Converting FEL Bucket to Four in One

[k0ua]

Yeah, I forgot to mention with the two hydraulic cylinders and the extra steel in them they are quite heavy. I have always wondered why they are so popular on tractors in Australia, but not so much here in the US. You see them more on skid steers here than compact tractors for sure and I guess the weight penalty is one reason, but why do the Aussie's not seem to mind?

 

[npalen]

You just have to picture an upside down tractor.

 

[CurlyDave]

The idea of a 4 in 1 bucket is this.

1: It works as a standard bucket for scooping loose material
2: It works as a bulldozer blade (well sort of) when the upper clamshell is raised up out of the way
3: It works as a scraper in the back dragging mode with a cutting edge on the back lower side of the bucket
4: It works sort of like a grapple with the clamshell opened up to grasp logs and rocks between the upper clamshell portion and the lower portion.
There are usually some "teeth" on the lower portion to help hold these logs or debris from slipping out.

You maybe could even argue that a 5th function is the dumping of loose material can be accomplished by opening the clamshell for a "bottom dump" instead of the normal scoop being turned downward into "dump" angle. This would kinda allow for possibly a higher height to clear the side of a dump truck without having to angle the scoop down.

In my analysis a 4 in 1 bucket does a bunch of things, and doesn't do any of them as well as a dedicated front implement. BUT it does it with just one tool that you always have with you. Sort of like a multitool. Is it as good of a screwdriver or wrench or even knife blade as a dedicated screwdriver, wrench or knife? No probably not, or at least not in all circumstances.

So you have to decide, is having a "multitool" with you all the time vs having dedicated tools the way you want to go? For some folks, yes, for others, no, not so much.

There is another function which is extremely useful. If you open the clamshell and lower the bucket over a post you can clamp the post and pull it up. Much faster than dismounting and wrapping a chain around the post.

I have used the same technique to pull small trees also...

 

[alchemysa]

I have a Kubota Compact tractor with a 4in1 so I am well aware of the extra weight and strengthening thats built into them. However I'm not so negative about the possibility of turning a standard bucket into a 4in1. I'm rebuilding an old Bobcat, and as part of the project I intend to try and convert the bucket into some kind of 4in1. It will have a few shortcomings of course and will probably require a little extra operator care to minimise damage but I think its do-able, and even with some shortcomings will be far more use to me than a standard bucket or a bucket with a grapple.

By the way, used mid-size 4in1 skid steer buckets are at least $2000 over here.

 

[MechE1]

Alchemysa, I don't think in's necessarily negativity, just practicality. They are expensive here too. But, if you have to buy the cylinders, steel, pins, trash a good bucket (b/c it needs to be straight as an arrow) and spend 50 hrs minimum engineering and constructing, $2k starts to sound like a bargain. I think that's the point.

But, if you build, please post pictures.

 

[ovrszd]

I have a Kubota Compact tractor with a 4in1 so I am well aware of the extra weight and strengthening thats built into them. However I'm not so negative about the possibility of turning a standard bucket into a 4in1. I'm rebuilding an old Bobcat, and as part of the project I intend to try and convert the bucket into some kind of 4in1. It will have a few shortcomings of course and will probably require a little extra operator care to minimise damage but I think its do-able, and even with some shortcomings will be far more use to me than a standard bucket or a bucket with a grapple.

By the way, used mid-size 4in1 skid steer buckets are at least $2000 over here.

Start a thread about your Bobcat rebuild, especially the bucket portion. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[npalen]

I have a Kubota Compact tractor with a 4in1 so I am well aware of the extra weight and strengthening thats built into them. However I'm not so negative about the possibility of turning a standard bucket into a 4in1. I'm rebuilding an old Bobcat, and as part of the project I intend to try and convert the bucket into some kind of 4in1. It will have a few shortcomings of course and will probably require a little extra operator care to minimise damage but I think its do-able, and even with some shortcomings will be far more use to me than a standard bucket or a bucket with a grapple.

By the way, used mid-size 4in1 skid steer buckets are at least $2000 over here.

