lndscpr Posted March 3, 2005 Posted March 3, 2005 I just saw an ad for the Craftsman front scoop or their version of a johnny bucket. The retail price on it is $499. Craftsman club members can get it for $399. Seems like a good deal if it is similar to a Johnny bucket junior which would cost nearly twice as much after shipping. Ad says it has a weight capacity of 200 lbs. I am wondering if this is the same quality as the well known johnny bucket. Also wondering how hard it would be to adapt it to a simplicity. I am going to sears asap to check it out. Has anyone seen this yet or tried to adapt it??? Price sure is right.
ehertzfeld Posted March 3, 2005 Posted March 3, 2005 My boss just told me about that today! lol I was going to go to sears.com to check it out. Oh he also said they now sell rollers for stripeing! lol Elon
lndscpr Posted March 3, 2005 Author Posted March 3, 2005 Elon, Let me know what you think of the quality and adaptability. I am very interested in getting one of these. I just priced out a Johnnybucket and it is a bit too pricy right now. John
ehertzfeld Posted March 3, 2005 Posted March 3, 2005 I checked there web site and I couldn't find anything. I did find that they are carying the swisher brand for 4 wheelers. I know that swisher makes a type of bucket. Northern has them in there cataloge. Not usre if that is what they are or not. Mite have to go see one. Elon
Dutch Posted March 3, 2005 Posted March 3, 2005 Here's the Sears link > http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=LAWN&pid=07129754000
mowerman1193 Posted March 4, 2005 Posted March 4, 2005 I don't really know how good a deal that is by the time you get the steel and build the hitch to mount it on your tractor...after all your just getting the bucket...I have seen those Swisher ones in my local TSC store..I thought it was made pretty good... I emailed John about getting a hitch for a bucket so I could use it on my Wheel Horse as well and he quoted $125 for just a hitch...If you can make the hitch then you might get a better deal from him on just a bucket..Johns buckets are finished with powder coating too...I didn't see any specs on the finish on the Swisher one.. Also it you want to just get a bucket you might check with your local sheet metal fabricator..I checked with a local shop and they would take a piece of sheet steel and fold/press a bucket out of it.. 10 gage steel for about $250 I did get a quote over a year ago for less than half of that but the price of steel has sky rocketed..Also I only went to one shop..I may check with a couple other ones to see if I can get it cheaper...
ehertzfeld Posted March 4, 2005 Posted March 4, 2005 I made my bucket out of an old 55 gallon drip tray that I got from Kirk. I had to cut the bottom out and put it at the bottom of the sides. Then i just used flat bar for the edge and top. My hitch was made fron 2inch box and more flat bar. We had it laying around at work so it really didn't cost me anything. Elon
lndscpr Posted March 4, 2005 Author Posted March 4, 2005 Sears has a different one made specifically for craftsman tractors. i THINK THEY ARE JUST RELEASING IT. Not the swisher one on the link above. Comes with a hitch to mount onto a craftsman tractor. Not sure how usefull that hitch will be on a simplicity. I saw the ad in the craftsman club flyer that I got in the mail yesterday. Craftsman club basicly gives you a heads up on sales and new products maybe a month before you see it in regular ads. The swisher one on the link is $50 Cheaper. John
RayS Posted March 5, 2005 Posted March 5, 2005 They also sell the one that Dutch posted at TSC stores.
Chris727 Posted March 8, 2005 Posted March 8, 2005 Here is the sears bucket and striper bar. I scanned the ad. The stripe bar is really pretty lame compared to our Simp/AC's with it built on the deck:D
lndscpr Posted March 8, 2005 Author Posted March 8, 2005 nice job scanning. I can get a better look at the hitch in your pic than in the flyer. Looks like it can be adapted to the front of a simplicity without the craftsman mounting bracket. It seems smaller than a johnny bucket. I went to sears yesterday, They had none in stock.
msiebern Posted March 9, 2005 Posted March 9, 2005 quote:Originally posted by ehertzfeld I made my bucket out of an old 55 gallon drip tray .... Elon - about what thickness was the metal in the drip tray? You gave me an idea for some treasure ... er I mean junk I have behind the shop.
Chris727 Posted March 15, 2005 Posted March 15, 2005 I went to sears yesterday but the salesman said they won't be getting any in that he knew of. He said they are lucky to sell one ground engaging implement in a year so its kind of pointless to stock that stuff. I was seriously considering one, its much cheaper than the Johnny Bucket but I'd have needed to see one in person to get a better idea of how complicated the hitching would be.
lndscpr Posted March 16, 2005 Author Posted March 16, 2005 I guess I should not be surprised that they will not be stocking them in the stores. I was told I could special order it. I wanted to see one before I ordered it. Sears has a lenient return policy so maybe I will take a chanmce the next time they go on sale.
lndscpr Posted March 20, 2005 Author Posted March 20, 2005 I just checked out the sear web site and found a video and good description of the Johnnybucket. Here is a link to the page that has the video. They have a unique dual handle method to trip and reset the bucket. Pretty cool. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=LAWN&pid=07124847000
Chris727 Posted March 20, 2005 Posted March 20, 2005 Looks good for on a craftsman but a bit too complicated for me to convert. By the time I'd make it work on a simplicity I'd only have been getting the bucket and $400 is a lot for a bucket alone. I'm thinking I might make my own when I get around to it. I really like how simple the design is on the JohnnyBucket and would probably model mine after his.
lndscpr Posted March 21, 2005 Author Posted March 21, 2005 Chris, I was thinking the same thing. Not sure I liked those controls anyway.
KVANDY12 Posted March 22, 2005 Posted March 22, 2005 The bucket didn't seem to empty all that well from looking at the video, but maybe the operator wasn't the best. I didn't care much for the control either. As soon as chadd sends me my bucket from a gilson and I make a hitch we'll try to have so dirt, leaf, mulch pile moving fun.
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