Loader Larger bucket

[k0ua]

On my L3400HST with LA463 loader I had both buckets the original 60 and the new 66 I bought. There is a difference, in the way they handle loads and dig. The 60 will out dig the 66 by far, the 60 feels a little more stable when fully loaded with gravel when you are traveling, not that the 66 is bad, but you can tell you have more weight outside the loader arms, especiall if you do not load evenly, ie. one side has a lot more gravel than the other, now it is stuck out there a little further.. No big deal and you can get used to it, just be aware of it.. When hauling lighter materiels I always put on the 66, when hauling heavy rocks, and digging, I put on the old 60. They are both good, and I enjoyed using them both.. My Kioti has a 66 which seems to be a little bigger than the old Kubota 66, and I kept my 60 Kubota and use it all the time on the Kioti as a "beater" bucket to haul rocks and such. When I go to the mulch pile I want that nice 66 incher with the rounded inside. Best of both worlds. SSQA rocks!:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[Tomtint]

I have the 66 on my L3700SU. I think it is all the loader can hand.e when full of rock or dirt. I also have a 72" bucket from my Cat 246 that I use for mulch and a 84" I have used a bit for snow.

 

[BleedOrange]

OK guys from what I've read from you all,, thinking I will keep my 60" plus buy me a 66" and forget the 72".... no longer than I've used the Tractor I can tell it will tip if you have a load and your front wheel drops in a low spot. Still thinking of getting spacers and make it 66" wide to match the loader I'm gonna add. Can't hurt being at least 6" wider.

 

[tractorshopper]

Tractorshopper just exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks a bunch for the information. One other thing is your loader a LA524 with a 66" bucket?

Yes, that is the one.

This is a pic before toothbar and the 43 hours I've put on it since early Jan.

 

[BleedOrange]

Moved dirt with the 3800 today, I'm thinking the 60" bucket piled high with dirt is all anyone should put on the loader cylinders. But I would love to have the 66" for the width just couldn't over load it like the 60"

 

[Chilly807]

A little extra width is nice when you're clearing snow, too.

Sean

 

[Notforhire]

So I have a pin on 60" bucket. Do they only make the 66" bucket in QC or they make a pin on as well and what's the difference? I've had tractors before but never had one with a bucket. I've used my neighbors backhoe a bunch, but this L3800 is not nearly as big and I just don't want to break anything.

I am looking at buying a new L3800 w/LA524 loader. According to my dealer, and what I see on the Kubota site, if you get a QA you can only get a 66 inch bucket.
The way I understand it, the 60 inch is a pin on. I wanted a 60 QA. It looks like I would have to go aftermarket to do that.
It is my opinion that a 60 is the correct size for most work with a machine that small. A 66 would however be better for snow removal, but would be about max for dirt work.

Bill

 

[k0ua]

I am looking at buying a new L3800 w/LA524 loader. According to my dealer, and what I see on the Kubota site, if you get a QA you can only get a 66 inch bucket.
The way I understand it, the 60 inch is a pin on. I wanted a 60 QA. It looks like I would have to go aftermarket to do that.
It is my opinion that a 60 is the correct size for most work with a machine that small. A 66 would however be better for snow removal, but would be about max for dirt work.

Bill

My 60 inch isSSQA:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/208653-so-you-think-converting-pin.html

James K0UA

 

[Notforhire]

My 60 inch isSSQA:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/208653-so-you-think-converting-pin.html

James K0UA

Ah, but it wasn't born that way.
I did a QA conversion on my NH tractor. The way the bucket was designed, it wasn't a difficult job. It looks like you had a workout doing the conversion on your Kubota bucket. I looked out back at my dealers lot. There must be at least a dozen faded orange pin on buckets sitting there.

I ordered my tractor today, with the QA and the 66" bucket. If I decide I need a 60" I may ask how much they want for one of those pin on units out back, then convert it like you did. If it's cheap enough I think it would be worthwhile.:thumbsup:

Bill

 

[k0ua]

Ah, but it wasn't born that way.
I did a QA conversion on my NH tractor. The way the bucket was designed, it wasn't a difficult job. It looks like you had a workout doing the conversion on your Kubota bucket. I looked out back at my dealers lot. There must be at least a dozen faded orange pin on buckets sitting there.

I ordered my tractor today, with the QA and the 66" bucket. If I decide I need a 60" I may ask how much they want for one of those pin on units out back, then convert it like you did. If it's cheap enough I think it would be worthwhile.:thumbsup:

Bill

Right you are, Yes it was a workout, but the second one would be a lot easier. Mostly a workout due to lack of experience, and proper tools. The Kubota dealer I got the QA unit from did not really want the old bucket, back in trade, he said they had 5 or 6 of them already. I suspect many dealers have them sitting around they would sell for scrap price. Truth be told I would not mind doing another one. I paid 124 for the QA plate to put on the back of the bucket, but have found some since for 105. The bucket is worth about 100, and you will use up some supplies getting it cleaned off and welded up, so for about 250 and some work, you could have a nice digging bucket.

