Loader Anybody put a larger bucket on a 2538 / 2638

[Windsors]

Need to do a lot of sitework with pretty easy to dig sand piles dumped from a tandem. Would like to speed it up a bit with a 72" bigger bucket. I have plenty of counterweight with filled tires and BH.

Any experience with a bigger bucket ? Thanks

 

[Roadworthy]

I've not replaced a bucket on anything. I do advise caution as sometimes the weight of the original bucket alone can be near the front frame carrying capacity of the tractor regardless of how much weight you put on the rear. A larger bucket payload could easily exceed the frame limit. Learn your frame limit and go from there. You may already be unknowingly exceeding the tractor's limit.

 

[Windsors]

I've not replaced a bucket on anything. I do advise caution as sometimes the weight of the original bucket alone can be near the front frame carrying capacity of the tractor regardless of how much weight you put on the rear. A larger bucket payload could easily exceed the frame limit. Learn your frame limit and go from there. You may already be unknowingly exceeding the tractor's limit.

Good points. Regarding the loader portion, the max lift is 1634 lbs at full height. Reasonable to assume that this max lift can be handled by the frame. The BH is factory installed, so I assume the max lift of 1634 lbs can be handled by the frame with the BH installed. Based on similar Mahindra tractors, without the counterweight of the BH, you are not lifting close to the 1634 max.

Some quick math with the stock 66" bucket - heaped capacity is 11.8 cf, dry sand density is 100 lbs/ cf, so sand weighs 1180 lbs, well under the max lift of 1634. If the weight of the bucket is included in the 1634, then deduct 227 lbs, or 1407 lbs. Still well over the weight of sand. I think there's room for a 72", slightly bigger bucket.

Interested in any experience. Thanks

 

[duffer]

I've often thought about putting a larger bucket on my 2538. Not so much for the additional weight lifting, but rather for the additional cube for light materials, like mulch, hay, dry manure, and bulky items.

It's like anything else in life...if you use some common sense, you'll be fine. If you don't push the FEL to the max, or even ¾ of max, you'll be fine. Making one more trip with the FEL to be safe is a very small price to pay.

 

[DarkBlack]

Keep in mind , 1634 is your rating at the pivot point. Your actual load is forward of that so the actual capacity # will be reduced.
If you get a larger bucket, you should go for wider only, not deeper, otherwise you’ll reduce your actual capacity even more, since you’re lifting heavy sand

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Is it actually worth the expense of a new bucket for the additional 6" (about 9%) of width?
I think that I would just make a few more passes. If you are grading, get a 3pt implement for grading.

 

[scootr]

If the sand is wet the weight goes way up ....

 

[bridge4]

I have found when digging into heavy dirt, stone or really anything solid....my tractor can't even get in there and over fill the bucket one bit. Sand is in that same group to me, especially if not covered and dry.

How does your tractor handle full scoops right now with the original bucket? Can it do it easily? Does it struggle? If it struggles at all, going bigger isn't helping anyone.

 

[Windsors]

Thanks all for the comments. Recently with forks on the tractor, I have pretty week curl. Lift is still strong. So I will be testing the psi of the loader.

Needless to say, the bucket experimenting is on hold or dead.

 

[grsthegreat]

I used a 1000# rear counterweight tolift max front loads. After a few years, front bearings and seals failed. I overloaded the front axle.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have a 6' skidsteer short lip (still a longer lip than the factory Mahindra bucket, but not as long as a low profile long lip skid steer bucket) bucket with a spill guard on top that works well for cleaning out my barn lot of waste hay, manure, works good for snow and excellent for pushing bruch, put I wouldn't use it for lifting and carrying dirt or rock. I have used to to help grade rock as it is heavier.
Another tip to think about is the wider bucket can torque and twist the loader frame if it catches on something hard, proceed lightly.

I've also used an 8' snowpusher on mine, works great unless you are going uphill and it is loaded full. In my case my driveway is 1/4 mile long and I had just about pushed the entire way and then the hill at the end I lost traction going up. Easy enough I just pushed that pile to the side and continued on.

 

[not2old]

I always thought that it would be safe to lift as much as the hydraulics would allow. The most I've carried on my GC is about 900 lbs. I had to use the curl to get that into the air and then noticed that I could raise it more with lifting by letting it swing back and forward. While travelling with that I went cautiously over any bumps. Was I just lucky in not breaking anything?