Buying Advice Pls advise on 4n1, road grading, tires, etc.

[MedTex]

I was quoted $1,041 for the LD48 with JD mount. Shipping to nearest terminal (over an hour away): is an additional $245.

More info and pics from Millonzi on "new" LD48, etc:

On our 48" as well as with all new grapples produced, are now manufactures with several new features

1. Protective louvers to the arms, greater support strength and cylinder protection

2. Front Mount cylinder guard to protect cylinder head

3. The Grapple arm support brace has been lengthened to add rigidity to the arms.

4. The outer tines on our 60.00" and larger sizes are in essence doubled to protect the end tines in prying and carrying long or off balanced loads

5. Outer arms are now 1/2" ASTM GR50 plate for great strength and rigidity on all models.

6. Cylinder pins now have enclosed grease able fittings.

All other frame material except the louver (3/16") are 3/8"

Pics are of the new LD48, new LD60, and Millonzi's JD Mount -- nice green color

 

[RollTideRam]

They have gone up in price since I got mine about a year ago, but what has not gone up. The improvements look good also. The only time I would want a wider grapple is when going into dense brush full of briars and such. This would help keep down the scratches on my tractor. What would concern me about wider, although you could see the tines on the end better for placement, I could see alot of extra force being applied to one side and maybe damaging the loader. But also, your 400 loader would be stronger than my 300. JC

 

[kennyd]

The JD dealer told me that JD and "all tractor brands" are soon going to be changing their loader QA system, going to a new universal system (not skidsteer though). So all makes would have the same universal system. I'm not sure if this is true, but if it is, that could make the current JD QA system incompatible with future system. Maybe they would have a conversion adapter for it... or maybe the guy didn't know what he was talking about?

I do not believe this for a second...if it was true there would be talk about it by now. If all OEM's did agree agree to stick with one style-it would be CRAZY not to use the SS style anyway.

The JD system on this loader has just two pins and looks real easy to use. Sounds like the way to go... more savings... works for me! Thanks!

It is very easy to use, and it's also east to make your own stuff to fit it like a fork set if you have a welder and basic fabrication skills. The Hooks and Pins are available through JD for about $35.00.

 

[IslandTractor]

The JD system on this loader has just two pins and looks real easy to use. Sounds like the way to go... more savings... works for me! Thanks!

Island, I just got off the phone with Jim at Millonzi. He recommended the LD60 for my 53HP tractor... he thought I might be able to lift something too heavy for the LD48. He did not strongly recommend the LD60 over the LD48 -- he said the 48 would be fine if I am careful not to over do it. I had already mentioned tractorbynet to get a discount... he asked if "Island Tractor" was advising me (they should pay you a commission ). He has seen your uploaded pictures.

Given that the current LD48 is even beefier that your older version (it now weighs about 325 lbs.... LD60 weighs 425 lbs with two arms) I am still inclined to go with it over the LD60 which costs about $600 more. Both are made with same material and metal thickness, etc. Any final thoughts?

Thanks.

What is your loader lift capacity? That is more the issue than tractor horsepower. Again, my loader is rated at 2700lbs lift at pivot pins. I have used the LD48 pretty aggressively and except for some "cosmetic" damage from scratches etc, one busted hose (snagged it) and a snaggle toothed top jaw (from lifting a boulder with one tooth only and using it as an anchor around a stump while using the backhoe...neither likely to happen now that they have increased the support for the tooth tip), there has been no issue at all. I personally don't like the double jaw set up on the larger ones as it adds too much weight and more hoses and also because I like having the single jaw centerline so I can just center the grapple on my target and clamp. I'm sure the 60" is a fine grapple though. However, I believe most grapple size recommendations are made either by incorrectly assuming that the standard bucket width for a tractor si the same as the appropriate grapple, or that grapples for tractors are sized the same way as for skid steers. Both of those (false) standards tend to lead people to buy bigger and heavier grapples than make sense for a tractor. We (tractor guys) don't tend to use our grapples the way a construction crew would use one on a skid steer. Our loaders are also not as strong as skid steer loaders (by and large). Width of a grapple should be determined by what you are going to do with it, not by the horsepower of your tractor. Two upper jaws may make sense for picking up construction debris. It doesn't have any advantage I can find when grappling brush or roots or trees however. Bottom line for me is that I just don't see the advantage of a wider, heavier, more expensive grapple than what I have. If someone stole my LD48 today, I'd order another LD48 tomorrow.

