Loader on a 3010, good idea?

Small_Time_Farmer · Aug 19, 2014

Hi,

I have a 3010 and I am thinking about putting a JD 148 loader on it. Is there any reason this is not a good idea? Some of the "real" farmers around me say the 3010 isn't strong enough structurally to handle a loader. Of course they all run giant (to me) 150 - 250hp tractors. I just have a small operation. Does anyone have any experience with a 3010 and a loader?

Thanks,
Bret

bison · Aug 19, 2014

Just stock up on spindles.

Small_Time_Farmer · Aug 19, 2014

Sorry....spindles? On the loader?

rrlund · Aug 19, 2014

I had one on a narrow front 3010. About all I used it for was handling round bales,but I didn't have any problem with it not being a strong enough tractor. Granted,they don't have a full frame like the Oliver I replaced it with,but I didn't try to use it for a bulldozer.

Tx Jim · Aug 19, 2014

(quoted from post at 15:06:23 08/19/14) Just stock up on spindles.

Frt axle spindle failures will be determined by the amt of weight the loader is submitted to pick up. Frt axle knees have also been known to break from heavier loader loads. Many JD rowcrop tractors with FEL's have been used on farms in my area with no frt axle failures.

Small_Time_Farmer · Aug 19, 2014

Thanks rrlund,

That's kind of what I was thinking too. I would use it to handle round bales and clean out calf pens. Not going to be using it for landscaping, etc.

Bret

Bob in SD · Aug 19, 2014

I have a 148 on my 3020. It makes the tractor seem a lot bigger/more awkward but it is very useful. I don"t use/abuse it enough to have had any problems yet.

My dad has a yellow (not sure of brand) loader on his 3010. It is much handier than mine, a smaller loader, (more) quick tach than mine. He doesn"t do too much heavy stuff with his either.

I had the choice between a 48 with a narrower bucket and a 148 when I got mine. I was thinking "bigger is better", but maybe should have gone with the 48, which was quick tach ("quicker", probably not what they call quick tach now). I was thinking I"d use it for moving snow, and wanted the bucket to be as wide as my wheels (7 foot).

Ollie Oliver · Aug 19, 2014

Spindles are the shafts below the knees, that the tire/rim/hub assembly ride on and attach to. I think any John Deere 3010 and up is a good loader tractor. Especially 3020 and newer with a powershift, and I'm a red and other green guy.

RLA · Aug 19, 2014

We had a 148 on a 3020 wide frt that had a HD
frt hubs. Never had a issue with the Loader
& it was handy. But this tractor had 16.9
x 34"s that were Loaded, with the loader on the
tractor it wouldn"t back up hill on wet grass.
Was extreamly useless in reverse.

Chris English · Aug 19, 2014

We have had one on the 2510 for years with no spindle problems. We used it for round bales, both a spear and a grabber. Did fill the front tires with the hardening foam, prevented flats when bush hogging and stopped the tire squat when loading bales. Did find out that cheap rims are not worth it as they both split

JMS/.MN · Aug 19, 2014

The 2x2 square tube along side the engine will break...look at used loaders and you"ll see where they have been welded/reinforced. Very common. Recently saw a loader on craigslist where the owner said it"s welded in the usual place.

Other major issue is the rear engine mtg bolts will break....you will see the muffler move opposite of the hood, making you think you are seeing things. The bolts are covered up by the side frames...take the frame off and you"ll see the broken bolts. They can be drilled/tapped larger, once. Then replace the engine block, or weld the bolts in place. I"ve seen it done, and dealers told me about switching good blocks to get new mtg holes.

Reason for the problem is that 3010/3020 tractors have only two rear engine mount bolts. 4010/4020 have four bolts. Entire loader hangs on the side frames of the tractor.

My solution? I added reinforced 4 inch channel, extending the frame back to the rear axle, so push energy goes to the axle, not side frames. Haven"t broken anything since.....had the loader since 1977? Did the mods in late 80s?

Changed hubs to 4020 style- they are heavier, about an inch thick entire circle, not just where bolts are. Pics are in archives here. My mod also gives a nice step to access the tractor.

JMS/.MN · Aug 19, 2014

Load on my loader was pen manure, semi-solid dairy manure with 7 foot bucket, and 5x5 round bales.

bison · Aug 19, 2014

(quoted from post at 12:09:36 08/19/14) Sorry....spindles? On the loader?

pindles on the front axle,IMO they ain't strong enough with heavy loads in the fr end loader( same with any other tractor but the industrial models and the ones with the live spindles like the wheat land axles as on some Cockshutts and Olivers).
Them and the channel side frames where these loaders are bolted to are the weakest points on these JD's
IMO A loader frame should be carried on the rear axle and the front axle support only

Bob in SD · Aug 19, 2014

Hey JMS,

Didn"t you post some pictures of this mod at one time? Any chance you could put them up again? Or remind us where they are?

