bx FEL bucket quick attach

[Cap-n-Cray]

Yes the rack is included in the weight (according to the manufacturer). I plan on weighing the set up once I weld the mount points on the rack. It is also painted the same color as the BX frame and ROPS.

I bought the set up from a place in Oregon, but it was shipped from the factory directly to me. The factory is Arrow Material Handling Products Micro Max pallet forks. They come in two fork lengths 36" and 42". I got the 42" version with a blank rack. The name of the place in Oregon is Equipmentland.com.

I am hoping the QA weighs no more than 50 LBS. I also plan to make an open grapple that would quick change out too. It will have open forks like some I have seen.

Should be a fun project.

Cary

 

[Just2quickz28]

Sorry all, I finally got the tractor back from the dealer and with a decent weekend up here I was out working all weekend.

Cap
The QA is in the 3/16s range for thickness and weighs around 50 or so lbs.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Found them here:

Arrowforklift.com/


The actual forks:
Micro Pallet Forks for Compact Skid Steers


J2Q,

50 lbs is what I would have guessed. In my mind there is a little room to add some weight and beef up that center connection.

Let us know if you see any flexing, or bending.

 

[Zick]

Any more progress on the QA?
Really like that ATI QA setup, too bad it didn't work out.

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

I have the pins and sleeves. I am working on a design and hope to start welding soon.

Cary

 

[SkunkWerX]

Capn Cray, sounds good, glad to see someone is moving forward, i have been tied up, but this one is still on my list of things to do.

Please post pics once you have something to show.

thanks , and good luck!!

 

[Just2quickz28]

50 lbs is what I would have guessed. In my mind there is a little room to add some weight and beef up that center connection.

Let us know if you see any flexing, or bending.

I have been using the ATI quick release on the FEL moving cut but not split fire wood around also some dirt and wood chip material moving and back blading. I have not seen any stress to that center section. I am quite happy with it allows me to drop off the bucket in a few seconds and put the BX back into the car port. I am planning on either a 3pt quick hitch set up for it or a dethatcher to help with spring clean ups, but I have yet to finish fixing the snow plow (it will become a priority when it gets cold again )

 

[Zick]

J2Q,
Where did you find the ATI QA? I realize they stopped making them but I would like to find one if possible.

 

[Just2quickz28]

J2Q,
Where did you find the ATI QA? I realize they stopped making them but I would like to find one if possible.

I believe Woodbury Tractor in CT has one in stock. Click on the link below, it is the 2nd item from the top.
Inventory - Woodbury Tractor Company, LLC

Norm

I actually got really lucky a member on the forums here sent me a link to Woodbury Tractors inventory site that had it listed and Bob over there was a great help taking measurements and even getting it shipped to me. As far as finding another one.... I couldn't help ya there. sorry.

 

[hazmat]

Interesting thread with some cool ideas.

If I had a BX and was looking to do a quick attach, I'd try to figure out how to put the mini Bobtach (mini skid steer) or Toro Dingo attachment system on it. Either would require modifying the bucket to include the female attachment plate (available premade on ebay). Bonus would be ability to rent attachments from local rental yards. Both have capacities in the ~500# range (appropriate for BX).

Kubota would crush the competition in sub compacts if they included either attachment system plus some higher flow hydraulics to power the augers & trenchers. I'm sure many would be willing to pay a premium for the flexibility.

MT52 Mini Track Loader - Bobcat Company

Toro - Dingo Attachments - Compact Utility Loaders & Mini Skid Steers

This pdf has some good pix of the dingo sytem http://www.toro.com/professional/sws/brochure/Dingo%20brochure_490-7556.pdf

 

[SkunkWerX]

Interesting thread with some cool ideas.

If I had a BX and was looking to do a quick attach, I'd try to figure out how to put the mini Bobtach (mini skid steer) or Toro Dingo attachment system on it. Either would require modifying the bucket to include the female attachment plate (available premade on ebay). Bonus would be ability to rent attachments from local rental yards. Both have capacities in the ~500# range (appropriate for BX).

Kubota would crush the competition in sub compacts if they included either attachment system plus some higher flow hydraulics to power the augers & trenchers. I'm sure many would be willing to pay a premium for the flexibility.

MT52 Mini Track Loader - Bobcat Company

Toro - Dingo Attachments - Compact Utility Loaders & Mini Skid Steers

This pdf has some good pix of the dingo sytem http://www.toro.com/professional/sws/brochure/Dingo%20brochure_490-7556.pdf

HazMat,
you are on the money, right there! They have a golden opportunity to even develop their own line of front attachments, mini-forklift forks being the first obvious one.

