[*chris*]

I want to make a front scoop for my Husqvarna garden tractor and have a couple of questions. I have a welder, plasma cutter and bandsaw so cutting out any parts should be pretty easy. What I am trying to figure out now is should I make a front end loader or will a simple scoop (like the sears and johnny bucket type) be sufficient? I would like to move dirt around the yard, but I would also like to be able to unload gravel/mulch etc from my 5x10 landscaping trailer. I am pretty sure the scoop wouldn't have the reach, but I think a FEL would. The reason I have not started on the project yet is the linear actuators are so expensive, just for lift and dump I am looking at $500. Does it make sense to go over to hydraulics? Is there a electric-powered hydraulic put that I could install inexpensively?

Chris

 

[D-Dogg]

Chris,
Unless you enjoy a challenge, and look forward to this build tremendously, I don't think you are in any way going to come out money ahead.

It would make more sense IMO to find and older GT which has hydraulics as a starting point.

There are some guys who have gone the electric actuator route sucessfully, but as you point out $500 for just the actuators is pricey.

 

[Tractor-Holic]

I think renting a Bobcat for a day or a weekend would be a much better solution,and you'd be doing both your wallet, and your Huskvarna a favor in the long run..
If you had an Economy tractor or something similar I'd say go for the loader build,but even a scoop like a Johnny Bucket beats up todays so called "Lawn Tractors" pretty quickly,they just aren't rugged enough,IMO..you might b able to get away with a REAR scoop though,since the rear end of a lawn tractor has more strength that most front ends do,and you wont strip the steering gears ,but you'll still have the same problem as far as unloading your trailer..

 

[D-Dogg]

I think renting a Bobcat for a day or a weekend would be a much better solution,and you'd be doing both your wallet, and your Huskvarna a favor in the long run..
If you had an Economy tractor or something similar I'd say go for the loader build,but even a scoop like a Johnny Bucket beats up todays so called "Lawn Tractors" pretty quickly,they just aren't rugged enough,IMO..you might b able to get away with a REAR scoop though,since the rear end of a lawn tractor has more strength that most front ends do,and you wont strip the steering gears ,but you'll still have the same problem as far as unloading your trailer..

Now having him rent a Bobcat isn't going to get him on a Deere, TH. We have souls to save here. raying:

 

[*chris*]

After mucking around with installing and removing my sleeve hitch and box scraper this weekend, I am thinking a second tractor maybe in order.

I tried to buy a deere 332 a few weeks ago, but even emailing 20 minutes after it was posted I missed out. What torques me more is the guy that bought it just flipped it a few days later on clist.

I am not too worried about the money, but I am pretty sure I can build a Johnny Bucket for less that I can buy it if I value my spare time as zero

I am also considering buying the sears scoop and welding brackets for acutuators, but from feedback from people that have done this the feedback is not great. The Johnny Bucket mounting system is a lot more stout than the Sears mount.

I have to imagine any bucket on a garden tractor is more or less a toy due to the small size, but I am not sure how much more useful a FEL is than a front scoop.

Since I have a tiller and box scraper for tough surfaces, I think I could find a scoop really useful for gravel, mulch and loam.

Chris

 

[Tractor-Holic]

I dont mean to discourage anyone here,but being realistic ,I cant wholeheartedly recommend going through all the effort and expense to build a loader for a typical "lawn tractor"..if we're talking about a higher end John Deere,then maybe I'd say it would be more suitable,but I'd still say getting a ractor that was available with a factory loader is a much better choice..

I wont go as far as to say that lawn tractors with loaders or johnny buckets are a toy",that is not true,you CAN do a lot with one,they ARE very handy for certain chores like mucking out stalls in a barn,or light use around a home and garden..but the main reason I'm saying they aren't worth the effort is not so much their lack of lifting ability or
usefulness,as the fact the tractor simply will wear out or break in short order..they just aren't beefy enough!..

I would love to build a loader for use around my yard,it will lift a lot more than I can!..but even on a relatively beefy old tractor like one of my Suburbans,it will be pushing it to the limits,even EMPTY a loader frame and bucket (and the pump ,etc) adds at least 300 lbs to the tractor,before you put anything in the bucket..
I'd expect to at least have the steering gears and compnents fail rapidly,maybe the front spindles would "live" but certainly be suseptible to failure,especially being 40 years old to start with..the transaxles were not really made with earthmoving in mind either,but would probably hold up a lot longer than any of todays cast aluminum ones,especially the lower end hydrostatic ones...

I had a 641 Ford farm tractor with a Wagner "pipe" loader on it,even THAT was rather limited in what you could DO with it..it would lift 1000-1500 lbs,but once you had that or even 600 lbs on the bucket,it was very diffucult to turn the wheels,and didn't feel like it was heavy duty enough,you could feel the front axle flexing and even with loaded 28" rear tires it felt "tippy"..