Would it be possible for you to post some closeup photos of your 4in1 on the B1550?

P.S. I spent a fortnight in Adelaide, South Australia back in 1982 visiting the John Shearer Company which was the "John Deere" of Australia at that time. An older Russian engineer working there insisted on giving me a tour of the surrounding wine country. It was a bit scary as the more vineyard tasting stations we visited the faster he drove.
Australia is a beautiful country!

 

[ovrszd]

P.S. I spent a fortnight in Adelaide, South Australia back in 1982 visiting the John Shearer Company which was the "John Deere" of Australia at that time. An older Russian engineer working there insisted on giving me a tour of the surrounding wine country. It was a bit scary as the more vineyard tasting stations we visited the faster he drove.
Australia is a beautiful country!

Maybe he was like Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati, the more he drank the better driver he became!!!!

 

[npalen]

John Deere Frontier 60" 4-in-1 Bucket - YouTube
Deere 472 using 4 n 1 bucket to clr tree overhang - YouTube
John Deere 472 Awesome Tractor montage! - YouTube
Videos using 4in1 buckets.

 

[k0ua]

John Deere Frontier 60" 4-in-1 Bucket - YouTube
Deere 472 using 4 n 1 bucket to clr tree overhang - YouTube
John Deere 472 Awesome Tractor montage! - YouTube
Videos using 4in1 buckets.

Good videos showing the utility value of the 4 in 1

 

[Oldpath05]

I watched the videos and the only advantage I see is scooping up dirt/crushed rock which is good for construction purposes, all other functions could be done with a grapple or thumb on a bucket and then if one made some sort of add on to grapple, that could scoop up dirt also. If I had 40hp tractor, I'd go grapple and modify for dirt. I'm quite certain that a 4 in 1 bucket is to heavy for my tractor, with my bucket full of dirt the lift is maxed out, I'd rather lift a bucket full of dirt/heavy log then a heavy bucket.

 

[ovrszd]

I watched the videos and the only advantage I see is scooping up dirt/crushed rock which is good for construction purposes, all other functions could be done with a grapple or thumb on a bucket and then if one made some sort of add on to grapple, that could scoop up dirt also. If I had 40hp tractor, I'd go grapple and modify for dirt. I'm quite certain that a 4 in 1 bucket is to heavy for my tractor, with my bucket full of dirt the lift is maxed out, I'd rather lift a bucket full of dirt/heavy log then a heavy bucket.

And that is why it's important to accept differences. In your first sentence you used two tools. With a 4 in 1, you would have only used one tool.

 

[k0ua]

I would think that if you were working on a construction site, you could not ask for anything better than a 4 in 1. One tool to do the work of at least 4 and maybe more. If you were at home and have all of your tools in one place, I would think you could gain advantage by using the one correct tool for the one job and quickly changing tools.

I do the same thing when I go work on the daughters house, I try to take the multi combo tools like 4 in 1 screwdrivers, and things like that so I will likely have something I can get the job done with. IF I work at home I don't pick up those tools, I use specific tools for a job, because they work a bit better.

 

[ovrszd]

Yep, me too. That's why I don't have a 4n1.

But they are wayyyy cool in the certain circumstances.

 

[Oldpath05]

And that is why it's important to accept differences. In your first sentence you used two tools. With a 4 in 1, you would have only used one tool.

What are you talking about, the first sentence is one tool, one bucket, one pile of dirt, one pile crushed rock, one pile of whatever.....That was the only advantage that I seen where a 4---1 bucket works good, all other grabbing of this and that could of been done better with grapple on a bucket. And I didn't say anything about not accepting differences, I could care less what people put on their tractor.

 

[ovrszd]

What are you talking about, the first sentence is one tool, one bucket, one pile of dirt, one pile crushed rock, one pile of whatever.....That was the only advantage that I seen where a 4---1 bucket works good, all other grabbing of this and that could of been done better with grapple on a bucket. And I didn't say anything about not accepting differences, I could care less what people put on their tractor.

Sorry, but here's your previous paragraph, first sentence highlighted. Sounds like a grapple OR thumb on a bucket, i.e., two tools. Actually three because you then added a scoop to the Grapple.