 

[MedTex]

JD 4520 400X Loader Capacity:

24 in. Behind Link Arms: 2,500 lbs
Lift Capacity @ Lift Link Ends: 3,130 lbs

Island, I'm not sure how these specs compare to your 2,700 at "pivot pins".

What you say makes sense and unless you think the lift on my JD is too much, I still plan to order the LD48.

Thanks.

 

[IslandTractor]

JD 4520 400X Loader Capacity:

24 in. Behind Link Arms: 2,500 lbs
Lift Capacity @ Lift Link Ends: 3,130 lbs

Island, I'm not sure how these specs compare to your 2,700 at "pivot pins".

What you say makes sense and unless you think the lift on my JD is too much, I still plan to order the LD48.

Thanks.

Are you sure those numbers are for the loader? Sounds like 3PT terminology.

I looked up the 400x from a JD publication in 2006 which shows the following:

Lift capacity to max height at pivot pin: 2346lbs
Breakout Force at pivot pin: 3453lbs

For comparison, my Kioti KL401 loader is rated:
Lift capacity to full height at PP: 2761lbs
Breakout Force at PP: 3727lbs

That makes the two loaders pretty much equal if the published specs are to be believed. The JD 4520 has significantly more horsepower (53?) than the DK40se (41) but the two tractors weigh roughly the same and as the loaders are pretty well matched I think the "impact" on a grapple would be about the same. In that case, if it were me, I'd order the LD48 because I just like the size and style of that grapple.

I'm sure the guys at Millonzi get a bit itchy being concerned about proper sizing but again it is the loader strength, not the tractor horsepower that matters and it is also the intended use on a tractor vs commercial skid steer that needs to be taken into consideration (skid steer loaders are underrated for safety purposes...don't think that is true of CUT loaders). I may be a lone voice on this point but a 48inch grapple with a single arm is simply a very versatile tool. Bigger isn't always better.

 

[MedTex]

Island, you are correct about the loader capacity -- sorry about the mis-information... now I'm really showing my inexperience

Well I got the tractor, MX6 cutter, and boxblade delivered today (see pic below)!!! Sure is a nice rig. The cutter and the boxblade both hook-up so easily with the I-match. I have a friend who will sell me a barely used posthole digger, which apparently will require that I remove the I-match before hooking it up.

Next month (after I save a few pennies) I will order the Millonzi LD48 and hook it up to the 3rd function rear valves. They'll paint it green for $75, but I think I'll save the money and get black -- I kinda like the black anyway.

Thanks to all who have advised me -- much appreciated!! I'm sure I'll need more some help down the road.

 

[RollTideRam]

Nice tractor you got there. Something else you may want to invest in, There is a kit available that runs lines from the 3rd scv on the rear to the end of the loader arms. It actually goes from the rear to the mid position next to the quick connects for your loader. Then it has hard lines that go on the loader arms. The same kit fits the 300 and 400 loaders. I got it with my tractor and put it on myself, so it is very easy. JC

 

[IslandTractor]

Nice green tractor. I agree with RollTide's suggestion too. Sounds like a very neat arrangement. I am embarrassed to say that when I used my rear remotes I had the hoses held in place with zip ties and string. Not pretty but functional.

 

[MedTex]

Nice tractor you got there. Something else you may want to invest in, There is a kit available that runs lines from the 3rd scv on the rear to the end of the loader arms. It actually goes from the rear to the mid position next to the quick connects for your loader. Then it has hard lines that go on the loader arms. The same kit fits the 300 and 400 loaders. I got it with my tractor and put it on myself, so it is very easy. JC

RollTide, is this a John Deere kit? And I should ask my dealer about it? Or maybe it can be found on the Internet as a part... Do you recall roughly what you paid? If not too costly, it would indeed be slick. Thanks for the tip!