Quick attach for my Mahindra

[AJ623max28]

So my next project I have been thinking about doing is converting my pin on bucket to a quick attach. I have researched and have decided I want to make the system John Deere uses on the small compact tractors because its light weight and easily modified. My question though is their someone out there with this John Deere still that can take a couple of measurements for me(see picture). I might just buy the arms themselves from John Deere to save time. I wouldn't mind some insight in ways to make this job easier for me.
A- over all length
B- cylinder size
C- pin diameter
D- center of pin to pin
Thanks for all your help.

 

[Sysop]

It's been done, not sure if they used any part of the john deere system or not. Homemade Skid Steer Quick Attach (SSQA) - YouTube And I think something like this > Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach Conversion Hitch Plate Bobtach Blank Qt A | eBay would be hard to beat cost-wise.

 

[mj007]

This is about what you're looking for I think - Heavy Truck and Agricultural Equipment Parts, Repairs, and Sales, Ontario, Canada: Egger Truck & Machine Ltd. Compact Tractor, Lawnmower Repairs & Sales.

 

[bandaidmd]

You really ought to think on this plan a little more,
There are literally 1000's of implements that will hook up to a skid steer quick attach vs the limited number for the J deere system. I really feel somewhere down the line you will be looking at a implement thats not offered in the deere style and regret going in that direction.
I know most of us a capable of making mods to get things to work but its not always necessary if you can get what you need off the shelf.
anyway thats just my $.02 happy tractoring

 

[bandaidmd]

So my next project I have been thinking about doing is converting my pin on bucket to a quick attach. I have researched and have decided I want to make the system John Deere uses on the small compact tractors because its light weight and easily modified. My question though is their someone out there with this John Deere still that can take a couple of measurements for me(see picture). I might just buy the arms themselves from John Deere to save time. I wouldn't mind some insight in ways to make this job easier for me.
A- over all length
B- cylinder size
C- pin diameter
D- center of pin to pin
Thanks for all your help.

were you planning on building the tractor side bracket?
If so your "d" measurement should be kept to the same as you now have, thats the leverage it was designed for.
Like wise on the pin sizes and widths.

I would take my tape measure to the deere store and see if there bracket is even close to your needs.

 

[flusher]

You really ought to think on this plan a little more,
There are literally 1000's of implements that will hook up to a skid steer quick attach vs the limited number for the J deere system. I really feel somewhere down the line you will be looking at a implement thats not offered in the deere style and regret going in that direction.
I know most of us a capable of making mods to get things to work but its not always necessary if you can get what you need off the shelf.
anyway thats just my $.02 happy tractoring

Plus one:thumbsup:

 

[Zebrafive]

You really ought to think on this plan a little more,
There are literally 1000's of implements that will hook up to a skid steer quick attach vs the limited number for the J deere system. I really feel somewhere down the line you will be looking at a implement thats not offered in the deere style and regret going in that direction.
I know most of us a capable of making mods to get things to work but its not always necessary if you can get what you need off the shelf.
anyway thats just my $.02 happy tractoring

I also think you should go Skid Steer Quick Attach vs the JD system. If your loader arms are not the same distance apart as the JD loader arms you will not even be able to use JD attachments. You will have to modify everything to fit. With Skid Steer you can buy new, used, rent etc.
Palletforks.com sells a conversion assembly that you have to make and attach brackets for your loader then you all set. It gives you the S.S. Q.A. latch boxes already mounted and correctly spaced for $325 shipped.

 

[Zebrafive]

Here's picture of the one from palletforks.com that I added mounts so I could use it on my JD 640 loader. I was red, I painted it JD green. The rear mounting plates where not far enough apart for my brackets, so I added two inches to each side. I wanted it to be as low as possible, so I cut off two inches from the bottom of the mount plate.

 

[AJ623max28]

WOW!
Thanks everyone for all the quick and great advice.
This is what I was kind of thinking though. My Mahindra Max 28 FEL lift cap. is 1400 and is just perfect and I am afraid with adding a plate for my FEL arms and a plate to my bucket it will decrease my lift capacity by quite a bit. The things I liked about the John Deere system is that it is really light weight, it keeps my bucket or attachments close to my FEL arms and I could adapt everything I have to this system for under $400. I understand I wouldn't be able to just buy a used attachment and hook it up, but I think the only attachments I would ever think of having is maybe two different buckets, forks, and a snow plow.
Has anyone noticed if adding the quick attach that it decreased their lift capacity or breakout force?
In anyone opinion what other great attachments should I look into for my FEL?
What do you guys think about this adapters on E-bay? ( Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach Conversion Hitch Plate Bobtach Blank Qt K | eBay )
Do you think I could use this as just a template and use the latching mechanism or beef up the plate and actually use them as my quick hitch?

