kwikway or other loader for JD420 L&G tractor

hemiguy · Oct 20, 2006

Hello,

Not sure where this best belongs so I'm posting this both here and the Attachments forum.

I'm looking for a good used L&G tractor to add equipment for my excavating/landscaping side-business. I already have a Deere 2520 CUT with backhoe,loader,box blade, Rake & R4's for heavy stuff, but want a big L&G tractor with loader and cat0 3pt for doing small jobs & final grading. I want to find a good well care'd for tractor with low hrs and add on a loader If I can find one. The JD420's seem like a good choice for the money (2 range hydro, diff lock, 3 spool hydraulics, Pwr Steering) but I hear the JD44 loaders are as rare as hen's teeth. Soooo, my question is does anyone out the have feedback on loaders for the 420 or other similar large L&G tractors. I have been to the Kwikway mfg website but they don't have any useful info there (I did request literature). Any comments? By the way, I fully expect I'll have to spend more $$ on the loader than the tractor regardless of the source.

Thanks

jcmseven · Oct 21, 2006

I had a 45 loader for my 595. I am not sure if could be retrofitted to work, but the local JD dealer might know. Woods and other companies make small loaders, but I think even they might be too large for a 420. 45 loaders would be easier to find as they are still made. I personally would look hard a a slip scoop (aka, Johnny Bucket). They do not lift high but are widely available and easily fitted to most small machines. You could not lift high, but with your other tractor I am not sure that matters much. They are heavy and can carry dirt, etc. and complement a rear small BB for grading, moving or hauling mulch, dirt, etc. I can say having had a 45 loader on a 595 JD tractor in the past, there are few things I can recall that I could not have just as well done with a slip scoop. You also might save quite a sum of money going this route, and if you did not like it, then sell it. There are many people around that would take them for their machines. The problem with the smaller loaders is that they are almost as time consuming to manufacture as a large loader, so they are almost as expensive. My 45 loader on the little tractor I had cost me about as much as a 400x and 300cx on the larger tractors I have.

John M

x585guy · Oct 21, 2006

Hey Hemiguy, I have a 585 w/45 loader that I may interested in selling. It has approx. 145hrs on the meter and it is a 03' model. I like the setup but I myself want to venture over into the CUT class of tractor. Don't know what size but I researching that. My user name is X585guy if you want to send a PM.

hemiguy · Oct 21, 2006

Thanks for the offer X585guy but I'm thinking you're probably gona be asking wayyyy more than the $5k upper limit I have imposed on this purchase. I'm not sure a good 420 w/3pt & #44 can come in under this either. I'm looking at this combo for a couple of reasons. It (the #44)supposedly has a higher lift capacity than the newer loaders and doesn't have that ugly (IMO) ROPS thing on the loader. I also don't want that thing to get in the way in tight spots under trees, etc. I'm sure these things were changed on the newer loaders for safety reasons and know on a 2wd only 420 I'd need to put a lotttttt of ballest on the back of the tractor. BTW , based on my searches so far I've found out that the JD loader models are not interchangeable and match up to tractors as follows (in chronological order):

-The old model 400 tractor (and no others) used the #20 loader.
-The 420,300's (like 318's), and I think the 430 use the #44.
-The 425/445/455 (liquid cooled Kawasaki's & diesel) Use the #40
-And the current Xseries have your #45 loader.

I've seen the JohnnyBuckets on EBay and need to find out more about them. I think they go for around $1-2K. For my main intended purpose of speading topsoil,mulch,etc it may be a cost effective solution.
Thanks and keep the ideas coming.

jhr · Oct 21, 2006

Hemiguy, I've been looking for an older JD with loader for a little over a year now so I've pretty much researched the heck out of them. Yes, a JD garden tractor with loader is pretty rare, and those that have them don't seem to want to part with them. I have seen a few pop up, but none within a reasonable distance for me. I came real close to going 1000 miles one way but the timing wasn't right for me and someone else grabbed it. Anyway, you pretty much have the sequence down. The model 400 tractors are unique and the attachments don't interchange with any other models so those are really scarce. KW does not make a loader for the 400. The 44 loader works on the 3xx (317,318,322, 332, etc.), 420, 430 but each has a unique frame attachment. So don't expect to swape a loader from a 3xx series to a 420 without some cutting/welding and I'm not sure the pumps are the same. 500# lifting limit on a 420/430 and 400# on a 3xx tractor (properly weighted of course).

