Adapting A Skidsteer QA To My Kubota B3030

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I was planning on purchasing an ATI Tach-All for my tractor when I came across an ad on Craigslist for a skidsteer quick attach. Contacted the seller...... turns out he works at a Kubota dealer, and he has a Kasco Uni-hitch to fit LA401, LA402,and LA403 (like mine) loaders. He claims it was on his personal tractor, but its not needed any more. So I go with cash in hand and strike a deal.

All excited, when I get home I pull my bucket to test fit. Disappointment sets in.......... its too wide and doesn't fit my loader arms. So , in the corner it went and sat for six months while I decided whether I'd re-Craigslist it and fork over the additional $500 or so for the ATI.

Spring has sprung here, and I'm feeling motivated. I'm gonna make it fit my loader.............. and since its so darned heavily built, I'll lighten it up a little while I'm at it.

First thing, I disassemble the locking mechanism and soak everything in degreaser. Then, I lay it in my chop saw and cut it into two pieces . Then, I cut an inch and 5/8ths out of the center of the crossmember. Now in two more managable pieces, I start removing material.

 

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It was a real challenge to get the halves clamped onto my cheapo drill press, but I managed to drill alot of the holes with the press. I also used several hole saws and removed material wherever I could. The ears the pins go through are half inch steel..... my loader isn't going to bend them no matter how many holes I drill.

The Uni-Hitch looks to be semi-universal fit, with two lower holes, and five upper holes. Unfortunately, none of the top holes would keep my original bucket geometry, so I cut up some old 1 inch pins and plugged four of the upper holes by welding the pieces into the holes.

Then, after wasting a brand new 1" bit, I decided I'd better take the pieces to a local machine shop to have the new holes drilled. What a drill press he had ! It was about twelve feet tall...... looked WWII era. He easily drilled inner and outer pin holes without ever flipping the piece. Very impressive piece of equipment! While I was there, I had him machine me four round spacers for the pins to go through.... since the inner and outer ears the pins go through are farther apart than needed for my loader.

 

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I also got a weld on QA plate with it..... to weld onto the back of my bucket. I used this as a jig, and clamped my two halves together using some square tubing and C-clamps. I welded the two halves back together and ground the welds flat.

Then welded the spacers I had made in place, and finished cutting holes with a hole saw.

Since I had made it narrower, I bought some 1" flat stock to add to the outsides.

Then, time for a test fit.

 

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Fit like a glove....... so off it came to be cleaned up, primed and painted.

 

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Into the "paint shop"..............

 

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Made a trip to TSC for all new grade 8 hardware, and re-assembled.

 

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Now................ who here lives within a reasonable distance, and has a cutting torch and is good enough with it to remove the old brackets off my bucket (without destroying the bucket) for a twelve-pack ????

 

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Teg, no need to shorten the plate that goes onto the bucket. The holes the locking pins go through are rectangular, and plenty long enough. I could have narrowed it several more inches and it would still lock no problem. I think you can see the holes here.

 

[kennyd]

Man that is a lot of holes you drilled Looks great though!

 

[medicshawn]

Now................ who here lives within a reasonable distance, and has a cutting torch and is good enough with it to remove the old brackets off my bucket (without destroying the bucket) for a twelve-pack ????

Call your buddy at the machine shop I bet he can recommend someone.