Thanks,

Mike Aylward · Aug 19, 2014

I have a 158 loader on a 4020 and have had for 21 years. No spindle breakage ever. The spindles are the very same as on a 3010. They will handle the loader just fine in normal use. Mike

Tx Jim · Aug 19, 2014

(quoted from post at 16:55:33 08/19/14)

Reason for the problem is that 3010/3020 tractors have only two rear engine mount bolts. 4010/4020 have four bolts. Entire loader hangs on the side frames of the tractor.

JMS/MN
Sorry but you made an incorrect statement. 4010/4020 only have 2 rear engine bolts for side frames although they do have 4 front engine side frame holes/bolts while 3010/3020 has two front engine bolts. 148 mounting brackets also attach to the very frt of tractor. Parts photo is for 4010. I'll bet most people don't correctly torque side frame bolts before mounting FEL mounting brackets.

ss55 · Aug 19, 2014

It might depend on the loader and how well it's matched to the tractor. A JD 45 loader on a 3010 narrow front tractor was a good combination. A JD48 "quick-tach" loader on a JD2020 tractor was a great combination. I would think the same JD48 loader on a 3020 would be just as great because the 3020's wheelbase is longer and the tractor is heavier. The one drawback of the 48 loader on a 2020 was the bucket was further out in front of the front axle than for smaller loaders. I'm not familiar with a 148 loader. I think the load rating for a 45 loader was 2000 pounds and a 48 was rated at either 2500 or 3000 pounds.

Older loaders like a 45 attached to the rear axle. Newer quick attach loaders mount on engine side frames. If you are concerned about the strength of the tractor frame under a very large loader, people have added reinforcements to carry much of the forces back to the rear axle.

I think the industrial version of a 3010 or 3020 was the JD500. You might check how the industrial loader was mounted on the 500.

rrlund · Aug 19, 2014

That might have been the saving grace on the one of mine in the background. It was an IH 2001 loader that mounted to the rear axles.

JMS/.MN · Aug 19, 2014

Yes, like I said, they are in archives. If I could access my Photobucket since they "improved" it, I"d gladly post them again.

JMS/.MN · Aug 19, 2014

I based my comment re bolts on what I had "heard" from dealers/others. Never looked closely at my 4020 to see where they were, but your pic obviously shows it. Anyway, my issues were with the bolts that the loader side brackets cover up. It"s been about 25 years since I fixed it, and neighbors had the same issues.

M w J · Aug 19, 2014

I have a 148 on a 3010 and i also have 1 on a 4440 and 1 on a 4000 The last 1 I bought was in 1987. The only broken spindles I had was in the winter time driving on frozen turds with a bale in the scoop . That was on the 4000 and I broke 4, 2 at 1 time. Then the next year I broke 1 and and a week later the other 1 . These bales weigh right at 1800 lbs . If you have to drive in the cow yard haul them on a bale fork then pick them up to put in the feeder. I would say 99 % of the time if a 148 loader is broke at that tube that goes around the front IT IS because Bolts came loose somewhere. If those tubes broke It wasn't from pushing ... It was from either loose bolts or abuse. Take your time and and you would be fine and check bolts once in a while.

JMS/.MN · Aug 19, 2014

I looked in archives under several wordings- came up with nothing. Most archive articles showing up were not back beyond 2013.....it was some years ago when I posted pics. Here"s a description: 4 inch channel with quarter by 4 welded on top (flat) side...U-bolted under rear axle, fwd to JD bracket, with a half by 2x 8? flat steel welded across end of channel, two holes drilled in flat plate, outside of channel. Similar flat plate welded to JD mtg, holes drilled to match holes in flat on channel.

This creates a two-piece side mtg bracket that carries force back to rear axle. Top of channel is about height of original step on tractor...runs below battery box so does not interfere. Some years ago I added steps to all tractors...mobility issue...so I added a step that goes down a foot under the channel. Channel is excellent footrest for additional rider.

Nate V. IA · Aug 19, 2014

This should be the link to the pics of your modifications in the archives.

Nate
Untitled URL Link

big jt · Aug 19, 2014

We have a 3020 with a 48 on it. When that tractor is down for repairs it is like someone cut off my right arm.

It has it's limitations but is a nice combination.

As long as you don't do stupid things a 148 and a 3010 should be a good combination.

jt

T in NE · Aug 20, 2014

4020 with 158 is a lot more handy than 4430/synchroquad/158 or 4450/powershift/740.The front axle has been welded and braced, loader work all its life, open station, but feels a lot more stable than the other 2 when lifting heavy, too.

Tx Jim · Aug 21, 2014

T in NE
To each their own but I see no way a 4020 with a FEL could be more stable than than a 4430 or 4450 with a FEL. Plus the hyd's on the later model tractors will out perform a 4020 especially if 4020 has a Syncro-range trans.

Loader on a 3010, good idea?

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