Homemade quick attach

[Chilly807]

I think I'm going to tackle this over the winter. The deciding factor is that if I do build it and don't like the way it turns out, I can take it off and go back to the stock setup with no damage done to the original bucket. Other than some steel, it's not going to cost me a lot aside from my time and a box of welding rods.

Sean

 

[puckgrinder85]

Well, I'm getting this project on its way too being done. I'll try and get some pics posted this weekend. It sure was a lot more work than I initially thought. I was waiting on a plasma cutter (Hypertherm) and that made the job that much easier with all the cutting i had to do. I would definatly recommend one to anyone, cut my 1/4" metal like nothing. Im at the stages of putting the finishing touches on before welding it fully, all the bucket stops, filler pieces etc.. There are a few things I could have done differntly and they became more apparent as time went on but, thats the way it goes.

 

[BukitCase]

Puckgrinder, excellent choice on the plaz - I bought a Powermax 45 early this year and LOVE it. Now considering one of the kits here

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/264347-plasma-cutter-tracing-machine-new-post.html

For all the repetitive cuts involved with brush forks, grapples, ears on hitches, etc, this looks like the most reasonable option for me. (Don't wanna spend $5k for a system that MIGHT work, but $100 or so for a kit that I could maybe enlarge on a bit seems reasonable... Steve

 

[puckgrinder85]

Puckgrinder, excellent choice on the plaz - I bought a Powermax 45 early this year and LOVE it. Now considering one of the kits here

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/264347-plasma-cutter-tracing-machine-new-post.html

For all the repetitive cuts involved with brush forks, grapples, ears on hitches, etc, this looks like the most reasonable option for me. (Don't wanna spend $5k for a system that MIGHT work, but $100 or so for a kit that I could maybe enlarge on a bit seems reasonable... Steve

That is pretty neat. I may look into getting that, be nice to replicate a part from a pattern made from wood or whatever. The other alternative is to make the pattern slightly smaller and just use it at a pattern right on the metal itself.

 

[puckgrinder85]

Well, heres what I came up with. Test it out and seems to work really well. Have maybe at most 150$ in the project.

 

[Baby Grand]

Nicely done!

 

[puckgrinder85]

Thanks, excuse the pictures they really make the tractor look like crap, the flash brings out every little scratch and piece of dirt. Its actually in great shape and I just got done testing the bucket on a snowpile.

 

[600rider]

Nicely done! It is amazing how Often I change from the bucket to the forks. It is such a simple design and yet it is not an option on our compact tractors. You will wonder what gook you so long to make it, enjoy!!! Ken, W8N4-SNO!

 

[Steve in MT]

Lost $150.00 bucks? No, you saved yourself a tidy sum of money, got to play with welders, grinders and such, and built a time and back saving attachment for you tractor. It looks like it turned out pretty well, did you use your press to make/bend the saddles? or did you scrap that idea and go with a different route? I dont have a plazma cutter yet but it is on my list, boy, I could destroy a bunch of steel in a hurry with one of those.Steve

 

[puckgrinder85]

The plasma made it LOT easier, I dunno what I would have used that could cut 1/4 around my shop that fast, clean or accuratly for sure. I had "scrap" 1/4 plating that was around so I just took a straight edge as a guide for the plasma and cut off what I needed and moved onto the next piece. No, I think I did what you did steve, I cut a piece of DOM tubing across the center, that I bought in a 3' length as the ID is perfectly matched to my pin size, layed it in betweent he two plates and tacked it in and then filled in above it with custom made 1/4 pieces. I didnt go straight up with the hooks at the top/ outer edge, I bent them in slightly together to allow an easier connection with upper bucket pin. So for the outer side filler piece it looked like a trapezoidal filler and the inner piece was just a rectangle/ square.

I do say the way the guy made his in the first post I made where the plates were all one piece and bent would be the way to go if you could bend them. I had issues with just about everything twisting and being out of alignment after welding, even with good tacks and all I just dont know how you could midigate that issue. Im not a welder so there probably is a way, im just not up to speed on how. I also had clearance issues building mine as well as they used 1.25" pins on this which took needed area that could have went to better use for me in this project. All in all I'm happy with it and rewelded all the bucket stops to the new piece. Its a good little project for sure and will definatly help with bucket changes! I'll be getting pallet forks sometime here and was the main reason for this.

 

[puckgrinder85]

Ps- I also bought a carbide hole saw for the main holes. Worked awesome as I had to drill quite a few holes (14?) in all and it made a nice clean cut and is still sharpe and useable later on. I got lazy on the bottom holes and cut it with the plasma cutter, which didnt matter much because I used the DOM tubing to create the actual hole being used for the pin support/ guide. Any questions from anyone lookign to build one I'll try to help out with what I can.

