homemade bucket help

[casetractor]

i have a case 446 and i was planing on putting a bucket on it. i hav 3 linear actuators for it(2 for pushing it up and 1 for the bucket to move) that i was planning to use. i was actually wondering how thick the metal should be. i already know it is going to be sqaure tubing. any and all info would help. thanks

 

[PutnamVictor]

I really like the look of the Case 446, should be a nice project when complete. Your best bet is to do a search on the Web for plans, the cost will be well worth it. If you over engineer, the weight will render the little loader useless, especially since you don't have power steering. Post picture of the progress.

 

[casetractor]

yea i tried that and it helped me some but i am on a low budget. that is why i am using linear actuators instead of hi drolics. and i will post pictures of my progress if i decide to make a bucket:thumbsup:

 

[Craig Clayton]

Your 12V linear actuators are going to need power and a heavy control system, I built a Power King look alike RIP and used a car power steering pump at 1.0 GPM @ 1000 PSI and it was slow. I would suggest you watch your local dealers for budget new cylinders
and spool valve and modest pump. You can make the loader around the cylinders. A modest pump at maybe 2 GPM 1500 PSI.
Craig Clayton

 

[casetractor]

yea i understand that the actuators arnt going to have alot of power but lik i said before i am on a low budget project. this bucket is not going to lift a whole lot and i understand that. and i was thinking about using hydrolics but the cost to use ratio means that id rather just use actuators. besides 2 actuators should lift atleast 300 pounds and that is more than enough for wat i am doing

 

[casetractor]

i have to ask. can anyone that has made a front end loader, please post the pictures and any plans that you followed. thanks:thumbsup:

 

[Gary Sweat]

i have to ask. can anyone that has made a front end loader, please post the pictures and any plans that you followed. thanks:thumbsup:

Built this loader and used 1/8" steel for the bucket. It's been holding up great so far and I have pushed over small 1 to 3" trees with it. Also picked up a 18" diameter by 20' section of a tree and didn't damage it and dug a bunch of 1' diameter rocks up. For what you are doing 1/8" should work fine.

What helps is a good cutting edge material and the small down turned piece along the top edge of the bucket.

 

[casetractor]

"Built this loader and used 1/8" steel for the bucket. It's been holding up great so far and I have pushed over small 1 to 3" trees with it. Also picked up a 18" diameter by 20' section of a tree and didn't damage it and dug a bunch of 1' diameter rocks up."

thanks that was going to be my next question. that looks like a pretty cool setup you got and i would love to have on like that. i actually might be able to get a loader(way to big)but i will have to cut it down thou and i would rather use that because it has hydraulics

 

[Gary Sweat]

"Built this loader and used 1/8" steel for the bucket. It's been holding up great so far and I have pushed over small 1 to 3" trees with it. Also picked up a 18" diameter by 20' section of a tree and didn't damage it and dug a bunch of 1' diameter rocks up."

thanks that was going to be my next question. that looks like a pretty cool setup you got and i would love to have on like that. i actually might be able to get a loader(way to big)but i will have to cut it down thou and i would rather use that because it has hydraulics

Check out the loader plans that PF Engineering has. They are designed for lawn tractors but can be scaled for any size you need.

 

[workinprogress]

I made a small bucket for a Cub Cadet garden tractor and used 1/8 inch for the bucket plus welded a 1/4 thick flat stock to the edge. The unit is built it similar to a Johnney Bucket (Johnny Buckets For John Deere Sears Craftsman Cub Cadet Case Simplicity and Many More ). Basically it is a low lift loader and I think two of your actuators would do all you need. Check out their web site and see. Overall I have been pretty happy with with unit which is powered off the tractors built in hydraulics (1-2 gpm at <600psi).

 

[casetractor]

thanks for the tip gary i have never heard of PF Engineering. i will have to check it out. and for workinprogress i have already seen the johnny bucket designs and i dont realy like them. i like the original buckets that can do allot more than them and besides with what you are spending on one of those i would just like to make my own:thumbsup:

 

[Gary Sweat]

thanks for the tip gary i have never heard of PF Engineering. i will have to check it out. and for workinprogress i have already seen the johnny bucket designs and i dont realy like them. i like the original buckets that can do allot more than them and besides with what you are spending on one of those i would just like to make my own:thumbsup:

His plans are laid out very well and he gives you sources for the parts and a material list also.

Your tractor should not have a problem with a loader. I've seen much smaller ones that work fine and the guys love them. If you decide to build one, you can PM me and I'll be glad to help. There was some things I would do differently during the build that I learned on this one. Saves time and money.

 

[David Devuono]

compared to Tie-rod cylinders, linear actuators are expensive, fairly short strokes and slow. Hydraulics are amazing. If you go with a manual dump bucket, two tie-rod lift cyls, 3 gallon tank, single spool vavle you should be able to do it for 350 dollars on the hydraulics.

 

[workinprogress]

Sorry about the confusion. I was suggesting that you build something like the Johnney bucket not purchase it. The short travel of the lift and dump should will work very well with your actuators. On another note you can reuse the bucket if you decide to make a full loader. Just a suggestion. I have used my Johnney bucket copy for years and it works well for what it is but I have started to collect parts to build a full loader. The PF plans does call for 16 inch stroke on the hydraulic cylinders. Not sure what stroke your actuators have?

 

[casetractor]

thanks gary i would love to find ways to spend less money and time.as for work in proggress i like the full version buckets and not to be mean or anything but the johnny bucket looks like a waist of money, but i do understand what they were trying to do.i have a almost 20 inch one and a 8 or 9 inch linear actator.:thumbsup and i have not seen tie rods before. can anyone explaine what they are????

 

[Craig Clayton]

Tie rod cylinders have 4 rods on the lenght of the cylinder. These hold the end plates on. They are looked upon as the poor cousins in the rod market. They are used on ag machines because, ag machines use a lot of 8" standard cylinders. Tie rods are also longer but do not have the higher ratings of REAL cylinders. For your needs a tie rod will last 30 years.
Craig Clayton

 

[casetractor]

thanks for explaining that craig, now that you mension that i might have seen them before. but thanks any way.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

... If you decide to build one, you can PM me and I'll be glad to help. There was some things I would do differently during the build that I learned on this one. Saves time and money.

Hey!! Don't leave the rest of us out.

Casetractor, I'm sure you're going to build this thing. Keep us updated us with your build progress here and we can all share in the wisdom you gain from experience and from others on the forum.

 

[casetractor]

i wont leave you guys out but i probably wont be making this till summer time so it is going to be a little while. i just started this to see if anyone could post any designs of homemade loaders so i dont screw anything up when i decides to build this

 

[Iplayfarmer]

There have been a number of loader builds on TBN. A little time with the search function will bring up a lot of information. You'll probably get a lot of individual help, too.

I think your linear actuators are a great intermediate solution, but I'd plan the loader so that you can easily modify it later to accept hydraulics. You'll likely end up wanting hydraulics.