Adapting Ford loader to John Deere

TractorGuy · Aug 24, 2017

I am fixing to adapt an old loader from an 8N to my 855 John Deere. The plan as I am thinking right now is to set it up with the front loader arms on the floor with the bucket removed. This position will allow me to apply dome down force if needed. The JD has a tube running through the frame that 2-1/2 tube fits in pretty good. I will be using 2 pieces with 1/4" wall 18" long and welding 2"ﾗ1/4" angle to the ends to bolt the loader to. The loader currently has flat pieces on the rear legs with 2 holes.

Any suggestions or thoughts before I begin will be appreciated.

CincyFlyer · Aug 24, 2017

Even for a baby loader, anything less than 1/2" steel seems a little thin.

mark in portugal · Aug 24, 2017

1/4 wall tube is plenty strong; my loader mount uprights are lighter than that.

And [for the record] mine is a 1965 MF loader grafted onto an 85HP Italian tractor built in 1985. I do terrible things to it and it only broke a few times.

bspeedy · Aug 24, 2017

The 8N loaders I've seen do not have downforce. Also they are very weak and archaic looking. Maybe I'm not imagining the right thing.

I think I'd start with a more modern loader.

I agree that quarter inch material does not belong on a loader.

Maybe some pics would help?

TractorGuy · Aug 24, 2017

bspeedy said:
The 8N loaders I've seen do not have downforce. Also they are very weak and archaic looking. Maybe I'm not imagining the right thing.

I think I'd start with a more modern loader.

I agree that quarter inch material does not belong on a loader.

Maybe some pics would help?

Here is a picture of the loader. It looks similar to modern loaders except for the controls. I am hoping to tie into the power beyond that is already on the tractor.

CincyFlyer · Aug 24, 2017

mark in portugal said:
1/4 wall tube is plenty strong; my loader mount uprights are lighter than that.

And [for the record] mine is a 1965 MF loader grafted onto an 85HP Italian tractor built in 1985. I do terrible things to it and it only broke a few times.

I was addressing the angle iron. Any angle or plate mountings should be grossly overbuilt if possible.

TractorGuy · Aug 24, 2017

The 2" x 1/4" angle will be welded to the 2-1/2" x 1/4" wall tube. Holes will be just a couple inches from the tube so it should be plenty strong.

RickB · Aug 24, 2017

I'd do all the design and initial fab work with the bucket installed on the loader. You have a better chance of getting the geometry correct.

D2Cat · Aug 24, 2017

You have to get the loader towers in the correct position, not too far forward, not too far back. The steel under your tractor has to support the loader and everything you'll put in the bucket or pick up with any hooks. The front of the loader has to be anchored to the frame of the tractor for the same reasons.

You also need some support from the bottom of the towers to the rear axle on both sides. The width of the loader arms can't be too wide, and too narrow will interfere with tractor frame, steering, etc.

I was working outside, so I make an A frame from some 4x4's to hold the loader. Then I could move the tractor a bit as needed.

This is a Massey loader I put on a Kubota L305.

CADplans · Aug 24, 2017

Every pound of loader you add to the tractor will need to be compensated for behind the 3 point hitch.
That loader is easily 500 pounds heavier than a JD 855 loader, the 70A,,,

This is a pic of our JD 855/70A,,,

You will find the tractor will quickly become unstable with that loader,,
on even slightly rough/un-level terrain.

You will find even cutting off the braces that run to the front of the tractor,
and re fabricating out of a lighter material will make the tractor more stable.

That is a LOT of loader.
Oh, yea, make sure the loader does not position the bucket any further forward than necessary.
Shorten the loader arms as necessary to keep the bucket close to the tractor.

TractorGuy · Aug 25, 2017

These are all good suggestions and food for thought as I plan.

I don't think this loader is that much larger than a 70A but no way to weigh and compare. Most of the metal in this loader looks to be about 10 gauge with a few 1/4" thick gussets. The 8N it came off of had a Otis elevator gear case hanging off the back of it. I might make it more adaptable to the 3pt hitch but not sure the 855 will pick it up.

The A-frame is a good idea and I was thinking I would need something like that to hoist this off and on. I don't think I want to leave it on the tractor unless I am using it. The loader was attached to the 8N with 8 bolts and I was planning a similar attachment to the 855.

Please keep the ideas coming.

buickanddeere · Aug 25, 2017

Going to cost less time and money to just purchase a loader from JD .

TractorGuy · Aug 25, 2017

It occurred to me I did have a way to weigh it and that would be a very important aspect of the adaptation. Turns out it weighs 440# without the bucket. that is the loader, lines, and controls. Mounting steel won't weight more than 30#. This unit came with a light weight 48" bucket that I will either not use or will cut up to make a dirt sieve out of.

Looking online for weight references I found a shipping weight on a 70 loader of 700#. I also located a shipping weight estimate of 231# for a JD 48" bucket with lines and grill guard.

SOOOOOOOOOO it's looking like this may be a near perfect adaptation for my 855. I plan to mount it with the rear uprights centered over the square tube built into the tractor for the loader mount. I see the 70A loader mounts with the rear arms a little forward of that. My bucket location will be very close to stock. I need to go get some pins to attach it before final fitment since the previous owner took it off and lost the pins.

Here is the tractor pulled alongside the loader for reference.

And here is the approximate mount for the rear arms.

CincyFlyer · Aug 25, 2017

Besides bolting the uprights to the blue angle iron on the cross-tube, will there be anchor points higher on the upright?

TractorGuy · Aug 25, 2017

CincyFlyer said:
Besides bolting the uprights to the blue angle iron on the cross-tube, will there be anchor points higher on the upright?

I wasn't planning any. This is the way it was being used on the 8N. There will be two additional supports on the front of the frame.

The piece outlined in green will have upright supports attached at the front of the tractor frame.

Just eyeballing it looks like the whole loader will be mounted about 4 inches higher than stock if I do not modify the loader uprights. I prefer not to modify the actual loader in case I fix the 8N and want to try it back on that tractor. I am not planning to do a bunch of high lifting with it on the 855 so I hope it will be okay.

CincyFlyer · Aug 25, 2017

Ah, that front support makes all the difference; most modern units don't have that at all, and rely on a very sturdy upright that remains on the tractor, bolted to a subframe.

GLyford · Aug 25, 2017

JD855guy said:
And here is the approximate mount for the rear arms.
View attachment 519794

Um...is there room for that upper pedal to travel with that crossbar in place? It looks smack in the way from this angle...

TractorGuy · Aug 25, 2017

CincyFlyer said:
Ah, that front support makes all the difference; most modern units don't have that at all, and rely on a very sturdy upright that remains on the tractor, bolted to a subframe.

The photo of the 70A loader above looks like it has a similar member attached at the front.