Add loader to 5000 or replace?

[ruready1]

Hello,
We're wanting a front end loader to work (load, unload, feed) round bales. We have a 5000 we bought with the idea of adding a loader big enough to do round bales but a friend says we'll do it in. He claims that he broke a 5000 with a loader by picking up a Jeep body tub (he estimated it at 900#). Supposedly, he was driving slowly across the yard with the Jeep a few feet in the air when he felt/heard a pop. He claims that it broke the tranny housing and twisted everything. He straightened it, welded it and sold it.

He recommends a skid steer but good ones would require us to sell the 5000, get a cheap mowing tractor and take out loan for the balance.

I like my 5000 and would like to keep it. How likely is it that damage will occur if I add a loader to it? It's a '67 utility model and I'm looking at Koyker 220 or 310 loaders (unless someone knows of a used loader for it). We'd use it for 3 round bales every two weeks to feed, stockpiling bales for winter, an occaisional load of dirt or stone. Seems like it shouldn't be too hard of a life but what do you guys think????

Thanks!

 

[awhtx]

It sounds like your friend's loader/tractor had other problems before he picked up the Jeep. I have an 861 with a 703 loader and I use it exactly as you describe- lifting and moving round bales that weigh somewhere between 1200-1500 lbs. I go slow with them up in the air and I haven't had any problems. There is no question that the front axle of the utility tractors was not designed to carry heavy loads for an extended time period. But having said that why did Ford design and build loaders that fit these tractors? As long as you respect the limits of your tractor you will be OK.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I agree that the other gentleman may have had troubles before lifing the jeep body. I have a 5000 that has a Ford 7210 loader (probably bigger than it should have on it), and move round bales some with it. I will admit someone who had the tractor before me broke and welded the bolster on mine at one time. I have lifted some fairly heavy loads with it, but try to watch the rough spots and take it easy. Also I take the loader off ever summer when I am baling to minimize wear and tear. Use your own judgement, and they do put a lot of stress on a tractor, but sounds like you are like me and cannot afford a loader specific piece of equipment, so the tractor will have to bear the load, and the loader on it was part of the reason I bought it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I bought a used New Holland Skid steer for round bales. I did not use it very long. A skid steer tears the ground up. I can do a better job with a tractor and loader.

 

[old]

With a good heavy duty loader a 500 would play with round bales. I use a Ford 841 which is smaller and older to move my bales and there around 2000LBS and have no problem with it moveing them other then being a little light on the rear end even with fluid in the tires and a back blade with 6 85lbs suit case weights on the blade. The 5000 being a lot bigger will do just fine unless of course it already has a weak front end which most likely your friends tractor had
Hobby farm

 

[old]

With a good heavy duty loader a 5000 would play with round bales. I use a Ford 841 which is smaller and older to move my bales and there around 2000LBS and have no problem with it moveing them other then being a little light on the rear end even with fluid in the tires and a back blade with 6 85lbs suit case weights on the blade. The 5000 being a lot bigger will do just fine unless of course it already has a weak front end which most likely your friends tractor had
Hobby farm

 

[Fordfarmer]

I have a 4600 (2 series newer, one model smaller) and handle around 200 dry round bales (1000-1200 pounds) and about 400 high moisture bales (1800-2000 pounds) per year. I've ruined several tires, but nothing has given out on the tractor yet- even still has the original clutch at 7500+ hours. Find a good loader, make sure you have enough weight in the back, take it easy on rough ground, and don't worry about it.

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

The Ford 5000 is quite possibly the best tractor Ford ever produced and one of the best loader tractors i ever sat on.Put your loader on and move all the round bales you want.

 

[souNdguy]

Your friend may be a nice guy.. but I'd stop getting tractor advice from him... he's about as accurate as a weatherman.

As has been said.. the 5000 is one of fords better products. If he broke the tractor lifting 900#.. then the tractor was already broke and he just buste dthe paint holding it together..

Here's a pic of my 1955 ford 850 moving round hay bales with a ford 711 1-arm laoder. This tractor is inferior in -every- way to a ford 5000 ( I have a 5000 ).

A 5000 with loader should carry a bale on the front and on a rear spike at the same time...

Even that old 1-arm laoder I have specs 3000# breakout, and 1200# lift... .. ad it was made for older weaker tractors like the 4 cyl hundred and early thousand series.. and the smaller 3 cyls .. etc.. If your friend broke a 5000.. he's omitting some embarrising details.. or the unit was already broke and he dind't know it..



Soundguy

 

[souNdguy]

Just to proove to you that my 55' 850 isn't a fluke.. here's my 55' 660 lifting a large bale.. and for info. the 660 has less hp and a less beefy rear end than an 850 does..

I use these small babies to move round bales all year.. if they can do it.. a 5000 won't even notice one. My 5000 picks up a 10' 3pt mower that weighs 2500#.. totes it just fine.. I was mowing with it this morning...

Soundguy

 

[souNdguy]

1975 ford 5000 with 2500# 10' 3pt mower on rear... tractor picks it up fine.. a hay bale on the rear spear wouldn't even be noticed..

soundguy

 

[RodinNS]

Damage to a 5000 with 900#'s.... nnalert. PERIOD.

Do what you like with it. So long as the loader will lift it, the only possible damage is to the spindles, and that's only over time. That tractor should be good for about 2500# lift on a decent loader. It's not going to break in two unless severly abused.

Rod

 

[RodinNS]

All the same Sounder, you're testing those old round hoods to their limit, and then some.... A fella wants to be pretty careful about what he lifts and where he goes with those old tractors.

Rod

 

[DonCam]

Think about this. Broke the tranny housing, twisted things up and welded it up. Not likely on cast iron, it either breaks or breaks but don't twist and ain't too fond of welding. That buddy of yours has some BS with him. He must be jealous of Ford Tractors?

 

[ruready1]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like we'll just go ahead and buy a loader for it and not discuss tractors with our friend again!

We did come up with one idea on why he was pushing a skid steer so hard. He recently lost his as part of a bankruptcy and we are now wondering if he may have exaggerated in order to get us to buy one he could then borrow. Maybe, maybe not, but with all the shared experiences here, you have to wonder why he was so rabid about us not getting a loader.

Take Care,
Mike

 

[sotxbill]

i have broken serveral loaders with a 5000 but never the 5000... sounds fishy...

i have cracked several ford loaders and welded the arms back.. most ford loaders are a bit light and will crack if you abuse them... i have have abused the heck out of them clearing land... however the ford loaders a light and dont bury the frontends like some of the heavier loaders...

i 've got a ih504 with an ih3000 loader and it burys itself every other time i use it... so i really dont use it much...

 

[souNdguy]

In comparison though.. the 5000 shoul 'play' with round bales... 2 at the time if he has a spear and a loader.

Based on the quantity he said he wants to move.. it should be like 'vacation duty' for a 5000.

heck.. I was moving as many rounds with my hundred series for a while there as he was wanting to do... as with anything.. just gotta be carefull as you can be..

Soundguy

 

[fortracfan]

Re breaking a Ford 5000 with a loader - Sorry but it can happen and i have witnessed it. However the tractor was being well abused at the time - round bale silage on the loader and round bale silage on the 3 point spike. Reason tractor broke was he was travelling at almost road speed on uneven stony ground with this kind of weight, causing the loader to bounce up and down and trying to lift the rear end off the ground. Eventually shattered the bellhousing. Having said that it took almost 3 days of this treatment before it happened. Scared the cr*p out of the driver as well so unlikely to get a repeat performance

I agree with everyone else - the 5000 is almost bulletproof for loader work. Buy one and use it right and it will last a lifetime.