 

[Steve in MT]

Puckgrinder. About that carbide hole saw. Did you find one that has a pilot drill bit in it, or was it pilotless? I'v never seen one for steel that had a pilot bit, only for ones that worked with electro magnetic base drills. (also on my list) With out some sort of a pilot, its a miserable living h#%l keeping the hole saw from walking, even in a drill press. Curious minds need to know, Im funny that way. Steve

 

[puckgrinder85]

Diamond Carbide Hole Cutters



This is what I used. Definatly a piloted bit. I used it with my hand drill and had no issues. They would work a little better in a drill press to keep chatter down but I just oil and took my time. They are pricey but they work well and I'm sure I could have the tips sharpened if I ever am going to need that. You can remove the pilot bit if you'd like as well.

 

[k0ua]

I think I'm going to tackle this over the winter. The deciding factor is that if I do build it and don't like the way it turns out, I can take it off and go back to the stock setup with no damage done to the original bucket. Other than some steel, it's not going to cost me a lot aside from my time and a box of welding rods.

Sean

Sean, I would highly recommend converting to SSQA.. for all my "groaning" on that bucket mod thread, I would do it again. Also remember I am kinda fabrication "challanged" I don't have the experience of working with metal like some of your guys have. And if I could do it I know you could do it in half the time and trouble.. Heck in fact I could do it in half the time now too. As someone pointed out in the thread, the memory of all the work has already faded, and the pride of seeing and using the bucket remains.

James K0UA

 

[puckgrinder85]

Thats really going to depend on his budget though. I was thinking about the same route but pricing it all out to convert two bucket and then buy the Q/A unit for my tractor was upwards in the 1000$ range for good, quality items. I found a few lower class items on craigslist and such and they wanted 400$ for the Q/A units but they looked rough and im sure i would need to modify it in some shape or form. THEN you still have to modify your buckets over which takes time. It just didnt add up to me. I have (realistically) i this project w/ the tools I bought specifically for building this, 150-200$. If you priced out the metal im sure under 400$ is easily doable. The time frame was about 15hrs for me.

 

[k0ua]

here is similiar what I used for the QA unit to go on the bucket. Not exactly the same, but close. I bought the $400 QA adaptor for the L3400/LA463 So you would be out under $550 all told including rod, electricity, and cutoff wheels

Skid Steer Attachments Pallet Forks Hay Spears Bobcat Cat John Deere Mount Plate

James K0UA

 

[puckgrinder85]

I havnt found a good Q/A adaptor for my tractor under 600-700$. That was pretty much my whole reason for going my route. 400$ I could live with but most i've seen are 800$ range. No way! I do agree the ssqa would be the way to go for sure, but for the price im not that desperate.

 

[Steve in MT]

Puckgrinder, Thanks for the link to the hole saw site. These hole saws drill such a nice perfect hole compared to a regular twist bit. I used a 1" twist bit on my project and had to clean out the holes a tad with a die grinder and a burr bit. The next project that I do that requires a bunch of large holes will see one of these bits in the drill press.
K0ua, you wont get any arguments that the SSQA is THE way to go and I would have loved to have that setup on my tractor. For me, the pin style that I made was dirt cheap compared to a SSQA and suites my needs just fine. If I was in a position where constant bucket changes was necessary then I would have spent the time and money and gone the SSQA route. Another big thing about the SSQA is that there is such a wide variety of aftermarket buckets and attachments that simply "Latch" into place that cant be done with a pin style. So far I have a set of forks and the factory bucket for my tractor. For me, change outs arent very often and Im really pleased with how my pin style QA turned out. Im thinking Puckgrinder wont have many change outs either. Chilly807 had another thought, no damage to the factory bucket if it didnt turn out. There was no way I was going to cut into a brand new bucket either. I built mine, Puckgrinder built his, OK Chilly, your up next. (gee, no presure there)

 

[puckgrinder85]

Yea the holes produced are probably about the best you're going to get with hand tools. The 1.25" pins I had fin great in them right after drilling so, in that sense it was close enough for me for sure.

 

[600rider]

First off let me say that I am a fabricator by trade. That being said I only have the price of 2 -3/4"x6" pins from TSC I'll say $10.00 a piece because I can't remember what I paid and am sure that I didn't spend that much and some steel maybe $20, my time and less than 50' of mig wire! If Kubota would even offer a qh for my LA302l loader it would be in the several hundreds of dollars. I have less than $50 in mine and it takes me less that 60 seconds to change from the bucket to the forks (mine is similar to Puck's) I did have access to the punch press and press brake so you would have to add that into the equation but I think it could be built for under a $100 and for me I could surely use that extra $600 or $700 for more toy....er implements! I didn't have to modify my bucket at what so ever and my qh weighs in at under 20# (if I remember correctly) that is a huge plus when you figure my tractor can only lift 600# or so!