FEL Build for my Kubota B6200

[GPintheMitten]

Not much to report yet. I plan on building a fel using P.F. Engineerings' plan. I won't be giving his secrets away here but I'll try to keep anyone interested posted on how it is going and hope to get some good advice along the way.

The tractor is a 1983 B6200 HST 4wd with about 900 hours. My brother bought it new and I bought it from him a couple of years ago. I'm getting ready by changing all the fluids and filters. You'll see in the pics I have the sheet metal off the engine area.

I've never tackled anything quite like this before but with the help of the plans and your advice...here goes.

I'm going to turn the muffler 90 degrees and point it toward the front. I think it is in the way sticking up. See pic as is now.

Next, I want to build up the brackets for the mmm and use them for both the mower and the towers for the fel. I plan on using the tractor with both mounted at the same time during the mowing season.

My plan is to strengthen and add steel to the existing brackets. They are currently bolted to a bracket that is welded to the bell housing. That looks too weak for a fel to me, so I plan on adding steel to this bracket to allow it to also be bolted to the frame forward of the bell housing (see yellow paint on attached pic). Then I'll add more steel to the top of the bracket to provide more strength and a place to mount the fel towers.

My drawing is crude but I think I would use 3/8" steel to make the additional mounting plate to the tractor frame and probably 1/2" plate for the bottom of the towers welded to the top of the current mower bracket.

Does that make sense? Sound OK? Looking for advice on the bracket. Thanks.

 

[MJPetersen]

I look forward to following your build. I have looked at the PF web pages and have considered their plans. Take lots of pics of your progress and show it to us. Best of luck putting it all together.

Mike

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks Mike. I'll post up progress.

Still hoping to get some advice/feedback on my plan for the bracket modification from folks. Ideas/comments?

 

[scarlo101]

GP I am not familiar with that model tractor. It appears to me that you are going down the correct path. I always tend to overbuild. I built my own FEL for my BX last year.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks Scarlo101. I remember looking at your build a few months ago. Took another look at your web site tonight. Nice job. It's encouraging. I was out in the garage doing more figuring and some prototyping with 1/4" hardboard. I'll keep scratching my head and will come up with something that seems strong.

I just don't trust the mount to the bell housing. It is 1/8" steel welded to the housing and then a hefty bracket for the mower bolted to that. Fine for a mower but just doesn't seem like enough for the loader stresses.

 

[mx5guy]

Scarlo101 nice work, so what would your FEL cost to fabricate, not including your many, many hours of labour. I am thinking of making my own Box scraper, I have sticker shock at what they sell for. Your FEL is Just like Michelangelo taking a block of stone and turning it into a piece of art, you have done the same with your metal fabrication. Nice pic's on your web site.

 

[scarlo101]

Thanks GP and MX. GP I agree with you about the strength of the bell housing. About 5 years ago I built another loader frame on an old farmall. Some of the bolts bolted onto the bell housing and I was never too comfortable working it too hard because I was afraid breaking something.
On the BX build, I used some cardboard cutout to figure out some angles, but my biggest helper was autocad. I drew up every little detail to scale and it all came out good. Autocad allows you to play around with different angles and configurations.
MX as far as cost goes it worked for me to be a little less than half of buying it new. The only part I did buy was the bucket, as lots of dealers had new ones in stock because customers had exchanged them for QA models. Also I would have needed a fab shop to form it for me so the cost was about the same. Would I do it again, probable yes because I already have the experience of doing twice.

 

[David Devuono]

As your B6200 is a bit bigger then my B4200. Anyway this picture will give you a better idea of what your up against. I have broken the welds at the transmission Bell housing. As I don't use the MMM that came with the tractor I ended up extending the mount so it is supported at the front bumper, Transmission, and MMM mounting location not shown in this early picture. This build used no plans but has worked hard for me for about 7 years.

 

[David Devuono]

I need to add as well that these mini-tractors can be overwhelmed quickly with a loader so while I know the MMM is about 250 lbs, you might want to consider a counter weight or rear blade to make the tractor more stable. Without my rear blade it will lift a rear wheel easily and becomes unsafe. My kubota has only a hydraulic filter screen. Perhaps an external filter would be a good addition.

 

[joes_427_vette]

If you have engineering plans... don't they give the steel specs ? The rest of us that build based on plans in our heads figure the force and apply the required pieces. Sometimes we build them ( and rebuild them ) several times to get the proper result. That is why a good band saw ( Ellis ) , a mig welder ( Miller , Lincoln ) and a acetlyn torch ( Smith , Victor ) makes the transition such a pleasure. Don't forget a grinder ( Milwaukee, Sioux, D&D ) for the finishing touches.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks David. I will be using a counterweight on the back. I built that already. When I modify the mmm bracket, I will be extending some steel up the frame rails toward the front. Nice job on your build. Thanks for the pics. ... Oh and I have 2 hydraulic screens plus a screw on filter for the hydraulic oil. Just got done cleaning the screens, changing the filter and filled with fresh oil.