 

[bx24]

HazMat,
you are on the money, right there! They have a golden opportunity to even develop their own line of front attachments, mini-forklift forks being the first obvious one.

This is only my opinion, but I bet Kubota realizes this point and chooses not to so you will be tempted to "upsize" to a more flexible platform. The other potential reason could simply that they are out of touch. I know their reps read this forum, but after talking with the folks on the American side, they complain that the Japanese designers choose not to listen to them. Case in point on the BX24 is putting the brake pedal on the right side - Does anyone think this is a good idea!

The fact that they put a backhoe on this machine goes against my theory (because it does so much), but then again they make thousands in profit on that part.

I agree that it would be great and I hope to be posting pics soon of my solution to this dilemma.

 

[srossman]

any updates on this thread? I've been following this with some interest and would like to know if any of you guys have a working QA system for the BX?

-Scot

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

Still working on designs and cutting metal. I have now got all the pieces. I plan to make two, one for me and one for someone to test. Hope to weld them up soon.

Cary

 

[Zick]

Still working on designs and cutting metal. I have now got all the pieces. I plan to make two, one for me and one for someone to test. Hope to weld them up soon.

Cary

Send them my way, I'll test them for you!

 

[hdbikercouple]

i have a long rod that i use to move the joy stick as i'm holding onto the center cyclinder. i put hitch pins in place of bolts to hold the arm pins in place. i can take my on or off under five minutes with oven tying.

 

[RedDirt]

A QA is still on my list....added to the end of last building season's projects not done! Just not enough time. I did get 7 new goodies built. Now's the season to use them.
I did look closely a a Dingo set-up on a job site and it looks like a good design. I'll try to get some photos to share the next time I'm there (if IT is still there).
If I had other front implements I'd likely get as proficient as hdbikercouple and find I did not need a QA after all. My trial run went fairly easy. The thing is I want to build some front end stuff and if a QA design ends up best with a Dingo or Bobcat type plate I want to design the QA first then build the implements to match.
Sort of a catch 22. With out the front implements to swap I can't really assess if the QA is really needed. Anyone else swap front BX tools often enough to weigh in regarding their good/bad experience?

 

[Just2quickz28]

RedDirt, even though I may not have had the chance to build any more attachments for the FEL I can tell you that I find myself dropping the bucket off more often now that I can do it out in the feild without running back to the house for tools. I drop the bucket off for mowing since I do not have any concrete or level area where I can easily remove the entire FEL.

My original reason for a "tool-less" quick release bucket was for my snow plow. Mostly because dropping little bolts and pins in the snow was getting to be a pain. I have yet to get the snow plow fitted to the QA but it is on the list of To-Do's for the summer before it becomes a Must-Do in the winter. I am also going to try and get around to fabbing up a Harbor Freight 3pt quick hitch to the QA for things like moving my chipper around or running the landscape rake on the front. I would also like to order a set of those Micro Max forks and build them to attach.

 

[superfast]

I built my own Quick Attach over the winter and used a skid steer type design. The loader is my own design and was based on a Kubota style loader with single bucket cylinder. The quick attach function in really simple, unlock to captive pins and drop the bucket, no tools needed, no loose hardware to worry about.







There are a few more pics of the Quick Attach build plus some of my other projects here: Scott's John Deere (pics towards the bottom of the page) Since building the QA I have also built a snow plow attachment and front fork attachment for the tractor. I can also use the snow plow quick attach plate to use some of my 3 point attachments on the front of the tractor.

Hopefully it will spark some ideas for you.

Scott

 

[RedDirt]

superfast,
I looked at all your photos. Now that's a VERY tricked out 317! Building a loader and backhoe from scratch are major jobs. It's a heck of a lot of work you've done and you've done a marvelous job.

The QA for the loader is very similar to what several of us have in mind. Do you know about how much the plate assembly weighs? Is it primarily 1/4" plate?

BTW, your 317 looks very similar to my Wards 70's vintage HST garden tractor except my engine is not entirely enclosed like yours. I built several front and rear rakes and a rear loader. With the snow blade, rear blade plow and disc it has been a real workhorse around here. I keep wheel weights attached year 'round and have a cut-down set of auto tire chains for when I' back blading, it's muddy or when I'm pushing snow. Using both would increase your traction tremendously with your box blade.