Johnny Bucket

[BillC 0]

I have seen a Simplicity Sovereign Model Johnny Bucket personally and in my honest opinion it is constructed very well, except I have one major concern. My concern is the lift rod. The lift rod is constructed out of what I feel is too small of diameter rod and the rod is designed with a dog leg. With hydraulic lift, I am concerned excessive downward pressure will either bend or break the rod. I would like to see the lift rod redesigned using a larger diameter rod and eliminating the dog leg.

[Kent 436]

Bill, The lift rod that came with my Johnny Bucket is made of very hard steel -- I'm not sure of the specs on it, but it seems much stronger and heavier than the factory lift rods. I "rode the bucket" on mine quite a bit grading off a hillside, often with the front end of the tractor off the ground 3"-6" without permanently bending it. It may have flexed some, but not enough to impact how it works, and it certainly didn't stay bent.... Kent http://www.simpletractors.com/images/bucket/jim_bucket.jpg

[SmilinSam 4,245]

I don't think the rod is anything to worry about. The keways on your tractor lift shaft will give before that rod will.

[dvogt 0]

I purchased a Johnny Bucket a couple months ago , and have had no problems with the rod bending and like Kent said wheels in the air , it flexs but returns to form when the load is off . I have mine on a cub cadet 100 , also had John make me a extra tractor adaptor to fit my B210 so I can put it on either one