Loader tractor opinions

[1586 Jeff]

There is a certain hillside that we will not mention that MIGHT have something to do with Nick’s aversion to bidirectional tractors……

[B.B.]

1 minute ago, 1586 Jeff said:

There is a certain hillside that we will not mention that MIGHT have something to do with Nick’s aversion to bidirectional tractors……

Yeah hillsides and mud or snow add excitement to bidi operation

[Lazy WP]

12 hours ago, dale560 said:

These 9030s or 276 ford bidis are about the best articulated loader tractor. You will find. The loader isn’t as heavy duty as a wheel loader though so you should own multiple things.

I was all set to buy one about 5 years ago, and they about doubled in value just as soon as I started looking. I would honestly rather have one of the later red ones, just for old times sake. But if I ever get one, the park brake WILL work 

[Lazy WP]

12 hours ago, dale560 said:

[Lazy WP]

12 hours ago, dale560 said:

 

[Lazy WP]

12 hours ago, dale560 said:

 

[dale560]

5 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

I was all set to buy one about 5 years ago, and they about doubled in value just as soon as I started looking. I would honestly rather have one of the later red ones, just for old times sake. But if I ever get one, the park brake WILL work 

The red 256 are good but just enough improvement on the blue ones to make a bit of difference. The Cummins vibrated on the red ones, the ford is pretty smooth running on the blue version, the axles steel reinforced on the blue ones and cast iron to the drop boxes on the 9030s.

[Lazy WP]

46 minutes ago, dale560 said:

The red 256 are good but just enough improvement on the blue ones to make a bit of difference. The Cummins vibrated on the red ones, the ford is pretty smooth running on the blue version, the axles steel reinforced on the blue ones and cast iron to the drop boxes on the 9030s.

Pto on both ends and 3 point on the engine end! 
My problem with the blue is the tilt cylinders aren’t as good. 

[Matt Kirsch]

How about a Doncaster Utility with an XL cab, 4x4, and 2255 loader?

[dale560]

Any wheel loader is good but a 2 yard or 2.5 is about the right size for a cattle or farm operation.

this Komatsu and John Deere loader are hydrostatic drive not a power shift or auto trans. They don’t work as well for heavy duty load pushing in a 8 yard loader but they are magnificent for farm work. They don’t have the mushy go no go of a slightly worn torque converter or auto trans.

as far as I know the smaller ones

444 md

200 komatsu

l 50 Volvo and the like all make good farm feeding loaders.

case and cat should have good smaller models also

[TroyDairy]

My old 344E was just fine scooping silage.  We demo a WA200 few years ago.  About a dozen on dairies here most pushing 15000hr.  That Komatsu would push the concrete walls over!  My 544E is perfect imho.  Power, simple, fine to operate.  Hydro over hydro systems.  Friend has a 544G and he thinks thats little better then a E.  Bit nicer cab etc 

[Shell1066]

8 hours ago, Lazy WP said:

I was all set to buy one about 5 years ago, and they about doubled in value just as soon as I started looking. I would honestly rather have one of the later red ones, just for old times sake. But if I ever get one, the park brake WILL work 

Inquiring minds want to know how that truck defied Newton's law of gravity!! Wow!!

[edwardporter1]

 Don't buy a farm tractor loader. Very limited and not strong like a payload. Look for a CAt 910 , 930 loader.  I had farm loaders. Yes they add on to a tractor but are an add on. A payload is designed for lifting, digging or anything you throw at it.. I broke a 756 with a mount a magic. Broke a 256 versatility. Then got a 930. Never broke it. Designed for abuse

[Lazy WP]

3 hours ago, Shell1066 said:

Inquiring minds want to know how that truck defied Newton's law of gravity!! Wow!!

