Modern loader on an older tractor?

[Lightning]

I've been looking at getting a newer tractor.. but that just isnt going to happen for awhile now...
So my question is.. i have a 1952 Ferguson TO-30, can a new loader like a woods or other comparable loader be installed on my Fergson?

 

[JerryG]

You can do that. It would take custom mounts to be made. I don't think that there is a manufacture still making mounts. I might be wrong, but I haven't seen any for a long time.

 

[JerryG]

Another thing. If you do purchase a new loader to mount on your TO, make sure that it isn't to large of a loader. There tractors actually weren't designed for a loader and you can overload the front axle if the loader has to much lifting power.

 

[steveinmo]

Do you have power steering on your TO-30? If not, it might not be a good investment. If you could buy a new (modern) loader and be sure that it would adapt to your new tractor when that time comes it may be a different story. But that's a lot of "ifs".

I doubt that you can buy a new loader for much less than $3000, depending on size and capacity of course. You might be better off selling/trading your TO-30 for an older tractor that's already equipped with a loader and power steering.

Just a thought.

 

[Lightning]

Hmm.. that sucks.. what would you think is too large?
I was hopen to get somthing with 1200# capacity... guessin thats too much for the TO-30...
Maybe i just need to sell this and find somthing that can handel a loader...

 

[Lightning]

The TO-30 does not have power steering...

 

[JerryG]

Of course it is just a guess, but I would say around 800 pounds and for sure not any higher than a 1000. More than likely it would be better to sell and buy another one, but I just hate to tell anyone that. The TOs are fine old tractors.

 

[Spiffy]

Considering the lack of PS, trading it off may be the right idea. Also, I'd trust the advice of the Massey gurus before mine.

However for older tractors in general, I was going to mention that [within reason] the actuall capacity of the loader isn't as important as the operator's judgement [possibly important considering your option of using the loader on a later purchase too]. I've seen Farmalls [F20] and even smaller tractors with Farmhand10 loaders cobbled on.

If you need the capacity for just lifting, I wouldn't think you'll have trouble, but when you start going over rough ground with a load, the effect on the front end can be really multiplied. Dirt work can put stresses in directions you wouldn't imagine either [both digging and, when lifting, dirt tends to be heavier than you'd guess].

Good Luck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

<font color="red"> edit: should mention why I said within reason, though its probably obvious; the larger capacity loaders are built heavier themselves compounding the potential weight </font>

 

[Bob_Skurka]

A few years ago I looked into getting a loader for an old tractor, what I found at the time was a trip bucket loader that was sized for Ford 8N and similar tractors.


Paulson Loaders

 

[wier]

http://www.paulsonloaders.com

try these guys, i put one on my father in laws 8n ford. used a pto pump and a two port spool valve to power it. i also added a tip cyclinder for the bucket. 8n has no power steering and the pto is not live but once you get the hang of it, it works great. he uses the crap out of it. i will try and get pics if i can figure it out.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Do a google for a company called Paulson loader. They make rectangular tubing loaders for older tractors like an 8N and TO 35. They are alot more easy to mount and easy to bord the tractor than the factory Dearborn and Wagner units.

 

[Lightning]

I dont really want to get rid of it.. but i need a loader... maybe if i can find somthing that has a loader for a decent price i can just hang on to the TO-30. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

My brother has a TO35 and we discussed this very issue. The lack of power steering is what finally made him decide to abandon the idea. "It takes a good bit to turn it now, he said, imagine if I had a loaded bucket on that front end!"

It's a great old tractor, but he's right about the turning.

John

 

[wier]

you may go to the 8n forum on www.ytmag.com and search for loader stuff there. its a web site dedicated to older tractors. the T0-35 and 8n are comparable tractors i think. the 8n with a paulson loader my father in law uses has no power steering and is not unfriendly to drive at all. he is a 150lbs dentist and he has no trouble at all with it. it is all in getting used to it. movement is the key without power steering. i will get pics of it on my webshots page and post a link by the first part of next week. i think the loader itself was around $1400 new from the factory, it comes with everthing you need to hook it up the the tractors factory hydraulics that run the three point lift. i wanted a hydraulic dump bucket so i went with the pto pump and spool valve. on the factory setup it has no power to push down and you have very little control of the bucket. would work depending on your intended use. quite a bit of info on the paulson loader on the web page mentioned above and a lot of other useful information for anyone with an older tractor.

andy

 

[kayssupply]

The key to a loader and no power is counter weight. I had a small tractor with a loader and a backhoe. As long as the backhoe was on it I could use one hand with a full bucket. A barrel full of concrete on the 3 point would help out in a pinch.

 

[cleatus]

I don't understand the weight worry as most of the older loaders I've seen would weigh more than a newer loader with load in bucket. The one I was offered that came off 8n, would probly weight 3 times what the one I'm building for my VAC. See "build-it yourself' FEL coming.

 

[Lightning]

I googled the paulson site... http://www.paulsonloaders.com/

their light loader just looks like a modern manure bucket. i have used a tractor with a setup like that and they don't dig very well..

I would perfer to find something as wide as the
tractor,
It would be nice if the TO-30 could be strengthened to handle a real loader.. but I'm sure that would cost more than its worth...