Mat'ls vs. HD Bucket - recommendation

Champy · Oct 22, 2006

Looking to spec a 300CX FEL for a new JD 990 - Dealer is recommending the HD bucket for about $150 more than standard Materials bucket. I'm not expecting to be a "heavy" FEL user - just hauling gravel, debris, tree limbs, light digging; etc...Is this HD bucket really that much better - should I upgrade now because I'll want it later?

$564 List -
BW14146 61-in. (1550 mm) materials bucket
Materials buckets are available to match tractor/loader applications. May be used for loading dirt, gravel, feed, and light materials as well as scraping, digging, and other general purpose tasks.

$695 List -
BW14764 61-in. (1550 mm) Heavy-duty bucket with holes for cutting edge
Heavy-duty buckets are available for tasks requiring more robust bucket designs. Recommended for heavier use applications, such as commercial operations. Top surface of the bucket is parallel to the cutting edge, which aids operator as a levelling guide. Additional strength is built into the bucket design with additional wear bars, boxed top bucket section, and bucket end plate supports. Cutting edge has holes pre-drilled for addition of a replaceable cutting edge

donais · Oct 22, 2006

i would go with the hd. i've got a little bit of a smile on my bucket,whoda thunk if you pick up the back of the tractor with a cemented in fence post and curl the bucket it would bend... the good thing is only i can tell that its bent. my last tractor was a mf40b i got spoiled with a very hd bucket. oh i got the post out also...jon

Willl · Oct 22, 2006

My Dad has the HD bucket on his 300X, I've got the M bucket on my 300.

Get the HD.

jbrumberg · Oct 22, 2006

Champy:

I would recommend the HD bucket just for the fact that you can easily add a cutting edge with the predrilled holes. I also recommend that you purchase the cutting edge. It saves wear and tear on the bucket lip and it "beefs" up the bucket edge. Most cutting edges are reversible which will double the life of the cutting edge. Jay