A term you'll hear a lot when you're shopping for a tractor is "quick attach". There are actually two quick attaches available on tractors, a quick attach loader and a quick attach bucket. Then there are three configurations of the quick attach bucket. Kubota, New Holland, Kioti, Massey Ferguson, Mahindra, Yanmar, TYM, Branson, Case, and LS use one system, John Deere has their own. There's also a "Euro" quick attach available on large tractors. Confused yet?

Before we go further let's get all the terminology straight. If you're shopping for a tractor, asking for a tractor and a "loader", or "front end loader" makes you sound like you've done your homework and kinda know what you're talking about. That's what farmers and everyone in the industry calls the device for lifting that goes on a tractor. A 'bucket" only refers to the attachment that goes on the front of the loader to haul material. So you don't want to ask for a "tractor and a bucket" if you're shopping. The last thing you want to do is ask for a tractor and "scoop". Scoops are for ice cream, they don't go on a tractor.

Once we have the terminology down, let's discuss quick attach. As stated earlier, there are two types, quick attach loaders and quick attach buckets. One you definitely need, the other I wouldn't worry about.

A quick attach loader means the mainframe sits in a cradle and is held down by two large pins. Remove the pins and then use the joystick hydraulics to push down on the bucket and the loader will pop out of the cradle and you can back up and disconnect the hydraulics and the loader is off the tractor. It's pretty easy.

The hard part may be getting the loader back on. You have to navigate back between the loader arms with the tractor and get right above the cradle, hook the hydraulics up and let the loader back down and reinsert the pins and it's back on. Sounds easy enough.

The problem is getting the mainframe to line up perfectly, hooking up the hydraulics (relieve pressure by shutting the tractor off and wiggling the valve first), and then getting the holes to line up for the pins to go back in. It can be an ordeal, especially if the loader is resting on dirt and has settled on one side. I've done it once, don't ever want to do it again.

To me, the need for a quick attach loader was negated by a quick attach bucket. With a quick attach bucket, you can change front attachments easily and, if going in tight quarters, remove whatever is on the front of the tractor and go where you want to. It's a WHOLE lot easier than taking the loader off.

Quick attach buckets come in two forms on small tractors, the skid loader style. which means anything that fits a skid loader will fit your tractor. That's used by Kubota, New Holland, Kioti, Massey Ferguson, Mahindra, Yanmar, TYM, Branson, Case, and LS. John Deere has their own system. It works fine and is simpler than the skid loader system, but what fits a Deere won't fit another brand. There's also a "Euro" quick attach (also called "Global") available on larger tractors that has a springloaded attaching system that means you have to crawl off the tractor seat one less time because when it lines up, it locks itself.

Bottom line if you're buying a new tractor...get the quick attach bucket, don't worry about getting a quick attach loader!

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