 

[Zebrafive]

WOW!
Thanks everyone for all the quick and great advice.
This is what I was kind of thinking though. My Mahindra Max 28 FEL lift cap. is 1400 and is just perfect and I am afraid with adding a plate for my FEL arms and a plate to my bucket it will decrease my lift capacity by quite a bit. The things I liked about the John Deere system is that it is really light weight, it keeps my bucket or attachments close to my FEL arms and I could adapt everything I have to this system for under $400. I understand I wouldn't be able to just buy a used attachment and hook it up, but I think the only attachments I would ever think of having is maybe two different buckets, forks, and a snow plow.
Has anyone noticed if adding the quick attach that it decreased their lift capacity or breakout force?
In anyone opinion what other great attachments should I look into for my FEL?
What do you guys think about this adapters on E-bay? ( Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach Conversion Hitch Plate Bobtach Blank Qt K | eBay )
Do you think I could use this as just a template and use the latching mechanism or beef up the plate and actually use them as my quick hitch?

The item you linked from ebay is the tractor side of SSQA. They also have the same latches all boxed in and with a square tube connecting them together and flat mounting plates on the back side. I bought the boxed version then added JD 600 series attachment mounts (what my JD 640 loader hooks up to) to make an adapter out of it. I can put it on my loader then use SSQA attachments. Take it off and use JD 600 series attachments. You could mount it permanent to your loader. The seller is a vender on this site and you can buy direct for less than the ebay price (unless there was price increase). They have a post in the beginning of the attachments section of the forums.

 

[Xfaxman]

WOW!
Thanks everyone for all the quick and great advice.
---------------------------------------
In anyone opinion what other great attachments should I look into for my FEL?
------------------

What will you use the forks for?

A grapple is very handy.


There a lot of homemade grapple threads to give you ideas, if you want to make your own.

If not, check out this one: Everything Attachments Compact Utility Root Grapple 50"

 

[AJ623max28]

Thanks for the replies again all the advice has got me thinking more. Sorry for the long pause between replies crazy with school and work right now.

Xfaxman the main reason I want forks I move quit a bit of pallets and water tanks around so think having a quick hitch system for such an attachment would make my life a lot easier. I do like the idea of a grapple bucket but for that I would need a 3rd function and I will get that some day but that is a little lower on the wish list at the moment.
Zibrafive thanks for your pics and advice. Would you by chance know how much your quick attach weighs? and how much does it make the attachment stick out from the FEL arms?

 

[bandaidmd]

Thanks for the replies again all the advice has got me thinking more. Sorry for the long pause between replies crazy with school and work right now.

Xfaxman the main reason I want forks I move quit a bit of pallets and water tanks around so think having a quick hitch system for such an attachment would make my life a lot easier. I do like the idea of a grapple bucket but for that I would need a 3rd function and I will get that some day but that is a little lower on the wish list at the moment.
Zibrafive thanks for your pics and advice. Would you by chance know how much your quick attach weighs? and how much does it make the attachment stick out from the FEL arms?

I can answer the weight and protrusion pretty close as i was looking to buy this for my kubota. Its going to make your bucket stick out about 3 to 4 inches and the adaptor will be a little under a 100 lbs. I noticed that northern tool has a universal set of pin on forks in there catalog.

 

[bandaidmd]

WOW!
Thanks everyone for all the quick and great advice.
This is what I was kind of thinking though. My Mahindra Max 28 FEL lift cap. is 1400 and is just perfect and I am afraid with adding a plate for my FEL arms and a plate to my bucket it will decrease my lift capacity by quite a bit. The things I liked about the John Deere system is that it is really light weight, it keeps my bucket or attachments close to my FEL arms and I could adapt everything I have to this system for under $400. I understand I wouldn't be able to just buy a used attachment and hook it up, but I think the only attachments I would ever think of having is maybe two different buckets, forks, and a snow plow.
Has anyone noticed if adding the quick attach that it decreased their lift capacity or breakout force?
In anyone opinion what other great attachments should I look into for my FEL?
What do you guys think about this adapters on E-bay? ( Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach Conversion Hitch Plate Bobtach Blank Qt K | eBay )
Do you think I could use this as just a template and use the latching mechanism or beef up the plate and actually use them as my quick hitch?

I used those exact plates to build mine,its still quite a bit of work.

 

[AJ623max28]

Thanks Bandaidmd. They look great! have the held up to your expectations? I don't mind the work just want the best possible attachment method. About how much did yours turn out weighting the way you built them? Have you noticed any power difference after converting from pin to quick attach? sorry so many questions just trying to get as much info as possible.

 

[bandaidmd]

Thanks Bandaidmd. They look great! have the held up to your expectations? I don't mind the work just want the best possible attachment method. About how much did yours turn out weighting the way you built them? Have you noticed any power difference after converting from pin to quick attach? sorry so many questions just trying to get as much info as possible.

They ended up about 60 lbs, haven't noticed any difference in performance. I thought i could mount my pins closer to the back of the bucket but it wouldn't clear the plate where the lock pin goes in when dumped so i added a piece of square tube as a spacer. If i hadn't had the clearance issues i might have shaved off 30#

Those pin mounts on the buckets are a real PITA to remove, I would just cut thru the back of the bucket and use the two cutouts for additional welds on the adaptor plate if i was to do another one.