Garden tractor loader

qwerty15 · Mar 30, 2002

I want to build a loader for my jacobsen. What kind of steel should i use? What about bushings and grease zerks? What should the angle on the boom be? Is any design better than another? I was thinking about designing it like kubotas L35. I want the loader linkage to have at least a 4o degree rollback angle. I would also like a lift hight of 6 feet and a lift capacity of 350lbs. The loader is going to stay on the tractor so should i bolt it or weld it on. Any diagrams or close up photos of loaders would be helpful.

RanchMan · Mar 30, 2002

<font color=blue>should I bolt it or weld it on</font color=blue>

Can't help you on the specifics regarding design stuff other than to say definitely to "bolt" it on and not weld. Someday (maybe never, but never say never /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) you may want to take it off (e.g. sell it, something breaks, want to put something else on, etc.) Welding will make that a LOT more difficult. I don't know of any "factory" FELs that aren't bolt on (could be wrong here I suppose though), so there isn't anything wrong with the concept of a bolt on device.

justractors · Mar 31, 2002

There is a "Build it Yourself" forum here that would be able to answer your questions better.
Bill

JohninCT · Jun 17, 2002

Check out Cad Plans.com They've got plans for a few different loaders for garden tractors. They have a connection with another company that will build the parts for you, so all you have to do is assemble it as a kit.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cadplans.com/loaders.htm>http://www.cadplans.com/loaders.htm</A>

John

exeter_acres · Jun 18, 2002

Those ROCK!!

qwerty15 · Jun 18, 2002

Ive looked at them and others. dont like one arm design and 2 arm loader looks too heavy.

exeter_acres · Jun 19, 2002

Have seen the one arm design in use on an older Farmall Cub and it appeared strange but worked just fine...

And with a Garden tractor you couldn't lift more than a couple hundred pounds anyways so the one arm seems like a viable option.

Has anyone here ever seen one of these in use?
Curtis

qwerty15 · Jun 19, 2002

I didnt plan on lifting that much and i am not confident in the one arm design. Wouldnt the twisting force be too great when corner loading the bucket.

StoneHeartFarm · Jun 19, 2002

Try www.simpletractors.com

It's a Simplicity/Alis Chalmers site but does have a photo gallery of owner projects several of which are loaders. I believe there is also a PDF line drawing of a loader that might help you. There is also info on adding hydraulics, and at least one guy who is building a hoe.

SHF

qwerty15 · Jun 20, 2002

Thanks stone
Is it worth putting a bucket linkage on the loader to get increased rollback and dump? Does this make filling the bucket easier or is it just to keep material from falling out? I was thinking about a linkage like Kabota has on the L35 or a full size case backhoe.