520 loaders

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

I’ve got 3 loaders currently 2 of which are on 520h chassis. Wanted to see some more 520 loaders!!

(my 3rd loader is on a 417-8)

[cschannuth 3,816]

I built this one based on the Cub Cadet P.F. Engineering plans. It’s a very capable machine. More than I would’ve ever imagined from such a small package.

[ecsi635j 34]

12 hours ago, cschannuth said:

It’s a very capable machine.

cschannuth, I'm really motivated by the way you're  build turned out! I'm at the point where I'm getting ready to tack up the two uprights/towers to the 3/8" base plates which get bolted to the cross member and I wanted to ask how you went about squaring up  and aligning these two items side to side so the arms and every thing else going forward will eventually line up.

Also, did you use the front Attach Matic with a piece of 5/8" bar stock to mount the front brace or is it bolted in place? Would it be possible to maybe take a picture of this piece?

 

Edited November 24, 2020 by ecsi635j
wrong information

[cschannuth 3,816]

2 hours ago, ecsi635j said:

cschannuth, I'm really motivated by the way you're  build turned out! I'm at the point where I'm getting ready to tack up the two uprights/towers to the 3/8" base plates which get bolted to the cross member and I wanted to ask how you went about squaring up  and aligning these two items side to side so the arms and every thing else going forward will eventually line up.

Also, did you use the front Attach Matic with a piece of 5/8" bar stock to mount the front brace or is it bolted in place? Would it be possible to maybe take a picture of this piece?

 

With regard to squaring everything up, I made sure my sub frame was completely square using carpenters squares and clamps when I welded it. Then I placed it under the tractor on blocks and jacks to get it into the exact location I wanted it. I got it square with my tractor frame and bolted it tight to the rear axle making sure it was level to the ground. Then I took the pieces that eventually bolted to my tractor frame and simply set those on top of the sub frame in their correct locations and clamped everything tight. Then I used the existing holes in the tractor frame to mark my holes in the brackets. I then took everything loose and drilled all of my holes.  Once the holes were drilled in my brackets I set them back on the sub frame and bolted them to my tractor frame so they were snug. I then got out my welder and tacked them in place to the sub frame. All along I was checking to make sure things were still level and square. Then I took the sub frame off the tractor and welded everything up. Then I put it back on the tractor to make sure my brackets and holes lined up and I was good to go at that point. I actually removed the attach a matic and used the holes left behind to bolt my front subframe bracket too. I also use existing holes for my center bracket under the steering tower.
 

With regard to my towers and my lift arms I basically just cut those so if they were all equal and I clamped them down to my welding table flat making sure everything was at the same angle and I welded them individually. While they probably are not perfect they were a fairly good match for my crude fabrication ability. The same thing with the towers. I cut off everything nice and square and clamped everything really well when I tack weld it together.

 

Let me know what specifically you want pictures of and I will try to get it for you. I believe these pictures of my sub frame is what you need. 

[ecsi635j 34]

cschannuth,I wanted to show where I'm at on working on the cross member. I tacked the base plates to the cross member and drilled both the base plates and cross member all at once.

I have the cross member supported and off the subframe in hopes it might be easier to set up, align and tack  the towers in this position at this point. 

The picture at the front of the tractor where the forward most Attach matic assembly is located and the tower braces attach to, is also the area in question .I"m not sure if the tower brace bracket is bolted in place?

[cschannuth 3,816]

On the towers I used the P.F. Engineering design. On the front I just took a piece of 2“ x 2“ square stock that I had and welded it to the front hitch. And then it’s bolted at the tower and at the front bumper.

[ecsi635j 34]

Craig, Can't thank you enough for all your help! Think I can Take it from here.

[cschannuth 3,816]

10 minutes ago, ecsi635j said:

Craig, Can't thank you enough for all your help! Think I can Take it from here.

Have fun and good luck. 

[ecsi635j 34]

@cschannuth I wanted to ask, while building you're loader, which parts, steps or phases did you find  to be the most difficult or challenging? Lots of planning, figuring ,cutting, drilling aligning and so forth goes into  this.

So far, I got started on and made some (slow) progress on the  up rights, the front brace support , the sub frame is pretty much  completed  but the arms with cutting the webs and getting the lengths and  down ward angle  of the arm assembly correct seems like this could be. Mostly due to my "challenged" fabrication skills.

 

[cschannuth 3,816]

3 hours ago, ecsi635j said:

@cschannuth I wanted to ask, while building you're loader, which parts, steps or phases did you find  to be the most difficult or challenging? Lots of planning, figuring ,cutting, drilling aligning and so forth goes into  this.

So far, I got started on and made some (slow) progress on the  up rights, the front brace support , the sub frame is pretty much  completed  but the arms with cutting the webs and getting the lengths and  down ward angle  of the arm assembly correct seems like this could be. Mostly due to my "challenged" fabrication skills.

 

The hardest part for me was getting the angle braces to clear everything since the engine on the 520 is so wide. I wanted to keep the loader very compact for maneuverability but that meant everything was really close to the tractor. Plus, I’m not a very good welder, so that was challenging as well.