[donbowman14]

my comment on the geometry was not about CTC, but loaders in general over the Johnnys and Bufords, which basically hang off the tractor ahead of the front axle and can only lift so high, as opposed to a FEL which can lift much higher and distributes the weight a heck of a lot better, that's all. so camp out for a good deal on a 45, or buy a Buford for now, camp out for a 45 and sell the Buford when you strike gold:fing32::fing32:

 

[mrbeef]

I would purchase a used 45 before a new CTC strickly based on feedback on this forum. That said, I would strongly consider selling my machines and buying a scut before handing over $3000+ for a used 45 loader.:dunno:

I think it depends on intended use. I looked hard at Buford Buckets and the 1 series... The Buford bucket lacked the capabilities I needed yet a new 1 series was just big enough to be too big for my use. So I settled on a used x7-- with 45. Very capable yet slightly more nibble than the 1 series and much more capable than a Buford bucket (not saying anything negative about them). The converse side of buying a Buford Bucket is you spend 1500-1600 on an attachment that has about half the capabilities of a 45.... I would love if I could do a side by side comparison between them!! I think that would be a great deal for everyone trying to decide between what to buy. Some folks need a Buford Bucket... Others need a 45. :fing32:

 

[rooster shooter]

Wow! 5k! That is a pipe dream IMHO... And we are not that far apart... Used 45's should run 2,500-3,250.... Based on my knowledge....

Here is the one that was on eBay... $3,559.00 starting bids. No bids so I am guessing it will be relisted.
New John Deere 45 Loader for 2012 and Prior 4WD X700 Series | eBay

From the looks of that ad, that guy is a dealer and looks to have more than a few in inventory. Maybe he stocked up before John Deere ran out of them. As for used 45 loaders, owners of them will probably think twice before selling them and that'll drive prices up. As for owners like me who have 2013 model x7xx unless someone comes up with a way to mount a 45 loader, it's Buford Bucket, CTC or nothing. There are probably other loaders that'll work with some mod's but just using those for reference. I myself have a Buford Bucket but am leaning towards selling it and buying a CTC.

 

[Sergeant]

From the looks of that ad, that guy is a dealer and looks to have more than a few in inventory. Maybe he stocked up before John Deere ran out of them. As for used 45 loaders, owners of them will probably think twice before selling them and that'll drive prices up. As for owners like me who have 2013 model x7xx unless someone comes up with a way to mount a 45 loader, it's Buford Bucket, CTC or nothing. There are probably other loaders that'll work with some mod's but just using those for reference. I myself have a Buford Bucket but am leaning towards selling it and buying a CTC.

You are correct I Traded In My X485 On New Attachments But Kept My 45 Loader for My X748 & If I ever decide to Buy a 1 series I will still keep My X748 with 45 loader:thThumbsU

 

[inspectorudy]

I built a front mount for a Johson 10 FEL to put on my 318. It was not difficult at all to use the front quick disconnect for the front mount using spring pins and a steel bar. I had thought that the BB used that mounting system also but was wrong. I do not know why Pete didn't decide to use it when he designed the BB. I have a mint JD 40 FEL with all of the wheel weights (inner and outer), valve, push handle and bolts including the weight bracket and OEM manual and have had zero calls on it. I am asking $2500 for all of it including a free swap of your turf tire for the brand new liquid filled AG tires if your wheels are in good shape. It is way superior to a BB and you will still need the weights for a BB with the delivered price approaching $2000. It is also a drive on/ drive off unit just like in Mr beef's video. I guess the bottom line is the area of the county that you live in decides the value of a product. I have it mounted on a nice 455 but people want to low ball even on that sold separately. I can see where it might be necessary to add two bolts in front of the spring pins if you got a lot of side to side play.

 

[mrbeef]

l Does a JD 40 fit any other tractors than the 400 series?.

Check your thread.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/12-john-deere-forum/904682-what-tractors-will-my-jd-40-fel-fit.html

 

[JDfreak2012]

As a R&D design engineer for the implantable medical device industry I've been able to revolutionize some decades old products. I like the 45 loader and the Buford Bucket. I'm going to try combining what I like about both and come up with my own loader!

 

[badgerland01]

As a R&D design engineer for the implantable medical device industry I've been able to revolutionize some decades old products. I like the 45 loader and the Buford Bucket. I'm going to try combining what I like about both and come up with my own loader!

Now your talking. Home brew that sucker!:fing32:

 

[JDfreak2012]

With many years of Solidworks and Creo Parametric CADCAM I can make the appropriate blueprints too and will make them available when the design is finalized and built. I will start a thread so you all can see the evolution.

