Rock Bucket Questions

[jinman]

Here is how I mounted mine.

Grapple on Rock Bucket

 

[jinman]

Here is how I mounted mine.

Grapple on Rock Bucket

 

[jinman]

Jeepinator, I have done some reasearch on your tractor and loader and I don't have a good feeling about your putting that rock bucket on your loader. This bucket weighs 520 lb and with a grapple will be close to 700 lb. I think your loader can lift about 1500 lb at the pins, and 19" out like a normal bucket is much less than the 38" length of the rock bucket tines. You are going to be down to 200-300 lb of curl force. I hope your tires are loaded and your boxblade is a heavy one because you can lift your rear tires easily with only the rock bucket.

Also, that 3520 weighs around 2900 lb. That's about 600 lb less than my NH TC45D. That rock bucket is all my tractor can handle as far as power. I have my rear tires loaded and still have to have a very heavy boxblade on the rear.

Essentially what I'm saying is that the 48" bucket would have been a better choice for your tractor and even a lighter model might have been a good choice. I'm just worried that you will not find this a good fit in the long run and have an implement you have to sell for less or that's not used much.

I sincerely hope my gut feeling is wrong, but I am concerned and felt like I had to say something. These things are great, but they can really work your tractor hard because they are so heavy. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jinman]

Jeepinator, I have done some reasearch on your tractor and loader and I don't have a good feeling about your putting that rock bucket on your loader. This bucket weighs 520 lb and with a grapple will be close to 700 lb. I think your loader can lift about 1500 lb at the pins, and 19" out like a normal bucket is much less than the 38" length of the rock bucket tines. You are going to be down to 200-300 lb of curl force. I hope your tires are loaded and your boxblade is a heavy one because you can lift your rear tires easily with only the rock bucket.

Also, that 3520 weighs around 2900 lb. That's about 600 lb less than my NH TC45D. That rock bucket is all my tractor can handle as far as power. I have my rear tires loaded and still have to have a very heavy boxblade on the rear.

Essentially what I'm saying is that the 48" bucket would have been a better choice for your tractor and even a lighter model might have been a good choice. I'm just worried that you will not find this a good fit in the long run and have an implement you have to sell for less or that's not used much.

I sincerely hope my gut feeling is wrong, but I am concerned and felt like I had to say something. These things are great, but they can really work your tractor hard because they are so heavy. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[goneandbrokeit]

I had the same concern with my L3830 w/LA723, so did my dealer. Here is the solution he came up with. Not nice for the fine stuff, but it does'nt eat up to much payload.

 

[goneandbrokeit]

I had the same concern with my L3830 w/LA723, so did my dealer. Here is the solution he came up with. Not nice for the fine stuff, but it does'nt eat up to much payload.

 

[jeepinator]

Thank you for the concern, jinman.
Your concerns are valid.
I spent some time with it today. That is one heavy piece of gear!
The weight isn't helped much by the fact that the adapters are quite heavy (125 lbs) and set the bucket out quite a ways. I'd say like 8".
The design of the 300/400 JD adapter is horrible (as opposed the the bucket, which is outstanding). I'll take some pics tomorow. They add too much extension and don't fit very well.
I don't have filled tires and my box blade is a wimpy light duty unit, so I used my 665 tiller as ballast. If I pay attention and go slow, I am OK and can get quite a few rocks in there, along with a pile of dirt (it is still a bit too wet around here for rock sifting). I just have to keep it low and shake it carefully!
And ya, no grapple for me.
As it is, I can definately feel the loader straining, flexing a bit, and working quite hard.
I shoulda got the 4 footer /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jeepinator]

Thank you for the concern, jinman.
Your concerns are valid.
I spent some time with it today. That is one heavy piece of gear!
The weight isn't helped much by the fact that the adapters are quite heavy (125 lbs) and set the bucket out quite a ways. I'd say like 8".
The design of the 300/400 JD adapter is horrible (as opposed the the bucket, which is outstanding). I'll take some pics tomorow. They add too much extension and don't fit very well.
I don't have filled tires and my box blade is a wimpy light duty unit, so I used my 665 tiller as ballast. If I pay attention and go slow, I am OK and can get quite a few rocks in there, along with a pile of dirt (it is still a bit too wet around here for rock sifting). I just have to keep it low and shake it carefully!
And ya, no grapple for me.
As it is, I can definately feel the loader straining, flexing a bit, and working quite hard.
I shoulda got the 4 footer /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jeepinator]

FWIW, I think the 300CX loader is conservatively rated.

 

[jeepinator]

FWIW, I think the 300CX loader is conservatively rated.

 

[CurlyDave]

Well, last week I took the plunge and plunked my money down for an Unlinited Fabrication rock bucket. picture Went the whole 9 yards and got teeth and a grapple for it. I also had them weld on 3 chain hooks, 3/8". They charged me $20 extra for that, which seems like a fair price.

Does anyone else see that the two buckets pictured are of different designs?

Anyway, shipping was an interesting issue since I need it to arrive in Grants Pass while I am there. Right now, delivery is scheduled for July 3.

I will post pictures when it comes in. Shipping weight is 1003 lbs. It is sent loose, no packing material. I doubt it is going to be hurt in transit.

From talking with them on the phone, they are a small fabrication shop.

Right now I am hoping for the best.

 

[CurlyDave]

Well, the Unlimited Fabrication rock bucket arrived yesterday, and it is everything I had hoped for.

This is a real beast, sturdy as they come.

I got it with teeth, and as I had hoped, back dragging over a mixture of clay/rock breaks up the clay to the point where I can sift out the rocks. Not perfectly, but well enough to come up with "free" base rock for driveway extension.

As an added bonus, it almost looks like they just added extra ribs to their root bucket and then bolted on side plates, instead of welding on a skeletonized side plate. This lets me unbolt the side plates and use it as a root grapple. A genuine two-fer, with even asking for it.

It fit the JD 110 perfectly.

The only down side is that the chain hooks they welded on weren't the ones intended for welding, they just took ones intended for the end of a chain and wlded them on, the eye is still there. A minor issue.

Attaching a few pix:

 

[pekabu]

I like the removable side feature.

 

[GeneD14]

That is impressive! The metal shield to protect the cylinders is also a nice feature.