How big of a bucket can one upgrade to??

[muzbomb]

Hey guys I am getting a 2014 Mahindra 3616HST no cab with a 115 loader. How much bigger of a bucket can I upgrade to is a 66" max or can I go even bigger? I am going to use it for snow and some dirt/gravel work wouldn't mind a larger bucket then the 60" that it comes with. What you guys think and thank you everyone for all the great info all the time from this forum!!!!

 

[mddorange]

I found that the size of the bucket is normally the max size that the tractor can handle fully loaded.

 

[4570Man]

You could go bigger with snow, but on my tractor gravel loads it to the max.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Agree. If your bailing sawdust or snow you can go quite a bit bigger but when digging dirt or crushed stone your limited by the strength of the front axle and the amount of ballast you have on the back.

 

[lutt]

Your also limited to the strength of the tractors hydraulics. LUTT

 

[MNBobcat]

Every pound that your bucket weighs is 1 less pound of material that your tractor can lift. If it can lift 2,000 pounds and your bucket weighs 500 pounds then you can pick up 1,500 pounds. Its a balance and depends on what you want to do with it.

 

[aeblank]

Snow/sawdust/coal buckets are common.
I recall a discussion about it some time back, and people where talking (whining?) about FEL twisting and such due to the extra lever arm of it sticking out each side.

The bottom line is that you can get a huge light duty bucket for snow if you want, just be wise with it. I would get it as a second bucket though, and keep your normal bucket for heavy materials.

 

[oldpilgrim]

My 3016 came with a 60 inch on the ML115 loader. I used it for a couple of months and it was too small. I pondered a 72 inch and decided it was too wide and too heavy. I did not want to give up the lift capacity and it just looked kinda weird on the front of the tractor.

I decided on a 66 and am very pleased with it.

6 inches larger than a 60 inch doesn't seem like much, but as buckets get wider, they also get deeper and higher. i find the capacity very adequate. We had record snow this winter and I have no complaints about its snow removal capabilities.

I have lifted a heaping full bucket load of heavy gravel with it with no issues. Add another 100 or more pounds for a 72 inch bucket and the weight of the extra capacity load of the bucket, I'm not sure it would work so well.

I think the 66 is the best size for the tractor and should have come with it in the first place.

 

[ishiboo]

I think a 66" is a very reasonable bucket for that size tractor.

When I went to convert my L3650 to a quick attach, it had a factory 60" bucket. I found that the newer 66" bucket was wider, but not as deep and lighter... which meant it was just about a wash.

It is not just about the lift weight - also keep in mind the wider the bucket, the more leverage it can exert on the tractor. For example, your tractor could probably push a 10' snow pusher... but what happens when you hit a curb with the far end, and the pusher acts as a giant lever?

 

[oldpilgrim]

keep in mind the wider the bucket, the more leverage it can exert on the tractor.

yup, too wide and you can twist the whole loader assembly if your load is too heavy and off center.

I found that the newer 66" bucket was wider, but not as deep and lighter...

fortunately my bucket was bigger in all directions, a considerable difference in capacity.