One thing leads to another

[JB4310]

Hey JB
I currently do not know the load capacity of the loader. I do know that when I fill the bucket full and try to back up, uphill, the back tires are a little light! I have tried with my

Mike

It's not so bad if both tires feel light, that means you have a well balanced load in the bucket, but if you get an uneven heavy load it will raise the opposite side rear up quickly, feels real squirrely, like it wants to slam the tractor on it's side.

When I got my first loader I was using it without ballast and thought to myself what's all this talk about counter weight, I could handle almost full loads without, but after a few uneasy feelings I started using ballast box filled with stone, I've since filled it with concrete.
Just yesterday I was handling heavy slate patio stones on pallets, no way I could of done it without max ballast.

JB.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

That turned out nice,

That tractor is looking good now, your welding looks great!!

 

[mjncad]

Well it soon became apparent that what I was willing to pay versus reality, that I had better come up with option "B".

Don't you just hate it when reality comes in and spoils the fantasy?

All you mods and attachments look great and complement your "new" tractor.

 

[BayouMan]

Hey JJ,
Thanks for the kind words. I sort of let several things pile up on me, then it reached a point where if I didn't start fixing, I wasn't going to have anything to work with. Being semi retired helps too. I took a little time away from my remodeling business to do this. Got a couple more things to get done after I get back from my trip. I know I will be stir crazy after being in a big city and a small airplane.

Mike

 

[BayouMan]

JB,
Do you have a picture of your ballast box? I have seen one on a tractor locally. When I first started using my loader, I felt that with cast rear wheels and loaded tires, that I wouldn't have any problems. On nice flat level ground it is not a problem at all. Put a little grade, expecially if you have to back uphill, and things change quick. Haven't used the loader enough to put myself with one side heavier than the other and I don't really want to experience it.

Mike

 

[JB4310]

JB,

Do you have a picture of your ballast box?

Haven't used the loader enough to put myself with one side heavier than the other and I don't really want to experience it.

Mike

My box is a standard JD, you might need a heavier one or the side extenders, but alot of guys cast their own in a barrel or a box etc etc.
Think it weighs ~ 500 lbs? it's enough now for the loaders capacity.


It's not hard to do, just enter a pile on an angle.


JB.

 

[BayouMan]

Hey Thumper,
Thanks for the comments. The welds got better as I went. Had been a few months since I had done any serious rod burning. I burned just over 35 lbs of rods so far.

Mike

 

[BayouMan]

Hey JB,
I appreciate the picture. Had me wondering about the pipes for a second there. Now, that is what I would call, practical!

Mike

 

[TxJack]

Would you please tell us the name of the company the you bought those airplane tires from?

 

[BayouMan]

Hey TxJack,
Be glad to share where I got the tires from. I'll post the information here so that others might be able to use as well.

Gensco Aircraft Tires
3400 Hwy 60 South
Wharton, TX 77488
800-828-3350

Very easy people to work with and I am very pleased with the tires.

Mike

 

[TxJack]

Thank you sir! What's even better is they are close by me!

 

[BillinTX]

Last one of the fork project. This shows the forks attached and the unit painted. I think I have a few welds to grind down and need to apply some grease to the T-1 plate to make fork width adjustment easier.

View attachment 127170

When you adjust the width of the forks tilt them down so that the weight of the forks is pulling away from the back plate instead of pushing against it. Less resistance that way.

 

[BayouMan]

Hey BillinTx,

Thanks for the idea. That makes a lot of sense. Think adding the grease will help at all?

 

[BayouMan]

Hey BillinTX,
Tried your idea of tilting the forks forward. Worked great! I went on and put some grease on the front plates as well. That made the adjusting process that much smoother. Thanks for the tip.

Mike

 

[BayouMan]

It has been a few weeks since I posted any progress reports. Since I just turned 59, I decided to make it easier to get on and off of my tractor. I decided to add a step. Attached are the before pictures.

 

[BayouMan]

The next pictures show what I welded up for the step support. I used some 1/4" aluminum diamond plate for the step surfaces.

 

[BayouMan]

While I was finishing up the step install, I needed to find a spot on my tractor to remount my toolbox. I had the toolbox on the side of the tractor, but had to remove it for the loader install. The only solution I came up with was mounting on my fender on the step side. So far, it seems like it will work out in this location.

 

[BayouMan]

My next project is to make some repairs to the skid plates on my Bionic blade. I didn't realize that after about 11-12 years, that the skid plates had worn through and had worn some sections of the 1/4" plate that supported the skids. Attached are photos of the damaged skids. Man, that FEL really made getting that blade up to the back of my shop a breeze!
This Bionic blade was a project that my brother and I took on about 12 years ago. Never got any paint after we fabbed it, since it has been in use from the day we mounted it to my tractor.

 

[mjncad]

It has been a few weeks since I posted any progress reports. Since I just turned 59, I decided to make it easier to get on and off of my tractor. I decided to add a step. Attached are the before pictures.
View attachment 131142

View attachment 131143

I can see why you wanted to add a step as carrying that floor jack around everywhere to use as a step had to be getting old.

The step turned out good and should make life easier.