Quality of Wicked Buckets? Market for Used Non-SSQA Buckets?

[WM75Guy]

I'm guessing your concrete surface is level? I would assume that if the tractor wasn't on a level surface that there is enough flex in the loader frame that the pins wouldn't have lined up so easily?

Would you recommend that the key to doing this most easily is to get the tractor on a level surface to mount the adapter to the tractor loader pins?

It was on my shop floor, which is level. Having a level surface where you can easily slide it around is important. In hindsight putting it on a furniture dolly would have worked very well to tweak it into position. Especially since I did it by myself.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

I have been cutting the ears off my Kubota bucket because I can't get an EA bucket any time soon. What a job.

I tried a propane cutting torch and plasma, and I tried to spare the metal of the bucket itself by shooting sideways. I guess I put in 4 hours today, and I still have strips of stubborn metal to grind flat.

I think I should have traced around the bases of the ears and cut two big holes in the bucket, removing the ears and pieces of the bucket itself. I could have patched two holes a lot easier than getting the old ears off, and the bucket would have been stronger than new.

 

[2manyrocks]

Time will tell, but I think standardized QA buckets are going to become like standardized 3 point hitch attachments. The value of a pin on bucket is probably how much use the owner can get out of it and perhaps doesn't have that much future resale value if everyone wants a standard QA bucket if that's where the market is headed.

So long as a conversion can be done safely and maintain the strength of the bucket, does it really matter whether someone cuts off the mounts or cuts and then patches the bucket itself?

Some buyers might take one look at a cut bucket and get concerned as possible drawback if someone had plans to trade or sell their tractor shortly. But then who would do all this work if they had plans to trade or sell?

Sorry for the ramble.