JaysHorse 287 #1 Posted October 2, 2015 So I had some scraps laying around and thought how nice it would be to eliminate the wheelbarrow. So it began. The creation of a Johnny bucket. 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedRanger 1,468 #2 Posted October 2, 2015 Very nice job. I see the electric scoop. You lifting it by hand? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaysHorse 287 #3 Posted October 2, 2015 Thank you. No it has the factory electric lift that was added on by original owner. I tested it by lift myself which is 180lbs. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,127 #4 Posted October 2, 2015 Very impressive... plus, only took two beers to make it happen. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doc724 925 #5 Posted October 2, 2015 I like it. Shows some great ingenuity! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,530 #6 Posted October 2, 2015 Very nice, congrats on a job well done. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,021 #7 Posted October 2, 2015 Nice....does it have down pressure for back dragging. Looks like a good tool for stone road maintenance and mulch or top soil spreading. Does the electric lift have overload protection? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295 #8 Posted October 2, 2015 Great job , I like it . Do you have electric lift on both sides of the bucket? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaysHorse 287 #9 Posted October 2, 2015 Thanks for all the compliments! No down pressure as I have it on the same mechanism as for the snow blower. Hoping to modify it so there will be. I have actuator on one side but a stop on the other to support. I'm hoping to be able to test it out this weekend. If it doesn't work so well, I'm thinking of welding on 2 hinge pins on the bottom back side and eliminating the side bucket attachments. Then I can mount the actuator in the middle. I have seen some designs of this style and had mixed reviews. If it's a fail this way I'm only out some time. And I will try my second idea which I like better but as they say that idea was a day late and a dollar short. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,021 #10 Posted October 2, 2015 That's the joy and satisfaction of a DIY project. Design, build, test, redesign, alter and retest, and it doesn't cost any thing but your time. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpy 5 #11 Posted October 2, 2015 Does the electric lift use the bell crank same as the hydros? What are they rated to lift? 180 is a lot more than a blower. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #12 Posted October 2, 2015 (edited) Ill bet a snow blower weighs close to 180... a two stage is probably more than 200.the 60" mower deck is 300+lbs but thats a dead lift. I will bet there will be issues lifting a full bucket with the bellcrank. Be careful or you may crack it. Edited October 2, 2015 by bmsgaffer 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpy 5 #13 Posted October 2, 2015 (edited) Cool project so don't take any of this wrong please. In fact I am very interested in how this performs.Ok, I'll give you 150 as a can pick mine up but barely. but the bucket and frame are already half the weight of a blower(maybe). Then add the payload. Just wondering what a bell crank can take if that is how it is setup.and I have had to weld up my bell crank after the pivot bar failed from stress Edited October 2, 2015 by Scrumpy 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishin4a416 2,191 #14 Posted October 2, 2015 Looks like you have it well under control!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaysHorse 287 #15 Posted October 2, 2015 (edited) So maybe I should have specified my uses. I'm not starting a landscape business is excavating company. My intentions are to move some mulch, leaves, wood chips from splitting, and a little topsoil. If it were anything more I'd be crafting a regular FEL. Don't take any of this the wrong way. I do appreciate the + criticism and things to watch out for. And hey, I'm just playing within my means and enjoy tinkering. They are a warner electric lift so i don't doubt tthe durability for a minute. Not sure on the lift limit but I'm sure I will find out. Hydros would be nice but you hoarders of the 520's and such hate giving things up. Lol j/k Edited October 2, 2015 by JaysHorse 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #16 Posted October 2, 2015 Well I'm liking that! I have a Sears that's all manual, trip and lift and it is handy for small chores but I'd like it better with some power to lift it. The hand trip I could live with but you've whipped that as well!Lot's of time you don't really need to lift your load much, just up enough to move it and then dump it. Lot's cheaper than an FEL! Good job! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #17 Posted October 2, 2015 Good fabrication on the bucket. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,021 #18 Posted October 3, 2015 Just a thought you may want to consider Jay. I have used multiple lift assist spring on my manual lift blower (before I got the 520H) . I made the springs from old scrap garage door springs, and with a turnbuckle was able to totally tare out the weight of my blower. By tuning the spring tension with the turnbuckle. I was able float the blower several inches above ground level and as it entered the snow, the additional snow weight pulled it down. It took maybe a 10lb pull to raise it to max height and 1-2 lbs push to hold it down in scraper position.The same principle could be used on your bucket where the springs were tensioned to tare out the weight of the bucket + half the max payload. The electric lift would then only need enough force to lift or lower 1/2 the payload weight. This would greatly reduce the stress on the bell crank. As always, with stored potential energy, caution must be exercised. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaysHorse 287 #19 Posted October 3, 2015 (edited) That is a great idea. I was doing something similar. I have one of those springs that is currently used when the blower is attached. I think I'm going to do some changes and utilize the middle tac a matic because there is a little flex in the rod to raise and lower due to the length. I will post pics of the changes when complete. Stay tuned........ Edited October 3, 2015 by JaysHorse 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpy 5 #20 Posted October 3, 2015 Jay, you did say right at the start this was replacing the wheelbarrow. Having (ab)used the setup under my tractor I thought it may be something you would want to look at as an area to make a heavier duty one. As i said cool project and I am watching to see where this goes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 993 #21 Posted October 4, 2015 nice job 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 341 #22 Posted October 5, 2015 This is a very cool project and youre doing a fine job with it so far. A lot of times as long as you have the extra time figuring out the issues is a big part of the fun! I want to eventually make something similar for myself. Nothing beats an FEL though and im hoping one day I can fit one of those onto a of mine. I currently have my dads Kubota with FEL and I DO NOT want to give it back haha. I made a set of forks for him that attach to the bucket and its amazing how easy and convenient it is to move stuff around.Keep up the good work 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaysHorse 287 #24 Posted November 18, 2016 It's been a while since this post but here is an update. I used this over the summer redoing my flower beds. Worked awesome! Moved 20yrds of topsoil and 6 yards of mulch no problem. It even worked well to back drag old topsoil. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295 #25 Posted November 18, 2016 Any pictures of the finished project? I like what I saw but you know us ole goats like lots of pictures. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