James K0UA

 

[Notforhire]

Right you are, Yes it was a workout, but the second one would be a lot easier. Mostly a workout due to lack of experience, and proper tools. The Kubota dealer I got the QA unit from did not really want the old bucket, back in trade, he said they had 5 or 6 of them already. I suspect many dealers have them sitting around they would sell for scrap price. Truth be told I would not mind doing another one. I paid 124 for the QA plate to put on the back of the bucket, but have found some since for 105. The bucket is worth about 100, and you will use up some supplies getting it cleaned off and welded up, so for about 250 and some work, you could have a nice digging bucket.

James K0UA

I'm starting to think about a 60" conversion with weld on teeth.

 

[k0ua]

I'm starting to think about a 60" conversion with weld on teeth.

Not a bad idea! I really like having the 2 buckets, and would not mind having a third set up with some agressive teeth. Or one set up with a thumb? The things are so quick to change out, sometimes I change them several times a day doing different things.

James K0UA

 

[devildog1]

I don't know guys, I have a 72" on my Grand L 3540 and have moved many yards of top soil and gravel, and a full bucket is no issue at all. Also moving or pushing back frozen snow it's best because of the big bite it takes. Now I Had a 60" on my B3200 and when I did the same type of loads the rear felt light, but not so on the 3540. Yes you do have to pay attention more so you don't do damage to trees and things but I believe it's a learning thing. Just my opinion. Oh yes both tractors had the rears loaded.
DevilDog

 

[Notforhire]

I don't know guys, I have a 72" on my Grand L 3540 and have moved many yards of top soil and gravel, and a full bucket is no issue at all. Also moving or pushing back frozen snow it's best because of the big bite it takes. Now I Had a 60" on my B3200 and when I did the same type of loads the rear felt light, but not so on the 3540. Yes you do have to pay attention more so you don't do damage to trees and things but I believe it's a learning thing. Just my opinion. Oh yes both tractors had the rears loaded.
DevilDog

The main reason I like a narrow bucket is, it's not how much your lifting, but where the weight is.
I feel (and I could be wrong), that ag. loaders are really material handlers, not designed for excavation. Not saying that you can't dig with them. Many people (myself included) do. Just that they wern't designed to do so.
Corner load a industrial loader or a skidsteer, no problem. Do the same with a wide bucket on an ag. loader and things might not turn out so well.
Do a general search on this forum for twisted loader arms and you will see what I'm referring to.
I guess that you have proven that a properly loaded a 72" bucket will do the job, and that the machine will make the lift.
I think the key is "properly loaded".
If your picking up a big rock it better be in the center.
There is also much more resistance digging with a bucket that is a foot wider. It all depends on what your trying to do with the tractor.
I guess that's why koua likes his multi buckets and SSQA so much.:thumbsup:
Just my take. Your results may vary.

Best, Bill

 

[BleedOrange]

I checked prices on one site and the 66" bucket with the quick attach to fit my L3800 both pieces are right at 2 grand. Please tell me there's something cheaper out there somewhere. Lol

 

[k0ua]

I checked prices on one site and the 66" bucket with the quick attach to fit my L3800 both pieces are right at 2 grand. Please tell me there's something cheaper out there somewhere. Lol

I paid 1000 for the new 66 inch Kubota bucket, (600) and the adaptor (400) they offered me 100 for the old bucket but I declined. (they were happy about that) This was about a year ago at the Berryville Ar dealer. They delivered it and helped put it on for that. Nice bunch of folks. If I had to do it over I probably would have just converted my original bucket, but it was nice to have the 66 for the amount of stuff it will carry. I kept it fairly nice, and it went with the tractor trade.

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

There is also much more resistance digging with a bucket that is a foot wider. It all depends on what your trying to do with the tractor.
I guess that's why koua likes his multi buckets and SSQA so much.:thumbsup:

There is a big difference in the way they felt on the L3400. My 66 on the Kioti is fine, as the tractor weights 1066 lbs more even without the extra loaded tire weight.

James K0UA

 

[teg]

I don't know guys, I have a 72" on my Grand L 3540 and have moved many yards...

Comparison of the L3400HST and Grand L3540HST it's an old website but you can see that you are talking apples to Orang... Tangerines. :ashamed: Yes, the Grand "L" has larger lifts capacities that can handle the larger bucket...

 

[Notforhire]

I checked prices on one site and the 66" bucket with the quick attach to fit my L3800 both pieces are right at 2 grand. Please tell me there's something cheaper out there somewhere. Lol

As far as a 66QA bucket goes, check out Everything Attachments. Construction Attachments General Purpose Compact Tractor, Loader, Standard Bucket, Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach, CAL, 1GPCMP
My Kubota dealer quoted me $525 for a QA 66". There are lots of skidsteer buckets out there but most are deeper. (Longer from the cutting edge to the back of the bucket) As far as the QA that pins to the loader you might ask a Kubota dealer.
When I converted a New Holland tractor last winter, the factory parts were cheaper from NH than aftermarket. You may be able to do a parts lookup on Messicks Kubota website.
Bill

 

[Chilly807]

My experiences with the L3400 and 60" bucket has left me with the feeling that for general use, they're a good match. I've come close to rolling it a couple times because a front wheel dropped into a low spot with a full bucket of earth. More weight up front might have been the difference between close and "Oh sh**."

If all I moved was manure, sawdust, or light material like that, a 66" would be fine probably. As it stands, I'm not a good enough operator (nor is my wife) to push the envelope any further. I wish I had a 60" SSQA bucket, but I've no wish for a 66"

Sean