RJ Hamner 1,007 #1 Posted February 10, 2021 Was doing some "web surfing" this evening and ran across PF Engineering's web site I noticed that they have a "PinOn Mini Payloader" which looks like a smaller capacity (350 lbs) bucket version of their FEL Has anyone ever seen or had experience with with these? I had been looking at the plans for their normal FEL and went as far as ordering a set but haven't made a decision. This smaller one was more in line with what I originally had in mind Looking for any input! Thanks Bob 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,704 #2 Posted February 10, 2021 I wonder if that Pin On Loadet is a new design offering. I ve looked at there website several times in the past and have not seen it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,871 #3 Posted February 10, 2021 Looks good. Jim must be a newer item. I know I used their plans in the beginning, okay but kind of vague. I figure they have to cover a lot of machines. I noticed the price estimate was $1000 using add on hydraulics. The last FEL I built was north of $1600 for material, but that was using all higher quality stuff. The joy stick valve was $300 alone. There are the knock offs that can be used at a substantial savings. Power steering or gear reduction steering would be a big plus. https://www.pf-engineering.com/pin-on-mini-payloader-plans#a-look-at-the-loader Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,309 #4 Posted February 10, 2021 5 hours ago, RJ Hamner said: This smaller one was more in line with what I originally had in mind Us too. We've been thinking about doing something like this or a forklift like @BeninCT just built. Then add a small scoop. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeninCT 451 #5 Posted February 10, 2021 (edited) I looked all over and saw this and think its the best FEL design for a small GT but decided against it because I really don’t need a huge bucket and it weighs like 230lbs. My forklift attachment is more like half that and keeps the loads right in close to the front axle so should put 1/4 the stress on it over time. I could be worrying about nothing though because it seems like lots of people are running these small FEL’s with success (have to beef up spindles). Edited February 10, 2021 by BeninCT 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,101 #6 Posted February 10, 2021 It would be good for moving mulch or loose gravel around. I don't think it it would be good for digging up dirt or things like that. https://www.backhoeplans.com/pin-on-mini-payloader-plans 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,805 #7 Posted February 10, 2021 40 minutes ago, BeninCT said: I looked all over and saw this and think its the best FEL design for a small GT but decided against it because I really don’t need a huge bucket and it weighs like 230lbs. My forklift attachment is more like half that and keeps the loads right in close to the front axle so should put 1/4 the stress on it over time. I could be worrying about nothing though because it seems like lots of people are running these small FEL’s with success (have to beef up spindles). Get some roller chain on those front tires... you’ll have all kinds of steering traction for that snow plow! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littleredrider 409 #8 Posted February 10, 2021 This is just me, but if gonna go thru all that might as well build a regular loader...it’s the same basic design just arms are longer. I have the plans from them to build a loader but found one already built, for prolly half the price of building one. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,309 #9 Posted February 10, 2021 27 minutes ago, littleredrider said: This is just me, but if gonna go thru all that might as well build a regular loader...it’s the same basic design just arms are longer. I have the plans from them to build a loader but found one already built, for prolly half the price of building one. I put some thought into that one too and it might depend on the area that you live to some extent. If I was going to build something I probably would still go with the smaller one because it has more capacity than we would need and you would save money on hoses and cylinders and to some extent, steel. But the other thing is around here, anything related to machinery or antique garden tractors or anything like that seems to be coated with a really nice layer of platinum and it's very very tough to buy something like that for less than about 1800 to 2,200 NOT counting the tractor. And then after that, it probably wasn't on a Wheelhorse and you've got to fabricate that. And you may also be buying somebody else's old fatigued stuff... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #10 Posted February 10, 2021 9 hours ago, RJ Hamner said: Was doing some "web surfing" this evening and ran across PF Engineering's web site I noticed that they have a "PinOn Mini Payloader" which looks like a smaller capacity (350 lbs) bucket version of their FEL Has anyone ever seen or had experience with with these? I had been looking at the plans for their normal FEL and went as far as ordering a set but haven't made a decision. This smaller one was more in line with what I originally had in mind Looking for any input! Thanks Bob I like it a lot! Fairly simple to build and to mod for WHs. Says and looks like easy on and easy off. Light weight. AND! I see a use for the frame without bucket to make a forklift. With some thought perhaps both could swap in and out. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,309 #11 Posted February 10, 2021 4 minutes ago, DennisThornton said: see a use for the frame without bucket to make a forklift. With some thought perhaps both could swap in and out Dennis that really wouldn't take much work at all. Just make the bucket a pin mount and you'd make up a little abbreviated frame to hold the forks or for that matter whatever other implement you wanted to use... Three or four pins and you could swap implements in just a few minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,871 #12 Posted February 10, 2021 I put together a sub-frame a few years ago that would allow keeping the deck on a 520. It was a bear to steer with deck and loader just empty. If you don't have to lift anything high a johnny bucket seems more inline. Looking at the PF pin on, there is close to being as much fabrication work in a full sized FEL. (a good excuse to have another dedicated tractor!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,309 #13 Posted February 10, 2021 11 minutes ago, JoeM said: (a good REASON to have another dedicated tractor!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,871 #14 Posted February 10, 2021 5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: (a good REASON to have another dedicated tractor!) yes my bad! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #15 Posted February 10, 2021 34 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Dennis that really wouldn't take much work at all. Just make the bucket a pin mount and you'd make up a little abbreviated frame to hold the forks or for that matter whatever other implement you wanted to use... Three or four pins and you could swap implements in just a few minutes. Yes indeed! It's something "WE" could do. Make the vertical rails longer to start with for the fork lift height and then the front end could get a lot more attention like the rear already does. Bucket, fork lift, front rake, blades, scrapers and ... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,309 #16 Posted February 10, 2021 3 minutes ago, JoeM said: yes my bad! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,168 #17 Posted February 10, 2021 31 minutes ago, JoeM said: (a good excuse (reason) to have another dedicated tractor!) That was the route I took..... (disclaimer - this route depends heavily on your area of the country) While prowling Cl etc looking for garden tractor stuff, I kept seeing small dedicated FEL's in the $5-6000 range - and one day I spotted a small 4wd Mitsubishi 1650 with FEL and box blade for $4200. Was near by so off I went. Seller had bought 5 acres and got the tractor to help with that and was now through with it and just wanted it gone ---- I got it for $3800. Had been neglected, no switch (touch 2 wires together) almost NO seat, fuel leakage, ugly etc, etc. (sounds like some of the horses we buy dont it!) This was some 4-5 yrs ago and, geez, thats one of the better things I have ever bought - Damned if that thing aint handy. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #18 Posted February 10, 2021 25 minutes ago, JoeM said: I put together a sub-frame a few years ago that would allow keeping the deck on a 520. It was a bear to steer with deck and loader just empty. If you don't have to lift anything high a johnny bucket seems more inline. Looking at the PF pin on, there is close to being as much fabrication work in a full sized FEL. (a good excuse to have another dedicated tractor!) I have a Craftsman version of a Johnny Bucket and the concept is handy. Lot's of times one just wants to move stuff from here to there. Handy to roll a big rock on, move and dump. In really this all manual, no hydraulics, and is too weak to do much real work. Maybe lift a 100lbs with lots of effort. I assume that the real Johnny Bucket is much more capable. Some friends had old Fords with buckets and spent more cursing at them than bragging. With no rear weight filling the bucket would raise the rears right off the ground. Adding rear weight corrected that but then they couldn't steer it! Said they would plan their trip so they could scoop, backup and head as straight as they could to the dump area and forget about steering. That JD 317 has power steering and that is certainly something to consider first. I have no first hand experience with any FEL that doesn't have power steering but I'm sure there's lots of experience and opinions on this site if we can get their attentions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,168 #19 Posted February 10, 2021 9 minutes ago, DennisThornton said: power steering and that is certainly something to consider first. I have no first hand experience with any FEL that doesn't have power steering Power steer was one of the first negative things I saw on the Mitsu, with a bucket of dirt it was VERY hard to steer - hah! it wasnt exactly easy without a bucket of dirt! This is the tractor that I mentioned in a couple other posts that I adapted the electric power steering too, Was a bit of a bi##h to adapt but well worth it! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeninCT 451 #20 Posted February 10, 2021 2 hours ago, pullstart said: Get some roller chain on those front tires... you’ll have all kinds of steering traction for that snow plow! Will do but for now I am plowing with this tractor carcass on the forks. Works great! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,871 #21 Posted February 10, 2021 6 minutes ago, DennisThornton said: too weak to do much real work I know a guy was helping my friend with setting up and area for a prefabbed pavilion. My friend has a 520 with a FEL on it and the helper commented at the beginning of the job "glorified wheel barrow." Oh....I told him they will do some work and are handy. I stopped by later and there he was in the seat grading and leveling the area! Original plan was to use walk behind tiller and rake. I had to ask what are you doing? He said hey this thing is not to bad! I just laughed. I know if the ground is not hard and I can get a toe hold in the ground, I have dug up the ground. I have a friend that has a track hoe and excavation company that does any serious stuff. Having spent most of my career maintaining mining equipment. I have found most of the failures are operator induced. Like jerking on a winch rope. Undersized for the job type of things, or lifting to much. I am guilty too. I had a 416-8 on the forks and came around the building, bounced and kinked the bucket. I guess know what the jobs are you like doing before you build might be the best advice. (and of course there is the budget) 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,163 #22 Posted February 10, 2021 7 minutes ago, JoeM said: and of course there is the budget ALWAYS the budget! Right? Well.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJ Hamner 1,007 #23 Posted February 10, 2021 3 hours ago, 953 nut said: It would be good for moving mulch or loose gravel around. I don't think it it would be good for digging up dirt or things like that. https://www.backhoeplans.com/pin-on-mini-payloader-plans That would be our primary objective.... mulch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cschannuth 3,816 #24 Posted February 10, 2021 If you use the PF plans for either version I will say that they are very responsive and helpful when it comes to questions. I built my full-size loader for my 520 and it was my first major project fabricating something like that and he probably helped me out with questions three or four times. The other thing I’ll mention that as long as the tractor is moving, steering with a loaded bucket is not very difficult. I would recommend some sort of ribbed tires for the front also. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #25 Posted February 10, 2021 40 minutes ago, RJ Hamner said: That would be our primary objective.... mulch Even a manual Johnny Bucket style would be handy for mulch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
