I picked up a Johnny Bucket Jr.

[ACecil]

Nice vid, Larry! Thanks for sharing.

[Yamaguy]

NIce vid!! I think I will start to keep an eye out for one, should keep the loader urges at bay for a bit!

[inspectorudy]

Great video and in the dark too! Thanks for the effort for all of us. I still can't get how it attaches to the front of the tractor. Does it use the spring loaded bar under the front? Or are there a couple of bolts. It must be stout for the loads you mentioned. Anyone ever tried to copy one and if so how much did it cost.

[LarryW]

inspectorudy, Yes it attaches to the front where the spring bar is. Normally pins go in there for a mower deck or snowthrower. That is it. Pretty easy to hook up. I hooked it up in the video. Couple minutes and its done.

[LarryW]

Made a video today just as it was getting dark. For some reason the last part of the video is real dark. I tried to edit it with the youtube editor but it says it might take a while before its edited so if you see me walking to the tractor in the beginning and picking the camera up and shooting the ground because I thought I turned it off when it was still on, lol, then its not edited yet because I cut that out and maybe you should check it again later when its lighter. The video shows me using the Johnny Bucket Jr to dig some small tree stumps/roots out. This is the longest I have used it yet and only my 2nd time really using it. I did get a few decent size loads in it but nothing to crazy for sure. Sorry it got dark so quick. I will try to do another one maybe this weekend or something. I hate this time of year with it getting dark so stinking early.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wia9tnBMaPM

[ajcombs]

I like that thing!! Nice score and cook video! Out of curiosity how much weight do you have on the rear? Are they ags as well? Looks like it has enough traction as it starts choking the engine down and isn't spinning too bad. Wondering if there were any tricks for getting to to dig a bit better, or is that just the limits of these awesome little tractors! Love the idea to put a second cylinder on it to get rid of the trip rope but looks like you have gotten that down pat as well and it's not that painful to use! Thanks for sharing!!

[LarryW]

Originally Posted by ajcombs

I like that thing!! Nice score and cook video! Out of curiosity how much weight do you have on the rear? Are they ags as well? Looks like it has enough traction as it starts choking the engine down and isn't spinning too bad. Wondering if there were any tricks for getting to to dig a bit better, or is that just the limits of these awesome little tractors! Love the idea to put a second cylinder on it to get rid of the trip rope but looks like you have gotten that down pat as well and it's not that painful to use! Thanks for sharing!!

Thanks ajcombs! For weight I have 50lb on the wheels, 40lb massey ferguson wheel weights in the tool box under seat and 170lb of me. I also have the pto gearbox on the back but that isnt much. The tires are not ags. Im not sure on the psi but I have them kinda low for traction and better ride. I barely have the engine reved over idle. Maybe 1/4 throttle. For digging better I assume you are talking about digging in, or depth. The downside of this design is you can't angle it just a little. If you could it would probably dig in better. A small spike blade edge would help Im sure. I just got this so Im still learning it. Yesterday I played a little with it and it wouldnt dig in the harder soil. I flipped the bucket down and drag it forward like a push blade. It seemed to help the bucket catch better when I flipped it back and tried to fill the bucket. Like you said the rope thing isnt as bad as I thought it would be. The lifting is a lot easier with my springs and not to bad but hydraulic would be better for sure. I bet hydraulic would be slower though so manual lift might be a plus for the speed. For as simple design as this is, it sure seems to be working pretty well. I really like it!

[inspectorudy]

That looks like you are having fun with that thing. One word of caution that I learned when I built a front end loader on a garden tractor is that when you are ramming something in the ground like you are in the video, it really puts a ton of stress on the connector to the tractor. If I had to make a guess what that thing looks like it was made for it would be a good manure hauler out of a big cow barn or stable where the floor is hard and flat and there are no obstructions. It may cause a lot of stress problems with only the attachment points that you have if you are going to use it as a front end loader or dozer. If there are holes already there in the tractor it might help to install a couple of big bolts through the bucket and tractor. Good luck and enjoy it.

[Methos]

Sweet video Larry! Nice black dirt too! Those roots were giving you a fit for a while.

[ACecil]

Awesome vid, Larry! Thanks for sharing.