Heavy duty bucket on 430 FEL

Crabgrass · Feb 9, 2004

Hi guys,
I just ordered a 430 FEL for my 4400. Cost was $3700 including pickup/installation/delivery and also a third SCV (gets my mid mount mower off the loader joystick). The dealer also offered to upgrade to the heavy duty bucket for only $100 more. That was pretty-much a no-brainer in my book.

Anyway, how can I recognize a heavy duty bucket? I want to be able visually confirm that I got it when it comes in. Is there anything special stamped on it?

Thanks,
Ron

Old_Hickory · Feb 9, 2004

Did you ever consider the 4 in 1 bucket ?

yellowsocks93 · Feb 9, 2004

The heavy duty bucket will have the holes pre drilled for the replacable cutting edge. The cutting edge will be black and the dealer should install this for you. Also if you got the edge it is reversable so if one side wears down then flip it over and you are good to go! I have had good luck with my 430 loader and I am sure you will too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rockyridgefarm · Feb 9, 2004

I wish I would have upgraded mine... Not a big deal, but t would have been nice...

BenderKC · Feb 9, 2004

Are you sure about this, because if your description is correct, I didn't get the HD bucket I ordered. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

johnno · Feb 9, 2004

The HD bucket should have extra supports in the corners and have thicker metal....don't hold me to that though. The HD bucket will definatly have holes in the edge for the replacable cutting edge but the wear bar will not be included...that is extra unless the dealer includes it in your deal. So bottom line look for wholes on the edge of the bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BenderKC · Feb 9, 2004

Thanks for the info, think I need a HD bucket to finish my deal.

JDgreen227 · Feb 9, 2004

To my knowledge the HD buckets do not come standard with a cutting edge or drilled holes, but the bucket has several wide reinforcing steel strips on the underside plus strips of steel on the sides and the top is reinforced also. I may be wrong, but this is what my salesguy told me when I inquired as to the difference between the standard and HD bucket. Some new JD owner posted a pic of his new tractor a short while back and it showed what the HD item looked like.

yellowsocks93 · Feb 9, 2004

Mine has those strips on the bottom of my HD bucket. It would have to have the holes to be HD otherwise you could not put the factory wear bar on. Deere would not make the dealer drill holes for this.

CraigG · Feb 9, 2004

There are 2 HD buckets. One is a regular HD bucket and the other has holes for the replacable edge. Just because you don't have holes does not mean that it is not an HD bucket.

Craig

yellowsocks93 · Feb 9, 2004

Whoops, your right. There is a 20 dollar difference between one with holes and one without.

BenderKC · Feb 9, 2004

My bucket has the reinforcing strips and is all <font color="green"> </font> green <font color="black"> </font> . No holes and no black. I am just plain confused as to whether I got the bucket I paid for or not.

Crabgrass · Feb 10, 2004

It sounds like there are two heavy duty buckets: one with holes for a replacable cutting edge and one without. Both have some sort of reinforcing strips on the bottom.

Man some pictures would do this thread a lot of good -- anybody have some?

rmonio · Feb 10, 2004

I don't have pictures, but there are two different buckets (actually there are 3 that I've been exposed to when you factor in a dirt bucket..).

The standard, reinforced HD bucket does NOT come with the drilled holes for a removable cutting edge. You need to order the bucket that way from Deere (sometimes takes longer - my dealer called and got one OFF a 460 Loader that had it already at the distribution center) - and then order the replacable cutting edge. If you just get the bucket without the holes, I've read where some dealer did drill them but I wouldn't suggest that. The cutting edge, etc., all fit nicely and it is the right way to go. Keep in mind (as I said before) - most of the tractors that are ordered with HD buckets come without the holes so you have to ORDER it separately.

Something else I might suggest you have the dealer do is weld some nice hooks on the bucket for you - this HD bucket will take them nicely (the dirt bucket ripples) and it will help you later with chains, etc. They'll even paint them for you if you ask nice (mine did).

Something else nice about the replaceable cutting edge I've noticed - it takes the beating and not your bucket edge. My dirt bucket's edge is beat up now and I've resurfaced it a bit - you'll want this edge to do anything with rocks, fence posts, etc., or other things you work on. That way when the edge goes kaput... turn it around and use the other side... and then when that goes kaput you order another one for $75. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good luck!

-Bob

(there were some threads on this last summer when I ordered mine... here is a link to one: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=jdown&Number=298400&Forum=jdown&Words=-Bob&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Old=1year&Main=295965&Search=true#Post298400 )

yellowsocks93 · Feb 10, 2004

I bet yours is HD then, unless you paid your dealer for the cutting edge and did not get one. I did not realize there were 2 HD buckets until I looked at the website last night.

JDgreen227 · Feb 10, 2004

My salesguy contacted me AFTER I placed my tractor/loader/mower order and downpaid the deposit and told me he would include the HD bucket at no extra cost. And he had already given me a package deal that was 25% off MSRP for everything. I still wonder if he made an error calculating the price, not that it matters now. Of course, by giving me a great price he certainly earned my repeat business, I think I have overpaid a little on the last two attachments I bought but I guess that was fair. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

4710and110TLB · Feb 11, 2004

Yes there are 3 buckets available. The standard bucket on the 430 is obviously the LD bucket. This bucket has only two bands on the bottom and NO straps welded to the outsides it also does NOT have an enclosed top section under the very top of the bucket. This is why many LD buckets you see have been terribly bent out of shape. The HD bucket with no holes has 4 straps welded on the bottom and the two straps welded down the sides along with the top of the bucket being fully enclosed this adds tremendous rigidity to the bucket of you pry on only one side it will not flex nearly like the LD will. It weighs in at around 315 lbs as where the LD bucket is something like 275 lbs. So there is considerably more metal attached to the HD. It makes for a much better bucket also. The HD with cutting edge is the same but with predrilled holes. I went round and round with my dealer before I called and got the weights and exact details from cust service. I have since added more wiegth with a plate welded to the bottom for driving in t posts or 3.5-4 in pointed posts. It works great for this in the spring it requires a few hits and in it is in the ground 2.5-3 feet. And I added more of the straps on the bottom of it. I have the 460 loader and it really made the bucket much more rigid. Now if they would put the skid loader hitch on all the tractors I would be over-joyed with pleasure. Hope this helps you. ...Sam

SteveH_CT · Feb 11, 2004

If you look back at my post "My 4310 has landed" it has a pic or two that should show the heavy duty bucket with the replaceable edge. When I bought the setup he swapped the bucket from the standard one at no cost to me... of course I think he was making a few $$ anyway, but I appreciated the gesture. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Take Care,

SteveH_CT · Feb 11, 2004

The hooks are a great suggestion - I forgot to mention that in my other post. The dealer tossed those into my "deal" as well.

rmonio · Feb 11, 2004

About the comment on skid loader attachments for the 460 loader...

There is a nice set of skid loader / pallet jacks available for much less than Deere's that you can get. I have them for my 4600 and it's easy to pop off the HD bucket and put them on (or vice-versa).

If you want information on them let me know. I think it's the same firm that makes them for JD in the first place and they were sold to me by a JD dealer besides!

-Bob