quick attach FEL for bx25

[7lakes]

Ok, so I scoured the net looking for ideas for a quick attach for my bucket but I liked some features of some and some features of others. I liked the 2 inch receiver built in from one I saw, but i didn't like the pin system or the look of it. I liked the weight of the kubota brand one, but it was useless by itself. I wanted a good looking piece that was usefull. Since I have access to the tools to make things, I designed and made one and I want to share my files and photos here. I will create a dropbox/google drive place for all of the solidworks files, dxf files for cutting, and so on. If there is a file type you want, let me know and I can work on it.

I also made a 2" receiver plate with the kubota logo. That turned out well, but I made one I like better for my truck, so this one sits.

The whole thing is 1/4 mild steel and mig and tig welded. all parts are plasma cut, but you could take these dxf files and work with a local place to get the cut. Just remember about kerf width when cutting these as these are fairly tight tolerances. I had to do some light filing to get them to fit, but that had to do with my plasma beveling rather than my design work

Still needs powder coating. I designed the back side around the metric pins, but the front side around standard pins as those are easier for me to find.

I did have to lathe out one of the collet pieces to fit one of the metric pins before I welded it on. It was all a tight hammer together fit, but at least my bucket ain't wobbly. I am happy to help anyone use these files and make their own. I believe in open manufacturing processes and just love playing with my tractor.


here's the pictures...

 

[7lakes]

Ok, here's the dropbox link.

Hopefully this link works. It it dropbox. I don't know if you have to have an account or not with them.

 

[gears351]

Looks good Lakes - thanks for sharing your work!

 

[zmansmac]

7lakes, good looking project. I wish I had access to equipment to be able to get that creative with my projects. I have a B7500 that I also made a quick attach for. Had a hitch receiver welded on the bottom of it that was very useful. Unfortunately, I had to remove it because of an interference condition with my new snow plow setup. Wouldn't have that problem with your design. But I do have something else on my quick attach that is used much more than the hitch and I think you should consider adding to yours - chain hooks, a pair in the middle and on each side. I see you have holes in your design that could be used to put chains through but the hooks would be much faster.

 

[7lakes]

Yeah, I thought about hooks. I probably should have, but, and I know this is blasphemy, I haven't had a need for chains yet. Everything I have wanted chains for, my tractor was too wimpy for. I have used lots of straps that have been useful and there were design thoughts for straps on that thing. Everything I have designed, I have kept in my mind that this little machine is a toy. 600 lb bucket capacity isn't something to overengineer. That being said, if I started using chains, I would probably stop using straps, but I am used to straps and haven't really made the transition to thinking with chains as my solution. I think that real tractor people are used to bigger, stronger "real" tractors that requires chains to move anything, so that is their natural solution for things.

All that being said, I may try and keep a set handy and see if I go to them for my next problem.

 

[zmansmac]

Realize that when you take your bucket off, which is easy now, your lifting power is increased because you don't have the weight of the bucket and your lifting point is closer. So not quite as wimpy. But chains are much easier to adjust length than straps because on your quick attach with hooks you simply chose the closed link that will slip on the hook. You don't need big strong chains like the guys with bigger tractors use. I would weld on some 5/16 hooks and then you could use 1/4 or 5/16 chain.

 

[7lakes]

I am going to try it. Thanks.

 

[thekoopster]

Ok, here's the dropbox link.

Hopefully this link works. It it dropbox. I don't know if you have to have an account or not with them.

Thank you very much for the files and the design. Very nice looking work, I don't know how I did not come across this earlier
Have a good one.