 

[North Dakota 322]

do a dezign like the buford but make the masts a little longer 1 inch longer will get you 2 inches of lift 5" longer 10" more lift

you know what i am saying?

 

[JDfreak2012]

Right, and wider masts so you can open the hood if necessary. I'm also going to make it a quick hitch design instead of 6 bolts!

 

[BronzeHawk]

I think it depends on intended use. I looked hard at Buford Buckets and the 1 series... The Buford bucket lacked the capabilities I needed yet a new 1 series was just big enough to be too big for my use. So I settled on a used x7-- with 45. Very capable yet slightly more nibble than the 1 series and much more capable than a Buford bucket (not saying anything negative about them). The converse side of buying a Buford Bucket is you spend 1500-1600 on an attachment that has about half the capabilities of a 45.... I would love if I could do a side by side comparison between them!! I think that would be a great deal for everyone trying to decide between what to buy. Some folks need a Buford Bucket... Others need a 45. :fing32:

With all due respect to Mr. Beef, who I hold in the highest regard as a knowledgeable and objective contributor to MTF, I don't agree with this statement in bold. As far as I know, the only capability the 45 adds over the Buford is the ability to lift a load above 40" up to whatever the max height of the 45 is (60"?). If that specific task is critical for a persons intended use, then they should get a 45. Personally I have never found a need to lift a load that high. I don't use a pickup, I prefer to move material with a utility trailer, so the Buford lifts plenty high for that purpose. If there is another capability the 45 has over the Buford, I can't think of what it would be.

Mr. B if you really want to put the machines side by side, PM me. Maybe we could both learn something! :thThumbsU.

-Price is how and why one ends up with a Buford Bucket. IIRC....I paid $1500 for my buford including the bucket forks and teeth. It is good enough for my needs and I couldn't justify the 3 grand for the 45 loader. It also stores in less space, which is nice for my requirements. I'm sure the Buford price has gone up in the last few years though do to material increases. I put hitch pins in my loader mounts, to replace the bolts, and it has greatly reduced the amount of time to remove the Buford. But it is still no where near as easy as MrBeef's video of the 45.

Price, storage, and the willingness of Pete to make about any attachment for it that one would need at a very fair price... All of these are wins for the Buford in my book. I don't really know if you can put forks on a 45, or a trailer ball, or teeth for digging. I assume you can, but I don't really know. Pete included all of that with my loader essentially for cost and shipping.

If price and storage are not an issue for you, I would probably go with the 45. For me, those things matter. For me, the Buford does every thing I want it to do. I really can't think of a single thing I would want it to do that it doesn't.

I use it for mulch, light dirt work, compost on my garden and lawn, anything I would use a wheelbarrow for, light fork work (moving heavy objects on half pallets), stump pulling, moving rock, hauling wood (cut and uncut logs), loading brush onto a burn pile, moving my utility trailer and boat into tight spaces or just where I need them, tipping up my zero turn to remove blades for sharpening (or any other purpose), turning the compost pile, pushing back snow piles, leveling a pad for a shed, spread gravel, and probably a hundred other things I can't think of off the top of my head. I am sure there are a few things that extra height would allow me to do that aren't on that list, but I can't really think of them right now.

In short, Mr. Beef and Badger are both right. Any person contemplating getting a loader for a GT just needs to consider how they would use it and how they prioritize price, storage and the need for the extra lifting height. That determines the correct answer for each person. For me, the height is not an issue but price and storage definitely are.

I am extraordinarily satisfied with my Buford. Mr. Beef is the same with his 45. They are both great tools which add a lot of functionality to a GT.

 

[mrbeef]

With all due respect to Mr. Beef, who I hold in the highest regard as a knowledgeable and objective contributor to MTF, I don't agree with this statement in bold. As far as I know, the only capability the 45 adds over the Buford is the ability to lift a load above 40" up to whatever the max height of the 45 is (60"?). If that specific task is critical for a persons intended use, then they should get a 45. Personally I have never found a need to lift a load that high. I don't use a pickup, I prefer to move material with a utility trailer, so the Buford lifts plenty high for that purpose. If there is another capability the 45 has over the Buford, I can't think of what it would be.

Mr. B if you really want to put the machines side by side, PM me. Maybe we could both learn something! :thThumbsU.

That would be fantastic!! A side by side would be a really good comparison for everyone. Certainly give me an opportunity to experience a BB first hand. Biggest part would be a direct comparison. So we would have to put the BB and the 45 on the same machine. To account for hydro pressure and ballast weight. We would also want to test it across multiple machines.

