Thanks to everyone again on this thread. I ended up getting the 52hp LS tractor with the larger (3100 series backhoe). We are going to start the initial heavy work with a hired-out dozer this month.
Based on the advice here, I also got a tiltable Grading blade (from a very generous cousin of mine who had one on his farm.) It is an older Danuser 72" with the tilt function. I also found a guy selling a Bradco Rock bucket and bought that this last week.
Back on Page 7 of this thread, we were talking about the rock bucket and rScotty mentioned getting some hooks added to it so I can use chains on the bucket. I had assumed that he was referring to the rock bucket, but now I am thinking that he may have been meaning the regular loader bucket.
Can anyone shed some light on where I should be adding hooks? Which bucket are they most useful on, and where to position them? Just at the top of the bucket I assume? and, if that is the case, how do you use the chains to secure something to the bucket?
And, I thought I had posted this to this thread some time ago, but it must have been to a backhoe specific thread;
Someone mentioned quite a few pages back (the guy with the XR LS tractor) that the backhoes for LS and Kioti were both made by the same company. I've confirmed that is true. The larger 3100 series hoe that I have is the same unit as a 2485 hoe from Kioti. The bucket and thumbs, etc are all interchangeable. I believe that the smaller units are also the same.
I actually bought a 12" bucket and a thumb from my local Kioti dealer.
Sounds like you are getting all equipped. Nice tractor and all the right attachments. Used attachments are a great place to save money and learn about mechanical things without much downside.
Have you posted some pictures? I've never seen a Danhouser back blade myself, but it sounds good. Usually grading blades are built to stronger & heavier specifications in the blade and pivots as they add functions that tend to put more stress stress out to the ends of the blade. These additional functions are things like tilt, offset, end plates, and gauge wheels.
I like the blade tilt and end plates and use both a lot. Our back blade will also offset but I don't use it that way because it throws the tractor sideways. That probably means that I bought too big a blade for the tractor. I don't have guage wheels on the blade, some day maybe.
Chain hooks are handy on all buckets, but a necessity on regular loader buckets. On the rock bucket you don't use chain so much & when you need to it will just hook onto the back of the bucket.
On your regular bucket I like to put a hook about a foot in from each end. Sometimes I add one in the middle, too. Unless your bucket already has a strongly reinforced top edge - most don't - you will want to add a backing plate inside the bucket under the lip under each chain hook.
I prefer a 5/16" grab (not slip) type chain hook that is welded onto a plate that is then bolted to the top of the bucket. The grab hook will not let a chain run freely through the hook. The slot is sized so that you slide a link of the chain into it and it stays there. 5/16" grab size will also grab 1/4" chain.
Of course you can simply weld a 5/16 or 3/8 grab hook to the top of the lip of the bucket. Depending on your skills that can look great or ugly. Unless you also have a backing plate the bucket will tend to bend a bit there. No biggie, I used to do it that way. It works fine. I'm older and more likely to spend time - and money - being a bit of a craftsman these days. But welding works.
With a bolted chain hook welded to a plate, I can clamp and drill and bolt right through the chain hook plate, bucket, and backing plate with a couple of high tensile half inch bolts. There is someone right here on TBN who sells that exact setup. I forget his name; maybe someone will chime in.
For chain....there are lots of options. Go to:
McMaster-Carr and look around.
Get some ideas and then lets talk. You will use your chain far more than you ever thought....
luck,
rScotty
