Quick attach loader-who does it??

[KB9UDE]

How many of you guys with quick attach loaders actually take them off and what for?? I seem to just drop the front bucket or forks or whatever I have on there to do my mowing etc. What do you do??


John

 

[jdbower]

I keep mine off for mowing - it's an extra few hundred pounds on a tractor that's already too heavy to be a regular mower. Sadly, my tractor spends most of its time as a mower rather than a tractor... Taking off the loader frame is only slightly longer than taking off the bucket - both require getting off the tractor once but taking off the loader also means I need to stand up and a shift into neutral.

 

[kennyd]

I do both...Take the loader or the bucket off. It's just SOOOO easy!

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

At the start of lawn season, I took off the bucket a couple of times and the FEL once. Getting the Bucket / FEL off is a lot easier than getting them back on. Line up 100% and make sure none of the lines are pressure locked and then clean up the inevitable fluid that gets dripped on the MMM - both on and off.

Took the BH off a couple of times as well. I have Turf's and my lawn is not pristine. I decided to leave the FEL / BH / MMM all in place and then everthing is ready for whatever I decide needs doing. Can't say I've noticed any additional damage to the grass. Have to use a bit of caution not to back into something with the BH and have a couple of spots where the FEL needs to be raised so it doesn't dig into a little gully, but other than that - no complaints.

 

[sunnyside360]

I have two tractors with loaders. I take them off for the summer for mowing/haying fields and mowing 6 acres of lawn about every 5-7 days. Loaders are very easy to install and uninstall if/when needed especially the 3x20 and 4x20 series as compared to some others I've had.

 

[Runner]

I usually leave my loader frame on, but drop off the bucket for mowing. The frame helps put a little counterweight on the front of the tractor for the heavy rear mowers.

Also, it seems like I'm constanty needing to use my loader bucket or pallet forks for some small job and it's just easier to leave the loader on.

I will have to remove it for using the front blade/blower this winter.

 

[KevPH1]

My loader frame stays installed on the JD4115. (My rear view mirrors are mounted from the loader support frame.) I will leave,both, the bucket and dedicated forks unattached until needed. I use a 72" MMM,tiller, and back blade with no problems.

 

[gunmaker]

Hey John! I take the loader off at least seasonally, and replace it with my Meyers/JD power angle plow set-up. Occasionally, if I'm just doing some rake work, and want to shorten things up a bit.
You really thinking of going to the 3320 cab?

 

[PCABE5]

So easy on and off that I take it off when not needed. Leaving the frame and dropping the bucket is another option if you need the loader.

 

[KB9UDE]

Hey John! I take the loader off at least seasonally, and replace it with my Meyers/JD power angle plow set-up. Occasionally, if I'm just doing some rake work, and want to shorten things up a bit.
You really thinking of going to the 3320 cab?

Hello Craig

I am thinking of upgrading my 3320 to a cab because my dad has been helping with some of my work and I think the AC would be good for him. It is looking like I might be keeping the 5203 for a while as I have not had much response for a sale therfore I do not know when I would get to buy a new 4120 as I had planned.

John

 

[Yourkie]

I have two tractors with loaders. I take them off for the summer for mowing/haying fields and mowing 6 acres of lawn about every 5-7 days. Loaders are very easy to install and uninstall if/when needed especially the 3x20 and 4x20 series as compared to some others I've had.

I agree, I never mow with a loader. They are too awkward, too heavy and put too much load and wear on the front axles and bearings and instability on the tractor, not to mention hurting fuel economy and at $5 per gal it's a consideration. It's like driving your pickup around with a 500-1000 lb load in the bed.

They are too easy to R&R even on the older tractors (10-15 minutes max). Every now and then you run into a balky hydraulic fitting but that can be solved by carefully releasing pressure.

 

[ragkar]

removed for snowplow

 

[JGY]

I remove / reattach often the 200CX on my 2305. It's just a whole lot easier cutting 3 acres, 32 acres and 44 acres of grass -- and like the others have said it's so easy to put on and off. The FEL is often in the way when cutting ....

Joe

 

[gunmaker]

John, would you measure the height of your 3320 with the rops folded for me? I'm in the process of building a shed and I want to make sure I can drive a 3320 in with the rops folded down. Thx! Craig

 

[the_sandman_454]

I've never had the loader off for any reason. I sometimes take the bucket off when mowing, but with the RC on there, I prefer the extra weight lest it might get squirrelly when hitting bumps, etc.

I think I'd prefer a solid mounted loader vs a quick detatch one for a little extra strength that would likely be there.

 

[KB9UDE]

John, would you measure the height of your 3320 with the rops folded for me? I'm in the process of building a shed and I want to make sure I can drive a 3320 in with the rops folded down. Thx! Craig

Craig

93" up
70" down


John

 

[gunmaker]

Thanks! 73's

 

[mjncad]

I take my loader off when making tractor modifications that require getting into tight spaces, and I remove it for major service (200 hour intervals) to make getting at things easier. Otherwise it stays on all the time.

 

[wolc123]

I have never removed the loader frame from my 4120, which I use mostly on a 6 foot brush hog. I do remove the bucket for big mowing jobs which eliminates all the "bounce", and provides almost as good of visibility as removing the whole frame, but leaves the tractor balasted better for the heavy rear mower. In the spring, when the fields still have some wet spots, I use the tractor for some plowing and disking. One time this spring, I got stuck disking in a real deep mud hole that I underestimated. Getting out was real easy, thanks to the 400X loader and bucket up front. I just raised the disk and pushed myself out of the mud hole with the loader and was back disking in just over one minute. I dont use the loader a whole lot, but the "get out of the mud free" option it provides is certainly a feature I really appreciate on my mucky bottomland farm. I can think of no reason why I would ever want to remove the whole loader frame, but I do really like the quick attach bucket. Unlike removing the frame, you dont have to be so carefull about being on level ground when you just drop the bucket, nor do you need to be concerned with getting dirt into the hydraulic system.

 

[JiminGa]

take mine off if I won't be using it, just makes it more nimble...