I stated half simply because that was my best educated guess based on the performance that have been reported on the forum and pictures I have seen. Specs on the 45 are published.... I don't know of any specs on the BB? :dunno:

Max lift height.... 71 inch straight edge. Obviously the bucket level would affect that a little.
P1110883_zps59466b88.jpg Photo by mmrbeef | Photobucket

At 36 inches the rated capacity is 640 lbs, a full lift height 365 lbs... which I will admit might be a bit scary!!! and not something I intend to do anytime soon!

I will also agree the specific tasks that the user intends for the loader plays a large role in purchase. For me the BB would be woefully inadequate!! I am guessing my average loader on the loader anytime I use it is 400+ lbs. I stack pallets and move round fenders for the most part.

Price, storage, and the willingness of Pete to make about any attachment for it that one would need at a very fair price... All of these are wins for the Buford in my book. I don't really know if you can put forks on a 45, or a trailer ball, or teeth for digging. I assume you can, but I don't really know. Pete included all of that with my loader essentially for cost and shipping.

If price and storage are not an issue for you, I would probably go with the 45. For me, those things matter. For me, the Buford does every thing I want it to do. I really can't think of a single thing I would want it to do that it doesn't.

I use it for mulch, light dirt work, compost on my garden and lawn, anything I would use a wheelbarrow for, light fork work (moving heavy objects on half pallets), stump pulling, moving rock, hauling wood (cut and uncut logs), loading brush onto a burn pile, moving my utility trailer and boat into tight spaces or just where I need them, tipping up my zero turn to remove blades for sharpening (or any other purpose), turning the compost pile, pushing back snow piles, leveling a pad for a shed, spread gravel, and probably a hundred other things I can't think of off the top of my head. I am sure there are a few things that extra height would allow me to do that aren't on that list, but I can't really think of them right now.

In short, Mr. Beef and Badger are both right. Any person contemplating getting a loader for a GT just needs to consider how they would use it and how they prioritize price, storage and the need for the extra lifting height. That determines the correct answer for each person. For me, the height is not an issue but price and storage definitely are.

I am extraordinarily satisfied with my Buford. Mr. Beef is the same with his 45. They are both great tools which add a lot of functionality to a GT.

THE BOLD PART IS THE IMPORTANT STUFF!!!!

Forks on a 45 best investment I have ever made (they were an additional $700 to have custom made) . Badgerland also built a set for his Buford and I think he is equally happy with their performance. KWDAILYD and several other folks have forks on their 45's...... pretty sure if we put it to a vote our backs would say best attachment for a GT!




Teeth!! NOM NOM NOM DIRT!!!


To give you an idea of lift capacity differences, on the forks in this picture is a Kohler light plant. Shipping weight just shy of 500 lbs. I use a trailer extensively to haul stuff like this. The 45 enables me to pick this kind of stuff up off the trailer. I co not know, would a Buford bucket have this capacity? Any of the comments and pictures I have seen it does not seem like it would, but as I mentioned I have no direct experience with one. Comments......?

 

[badgerland01]

I would make a small wager that the Buford can lift more than the 45 at the same hydraulic psi. I don't necessarily think it is good for the frame though. I try to limit lifts to under 600 lbs. The 45 is much better suited for the heavy lifting.

 

[donbowman14]

I stand by what I said earlier, loaders are superior to the little bucket (Buford or Johnny), it's pure physics. Yes the buckets have one huge advantage: price, beyond that, I will concede space requirements if that is a concern. If loaders weren't superior, everybody's have a Buford/Johnny bucket and loaders would become non-existent, but that's not going to happen. They can lift more (or at least easier) and higher, they are substantially easier on the front axle and you don't have to counter that heck out of the back end of the tractor.

I will concede another point, as MrBeef mentioned in an earlier post, people's needs are different, so not everybody would need a loader, but I bet most that have one aren't wishing they opted for the little bucket.

Now to the core part of this thread, two of the earlier posters were considering FEL's as opposed to a little bucket, but because of price, they considered the little bucket saying the FEL was too high ($$). I get that, I really do, but my main point was if one gets a $9000 to $13000 tractor, other than having a 6" larger deck, what does one do with such a machine?? I mean you can get a 54" on a X500 series of older GX/GT series, you can run a Buford on those and a similar snow blower and tiller. I think it's like tillers, if you could get a 42" hydro as opposed to a 30" mech, you would, but the price is a lot higher. Nothing wrong with the 30" (or Buford), but it's not the same (good) as the 42" hydro (FEL). I'm really stepping into this now, you could get a diesel or gas, or a 4X4 of a 4X2. I have a 4X2, gas, I will never say that is the same as an 4X4, diesel because it's not. I don't need a 4X4 or diesel, partly because of price, but I do recognize both as superior in nearly all conditions. But just as I get by with my 4X2, gas, I'm sure folks do just fine with Buford bucket, but the FEL is still better:hide:

 

[KWDAILYD]

I've been hesitant to jump in here, so I'll start by saying that Pete is one of the best guys I've done business with. He builds a great product. My BB served me well the year I had it. I hauled some pretty heavy loads in it. It doesn't get much heavier than a heaping load of stone. It never felt like it was reaching it's limit for lifting.

