That’s the thing Bill, not to sound vain, but I’m at the point in my life where the money is there and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t go by the Kubota before he decided to keep it. Yes it was bigger than I needed it but what the hell. on the other side, Doug, I love, absolutely love building and fabricating. I already have 2 x 3 tubing to go from the rear axle to the loader posts and 4 x 6 tubing for the actual loader posts/tank and bracing etc, if I decide to go that way, very similar to the one that Doug posted. I’d just need the 2x4 tubing for the arms. I even have an extra set of Massey valves to do a retro style or go with a two in one valve. If I could get this one for about 1500 bucks or so, it wouldn’t be bad. on the other hand like Bill says new compacts are pretty affordable. Do I really need a new one? No. Ideally, I’d love to find a John Deere 755-955 in my area that I could totally strip down and restore but they are like hen’s teeth.On the other hand, I have two of the 1655s and I love the Massey design of that era and like I said before if I could find an 1855 from 1977 the same year I was born I’d be over the moon unfortunately there are a few and far between. Any more than $1500 for the loader I don’t see it worthwhile as I can buy brand new cylinders at Princess Auto and I have a buddy with a hydraulic shop 3 km away from me who will do hoses at cost. The funny thing about this style of loader is it’ll lift more than a subcompact because the hydraulics run off of a separate pump. As Daniel can attest with the one that he had built, the tractor becomes the week point.
I would like to do a subcompact and get rid of the John Deere LA 165 with a custom cab but I would still keep one of the 1655s just because I like them unfortunately they’re 2000 RPM rear PTO is pretty redundant and as far as a loader, it’s one of those things….Yeah you’ll use it the more you have it. The only reason, I haven’t invested a couple of grand into building one is because, would I truly be happy with it later. That was only part of the reason, I was pretty busy with the machinist course. I finished block three I have one block left, but I probably won’t attend this fall because you need your fully 8000 hours to write your red seal and I have not been getting the hours.
At the same time if not since I paid $600 for the 1655 and let’s say even at max 2500 for a loader at three grand or 3100. I have no problem selling it, maybe lol. A part of me wants to do it just to do it use it for puttering around and probably put it in a few local parades. Most of us know that sometimes this.” hobby” Is exactly what it is a hobby.
it’s funny because I always remember Bob “Tudor” (well-known member on some other sites) saying how he would always prefer his 1655s over his G1725 If it was up and running lol. Hmmmm what to do cmon guys lol???
