Converting my pin on loader to a skid steer quick attach system

[davedj1]

And so it begins, I finally got around to ordering some pieces to convert my pin on loader to skid steer quick attach system.
The first part of the puzzle arrived today

I have ordered two attaching plates as well, they should be here sometime this week. I ordered the Sunday night and they came in today. I bought them from Ebay if anyone wants their info.
I'll keep this updated as things progress. I will be busy the rest of the week with my daughter who is going to have a baby (my second grandson) on Friday. I an driving her for her pre op and then we will be there for the delivery and a couple of days afterwards.
One of the plates I intend to use my homemade forks to move my firewood on half pallets around.

I've since reinforced the joints.

 

[Xfaxman]

Well I hope they sent some good assembly instructions. I am guessing that the handles are on upside down for shipping in a smaller box.

 

[davedj1]

Well I hope they sent some good assembly instructions. I am guessing that the handles are on upside down for shipping in a smaller box.

I believe (and I hope so) you are correct!

 

[kthompson]

Congratulations on the soon to be here grand! Much more important and enjoyable than any implement or equipment. But a grandson who will enjoy it with you is top of the mountain. Pray all goes well for Mom and Son.

 

[davedj1]

Congratulations on the soon to be here grand! Much more important and enjoyable than any implement or equipment. But a grandson who will enjoy it with you is top of the mountain. Pray all goes well for Mom and Son.

Thank you.
I took her in for her pre op yesterday and they kept her. Her blood pressure was high and she is already a high risk pregnancy. They are going to take him this morning around 07:30
I did receive the quick plate for the forks, waiting on the one for the bucket then I can get to work

 

[EddieWalker]

I converted my tractor to a quick attach system so I could change attachments, but had to modify it to keep the attachments from falling off. I've wondered if I should have gone to another type of system that is more secure, but don't know too much about them. Just that the big wheel loaders and full sized backhoes use a different system that seems more secure.

Why are you changing yours to quick attach?

 

[davedj1]

I converted my tractor to a quick attach system so I could change attachments, but had to modify it to keep the attachments from falling off. I've wondered if I should have gone to another type of system that is more secure, but don't know too much about them. Just that the big wheel loaders and full sized backhoes use a different system that seems more secure.

Why are you changing yours to quick attach?

I am changing it to quick attach mostly because I want to be able to have forks and I would like to get a little bit wider bucket and save my bucket for the firewood with the thumb on it.
Can you elaborate on your system? I am using the common latch pin type.

 

[hosspuller]

What were the attachment plates called on E-bay ? Or Post a link to your seller .. I'd like to make an adapter too.

Thanks

 

[davedj1]

What were the attachment plates called on E-bay ? Or Post a link to your seller .. I'd like to make an adapter too.

Thanks

They are called quick attach plates and latch boxes
Here is where I got the plates, great seller, shipped free and very quickly
3/16" Steel Quick Tach Attachment Mount Plate Skid Steer Bobcat Kubota New 73735334694 | eBay
I bought one 3/16 for the bucket and one 1/4" for the forks
This seller was great and fast and free as well
Skid Steer Quick Connect Conversion Adapter Latch Box Weld Plate On QTK | eBay

 

[davedj1]

Well i had a few minutes this morning , no turning back now ! LOL

I think I can weld these directly to the latch boxes. The top pin seems a bit long but I can shorten it a bit to make things work. I know a lot of people who do this have to add something to the latch box to space the pins out, I want to keep this as close as possible to not give up any more lifting capacity that I absolutely have to.

 

[Xfaxman]

:thumbsup:

 

[davedj1]

Well I spent the morning in the shop until around noon when I ran out of gas (for the welder) and I wasn't far behind...LOL
Stay tuned, It will be a couple of days before I can get some gas. I was able to get it tacked up pretty solid so I could run the bucket through it's paces and it seems to work well.

 

[Xfaxman]

Looking good. :thumbsup:

Do you have enough room for the handle to go "over center"? You can grind off some metal where it hits, if needed:

 

[davedj1]

Xfzaxman, Yes they do go over center a tad, I'm confident it's enough. If not I will break out the plasma cutter :laughing:

 

[davedj1]

I had to cut the cylinder pins off about 3/4"
I got a new bottle of gas today and finished welding the latch boxes, got them painted and installed. Now I need to finish welding the bucket. I am going to go to the dealership and see if they have a used bucket , I would like one about 66" wide , mine is only 60" which is barely as wide as the rear tires. Plus I don't need to have my "wood" bucket with all the hardware for the thumb on unless I need it.
I found a woods 7500 backhoe that is missing the plates for hard mounting it, I guess the old guy got a new backhoe and used his old plates. I will have to call and see if I can purchase mounting hardware for my old tractor.

 

[Oldpath05]

In post 12 of the last two pics, shouldn't that top angle bar come off first then grind down all weld so's that backing plate fits tight against the bucket......

 

[davedj1]

In post 12 of the last two pics, shouldn't that top angle bar come off first then grind down all weld so's that backing plate fits tight against the bucket......

You are probably right but because the top angle is 3/8 thick and welded solid that's not going to happen. If it becomes an issue I will cut some strips with the plasma cutter to fill the void and then weld it in. These plates are rugged and the price is right (85 bucks shipped) I knew it wasn't going to lay flat but C'est la vie! Plus it's difficult to see but at the bottom of the bucket there are two strips, for wear I think, that are 3/8 by about 4" that wrap under the bucket and up the back about 4" , if you notice I had to add strips to flush the bottom of the plate out. I intend to buy a new wider bucket for dirt work and just use this one for firewood/brush duty with the thumb on it.

 

[davedj1]

The nice thing about doing it this way it really doesn't add any distance out to the bucket which should help with some weight.

 

[nyone]

Nice job!

You should weld something on to connect the two new quick connect plates. This can help with both hyd cylinders moving together too. Not just what ever one has the least pressure on it.

 

[Xfaxman]

With all the threads on here about twisting the connecting tube, I would not put one on.

If you retract the curl cylinders all the way before you hook up the attachment, it should work OK. If one side moves first, it will stop when it contacts the attachment plate. When the other side contacts the attachment plate, raise a little and curl back to seat the quick attach, then latch the levers.