What to build from an old loader?

[pabble]

A friend just gave me a loader he said was used for an 8n tractor - it would take too much work to restore but the pump, lift and bucket hydraulics are good, he said, so I'm looking for project ideas. I'm especially interested in something that will give me practice with arc welding (just a beginner). I don't know the ratings for the hydraulics so will have to be conservative with that.

I'm looking thru all the posts I can find here but any added creative and unconventional ideas and references will be appreciated. thanks.......

 

[Craig Clayton]

We all started out as beginner welders and increased our skill by building. I would suggest you practice on other material and do some self testing of your work. Then when you build your project your welds are the best that you can do and they will not fail.
I have found many ways to cheat your way having to not do fancy welding and in that way I am able to stay within my absolute known skill range and then my welding will not fail.
That is not to say that my work has not broken when I have underdesigned something. So I use the rule if I can not decide if a bracket should be 1/4 " or 1/2 " thick I go for the thicker material. This is because I do not have a degree in material strength engineering.
Now back to your project what could you think of ie Horse barn , log mover , self loading trailer .

Craig Clayton

 

[2458n]

I needed a grill guard for the front of my Kubota. I used some of the pre bent curved pieces from the loader to do this. The Single stage pump is some what limiting for a log splitter so it and the lift arms remain for futher projects. Do not worry about your welding skills they improve with practice. I have flipped many projects over so that I would have a nice horizontal welding place.

 

[hddnis]

You may be able to sell or trade the working parts to someone that needs them for a loader. This would get you parts that work better for whatever project you choose. You can practice on the scrap metel and maybe incorporate some of it into your project. Just some ideas for you.



Mr. HE

 

[swick1]

Dump trailer

 

[Taylortractornut]

Ive made a few of these into other things. THe hydraulics on most were lower pressure rigs, Also the cylinders are usually one way. If it has the real narrow trip bucket they make nice rear scoops. When dad had his 3130 HST Kubota The neighbor gave him a topsoil pile. He had to move it pretty quick. I made a rear facing 3 point bucket for it and he could get a bucket lod on the front and one on the rear and haul nearly a yard of material at a time on it. ALso doubled as a hand carryall. I made one into a reversible scoop to.

The frame off one that I made the scoop out of I narrowed it down frame and all but left the loader arms long and added a 3 point hitch onto it and used it on a friends farm tractor for loading bulk seed bags into a planter.

A friend of mine put on on the back of a ragged out 3/4 ton 4x4 to un load and move round bales when its raining out.

 

[EMB5530]

Im sure ya know but just in case keep them welding sparks off the hydraulics so ya dont ruin the sealing on them

 

[davygp38]

I have to agree with "Dump Trailer."

 

[pabble]

thanks very much for the great tips and encouragement on welding, and suggestions for projects. I'm reading all I can about the dump trailer suggestion because I could really use one. Also thinking about using the stripped loader frame in some way as a support for small 3 point equipment to make attaching a bit easier (post hole digger, backhoe, boom...etc.).....I haven't searched here for that but that's next on my list. Seems like that would be a good practice project........

 

[BHD]

you would probably need some more pieces than just the loader but one could try to build a exoskeleton robot suit, to wear,

 

[EMB5530]

you would probably need some more pieces than just the loader but one could try to build a exoskeleton robot suit, to wear,

NICE!!!:laughing:

But ya better find 2 loaders and probably a DVD player for the electronics