FEL bucket - 6 or 7 foot

ethanbrush

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Equipment
NH TC45
Jun 20, 2024
36
1
8
Cherry valley NY
Hey guys, another question relating to my probable upcoming M7060 purchase. Got thinking about loader bucket size. The m1811 is the standard bucket which is 6 foot. is there any reason not to go with a larger bucket? Seems like this tractor and loader can handle it except for maybe the very heaviest materials. I have had a NH TC45 for the last 15 years, and even with that machine rarely would i max out the 6 foot bucket. Thinking this machine could handle the 84 most of the time even with stone and shale, maybe use a 72" for real dense heavy stuff ilke waterlogged stone and dirt or whatever. Thinking of going with the m1815 bucket. Kubota calls it a "light material bucket". So questions are, what do you think of using a 84" bucket with this machine to move stone and shale around, and specifically the M1815, is that "light duty" as they assume I will be putting light stuff in it? Should I stick with the 72" and buy an aftermarket heavy duty 84"?
 

Bmyers

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I have seen others using the 84 inch bucket on the M7060 and the M6060. I don't believe you would have any issues with it, but I do not have firsthand experience with it.
 

PoTreeBoy

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L35 Ford 3930
Mar 24, 2020
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I'm a little surprised the standard is 72", heck my L35's is 66. As you probably know, the cylinder pins on that loader have two positions, height and power. In the power position I bet it would handle an 84" easily. You are getting SSQA, right?
 

ethanbrush

Member

Equipment
NH TC45
Jun 20, 2024
36
1
8
Cherry valley NY
I'm a little surprised the standard is 72", heck my L35's is 66. As you probably know, the cylinder pins on that loader have two positions, height and power. In the power position I bet it would handle an 84" easily. You are getting SSQA, right?
Yes definitely the QA. Anyone have a m1815 bucket? Is it pretty ruggedly built? I will ultimately want both a six and a seven. My current tractor has a QA 6. I might not be selling it, and if I don't then I'm all set in the 72-in department. But I haven't fully decided about selling it yet.
 

biketopia

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B2650, RK 60" BB, 42" tiller, 72" LP FM, Forks, Grapple, FEL
Feb 15, 2024
61
27
18
Warrenton VA
If you're going to be moving rock and shale around, I would not recommend the light duty bucket. It's more for mulch, compost, top soil type material. It's thinner material to compensate for the weight of the larger capacity, repeated used on rough material will probably fatigue and damage it.
 

ethanbrush

Member

Equipment
NH TC45
Jun 20, 2024
36
1
8
Cherry valley NY
If you're going to be moving rock and shale around, I would not recommend the light duty bucket. It's more for mulch, compost, top soil type material. It's thinner material to compensate for the weight of the larger capacity, repeated used on rough material will probably fatigue and damage it.
Ok yeah I want a heavy duty bucket. I wasn't sure if Kubota is calling it "light material" because of the size and they are worried about too much weight, or it is lightly constructed. From what you are saying it is more the latter.
 

woodman55

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L6060HSTC, RTV 1100
May 15, 2022
799
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canada
The bucket that came with my L6060, is called a "lite material" bucket, I have loaded a lot of rock with it and have had no problems.

The bucket should be at least as wide as the wheels, I can't see a 6' doing that.
 
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ethanbrush

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Equipment
NH TC45
Jun 20, 2024
36
1
8
Cherry valley NY
The bucket that came with my L6060, is called a "lite material" bucket, I have loaded a lot of rock with it and have had no problems.

The bucket should be at least as wide as the wheels, I can't see a 6' doing that.
Yeah good point. According to the manual, the M6060/7060 is 73 inches wide.

Kubota does the whole FEL bucket thing kinda strange with not a lot of options. If you look at the LA1065 loader, they list 3 bucket options, the L2235A which is 72" sq back, L2236 which is 72" light material, and L2296 which is 72" heavy duty. They appear to offer two options for the LA1154 loader which are the M1811 72" and the M1815 83" light material. Strange they dont offer more options than that. The M1811 appears to have more capacity than all the LA1065 options despite all being the same width. i guess they dont offer a 84" heavy duty bucket. Maybe ill just get it without the bucket and buy the bucket elsewhere.
 

ethanbrush

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NH TC45
Jun 20, 2024
36
1
8
Cherry valley NY
ITs really annoying they dont list the buckets separately. Even though they are QA, its that stupid steve jobs/Apple crap where they want to make the decision for you and match the bucket to the loader and not let you decide. You have to dig trough the loader parts diagrams to get the bucket part number. The loader for the M6, LA2255, has both a 84" light material and 84" regular. Cant find a price anywhere.
 

PoTreeBoy

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Mar 24, 2020
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ITs really annoying they dont list the buckets separately. Even though they are QA, its that stupid steve jobs/Apple crap where they want to make the decision for you and match the bucket to the loader and not let you decide. You have to dig trough the loader parts diagrams to get the bucket part number. The loader for the M6, LA2255, has both a 84" light material and 84" regular. Cant find a price anywhere.
How about a bucket for an M62? I think they're SSQA and they're in the industrial line.
 

re54drider

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L2800, FEL, Bush Hog
May 9, 2011
66
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18
Goldston, nc
Speaking from personal experience, if your bucket is wider than your tractor you will end up hitting thing that you would prefer to leave intact:rolleyes:
 
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ethanbrush

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Equipment
NH TC45
Jun 20, 2024
36
1
8
Cherry valley NY
Speaking from personal experience, if your bucket is wider than your tractor you will end up hitting thing that you would prefer to leave intact:rolleyes:
Yes I will also have a 6" bucket for when in tighter spaces. I have piles and piles of shale I need to move around, and the stuff isnt really that heavy so I think a heaped 7' bucket would be no problem weight wise and save me time.
 

PoTreeBoy

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good call, that might be the ticket. I looked it up and its a TL3421A, described as "84" heavy duty. Appears to have a bolt on edge option
I recommend it, the edge wears pretty fast on the corners. I reversed mine right after I got the tractor, and it's already showing a little wear and I don't use it all that much.
 

Smokeydog

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M59, B26 grapples, backhoes, tillers, graders, diesel atv
Jun 2, 2020
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Bought my M59 used from a landscaper that had a long bottom, high back skidsteer HD 5’ bucket. Thought I needed a wider bucket but learned to really appreciate it. Lot easier to maneuver in woods and near buildings. High capacity. Had a local Piranha bar company make a custom weld in cutting edge. Now a great digger and brush clearing beast. Wider buckets put considerably more twist stress on a loader.
 

edritchey

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Jul 19, 2014
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I have a 84" light material bucket I use for mulch and screened top soil on my MX and it does fine I couldn't imagine any M series wouldn't do well with a standard duty 84"
 

GreensvilleJay

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It's not the size of the bucket that matters, it's WHERE you have to drive it that really counts. If you're hauling mulch all the time, get an 8' wide bucket, better than a 7 footer, much better than a 6 !
BUT, beware ! That extra foot or two can cause serious damage if you're used to a 5' bucket. One day,you'll forget about the width and oospy........
 

skeets

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Oct 2, 2009
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Remember just because it fits dont meant you should put it on, bigger aint always better
 

PoTreeBoy

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Ethan's no rookie, but since we're debating buckets for him, I'll throw out why not 5' and 7'? The difference between 6' and 7' doesn't seem that much to me.

As far as tearing stuff up, I've hit a few things with my little 12" backhoe bucket :eek:.
 
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