Putting LT15 on a pad

[ely]

it will happen quinton i promise.

ps nice looking place you got set up there.

[IL Bull]

I have my saw frame bolted to the slab.  No problems in two years.  I hang a bucket on the discharge side to make clean up easier.  On a large log I can fill a 5 gallon bucket in one pass.

[tcsmpsi]

Quinton,

A knothead question.  Are those the original hydraulics on your loader, or did you replace them? 

Rather than to build forks with a frame to replace the bucket, this time I opted to build to attach to the bucket.  The length of the bucket in 'real time' was a skosh more noticeable in decreasing my lift capacity than I anticipated (quantum theory?). 

Did you end up putting anchors in your pad (if you said, I don't remember)?

[tcsmpsi]

OK. 

My curiosity about your fel hydraulics was prompted by the fact that the cylinders were black.

Having just returned from another part of the state, in which there are a LOT of tractors about, I saw a couple other Kubota loaders with black hydraulic cylinders.  I was intentionally looking, since I noticed them on yours.  Maybe I just never had looked that closely before at others, and was basing my  ??? on those I've had. 

[Qweaver]

Hey Tcsmpsi,  sorry about the late reply, didn't see it until today. 
The hydraulics are the orginals, I just bought this tractor last October.   

I did not put anchors in the slab but I will put the saw up on stands later on.  The guy that I bought the saw from had it on stands which he included with the sale.

My old ford 1910 BLT had 3" cylinders and would out-lift and out-dig this Kubota.

Quinton

[tcsmpsi]

The last Kubota I had (bought back in late '80s), though a tad smaller model, would outlift this new one.   Probably more of this safety factor stuff.

I know this new one wouldn't move and set the pilings I used to with the old one.  Fresh, special order, double treated 24' 8X8s tend to get a little heavy.

I am really anxious for my mill to be ready, in many ways.   

I know the pad looks to be a great help.

[Qweaver]

This is a Great Bend loader and as soon as the warranty is up, I'm going to put 3" boom cylinders on it.  It just needs a little more lift.  I loaded a 29" x 10' log on the saw with it this morning and it lifted it OK as long as I kept the bucket curled back to keep the load close to the tractor.
BTW, that was all I wanted to saw and turn on the LT15 also! :
Quinton

[jkj]

My Kubota loader has brackets with holes low on the main arm behind the bucket so I added a hook on a clevis to each.  Two skidding tongs on short pieces of chain on these hooks will lift more than when I hang them from hooks welded to the top of the bucket since the weight is further back.

However, I'm building forks for the 3-point hitch for the back of the tractor.  I bought some forklift forks from a junk dealer and plan to weld up a frame from 1/2" steel stock.  I figure this will lift about twice what I can lift with the front end loader hydraulics.  (My Kubota dealer advised me against always pushing the FEL to the limit, saying they've seen tractors damaged that way.  If that's the case, seems like increasing the cylinder size might be asking for trouble.)

BTW, the best thing I ever got for my tractor was a set of quick-connect (skid steer) forks, letting me swap the bucket for forks in about 2 minutes.  I use the forks more than I could have imagined around the farm and sawmill.  In addition to moving smaller logs and stacks of wood, I generally offload directly onto the forks.

JKJ

[WkndCutter]

Quinton,

Great looking place.  Your pad turned out fine.  What size tractor is that?  I'm looking at a 30 Hp Yanmar and am just looking for a comparison.

Andy

[Qweaver]

Hey Wknd,
The tractor is a 3130 Kubota 32hp.  They make this tractor as a 32, 35 or 38 hp and I wish I had opted for the 38.  I like the tractor but the extra horses would be handy at times.

Quinton

[Burlkraft]

I got a 4330 last year....Just what the doc ordered. Traded off a McCormiK 40 h.p Biggest piece of crap I ever owned. >:( >:( I put about 50 hours on it and traded it for the Kubota ;D ;D

[Lud]

Hey ,Quinton......been awful busy and just getting back on after you posted those excellent pics.  Nice looking shed! What's the size?  Is that Galv metal Roofed?

What about those double dip sills?  How long are they supposed to be good for?