor and used 1/8 inch for the bucket plus welded a 1/4 thick flat stock to the edge. The unit is built it similar to a Johnney Bucket (Johnny Buckets For John Deere Sears Craftsman Cub Cadet Case Simplicity and Many More ). Basically it is a low lift loader and I think two of your actuators would do all you need. Check out their web site and see. Overall I have been pretty happy with with unit which is powered off the tractors built in hydraulics (1-2 gpm at <600psi).