Heavy duty bucket?

[VirtualTractor]

We just signed an agreement to by a MY17 2032R. For $175 more we can get the heavy duty bucket. Is it worth it? I can't see a little tractor like that being too hard on a bucket in the first place.

 

[ovrszd]

Without kicking the light duty bucket I can't say for sure. Weight is an issue on small tractors. Did they mention how much more the heavy bucket weighs??

I always give the engineers the benefit of doubt. I'm guessing the light duty bucket on your tractor has the same success expectations as a light duty bucket on a tractor twice that size.

 

[Eric102]

Does the HD bucket give you the option of a bolt on reversible/replaceable cutting edge? If so its worth it just for that.

 

[aarolar]

I would and did go for the lighter bucket any extra weight added to the bucket is less you can lift.

 

[beenthere]

When I had the choice, I picked the heavy duty.. but it was not as wide as the light duty (which was more for snow and moving light materials so had a larger volume). Have not regretted my choice..

And heavy duty bucket has a good edge.. not been bent once. Also has a solid double wall top edge.

 

[holeycow]

as noted, get a bucket that can have a cutting edge. A good edge will save the bucket from bowing. Weld-on or bolt-on, any good quality edge is a must or you WILL bend your bucket.

 

[LD1]

I like heavy buckets. But I have hooks welded to mine, dig stumps, pry out rocks, push on trees and logs, etc

If all you are doing is moving loose material, snow, mulch, bags of stuff from here to there....the lighter bucket is just fine. But if you plan on using it hard, I'd spring for the heavy duty bucket.

 

[MF283]

If all you are doing is moving loose material, snow, mulch, bags of stuff from here to there....the lighter bucket is just fine. But if you plan on using it hard, I'd spring for the heavy duty bucket.

It starts out that way, then we push them to the limit's I'd go with the heavier bucket, it can help counter balance implement's on the rear.

Ronnie

 

[Deadman]

After a few times, you will strait abusing your bucket like the rest of us, and hope it doesn't bend…….

 

[jenkinsph]

Big or small tractors most of the ones with bent buckets are light duty. I am compelled to go for HD buckets.

 

[beenthere]

Have not dented my heavy duty one yet.. and it gets used for lots of "heavy" duty. Moved may a rock in its day, living on the terminal moraine of a glacier.

 

[dirt ditch]

I got the HD bucket with my loader. Never wished I'd have gone with the standard bucket. John Deere puts a lot of extra "beef" in the HD buckets for $175. 4 straps on the bottom of the bucket instead of 2, holes drilled for bolt on cutting edge, leading edge of sides and top of bucket are reinforced. Don't have to worry about bending the top of the bucket when using welded on hooks.

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[RedHawkRidge]

I've had both light and heavy duty buckets. There's advantages to both.
The light duty JD buckets have a sharp edge on the front lip, which is very beneficial for scrapping surfaces clean, or removing a thin layer of soil. Works better for backdragging the bucket to smooth stuff like gravel. But then, using the bucket to push on stuff (like a tree stump) will bend the lip or similar work. It particularly is prone to happening when you turn the bucket down fully, then try to move something big by swinging the bucket up or closed.
The heavy duty buckets' front lip is thicker and rounded. If you want to tackle serious loads, you can accept the limitations of the more blunt front edge.
Jim

 

[wolc123]

There are other advantages to the heavy-duty bucket. You can bolt simple, cheap, structural steel pieces to it. I often bolt a couple 4" x 1/4" x 4 ft long pieces of angle iron below the bucket, in line with the loader frames. I use one of the 9/16" holes thru the cutting edge with a half inch bolt and drilled 7/16" holes, thru the bottom of the bucket, about half way in, for a 3/8 bolt to hold each one on. The resulting "forks" work great for moving and loading logs, or moving pallets, etc.. A couple wood "fork-extensions" bolted to the angles work great for putting the heavy cap on and off my pickup truck without any help.

I also drilled a 3rd 7/16" hole, near the center of the bucket (in addition to the two in line with the loader frame for the forks). I use that hole, and two of the factory 9/16" holes, closest to the center, to bolt a 12" x3" x 30" long, steel C-channel below the center of the bucket. That makes a great "tree-spade" for quickly moving trees and shrubs. It also allows the front loader to dig a narrower trench, much like a backhoe. I did have to upgrade the (2) 1/2" and (1) 3/8" attachment bolts to grade 8 to keep them from shearing when I dug a ditch for a drain tile, thru some rocky soil along my old barn. That was a tough job, but the heavy-duty bucket held up perfectly. I spent less than $10 on the bolts and did not need to rent or purchase a backhoe to get the job done in a couple days. I would still be digging, 6 months later, with a pick axe and shovel, without the tractor and it's heavy-duty bucket. I found the c-channel in my scrap pile, so that was free.

 

[oosik]

I had a light duty bucket on my first tractor - Ford 1700 4WD. I was lifting big rocks and cracked the welded on lip of the bucket. It cracked because the "bed" of the bucket flexed with the weight of the rock. I have an extra HD bucket on my current Kubota. I think it weighs around 150# more than their standard duty bucket. For what I do - I would never again have a light duty one.

 

[beenthere]

There are other advantages to the heavy-duty bucket. You can bolt simple, cheap, structural steel pieces to it. I often bolt a couple 4" x 1/4" x 4 ft long pieces of angle iron below the bucket, in line with the loader frames. I use one of the 9/16" holes thru the cutting edge with a half inch bolt and drilled 7/16" holes, thru the bottom of the bucket, about half way in, for a 3/8 bolt to hold each one on. The resulting "forks" work great for moving and loading logs, or moving pallets, etc.. A couple wood "fork-extensions" bolted to the angles work great for putting the heavy cap on and off my pickup truck without any help.

I also drilled a 3rd 7/16" hole, near the center of the bucket (in addition to the two in line with the loader frame for the forks). I use that hole, and two of the factory 9/16" holes, closest to the center, to bolt a 12" x3" x 30" long, steel C-channel below the center of the bucket. That makes a great "tree-spade" for quickly moving trees and shrubs. It also allows the front loader to dig a narrower trench, much like a backhoe. I did have to upgrade the (2) 1/2" and (1) 3/8" attachment bolts to grade 8 to keep them from shearing when I dug a ditch for a drain tile, thru some rocky soil along my old barn. That was a tough job, but the heavy-duty bucket held up perfectly. I spent less than $10 on the bolts and did not need to rent or purchase a backhoe to get the job done in a couple days. I would still be digging, 6 months later, with a pick axe and shovel, without the tractor and it's heavy-duty bucket. I found the c-channel in my scrap pile, so that was free.

Good ideas.. and would like to see some pics posted of your fabrications..

 

[Catman8]

I take it that this must be the light duty bucket, I bought the tractor with 34 hour on it and I have not dug out any tree stumps. Is there a way to straighten it and reinforce it.

 

[jneddermeyer1]

I take it that this must be the light duty bucket, I bought the tractor with 34 hour on it and I have not dug out any tree stumps. Is there a way to straighten it and reinforce it.

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I would put a 1/2 inch cutting bit on it. I'd think that would straighten it out.

 

[Catman8]

I would put a 1/2 inch cutting bit on it. I'd think that would straighten it out.

Like on post #12 is that a cutting bit.

 

[jneddermeyer1]

Like on post #12 is that a cutting bit.

Yes sir. You can get bolt on or weld on