Installing a loader on an M7060

[Dave from GA & KY]

I've looked around on the net and all I can find is how to remove and reinstall your existing loader. I can't find much of anything on installing a loader on a tractor that's not "loader ready". I have a 2017 Kubota M7060 mfwd cab tractor and am thinking about adding a loader. The tractor is not "loader ready" so it doesn't already have a joystick in the cab and no mid mount hydraulic hookups. I do have 2 rear hydraulic valves but I don't want to use them for the loader.

What does it take in equipment, dollars, & labor to add a kubota LA1154 loader? If I were to find a deal on a LA1154 loader, what would it take to add a joystick and appropriate hydraulics? I'm pretty good with mechanics, I assume I could do it myself, anything major I should consider about that?

I would consider an aftermarket loader, but would still want mid hookups and a joystick in the cab. Do companies like Bush Hog with their Quicke loaders make complete kits for different tractors to integrate their loader as neatly as factory Kubota loaders? All aftermarket loader's I've used have oddly situated joysticks & many use the rear hydraulic outlets, but these have all been much older units from the 80s & 90s.

Any info & insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RickB]

Easiest would be to add the relevant Kubota valve kit for your cab tractor and LA1154 loader. Everything you are asking about in one box. A Bush Hog dealer could tell you if a Quicke loader could be ordered configured for an M Series tractor with OEM joystick and mid mount valve.
Here's a nugget. The Kubota valve install instructions are part of the LA1154 install manual. If you end up buying the valve only have your dealer download the loader install manual for you.

 

[4570Man]

You’d probably be better off to buy a tractor that already has one.

 

[RickB]

You’d probably be better off to buy a tractor that already has one.

That's true far more often than not but at least everything under discussion here is current production. Usually these threads are about 15 year old tractors.

 

[4570Man]

Buying a loader and everything it needs to work especially a Kubota one still isn’t going to be a very cost effective option.

 

[RickB]

Buying a loader and everything it needs to work especially a Kubota one still isn’t going to be a very cost effective option.

He pretty much has to buy a loader one way or another if he wants one.
I'm not suggesting it is cost effective, inexpensive or whatever. It's not my dime and I don't know or want to know what the budget is. He wanted to know how to accomplish the task and I tried to help. Costs will have to come from the people selling the whole goods. What is affordable and or prudent is decided by the guy with the checkbook.
Do you have anything worthwhile to add or you just gonna critique the responses? I happen to agree with you. On the other hand if he's gonna do the install himself he's way ahead of most guys that think about buying a loader after the initial tractor purchase.

 

[Dave from GA & KY]

He pretty much has to buy a loader one way or another if he wants one.
I'm not suggesting it is cost effective, inexpensive or whatever. It's not my dime and I don't know or want to know what the budget is. He wanted to know how to accomplish the task and I tried to help. Costs will have to come from the people selling the whole goods. What is affordable and or prudent is decided by the guy with the checkbook.
Do you have anything worthwhile to add or you just gonna critique the responses? I happen to agree with you. On the other hand if he's gonna do the install himself he's way ahead of most guys that think about buying a loader after the initial tractor purchase.

I've got a 2017 m7060 MFWD cab, 1200 hours, air ride seat, cast rear wheels, 2 remotes all in excellent condition that I paid 22k for. Even if I spend 12k for a loader I've got $34k in the whole rig. I can't find one as nice as mine with a loader for $34k. And, bonus, I don't have to sell & buy.

But, I think if I work at it, I can probably do a lot better than 12K. So, it seems pretty cost effective to me when you consider a new one with loader would be well north of $50k.

Just exploring my options. Appreciate the info.

 

[RickB]

I think you can do better than $12k as well. Good luck.

 

[Tx Jim]

Dave
I agree with you. I've mounted many frt end loaders since 1965. All FEL must be mounted & IMHO not that difficult a task. Good luck in your search. Have you inquired about price of a new Kubota FEL?

 

[Dave from GA & KY]

Dave
I agree with you. I've mounted many frt end loaders since 1965. All FEL must be mounted & IMHO not that difficult a task. Good luck in your search. Have you inquired about price of a new Kubota FEL?

No Jim, I haven't checked the price from a dealer yet... scares me a little cause I'm cheap. I'll also check availability & price of aftermarket.
I thought maybe someone on here had been through it and might have some advice & suggestions.

 

[gator]

Dave, attached below is a pages from a Kubota M series whole goods from 2018 to give you an idea of cost, but check with dealers sales dept. for current prices. It shows 2018 prices for the LA1154 and what all you need for it. If you want to order it from your Kubota dealer you order wholegoods through the sales dept. not the parts dept.




I'll try to attach the install instructions below if the file isn't to big:
View attachment LA1154Assemblyinstructions.pdf

 

[JWR]

I've got a 2017 m7060 MFWD cab, 1200 hours, air ride seat, cast rear wheels, 2 remotes all in excellent condition that I paid 22k for. Even if I spend 12k for a loader I've got $34k in the whole rig. I can't find one as nice as mine with a loader for $34k. And, bonus, I don't have to sell & buy.

But, I think if I work at it, I can probably do a lot better than 12K. So, it seems pretty cost effective to me when you consider a new one with loader would be well north of $50k.

Just exploring my options. Appreciate the info.

I certainly see your point and your logic. Downtime may be a factor too? This is not a simple quick job unless you deal with someone who has done it before and has everything 100% ready.

I had a 3rd party loader installed on a smaller Kubota a few years back by an Amish welding shop in PA. I was pleasantly surprised that it cost me less overall than a new Kubota FEL and I have had nothing but complete satisfaction with it since. The 3rd party loader came from an independent farm machinery place who had one of about the right size on his lot. This took some major cutting and reassembly of the loader frame by the welding shop. They chased down the plumbing, valves, etc. and did it as a package job for me. Near perfect in my book.

