Old Nick wrote:
On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 03:00:46 -0800, Ken Cutt
vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:

I actually have a bucket and arms from an old bobcat lying around.
When I mentioned in machinery circles that I was thinking of fitting
them to my tractor, some guy said "Well, I hope you've got the
geometry right" Naturally I said yes. Then I started to think about it
all......

It's a fascinating idea, but quite a project, and with
expensive/dangerous consequences if done wrongly. I shudder to think
waht would happen if a loader arm let go while I was sitting in the
tractor, because a pin bent or broke.

A bobcat is a lot different from a same-size farm tractor with a front-end
loader. I don't know much about farm tractors but I think the whole setup
is much different - how far out front the load is held, ratio of load
capacity to machine weight, and protection of the operator from the load
and/or equipment failure. Yes grafting a bobcat loader onto tractor would
require some thought.

A bobcat holds the load close in and when fully raised the load is literally
right on top of the operator. Mine is 34 years old and even then it came
stock with a roll cage with steel plate on top, a 1/4" welded-wire cage on
the sides and a seat belt. Even with the top, raising a full bucket
without tilting it forward dumps it on your knees from 11' up. Without the
roll cage any number of mechanical failures would make sausage of the
operator.

The bobcat can lift about 2000 lbs close-in in the bucket and about 1000 out
on forks, limited by balance not power. The machine weighs about 4000 lbs
and is counterweighted on the rear to the point of being unsafe to operate
with the front attachment removed. I routinely operate it right at the
tipping limit, where the back wheels aren't doing much of anything, and all
the weight is on the front spindles, 3000 lbs dead load plus considerable
shock load. The spindles are approx. 2" solid steel.

Aside, it's a great shop tool.

Bob