I'd reccomend buying the right "tool" for the job,a lawn tractor CAN be used with a Johnny Bucket or scoop,etc,but not for very long,without having some major repairs being needed to the steering,frame,and rear axle,IMO..I did build a bucket conversion for the plow on my MTD and it did a lot of work for me moving heavy boulders for a stone wall and dirt,etc..but I definately loosened the steering up a good deal,and I'm sure the hydrostat didn't like the abuse either..but the tractor owes me nothing too,and I'm not overly concerned if I "finished" it off..probably why its still going strong,just to spite me!.

 

[walfish]

I wouldn’t consider a FEL on a garden tractor a toy either, although it is a lot of fun to use. Mine has been used quite extensively and has saved many hours of back breaking wheelbarrow hauling, digging and rock moving ect. ect. There were many projects that wouldn’t have been considered without having it. I use it so much I decided to build a backhoe for it.
I say find yourself a C, 400 or 500 series Wheel Horse which can definitely handle the abuse of a FEL and build one! You have the tools. Good plans for them from http://www.p.f.engineering.50megs.com/. Save the doe from buying an overly expensive tractor and put it towards the hydraulics. The hydraulics will be more expensive than $500 but you will end up with a real tool, not to mention the satisfaction of building it yourself. $.02

 

[yooperhoney]

Hi Chris, I have actually did what you want to do. I have a husky 2748GLS. Here is what I learned, what I wish I would of done, and how well it works. I used the swisher bucket for the loader, I decided that it would be easier than building a bucket and I am quite impressed with the build of it. Almost to impressed, at first I worried that it would be too heavy to operate. I kept the original brackets so that I could use other swisher products or at the very least steal some of their Ideas and build my own. At first I bought a winch ($180) from the honda dealer that is for lifting the Moose atv snowplow. This winch was a piece of crap and barely lifted the empty bucket. I then went to Wal-mart and spent $70 on a 1500 lb atv winch (you have to have power in, power out option) this works great. I still need to design a new dump system because the rope system sometimes needs two hands. The bucket will actually dig a hole but the turf tires spin. I just bought some ag tires at Tractor supply and hopefully they will work better. You can't go lifting everything with it but you can haul around a decent amount of sand, dirt, rocks and mulch as seen in the pictures. In order to dump it I just pull the rope and drive forward until the front tires lift off the ground then back up and grab another pile. I dont feel too much resistance on the front steering and I made sure the axles were cast not boxed when I bought it. Any other questions or comments LET ER RIP!! I will add pictures as soon as I figure Out how to decrease the file size

 

[yooperhoney]

Here is picture of bracket and winch

 

[yooperhoney]

Here is a couple of pictures in action

 

[blazin]

Hey that little bucket on the front of that Husky looks really good. Like the winch idea as well. Simple and it looks fairly effective! Thanks for sharing.

 

[*chris*]

Hi Chris, I have actually did what you want to do. I have a husky 2748GLS.

Neat, how did you design the brackets that bolt to the frame? I have no problem welding up the bucket, but I am struggling how to build the mounting brackets.

I have a 600 pound linear actuator, it seems like I really need a 1200 pound model for the lift?

Chris

 

[yooperhoney]

Chris, I would give the 600lb a shot it just might work. As long as you have the actuator use it. if it doesn't work you can always upgrade.Originally I was going to use an actuator but cost was too prohibitive. Next year I might try hydraulics.I am at work now but I will takes some pictures of just the bracket a try to post them tonight.

 

[Tony bachler]

I built some scoops for John Deere 300 series And also the 425 series, The first run has been in the field working since 1998, A broken bracket on one. that it. They are made out of ALUMINUM 2 tilt cyl. 1 lift cyl. Lifting capy. is appx total 500 lbs The complete scoop ***. weights 125 lbs.. This is not ment to be an add to sell or promote a product. If you would like pictures to help you build your own. send me an email. Tony B. [email protected]

 

[Tony bachler]

We have built many buckets . for the 300 series and 425 seriec John Deere These are hydraulic Lift and tilt. The scoops are made from Aluminum 6061 series SS cutting edge on the scoop.Keeping in mind the weight limit on the garden tractor.They are a great addition to the yard/garden tractor. This is not ment to be an addv. it is only to share information. If you would like pictures email me . TONY B. [email protected]

 

[NSBolens]

does anyone know where i can get information for building an aluminum scoop for a 300 and 425 series john deere with hydraulic lift and tilt? if i just had an email address....

 

[yooperhoney]

:sidelaugh NSBOLENS, Anyway I am posting some pictures of the bracket, hopefully they have what you need. Basically A friend and I just match up the holes on the side of the tractor and made a template. We kept the mounting brackets on the bottom so as to clear the hood as best as possible, although the hood still will not open all the way. anyways hope these pics help

 

[yooperhoney]

These pics I am posting just becuase I like them good side view and mean looking front view

 

[SonnyT]

:thanku: good job! :thThumbsU

 

[SonnyT]

Walfish has built what I want to someday!!