FEL Build for 520

[cschannuth 3,816]

 Working on a loader for the 520. I’ve been looking for a long time and have been close on a couple of deals but financially it never worked out.  Decided to gradually pull all the pieces together to build my own. My wife got me the P.F. Engineering plans for my birthday and my father-in-law has access to some free steel.  I still need to buy some steel but not a lot. My dad had an old Montgomery Ward stick welder that still works pretty well and I practiced for a few months on scrap and got to the point where my welds look Ok and have decent penetration.  The other pieces I’m buying as money allows and I find things on sale. Here are a few early pics of the bucket and the partially complete subframe. 

 

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Edited November 26, 2017 by cschannuth
Grammar

[953 nut 55,325]

Looking forward to following this build.

[RandyLittrell 3,884]

Looking good Craig!! My wife bought me the plans a few christmas's ago but I ended up buying a loader on a 1277 which led me here! So happy I did! 

 

Can't wait to see it done. 

 

 

 

 

Randy

 

 

PS, I am working on a Get together in Sturgeon for the spring. Will make a thread when I have more info. 

[cschannuth 3,816]

6 minutes ago, RandyLittrell said:

Looking good Craig!! My wife bought me the plans a few christmas's ago but I ended up buying a loader on a 1277 which led me here! So happy I did! 

 

Can't wait to see it done. 

 

 

 

 

Randy

 

 

PS, I am working on a Get together in Sturgeon for the spring. Will make a thread when I have more info. 

 

It’s going pretty slow due to lack of time and fun money but I’m enjoying the process so far. It would have been much cheaper to buy a fixer upper. 

[RandyLittrell 3,884]

 

I realize you are past this point, but I did this on my 1277. The person that put the loader on it, never tied it into the rear at all and I almost broke it in half. By using the rectangular tubing it is very stiff and puts very little strain on the frame. I person could even tie it into the hitch mounts if he wanted to. Just thought I would throw this out there. 

 

 

Randy

 

 

I added weights on the rear, thats why it sticks out there so much. 

 

 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

That bucket looks bigger (deeper) than the one on my eMax, and I can tell you from experience a bucket full of topsoil definitely needs the rear blade for counter balance on it, so hopefully you're planning on a rear weight box to, good luck, Jeff.

[cschannuth 3,816]

1 hour ago, RandyLittrell said:

 

I realize you are past this point, but I did this on my 1277. The person that put the loader on it, never tied it into the rear at all and I almost broke it in half. By using the rectangular tubing it is very stiff and puts very little strain on the frame. I person could even tie it into the hitch mounts if he wanted to. Just thought I would throw this out there. 

 

 

Randy

 

 

I added weights on the rear, thats why it sticks out there so much. 

 

 

 

It’s hard to see from the pics I have but I have the subframe attached at three different spots.  I had 1/4” X 2” angle iron so I used that.  It attaches at the center attach-a-matic (I removed it to attach the front of the subframe), to the threaded holes under dash tower, and at the rear axle. I added a receiver hitch and built a tractor weight holder that inserts in it. I sandwiched the rear axle between the hitch and the rear of the subframe. I still need to fabricate braces that will run from the back of my subframe to the bottom corners of my weight holder to add stability. I have seven 42 pound tractor weights for ballast. I hope that’s enough. I also have the tires loaded and inside wheel weights plus my 250 pound butt. 

 

1 hour ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

That bucket looks bigger (deeper) than the one on my eMax, and I can tell you from experience a bucket full of topsoil definitely needs the rear blade for counter balance on it, so hopefully you're planning on a rear weight box to, good luck, Jeff.

 

The bucket is pretty small. I think the angle of the pic makes it look big. LOL

[ebinmaine 67,671]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Looking forward to following this build.

Me too

[JoeM 7,874]

Got a first class start, looks great.

I have done a couple of these and the one thing is the PF plans did not let the bucket tilt back enough at ground level. (At least for me.)You may want to tack the bucket brackets on and try the rotation.

