RJ Hamner 1,007 #26 Posted February 10, 2021 14 minutes ago, DennisThornton said: Even a manual Johnny Bucket style would be handy for mulch. I have a Craftsman bucket that was part of a deal that the guy was trying to adapt to his WH. Still an option. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #27 Posted February 10, 2021 9 minutes ago, RJ Hamner said: I have a Craftsman bucket that was part of a deal that the guy was trying to adapt to his WH. Still an option. I have that bucket installed on an AYP tractor as intended. OK for light duty only. But it does work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeninCT 451 #28 Posted February 10, 2021 I will be building a bucket of some sort for mulch for my forklift. Prob take the forks off and put it on for mulching. time will tell but that is why I built the forklift rather than the FEL- just not that much weight and I can use the forklift for all kinds of other lifting while I think the FEL may have been used 1-3x per year for snow overload clean up. Also the FEL looks cool so there is that... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,130 #29 Posted February 10, 2021 4 hours ago, DennisThornton said: 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. Got my attention, just my . Pictured are three different tractors that used the same K-W loader and weight box . I also had it on a C-165 for a short time. I originally bought the loader and used it on the 93 and 91 520-H for bark mulch, snow removal and light gardening work . Turn the page to a wooded lot with lots of different terrain, now on a 417 and using it for moving fieldstone, firewood around and light bucket work moving material. I found it worked great on the level lot but on a less than perfect situation it was not the most stable piece of equipment and very difficult to steer on anything but the 520's with gear reduction steering and forward swept front axle. They work great for loading something into the bed of a pick-up or onto a trailer etc. It takes planning and time to accomplish many tasks that would normally take no time at all with a HD machine with power steering and a foot controlled Hydro. If I were to rate these tractors mentioned I will go with 520-H #1 and really not a fan on the other two. Still think a 400 Series is an awesome tractor, just not with an FEL for heavy work, ok for the light stuff. I will add if you are looking for a lot of seat time and not in a hurry they are a lot of fun you just wouldn't want to be using one to put food on the table. Thanks for hearing me out. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,163 #30 Posted February 10, 2021 4 hours ago, DennisThornton said: Even a manual Johnny Bucket style would be handy for mulch. The current models for WH are all self-contained power lift and dump (they don't use the tractor lift, but the way they mount DOES block using the tractor lift for a rear attachment at the same time.) Older versions had manual actuation and can very occasionally be found on CL or FB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #31 Posted February 10, 2021 2 minutes ago, Handy Don said: The current models for WH are all self-contained power lift and dump (they don't use the tractor lift, but the way they mount DOES block using the tractor lift for a rear attachment at the same time.) Older versions had manual actuation and can very occasionally be found on CL or FB JB "style". A all manual Craftsman was in the thread and referred to as a johnny bucket style. I however, did not know that JB ever made a manual bucket. Just dawned on me that those twin HD brackets on my Sears and Bolens might be handy for a JB style bucket. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,163 #32 Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, DennisThornton said: JB "style". A all manual Craftsman was in the thread and referred to as a johnny bucket style. I however, did not know that JB ever made a manual bucket. Just dawned on me that those twin HD brackets on my Sears and Bolens might be handy for a JB style bucket. Thanks! Missed the extra word. Sorry. Just today bought an old 42" Cub plow to convert into a bucket. It's a little bit overbuilt but the price was very right and the attachment points line up very nicely with the front mount I've got planned. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #33 Posted February 10, 2021 18 minutes ago, JCM said: Got my attention, just my . Pictured are three different tractors that used the same K-W loader and weight box . I also had it on a C-165 for a short time. I originally bought the loader and used it on the 93 and 91 520-H for bark mulch, snow removal and light gardening work . Turn the page to a wooded lot with lots of different terrain, now on a 417 and using it for moving fieldstone, firewood around and light bucket work moving material. I found it worked great on the level lot but on a less than perfect situation it was not the most stable piece of equipment and very difficult to steer on anything but the 520's with gear reduction steering and forward swept front axle. They work great for loading something into the bed of a pick-up or onto a trailer etc. It takes planning and time to accomplish many tasks that would normally take no time at all with a HD machine with power steering and a foot controlled Hydro. If I were to rate these tractors mentioned I will go with 520-H #1 and really not a fan on the other two. Still think a 400 Series is an awesome tractor, just not with an FEL for heavy work, ok for the light stuff. I will add if you are looking for a lot of seat time and not in a hurry they are a lot of fun you just wouldn't want to be using one to put food on the table. Thanks for hearing me out. Would like to hear more! More comparing the Classics 400 vs the 520 Classic (Not the XIs! Never thought WH model names make much sense!) I have several WHs including XIs but no Classic 520s. Structurally I thought the 500s and 400s were the same except some 520s had HD spindles, well braced, and some had swept axles and at least some with some easier steering. What else is different? Other than what I mentioned why would the 520s (Not XIs!) be a better choice for a FEL? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #34 Posted February 10, 2021 4 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Missed the extra word. Sorry. Just today bought an old 42" Cub plow to convert into a bucket. It's a little bit overbuilt but the price was very right and the attachment points line up very nicely with the front mount I've got planned. For? Or we should wait for it? I generally try not to make stuff from scratch but rather modify something I find. Got a lot of stuff still waiting for me! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,130 #35 Posted February 10, 2021 @DennisThornton The 520 is my fav because of the Gear reduction steering and Forward swept axle, without those on a 400 you will be taking wide turns. 520's act like PS in that you can make sharper turns. The 88,89 and 90 do not have the same setup. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,310 #36 Posted February 10, 2021 50 minutes ago, Handy Don said: plow to convert into a bucket Where's our pics Mister? Details? Drawings? Charcoal sketches? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