That said, I really like the standard Kubota loaders which look beefier than their specs say. I guess in your shoes I would go around and get some prices and see if you have access to one who has done it before. And I'd be very willing to haul it 100 miles if need be to get the job done right.

 

[Farmer495]

Buying a loader and everything it needs to work especially a Kubota one still isn稚 going to be a very cost effective option.

Install should not be more $$$ than if it was a brand new M7060 sitting on the lot and you got the LA1154 installed then?

They come as skid units and dealer has to assemble everything, including loader mounts & valve kit. Install time & labor should be same as a new tractor.

Pricing of the loader and parts might not be as favorable as one bought with a new tractor, but arguably the dealer cost is the same.

He has a current production model tractor that takes a readily available loader and mount.

 

[JethroB]

Install should not be more $$$ than if it was a brand new M7060 sitting on the lot and you got the LA1154 installed then?

They come as skid units and dealer has to assemble everything, including loader mounts & valve kit. Install time & labor should be same as a new tractor.

Pricing of the loader and parts might not be as favorable as one bought with a new tractor, but arguably the dealer cost is the same.

He has a current production model tractor that takes a readily available loader and mount.

I'm curious about this too. I bought my Kubota L4760 without a loader as it's mostly used for mowing and harrowing firebreaks. Some say it's very pricey to add one later but I don't expect the cost would be ridiculous. Maybe someone with direct knowledge can weigh in.

 

[Farmer495]

I'm curious about this too. I bought my Kubota L4760 without a loader as it's mostly used for mowing and harrowing firebreaks. Some say it's very pricey to add one later but I don't expect the cost would be ridiculous. Maybe someone with direct knowledge can weigh in.

I have priced putting on a new loader on a used M5640SU (current production at time) sitting on the lot with no loader. Wish I could find the quote, it wasn't crazy compared the new loader on the new tractor. You were paying for new loader price for sure, but dealer had me a print out in minutes of the mounts, hyd kit, loader, and bucket etc needed and the $$$ for each component.

 

[LouNY]

Westendorf makes a loader that is every bit as good as a "factory' loader or at least they did years ago and I haven't heard that they have gone down hill.
Front-End Tractor Loaders by Westendorf: Shade Canopy, Snow Plow, Hay Equipment
and there are other manufactures it wasn't that many years ago that most loaders were after market.

 

[Farmer495]

Westendorf makes a loader that is every bit as good as a "factory' loader or at least they did years ago and I haven't heard that they have gone down hill.
Front-End Tractor Loaders by Westendorf: Shade Canopy, Snow Plow, Hay Equipment
and there are other manufactures it wasn't that many years ago that most loaders were after market.

Worth pricing out for sure, interestingly locally, "aftermarket" loaders seemed to have been limited to imported tractors like Belarus, Landini, Zetor etc. The major brands rarely put an aftermarket loader on when new. Usually a dead give away the tractor wasn't sold new with loader was an aftermarket one. I did look at putting a new aftermarket loader (Hardy / Allied (Buhler / ALO) on an older CaseIH I was considering buying, older tractor and new loader was possible, but they were uncertain if mounts would be available when I asked. Didn't pursue it further.

Kubota loaders (Like LA1154) are USA built, Interestingly Kubota Canada sells both the US loader and an ALO Quicke loader in Kubota decals and paint.

I'd consider ALO Quicke as an aftermarket option for the OP if the Kubota one doesn't work out.

 

[Thunder chicken]

When I bought my used M7060 it did not have a loader installed. The selling dealer (not a Kubota dealer) installed a Quicke X2 loader. I believe the cost (in talking to the salesman) was around $8000 (cdn). I added a 3rd function and a soft ride (an extra $1500 I think)
They included the loader cost in the selling price so I was never really sure what it would have cost off the street.
I thought I read somewhere that ALO/Quicke built Kubota痴 loaders, maybe it was the Canadian M series of loader (M21, M26 on this size machine).

 

[Farmer495]

View attachment 687626
I thought I read somewhere that ALO/Quicke built Kubotaç—´ loaders, maybe it was the Canadian M series of loader (M21, M26 on this size machine).

That is correct.

 

[Dave M7040]

The document you want to guide you through a loader + third function kit installation is the Assembly Instructions. There are tractor and Loader WSM's but they are more reference material than a how to.

I have attached the Assembly Instructions for a LA1153 unto a M7040 and I expect it to be very close if not the same. as a LA1154 on a M7060

A big caution:

Hydraulic work is not Lets try it and see what happens!

On your Kubota I expect there is a caution label on the hydraulic area near the right cab step. The label cautions against disconnecting the power beyond loop because the main pump will be immediately destroyed.

Before starting a loader installation you need to completely and fully understand the existing hydraulic circuit and how the loader valve ties into the existing.

Without a loader, output from the main pump travels through this BP hose loop I mentioned earlier and continues to the rear of the tractor for the 3 pt hitch and rear remotes.

The only relief valve is at the rear of the tractor. There is no protection for the main pump before the rear of the tractor which is why it is so dangerous to break the PB loop and then start the engine.

When the loader valve is installed, the pb loop is opened up. The discharge from the main pump is directed to the FEL valve IN port. The FEL valve power beyond port send flow back into the broken pb loop so the rear of the tractor has flow.

Now the relief valve in the loader valve is the protection for the main pump. The relief valve at the rear of the tractor continues to work but it can never achieve pressures higher than the FEL relief valve setting.

Dave M7040