All that said things changed for me physically and it was getting more difficult for me to install and remove the BB. I had a good system with a dolly I built All I had to do was roll it up to the tractor and the holes lined up. It just came down to me not physically being able to do the bolts anymore. When I was able it didn't take all that long. Since Feb. of 2014 I've had cervical spine surgery with 3 vertebrae fused in my neck. March of 2015 I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder which was in very bad shape and coming up December 16th I will be having rotator cuff surgery on my left shoulder.

I found a good deal on a new 45 loader at a dealer so I jumped on it. The install and remove has been much easier on me. I'm 66 yrs old and even my knees don't like me getting down there doing things like that anymore.

As far as bucket forks, I got permission from Pete to copy his bucket forks for my 45 loader. I also, along with the help of my son was able to build a fork frame to install in place pf the bucket on the 45. Like MRBEEF said, it has turned out to be a great addition. I like being able to unload a pallet full of mulch out of my truck with the new fork attachment.
I do feel that the 45 feels more stable on my AWS tractor when weighted properly because of the way it mounts.

I've had them both and can say I still have no problem recommending a Buford for those that are looking for that setup.
I've included some pics to show how much I have used both.

 

[inspectorudy]

I have built a FEL from our friend CADplans and loved every minute of it. I have owned two BB and three FELs. I do not know the going rate for FELs right now because I can't sell the one I have but I do know the BB price, at least the last time I talked to Pete. I think from having both that if I could find a JD FEL for anywhere near the price of a BB I would take the FEL. Not because the BB is not a good product but because the FEL is a better product and more nimble and overall useful. I do know the rams Pete uses on the BB are bigger than JD uses on almost all of its FEL's so it will probably lift more but the counter weight you have to add on the BB tractor is a negative. Putting it on and off is also another win for the FEL. Almost all of the newer ones are drive on/drive off. The hood can be opened on all JD tractors with FELs on them, the BB can't. Including shipping what is the price of a BB now? Last I knew it was about $1700 + shipping. Thats about $2000 not including weights. If you are like me you really don't lift 4 and 500 pounds a whole lot so maybe you can get by with less weight. The last thing is visibility. With the FEL and the bucket up to about mid height you can see well ahead and down in front of the tractor but I don't seem to have had that good of a view with the BB. I really think the BB would shine if sold as kits to those of us who weld but Pete didn't think it would be so good due to copy cats etc. Maybe he is right but there are a lot of other devices that are sold as kits that do real well. I say what ever you think is best for you is the best thing for you.

 

[donbowman14]

looking at all these pics, I'm now coveting some loader forks for my FEL

 

[badgerland01]

-Larry, I'm sure the extra set of 60# wheel weights you now have help improve the stability also. But I don't disagree with anything you said otherwise and I always enjoy seeing pictures of your machine in action. :fing32:

-InspectorRudy, why would you need more counterweight on a Buford than a factory fel? I feel like both would require roughly equal counter weight to lift a similar load. I recall Pete, or possibly his brother the designer/engineer, stating the buford didn't stick out any further than whichever factory loader they replicated it off of? You have firsthand knowledge of both it sounds like so I would appreciate any feedback you have. I use a lot of counterweight due to having 2wd with a hilly yard and my liking to stay shiny side up. But my counterweight only cost around 20 bucks so no big deal.:dunno:

-To be clear, I am a strong supporter of ANY loader. They all beat the alternative option. It is nice to get some of the facts/opinions from guys like KWDAILY and Inspectorudy who have had the pleasure to use both. They are saying the 45 is better and that is hard to deny. I think the Buford is in competition with the Johnny Bucket more so than the 45 loader. The price points are much closer on those two and I feel the Buford easily wins that battle. The 45 loader was more than double the Buford's price when I was buying, so it should be better.

-This manhole riser is guestimated in the 500+ lb range. Buford handled it fine. Front tires didn't like it as much.

 

[inspectorudy]

badgerland01, you are right about the counter weights being equal. On my JD 40 the back of the bucket is at 19 inches from the grill on the tractor on the ground and it appears to rise at that same distance as it goes up. I do not have them here together so I cannot say for certain that they both rise at the same distance. But I made a simple drawing and it appears they both rise at the same distance from the grill. I suppose because it is front loaded it looks like it is more forward than it is. Like I said I've used them both and they both are great tools. If you own either you are a lucky guy.