Also the support arms that run from the towers to the front of the machine are critical for strength. I had one of these come loose and damaged the sub-frame.

 

[dclarke 4,032]

Outstanding work, Craig!... I'll be watching too. 

[wallfish 17,014]

6 hours ago, OILUJ52 said:

one thing is the PF plans did not let the bucket tilt back enough at ground level. (At least for me.)You may want to tack the bucket brackets on and try the rotation.

My Ark loader is the same way, wish it had a little more back tilt at ground level.

Looking at those pics of the Mahindra tractor, it appears they solved that issue by adding arms to the bucket just like on a hoe bucket. Doing it that way will allow more curl travel than attaching the rams directly to the bucket.

[cleat 6,078]

This is how the bucket dump works on my larger tractor.

 

 

Cleat

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Good thread on the FEL!

I really like the weight bracket for the suitcase weights!

[RandyLittrell 3,884]

Love the weight bracket!!  I got a good 20 pounds on ya, but mines all gut, no butt! 

 

520 will make a hell of a loader tractor! 

 

 

 

 

Randy

[cschannuth 3,816]

18 hours ago, OILUJ52 said:

Got a first class start, looks great.

I have done a couple of these and the one thing is the PF plans did not let the bucket tilt back enough at ground level. (At least for me.)You may want to tack the bucket brackets on and try the rotation.

Also the support arms that run from the towers to the front of the machine are critical for strength. I had one of these come loose and damaged the sub-frame.

 

 

Speaking of the support arms, how did you attach them to the front of the tractor?  The PF plans are for a Cub so, like the sub frame, I'm going to need to fab something on my own.

 

Thanks!

[cschannuth 3,816]

Made a little progress today. I removed the sub frame and finished the welding. Now I’m in the process of getting it ready to paint so it can cure and I can reinstall it and get the tractor put back together.  I also prepped and painted the weight rack. I’m going to paint the loader and sub frame satin black like the 520 loaders shown in the WH brochures. I left the weights black but matched the weight rack to the red hitch and tractor. 

 

[JoeM 7,874]

My first try was using an old mule drive and welding ears on it. It was ok. On the second one, I was leaving the loader on the machine all the time and made a stronger, bolt on piece.

Those suitcase weights overhung in the rear makes a world of difference. I started out with 150 lbs on the tires and there were times when it got dicey. Reduced the tire weight and added 200 lbs. of suitcase weights, much better stability when the bucket was full and raised.

[JoeM 7,874]

I added the bucket tilt modification pics. Just welded tabs on the existing bracket moving the swivel pin hole.

[cschannuth 3,816]

10 hours ago, OILUJ52 said:

I added the bucket tilt modification pics. Just welded tabs on the existing bracket moving the swivel pin hole.

 

I contacted Paul at PF Engineering and he recommended doing the same thing.  Thanks!

[cschannuth 3,816]

I made a little progress. I prepped and painted the subframe satin black. Once it cures I’ll get it bolted back under the tractor and continue with fabbing the loader. 

 

[Skipper 1,788]

I have a build like this in front of me, so I'm just looking over your shoulder on this one

 

Great work so far!!

[RandyLittrell 3,884]

Your making us procrastinators look bad!!!

 

You gonna be done by Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

Randy

[cschannuth 3,816]

6 hours ago, RandyLittrell said:

Your making us procrastinators look bad!!!

 

You gonna be done by Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

Randy

 

I wouldn’t bet on it. I’m the slowest welder in the world. Once I get an arc started I’m fine but it takes me forever to start one. 

[Sarge 3,463]

Start here - he has different sections for different processes and probably the best arc shots of anyone on the 'net - you'll learn a lot in a quick hurry if you pay attention .

www.weldingtipsandtricks.com

 

Sarge

[cschannuth 3,816]

I was able to bolt the sub frame back in place and installed the weight holder this morning. The holes still matched up nicely after all the final welding so I was happy about that. I still may brace the weight holder directly to the sub frame but it is surprisingly stout since the hitch also ties to the sub frame with the rear axle sandwiched in between.