Loader Brand Recommendations

[K.P.]

I'm purchasing a loader for my B7300. The obvious choice is a Kubota. The model for my tractor is the LA 272. However, I see there are other options out there too...Westendorf, Quickie, etc. I already have a Kubota single (stick) valve control for the snow blower. I'm thinking I can use that with any loader. Or, as a second question, are there better after market valve controls...single double, triple that adapt to a wider range of loader options. Opinions appreciated.

 

[Grandad4]

Be careful with Kubota model numbers. The original loader for a B7300 was an LA271. The LA272 was for a later model, the B7500. I wouldn't assume they are "close enough" that one would work in place of the other.

If you can find the correct new Kubota loader for your tractor, jump on it! Odds are working against you though... that tractor was built almost 20 years ago.

As for aftermarket loaders, the trick will be finding a manufacturer that still has or can fabricate the brackets and mounts for an older tractor. The actual loader assembly (arms, hydraulics, bucket, etc.), would likely be generic to a number of tractors. That's also why the factory loader would be a better fit since it was made specifically for your B7300.

 

[K.P.]

I've already talked to two Kubota dealers that say the LA272 will fit up perfectly. The 7300 and 7500 share the same frame. Westendorf and Woods both claim their applicable loaders will also fit up perfectly. The Quickie rep is checking into it. All four brands have different specs, some drastically different in max lift and breakout. But are all those specs based on a test standard or does everyone have their own way of tweaking results? The Kubota is slightly more expensive than the Woods when you factor in painting the woods to match.

I'm also curious about the Kubota valve controller I already have for the snowblower. It's the same that would be used for an FEL but can it be used with ANY FEL? If not, are there single, double, or triple control valves more flexible to hydrolically operated front attachments? I've only used a double valve controller with FEL's, never a single stick...are there preferences?

 

[Grandad4]

The usual FEL controller with a single "joystick" is much preferred for loader work because you can easily do combination movements simultaneously (curl/dump bucket while raising or lowering the arms), with one hand. You can probably do similar things with a two stick setup of course, but you have to take your hands off the wheel. Is that what you now have for your snowblower?

Not all FEL controllers are alike. Low end controllers do not give the operator the same precision movement capabilities of more refined (and expensive!), ones. If you can locate a new LA271 or LA272 package, it should come with the matching joystick controller, and you'd have to decide if it's a better quality control than what you've got at the moment.

Regarding loader specs, there's as much marketing hype in those ratings as you find in car horsepower and mileage claims. Several different ways they can be measured, for example. There's quite a tradeoff between lifting height and lifting power. I figure the manufacturer probably makes the most realistic judgement of how much loader to put on any given model of tractor, considering things like safety, not putting undue stress on the chassis and front axle, etc. Would be leery of some other loader that promises way much more lifting power for those reasons.

Hope at least some of this is helpful.