latest work on my 850

Soundguy · Feb 23, 2007

I finally got her as finished as I wanted her this am, and decided to put her to use. I had picked up a t-85 hay bale for my horses, however they only picked at it.. they seem to much prefer regular coastal. So i figutred that rather than letting it waste, i'd move it over to the cow pasture.... It was a big bale to begin with.. over 1k#.. perhaps 1200#.. and now the horses have picked at it making a bit unmanageable. I scooped my new loader under it, and then rolle dthe bucket back, and then went and got my 660 w/ 722 laoder and pushed the bale up on the other loader.. worked great. Wish i would have had a trusted buddy to operaste the other tractor and it would have save me 20 minutes of tractor jockeying.

Well, I learned a few things, 1, the 850 tractor has as good or better hyds than my 660, 2, the 4 rib tires on the 850 handle the laoder weight MUCH better than the tri-ribs on the 660, 3, the 850 loader valve used all ORB fittings, while the 660 used banjo fittings.. i was unsure of the ORB fittings in that application, and whether they would leak or not..well... proof positive.. not a drip... 4, I no longer have much doubt about my welding skills. They may not be 100% pretty.. however, the new floor and braces i welded into that 850's bucket held fine.. no bending, no deforming, and no cracking.. and that's about the max load I can lift with those loader frames anyway.. so i call it a 100% sucess.

soundguy

Keith_B · Feb 24, 2007

Chris, I have hooks on the top corners of my loader bucket. I push the bucket up against the bale in a slightly rolled position, loop a chain around the bale, and when I tilt the bucket back the chain tightens up on the bale. It's not has handy as a spear, but is a single tractor solution.

BTW, did you consider painting the loader red, to match the 850?

Soundguy · Feb 25, 2007

I may just add the hooks. I can move hay pretty easilly with the 660, due to it's forked maneur bucket.. this other bucket doesn't let the bale roll enough to grab it by itself.. however those bucket hooks and the chain thing may work.

I did consider painting it red... and may still.. but for now.. if i want a red one, I'll driv ethe 660.. if I want a blue one.. I'll drive the 850...