FT 404 Loader and other questions

[jakeb47]

I bought myself a FT 404 for Christmas (84 hrs with a very nice professional John Deere paint job). I've bought manuals from Tommy (very helpful parts fellow) and have gotten some questions answered by some very helpful folks, can't say enough good things about "Roy697" here at CTWF. I believe I have a could handle on filter options. I do have a couple of other questions.

(1) I have a small hairline crack, right where the pipe mates up with the banjo fitting (main pipe from pump to input of hydraulic remote valves. I plan on removing pipe and brazing).

(2) Tractor runs real well, but I couldn't get it up to temp, found out it didn't have a thermostat installed, have T-stat from Napa and will install tomorrow.

(3) Picked up a Kat's lower rad hose heater and it seems to be crap right out of the package (just venting on this one, lol).

(4) My reason for this post, I want to install a loader (bought tractor to rake hay and move round bales, have other tractors for heavy work). I'm smack dab in the middle of the finger lakes in upstate NY, beautiful place but there is nothing close by. I'm looking for loader recommendations.

(a)I know a Koyker 160 is an option (nearest dealer is 3 1/2 hours away), Spirit (I sent them an email and have had no response, Westendorf (dealer is 2 hours away and wants more for a TA 160 that I'm going to install than I paid for the tractor (sells high priced lawn mowers for a living).

(b) The tractor looks to be easy to plumb for a loader, I have considered, plumbing in a loader valve and outputs to make the tractor loader ready.

(c) so my question is does anyone have any recommendations on used/new loaders they were able to modify the brackets for installation on a FT 404? Farmhand loader brackets look like they would be fairly easy to modify (have a good welding shop, plus a neighbor who can make anything close by). Looks like mounting should be at the flywheel viewing areas (steps are located on them now) middle of the tractor, forward to the front and steal tubes from the middle to the rear of the tractor (sway bar locations seem like an excellent place to attach).

5. Well this has grown longer than I indented, sorry to all. Anyway I'm hopeful some of you guys can direct me to something that will either work or recommend a model I haven't thought of. I do have a loading dock (my buddy 's feed store) with a fork lift available if I have some thing shipped in.

6. Thanks in advance to everyone and a big thanks to you Roy.

Jim

[roy697]

Your going to get some great advice. There are some threads here about extra support brackets to keep your tractor from having problems where the engine meets the bell housing. Keep doing your homework. AND don't forget to give us pictures of your project. Pictures made my work more fun & you can go back & do a retake of how it was before it all came apart. How much snow have you got?

[affordable]

I would get the Koyker 160 loader,Koyker will have the correct mounting kit,braces to the rear axle,plumbing kit,ect. While you can make something this is the best option,the brackets are made to go around everything without sacraficing support.Most loaders take us about 3-4 hours to install,this one on the FT404 takes about 6-7 hours,once you see all the supports you will know why. You also will have to cut the hard lines on the hydraulics and Koyker provides the fittings

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales
"Your Jinma Parts Superstore"
www.affordabletractorsalesco.com

[bobdaily]

You can contact Northern tools for a price quote on loaders, they sell Koyker loaders for their foton tractors and also for Jinma

[jakeb47]

Roy - on snow to much, the snow monsters been pumping today, lol.

I know that Northern has 160's, I am planning on calling them and Tommy to see what they drop ship one in w/mounting brackets for. Started discussing it with Tommy's main man (really nice fellow, names Jerry I believe) but we ended up with him checking to see if Ansung made a loader for an FT 404 (they don't) and it got drooped. I've heard nice things about the Koyker, but it would give me a warm fuzzy if I could see some pictures of the mounting brackets installed on the tractor. I'm still interested in what type of loader others have been able to mount and their options. My wife says I'm looking for a shop project to get me to spring, she maybe right, lol. Thanks

[roy697]

Well I don't have a loader or BH so I can not help with the pictures. But stay tuned we know there are a number of them in here.

[bradblazer]

Spirit has an online manual for their loader on a FT404.
www.spiritmfg.com/
spiritmfg.sslpowered.com/spiritmfg.com/404Mounting_Instructions.pdf
Look at the photo gallery for the Koyker 190. It shows it on the FT404.
www.koykermfg.com/index.php/products/loaders/info/

Edit - I recommend going with the Koyker 190 size over the 160.

[bobdaily]

You can go to Northerns web sit ( northern tool.com ) They show the 404 with a front end loader on it. I think that you can enlarge the picture to get a better view.

[PJ]

Jim, Northern Tool sells a good product, but their after sale service is something to be desired. I wonder how I know that. Actual reason is your dealing with the mail/shipping problem that seems to be getting worse, not better. Took me 3 months to get a curved glass for the cab on my 604. My advice is to find a fairly local tractor dealer and buy a loader through him. I would also say, buy a loader with the BobCat quick change bucket front. You can change to other attachments in a matter of seconds. No beating out pins, just pull a couple levers out front. The dealer will give you a better input on which one will be best for your tractor. Also, front loaders don't give you any trouble, unless their very old with bad seals and rusty cylinder shafts. New ones last a very long time. Hope this little insight helps. PJ

[jakeb47]

Thanks to all for their replies. I got through to a real person (almost, voice mail) at Spirit on Friday, hopefully they will get back to me this week. PJ I agree 100%, I wouldn't get a loader without the skid-steer qt bucket system, (have every bucket I need, and a hay spear for the bobcat skid-steer I have now and want to use them with the tractor).

I guess it's going to come down to either the Koyker 160 or the Spirit. So I'll be making calls that way in the near future. Was just hopeing for a winter project to "make something fit" LOL.

I've only ever seen one koyker 160 (it was on a TS-354), and have never seen a Spirit but have heard good things about both. I don't want to go with a heavier loader (koyker 195). I've never liked a real heavy loader on a tractor, hard on the front end, better a smaller, lighter loader and make more trips.

I have decided on plumbing in a joy stick, 3 spool valve on the tractor. I like that I will just disconnect 4 houses when I drop the loader and the third spool may come in handy. Seems like the time to do it is now starting out. Thanks to all again.

Jim

[bradblazer]

The loader will come with a 2-spool joystick. On the Koyker 195 on my Kama it's a cable operated valve that stays with the tractor. The nice thing about the valve staying on the tractor is that you don't open the primary hydraulic loop to detach the loader and if the loader is the first valve your pump is always protected.

[PJ]

I like how the koyker is built. I do wish it had an automatic bucket leveler on it though. PJ