Installing a loader...How hard is it?

[uphill]

A friend of mine had the dealer install a new Bushhog loader on his new Kubota and it took the 2 experienced workers 4-5 hours to complete the job. I would pay the $300.

 

[Camo]

I'm 6'2" @ 280, and everyone looks at me to pick up stuff they can't....I don't alot of times as that is why alot of bigger guys have torn up backs. That's why we have machines and brains....Mechanical advantage! I like the challenge of doing one as long as I got the equipment to do it. It sounds like a thinking man could pull this off with the help of a buddy for some grunt here and there, or to reach a tool. I believe I'll give it a go, as long as I don't have to have a hoist.

I recently built a snorkel kit for my four wheeler on my own for about $100, saving the $250 price of the kit. I was confident of my work and showed friends as I floated my four wheeler across a deep creek with no issues. A friend bought his kit and had the dealer install it, and is now a little reluctant to hit the deep water not knowing how thorough of a job they did. An oversight could drown a motor quick. I'm not real confident in dealers at times, after all it's not their machine if something isn't right.

 

[wedge40]

A friend of mine had the dealer install a new Bushhog loader on his new Kubota and it took the 2 experienced workers 4-5 hours to complete the job. I would pay the $300.

Is that what they charged for, or did he watch them for 4-5 hours. I think it took me less than 8 hours. That includes getting the beast off the trailer, tipping it down, putting the brackets on the tractor ( which is fun by yourself) and then I had some friends come over the help me finish. Then again I'm not your typical man, I read the direction about 4 times before doing anything.

Wedge

 

[Soundguy]

I will say one thing.. having a second loader tractor around to help you makes it a whole lot easier.

Here's a pic of my 55 ford 660 with a ford 722 1-arm loader lifting the loader frame of a ford 711 1-arm loader, that I installed onmy ford 850. ( near identical tractors and laoders...

soundguy

 

[RobertN]

I've ordered a Bush Hog FEL for my Kubota B5200, a 1846QT to be exact. The dealer wants $300 to install it,

I have the big brother to your machine, the B8200. I had the same loader installed on it. I was busy, it was raining, I had the shop put it on. I have since though, pulled some parts on/off doing other maintenance.

The front bracket is easy; four bolts.

The main frame is a bolt on. It is not light though. may have to wrestle it around a little.

the hydraulics look simple; two hoses going to the hydraulic port on the right side of the tractor, kinda in front of the brake pedals.

I do not know how assembled the loader was on the pallet.

It looks pretty basic, but a little time consuming. And, a couple pieces will need a jack or a buddy to help get in place.

PM me if you want pictures...

-ps hook hydrualics up early...

 

[Camo]

I have the big brother to your machine, the B8200. I had the same loader installed on it. I was busy, it was raining, I had the shop put it on. I have since though, pulled some parts on/off doing other maintenance.

The front bracket is easy; four bolts.

The main frame is a bolt on. It is not light though. may have to wrestle it around a little.

the hydraulics look simple; two hoses going to the hydraulic port on the right side of the tractor, kinda in front of the brake pedals.

I do not know how assembled the loader was on the pallet.

It looks pretty basic, but a little time consuming. And, a couple pieces will need a jack or a buddy to help get in place.

PM me if you want pictures...

-ps hook hydrualics up early...

PM sent.

 

[charlie C]

Installing a loader should not be too hard, you will need to be carefull and will need something like a engine hoist.

I just purchased a 772 for my ford 4000. The loader weights 800#.

We dismounted the loader off of the ford desiel 4000(first picture) and I am mounting it on my gas ford 4000.The second picture.

I do have a heavy duty engine hoist to move the loader around which will be a big help.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I've ordered a Bush Hog FEL for my Kubota B5200, a 1846QT to be exact. The dealer wants $300 to install it, and being a mechanic in my job, I'm wondering how hard it is to install one as a DIY project. I do some hydraulic work as in replacing lines and cylinders on fork trucks, so I have some basic knowledge of them, but am no means a tractor guru. The dealer says it takes them approx 5 hours to put one on. Would I need a hoist or any specialty equipment to do this myself? For unforseen reasons am I better of to pay the money to have them do it, or is this a pretty straight forward install? Tips and advice are very much appreciated.

I have experience with a Woods loader installed on an L3450 by someone else. What a mess! Took me hours to make everything right. From what I see, non factory loaders do not fit correctly and need custom fitting to make a good installation. An experienced person will know where to look and what to do - otherwise much time is wasted and perhaps some damage done.
larry

 

[john_bud]

You should have no problem doing it. You have a small tractor and that means the loader is going to be small enough to be relatively easy to hook up.

While many many dealer installed loaders are done perfect, there are several posts here about loose bolts on loaders from the dealer. I'm with you, the mech at the shop is not as vested in the integrity of the machine as you are. Plus, you will be far better able to diagnose and correct any loader issue.

jb

 

[wedge40]

I have experience with a Woods loader installed on an L3450 by someone else. What a mess! Took me hours to make everything right. From what I see, non factory loaders do not fit correctly and need custom fitting to make a good installation. An experienced person will know where to look and what to do - otherwise much time is wasted and perhaps some damage done.
larry

My Koyker fit like a glove. I think it depends on how much time the engineer spends checking the fit before they start selling the product. I guess I'm pretty lucky because Koyker stopped making loaders for the Ford 4000 a couple of years after I got mine. My only complaint is the attachment type. Not standard QA, but I can fix that.

Wedge