Joesvette, the plans specify the undercarriage mount for a cub cadet and indicates that you need to adjust that to your particular tractor. I don't want to go with an undercarriage bracket because it would interfere with my mower. The rest of the components are specified plus suggestions for scaling up for tractors larger than garden tractors.

I don't have a lot of steel fabricating tools. I have an old AC/DC Lincoln arc welder, a bench top drill press, an angle grinder, and a steel cutting circular saw and a reciprocating saw. I may end up getting another tool out of this build. I talked to a local welder and might have him make the actual bucket. He said he could make me a basic 4' pin on bucket for $300.

 

[RoyBrooks]

I sold my b6200 hst 4wd in the fall I might have some pictures at home on the other computer that shows some of the loader mounts. The tractor is now up for sale again and here is a link to some pictures of it with the mmm and loader attached

KUBOTA B6200 TRACTOR WITH LOADER - Toronto Farming Equipment For Sale - Kijiji Toronto

I put about 500 hours on the tractor with no issues, I loaded the rear tires with windshield fluid and would run with either wheel weights or a counter weight to do more loader work. I sold the tractor for a b7500 with power steering. The steering was managable with a load but tight turns were a real pain.

 

[Johndeere3720]

sounds like a fun project. looking forward for some pictures.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks for the link RoyBrooks. I saved the pictures for reference. I see you had separate mmm bracket and separate loader bracket.

Thanks for your interest too, Johndeere3720. I'll post pics as I go.

Step one for me is the bracket.

 

[RoyBrooks]

I found a few more pictures of the loader mounts. The mounts were separate from the mmm mounts and infront of the bell housing. The pictures are here:

Message - TractorByNet.com Photo Gallery

Hope this helps

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks Roy. That does help. I am going to think about this a little more. I might make up brackets separate from the mmm bracket. Did you buy these brackets or make them?

 

[RoyBrooks]

The loader and brackets are made by Buhler Manufacturing it is a Allied Model 95 loader I bought the loader after the I purchased the tractor and had the dealer install the loader brackets and hydraulics. I used the tractor for 12yrs 500hrs with no problems.

Here is a link to the loader manufacturer

Farm King - Front-End Loaders

Here is a link to the owners manual and parts list

http://www.farm-king.com/allied_by_farm_king/front-end_loaders/manuals/loader-95195-2004.pdf

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks Roy.

 

[ABuddy]

Hello GMitten,

Just checking in to see how the progress is coming on the FEL. I have been thinking about the same project. Think it would be a good project for my 11 and 14 year olds to be involved with.
What size bucket are you talking about using? I have no idea what the optimal size would be for this size tractor. How much do you know about hydraulics? Is this tyoe of hydraulic equipment available used?

Appreciate any updates/ advice you can turn my way.

Thanks

 

[GPintheMitten]

Hi ABuddy,

Thanks for asking. I haven't been on the forum in quite awhile. And I haven't done anything on the FEL yet. Had a few family problems come up and then got lazy. Lack of funds didn't help much either.

Do you have the same or similar tractor as me (Kubota B6200)? My plans are for a 4 foot bucket. I'll probably have a local guy build it for me. He can get the bends nice and weld the thinner material of the bucket better than I can. He said about $300 for a basic pin on bucket. I plan on using 1/8" plate with re-inforced edges. I might even go with the next lighter gauge plate.

You don't want to go too heavy on the bucket for a light tractor. I want to cover the tire tracks width, so 48" will work for me. But I know some folks go narrower on a tractor this light (about 1400 pounds I think).

I think it would be a good project for you and your kids.
I know next to nothing about hydraulics, but with help from forum members and a good supplier, I think you and I can get this done correctly.

I looked for used for a while but nothing the right size came along. I can weld the arms and brackets and follow the plans fairly well, so building the steel loader is within my abilities ...maybe barely and I think will be satisfying. I favor buying new hydraulic cylinders and hoses for reliability and safety. But some folks who know more could probably find a good deal.

Good luck on your pursuit. Keep us posted.

Hello GMitten,

Just checking in to see how the progress is coming on the FEL. I have been thinking about the same project. Think it would be a good project for my 11 and 14 year olds to be involved with.
What size bucket are you talking about using? I have no idea what the optimal size would be for this size tractor. How much do you know about hydraulics? Is this tyoe of hydraulic equipment available used?

Appreciate any updates/ advice you can turn my way.

Thanks