KW seems to be the aftermarket loader supplier for the garden tractor world. They currently build the loaders for the simplicity legacy XL. They are highly regarded but are pricey 3K or so. Given that any JD tractor/loader combination I've seen has gone for 5K or better, if you're just looking for a working machine, you may actually be better off going with the new loader with new cylinders/hoses. There's also a guy out in Wisconsin who is starting to build a line of loaders for garden tractors but he's just getting started. Claims he'll come in around 2K for a loader but he's not off the ground yet, I've got my fingers crossed.

The only drawback of a 420 is the hydrostatic is hand controlled. One hand on the hydro, one on the steering, and one on the loader, hmmmm. That's the plus of the 425/445/455 and X series, foot controlled hydro, but the lift capacity is anemic compared to the 44 loader. I've seen where some folks have replaced the 1.5" cylinders on the 40 loader with 2" to increase the lift. The 45 loader has 1.75" cylinders and falls in between the 44 and 40 for lift capacity.

We'll that's probably more than you wanted to know.....

x585guy, I may be interested in your 585, I grow weary of the search. I'll send you a PM.

hemiguy · Oct 23, 2006

Yes, I have been wondering how that hand controlled hydrostat would work out on a 420 w/loader. I'm sure it's great for mowing, but that wouldn't be my primary usage. Winter is approaching here in the NE so I'm in no hurry. I'm going to see if I can check out some used 420's and 425's (w/ foot controlled hydro like my 2520 CUT) at the local Deere dealers. There are about 10 dealers within 30 miles of me. There are also Simplicity and Ingersol dealers near me so I may look there too. In any case, I'll probably look to buy a decent used tractor before spring and look for a loader (new or used) separately.

jcmseven · Oct 30, 2006

I might mention that JD is coming out with a derivative of the Johnny Bucket that works with the 54" front blade. It is meant for the X series tractors but might just work with the older 420 if you could fit or alter the mounting bracket for the front blade. It will have a lift capacity around 250 pounds and will lift it 12-14". It would be less expensive and just might work if you could fit the mounting bracket or have someone weld it up for you. Clearly this is not as good as a full FEL, but it would do a decent job carrying lighter materials, and would cost much less, and it's made by JD.

John M

Diesel Dave · Oct 30, 2006

Greetings from the new guy. I have a 430 l&g and am considering an aftermarket scoop in the future. Came across one by Superior Tech Inc. Looks like it will fit most any Deere with a 54" blade and dual front hydraulics. Check out the specs. at superior-tech.com. Hey, for around $600.00 it looks like a nice way to go.

hemiguy · Oct 31, 2006

Hello Diesel Dave,

Welcome to TBN. The 430 is one monster of a L&G tractor.
Think it has the same 53ci 3cyl engine that my old JD755 CUT had. Seems like ones with low hrs and in good shape sell for many $$$$. Anyway I checked out the superior-tech site and their plow mount scoop is interesting. It opens up to dump out the bottom kind of like a 4in1 loader bucket. Of course you have to already have the 54in plow which also seem to price out kind of high on Ebay and elsewhere. The Johnnybucket dumps more like a regular FEL but of course both of these units only lift to about 14". I'd still like to get some feedback on the Kwikway loaders but already know that they go for around $3k. As I've said, I'm in no hurry to decide as I already have a CUT with loader and don't even have the L&G tractor yet!

BTW, I've been lurking on weekendfreedommachines.com. It's a great complement to this site for anyone who has a JD L&G tractor. I may also post over there for some additional feedback.

Steadite · Nov 5, 2006

As an owner of a 45 loader (X585), thought I'd chime in. I've heard that the 40 loader has lower lift capacity (smaller hyd cylinders) than the 45 loader. While I love my 45 loader, if the lift capacity was any less than it is, it would be very frustrating. Trouble is, these garden tractors only make 1000psi. I also looked (web searching) at the scoop options and decided (for me anyway) I really wanted to be able to lift higher than a foot off the ground. Although ridiculously expensive and pressure-limited, I love my loader.