I have been pondering a future used tractor purchase and am curious about a few things.?ÿ
I know tractors are typically used with a pro and Bush hog and other items that hook to the back but until recently front attachments were not common.
So here is my question;?ÿ How can you determine if a tractor can be equipped with a front bucket?
This is not concerning the old Ford Jubilee type tractors.?ÿ
Look for flat machined surfaces low on the side of the transmission housing with threaded bolt holes just forward of the step. I had a 1975 Allis Chalmers (Fiat built in Romania) with a much newer Bush Hog brand front loader. The rear mounting brackets were bolted to those surfaces and the front of the loader frame slipped into a bracket bolted to the front. It was designed to be removable, but I never tried it.
Most tractors can be fitted with a front end loader.?ÿ See claim in this..................
https://www.farm-king.com/pages/product_allied_front-end-loaders.php
Many of the newer models have a quick connect system where you simply drive onto the accessory and hook it up and go.
Kubota offers some nice incentives such as buy two accessories and the third is free and 4wd and the right tires for the job are a must-have.
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I had no idea that was the case. Most tractors I have seen with front loaders seem to be of a newer vintage and I was looking at older ones. I am in the learning stage right now and while I have been around them since I was a boy none had front loaders so I assumed that was a more recent adaptation.
I have seen loaders on the old Ford tractors also.
Ed
My dad had a 1950 John Deere A with a front loader. I own a 1950 Farmall H with a front loader. I also have a 1962 Massey Ferguson with front loader.
Some of the early ones were pretty crude but far better than nothing at all.
My cousin still has the late 50??s ?ÿmodel Ford 851 Powermaster my uncle used to run most of the time. My dad always ran the M Farmall. Except for when they were cleaning the manure out of the barns after feeding cattle inside all winter. Then they switched places, Uncle spread manure with an old John Deere spreadr, and my dad ran the Ford with a ford loader on it that came with it when they bought it. Lift was hydraulic, but to tip the bucket there was a handle on the right attached to a canle that ran up to a pin with a spring on it on the back side of the bucket. You yanked the handle to pull the pin and the bucket dumped. To get the bucket back in place you let it flop back up and the pin would catch, or you had to drop it on the ground and drag it backwards until it caught. I think my uncle was afraid he??d knock down the barn. Still remember that smell.?ÿ
Eau du bologna
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This is similar to the tractor I own. ?ÿThe front end loader has a bucket on it in the pic but the bucket comes off easy, as in 30 seconds easy. ?ÿYou can then put other attachments on it, like pallet forks, a blade, grapple, and other stuff I can??t think of. ?ÿYou can also take the entire loader off and put other things on, like a front mount snow blower. ?ÿThe end loader on mine comes off in a couple of minutes.
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At the rear, you can barely see it in the pic, is the three point hitch. ?ÿThere is also a PTO back there to power things. ?ÿLots of things to hook up there, chippers, brush hogs, blades, stump grinders, box blades, finish mowers etc. ?ÿThe three point also has hydraulics so you can raise and lower the implement.
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Newer tractors also often have a mid pto, to power a mid mount mower a front snow blower, pavement broom among other things.
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You can add a loader to just about any tractor but at what cost. ?ÿYou need the hydraulics for it, the joy stick and all the brackets. ?ÿUnless the tractor is set up for a loader already it??s often not worth it. ?ÿDepending on what you need a tractor for a front end loader is really handy. ?ÿA must have in my book.
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These days there seem to be more skid steer loaders being used than front end loaders on tractors?ÿ
Skid steers and tracked skid steers are very popular. ?ÿThey have more lift height, more hydraulic flow and also cost a lot more than a compact tractor. ?ÿThey are more of a construction grade machine where a compact tractor is often designed as a home owner type machine.
There are different types of loader buckets for the older tractors too.?ÿ You can have a trip bucket, a manure bucket or a standard bucket.?ÿ?ÿ
You are correct that the skid steers cost more. It's sort of the difference between a carpenter's hammer and a tack hammer. Playing with overgrown toys is perfect for a certain set of uses. Getting things done......today.....requires a more substantial tool. Nothing wrong whatsoever with either tool so long as it is being used correctly. As for me, I will find a way to put a kink in a crow bar due to overloading. That's why I own tools then let others use them. My motto in my bush hogging days was: If I can bend it over with the weight of the tractor I'll cut it off, eventually.