I watched the videos and the only advantage I see is scooping up dirt/crushed rock which is good for construction purposes, all other functions could be done with a grapple or thumb on a bucket and then if one made some sort of add on to grapple, that could scoop up dirt also. If I had 40hp tractor, I'd go grapple and modify for dirt. I'm quite certain that a 4 in 1 bucket is to heavy for my tractor, with my bucket full of dirt the lift is maxed out, I'd rather lift a bucket full of dirt/heavy log then a heavy bucket.

 

[Oldpath05]

Sorry, but here's your previous paragraph, first sentence highlighted. Sounds like a grapple OR thumb on a bucket, i.e., two tools. Actually three because you then added a scoop to the Grapple.

I watched the videos and the only advantage I see is scooping up dirt/crushed rock which is good for construction purposes, all other functions could be done with a grapple or thumb on a bucket and then if one made some sort of add on to grapple, that could scoop up dirt also. If I had 40hp tractor, I'd go grapple and modify for dirt. I'm quite certain that a 4 in 1 bucket is to heavy for my tractor, with my bucket full of dirt the lift is maxed out, I'd rather lift a bucket full of dirt/heavy log then a heavy bucket.

Good-grief. Did you do a spell check aslo, I'm really not getting your point, on my tractor I would put a thumb so to keep weight down, if I had a bigger tractor I would put grapple on, then if I wanted and or needed to scoop up dirt like how the 4--1 bucket does, I would temporarily bolt on a steel plate, on my tractor the thumb would be bolted/pinned for removal when not needed.
I would only have a 4--1 bucket on a construction site or at the farm to pick up farm stuff and then I would have on a quick detach loader. I cant wait for you nit-pick this apart.......

 

[Oldpath05]

I also thought on that last video, drilling holes with an open PTO shaft looked kind of maybe not safe, but if they pay attention guess it's be ok.

 

[alchemysa]

Would it be possible for you to post some closeup photos of your 4in1 on the B1550?

P.S. I spent a fortnight in Adelaide, South Australia back in 1982 visiting the John Shearer Company which was the "John Deere" of Australia at that time. An older Russian engineer working there insisted on giving me a tour of the surrounding wine country. It was a bit scary as the more vineyard tasting stations we visited the faster he drove.
Australia is a beautiful country!

npalen.... The B1550 is 300 ks away at the moment so these old photos are the best I can do for now. The 4in1 is simply invaluable as far as I am concerned, but everyones circumstances are different. It is exceptionally heavy though, so a hefty weight on the back is essential. Fortunately the backhoe serves that purpose.

Yeah, John Shearer's were a big deal once upon a time. Mainly built tow-behind stuff ; plows, seeders, etc. Sadly they are long gone, along with most of our manufacturers. They were in a small country town called Mannum. It must have seemed a long way from the U.S.A! Its been about 105 degrees in Adelaide for the last couple of days. What time of the year did you visit?

Start a thread about your Bobcat rebuild, especially the bucket portion. Thanks in advance!!!

ovrszd... The Bobcat is an old 610. I've described some of the project on 'skidsteerforum'. I got a bobcat+trailer package deal:laughing:. I did also get a bucket with it but thats not in the pic. The Bobcat is completely dismantled at the moment. I've repaired axles and seals, hydraulic control block, and I'm just reassembling the Wisconsin VH4D engine after having it rebored 40 thou oversize. Next big job is painting the frame so I can start putting it back together. The bucket conversion project is probably quite a few months away but I will give details if it happens.

 

[npalen]

Yeah, John Shearer's were a big deal once upon a time. Mainly built tow-behind stuff ; plows, seeders, etc. Sadly they are long gone, along with most of our manufacturers. They were in a small country town called Mannum. It must have seemed a long way from the U.S.A! Its been about 105 degrees in Adelaide for the last couple of days. What time of the year did you visit?

I'm guessing about February and the weather was quite balmy. That's usually not the case here in Kansas although the weatherman is predicting 72F tomorrow. (Feb. 10)