If you think WD's snap attach sucks make sure you don't get a Deere loader with Deere's own piss poor design of a quick tach bucket.

You'll think the WD is a Cadillac setup compared to that POS design.  

Kooiker just hates JD and condemns them whenever he can.

If you're comparing the Deere quick tach bucket to a loader that you have to remove pins it is a great improvement.

Compared to any other quick tach bucket design that I've ever seen it is pitiful.

You probably have the piece of pipe between the two sides.   The 740's that I had experience with didn't have the two sides tied together and if for some reason you didn't immediately pick up an attachment after setting the bucket off and the sides got out of sync it was impossible to pick anything up without straightening them by hand. 

Not sure if my complaints had anything to do with it or not but a few months after complaining many times to the dealer and having the dealer put a pipe between the two sides I noticed the new loaders started having the pipe tying both sides together very similiar to what the dealer did.

Also Steve is right, my only goal in life is to rip John Deere every chance I get. **

I seem to forget what my goal is time to time though as I have stated on more than a few occasions that JD makes some pretty fine tractors.

Did you put that on yourself or was it factory?  

Other than a couple attachments that WD offers that warrant keeping the sides independent I've often wondered why there isn't a piece of metal bolted between the two sides to hold them together.  I guess if it bothered me as much as it seems to bother some I'd probably go ahead and do it myself.

I can't believe you're still using a 20 yr old Wigglesdorf, I thought the only loader that would outlive an oil change was a JD **

Maybe you haven't used it enough to warrant an oil change?

My opinion has shifted a little to the positive direction.  I've had a TA29 for 10 plus years.  Lift cylinders had cracked repeatedly at the base. This loader is on a 2wd 5230. Finally got sick of it a couple months ago and decided to replace the cylinders. Westendorf quoted me over $500 each, after which I said I would find some aftermarket.  They started asking more questions about my problem so I sent them a bunch of pictures of the cylinders.  Long story short, I have new Westendorf cylinders on the loader and am totally pleased with their service on that.  It wasn't even because of any threats or arm twisting on my part, just open direct communication.   And possibly the fact that I emailed them a link to one of the threads on this site concerning their product quality and customer service : )     So score for NAT? 

At one time they probably DID make a loader for a 255.

It is entirely plausible that AGCO-Massey doesn't have a loader available for a 30 yr old tractor that the current organization didn't have anything to do with building.

Besides that point Massey doesn't build their own loaders.

Except for the loaders that MF sells aren't built by MF or designed specifically for MF tractors.

The only mainline tractor manufacturer that builds its own loaders is Deere.

I assume the FM series is the freedom mount and if so I just talked to a neighbor this morning who has one and they are ready to make Westendorf take it back so they can get something different.  They have gone through 4 lift cylinders, the mounting brackets have been welded on and now the main mount is cracked.  He said you can watch the loader sway back and forth on the mounts and Westendorf told him it was designed that way. 

I second the ALO/Quicke comment. Very happy with mine in every way.

The loader business must be a tough one. There are an almost infinte number of tractors and variations for you to fit and there must be a new one about every day.

Jim at Dawn

Paul, I would really re think getting a loader on your tractor if it is gonna be run of the tractor hydraulics,I think you will be very disappointed the only Massey tractors I have been around have had front engine driven pumps, we have had 2 a mf 65 and a mf 175 the 175 will pick up a pallet of seed corn and only the front tires seem to be the limiting factor the tractor will pick up enough to just about flatten them. Having the front mount pump will limit you on a quick attach thou,I think thoes little utility Massey's are great tractors but the hydraulics are suspect at best ! If it were me I would get money back and look for a dedicated loader tractor,with the wheels set out a little wider for stability

smoke