lol it’s tied on to the bidi with a tow bar. They are both sitting on a “road”. Pure sand and fairly steep. I had only been employed at this place for about two weeks, and my bride had informed me under NO circumstances should I attempt to go up the “west road”! I had cows at that end of the ranch and had gone out to check them along the river, about 5 miles, at about 5 mph. Also had salt and mineral up on top of the river hill. Well, instead of driving the hour back to the house and an hour back west, I decided that the old 91 Ferd got round in the sand well enough that I could make it up the hill, and I did several times after this, over the next 10 years! What I failed to calculate in the equation was that the cows had been going up and down this goat trail that was called a road. Soft sand to begin with now became impassable, but I still had to try it. 
Made it past the hairpin curve, to where the “road” got to its narrowest point as well as steepest point, and the pickup slipped a tire. I KNEW I was in trouble and I also knew that I also knew that I had defied my bride, of less than a year, so when I called her and asked her to come pick me up, I just told her to meet me at the windmill on the south side. She came and got me but I wouldn’t tell her what was wrong other than I needed the tractor and tow bar. 
I got back out to the top of the hill, spin the seat around and down to the pickup I go. Hook the tow bar to pickup but have a heck of a time getting the pin into the drawbar on the tractor. 
While I was gone, the rest of the cows had gone down to the river for a drink, and had rubbed against the pickup and slid it a couple inches over. By the time I got hooked up, it had slipped another inch or so. Bidis have never been known for great brakes, and after being operated by a bunch of non caring cowboys, this bidi had NO BRAKES! NONE! ZILCH!! Well, I tried to pull the pickup up the hill in second range. All it would do is slip the hydro! Remember NO BRAKES! I buried the bucket in the sand, but it still wanted to roll backwards, allowing the back tire to go all the way over what little bit of terra firma there was. It’s every bit of 100 feet to the bottom of this stinking canyon. By the time I got into low range, there was nothing else to do but spin the tires on the tractor to the point where the tractor was sitting on the belly, and sink the bucket in as deep as possible. 
@sandhiller

I think Jeff’s youngest might have done something similar except his pickup went all the way to the bottom. We were 6 miles apart? 
When I comment on Jeff’s hill, it’s the same river hill, his is a county road that is maybe a little better than mine, but NOT MUCH. 

[sandhiller]

Canyons are nothing to take lightly 

 

Pay loaders are getting a lot of love here and we'll deserved 

Oldest son just checked out in a CAT 994H tonight.

Not sure what that is but guessing it's bigger than you or me need Nick 🤔

[acem]

When I worked at the paper mill we had two wheel loaders that kept the wood chip piles in shape.

I don't remember what make or models. I do remember they were the largest ones made at the time. They were huge.

[acem]

How bout putting bale forks on an international 175?

Should handle mud well.

[Lazy WP]

7 hours ago, sandhiller said:

Oldest son just checked out in a CAT 994H tonight.

A couple of the salt mines load with 982 loaders. 3 bucket full and you have 26 tons of salt. 
 

I am not convinced that I need a wheel loader. 10 cows, 100 bales at the most would take a lot of years to justify it. Besides, my bride has said NO to one. 

[acem]

3 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

Besides, my bride has said NO to one. 

That's a very important consideration considering she will often be running it.

 

[sandhiller]

25 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

A couple of the salt mines load with 982 loaders. 3 bucket full and you have 26 tons of salt. 
 

I am not convinced that I need a wheel loader. 10 cows, 100 bales at the most would take a lot of years to justify it. Besides, my bride has said NO to one. 

I had arguments for you until you got to Lisa saying NO 

I got no battle strategy for that🥺😄

 

Nick, I went many years with a  SM with a heat houser and a DuAl 300 loader as my primary 

Still have it and still use it.

Whatever you decide will work just fine

Good luck!

[cobfly]

A lot to be said for small squares. You don't need no stinkin loader.😁

[midnightman]

1 hour ago, acem said:

How bout putting bale forks on an international 175?

Should handle mud well.

Might be good for mud, but I don’t care to operate another track machinery on ice on any sort of slopes. Had a rather puckering moment years ago.

[1586 Jeff]

3 hours ago, acem said:

How bout putting bale forks on an international 175?

Should handle mud well.

Hmmmmmmmm…….

This is NOT a wheel loader, so would it be acceptable????

[dale560]

Here is a pic of a 86 series with a 707 leon . Here is a picture of a somewhat rare jd and at least a IH loader

[Gearclash]

9 hours ago, Lazy WP said:

A couple of the salt mines load with 982 loaders. 3 bucket full and you have 26 tons of salt. 
 

I am not convinced that I need a wheel loader. 10 cows, 100 bales at the most would take a lot of years to justify it. Besides, my bride has said NO to one. 

I read once that industries where loading is a primary activity (like mines that haul ore) the goal is to fill the conveyance in 3 buckets.

 

For what you need to do, no you don't need a wheel loader.  I would figure out how to use the loader you have.  Run whatcha brung.  Maximise ROI . . .