Henderson Midget Loader

[Landreo]

Actually a clone.
I saw a photo in Ken Updikes book of a simple loader. I like the simple look so I tracked down the name of the loader and it was a Henderson Midget Loader. I found a parts list on TM's website and set out to build one.





I have really no use for a loader so I had to find something to use it for. It makes a good engine hoist.




I had a helper during some of the harder construction.



I have no idea how accurate it is compared to the original since I had to guess on some of the sizes and details. I ran it into a tree 3 minutes after completion and all the welds held without problem so I think it will hold up better than the actual tractor.

[ToddW]

Nice loader! Looks great! Did you counterweight the back before you tried hoisting?
No wheel weights in the back?

[Hengy]

I love it! How much do you figure that it cost you to make this? Where did you find the bucket, or did you fab that as well? Quite the job!!!

Mike in La Crosse, WI

[stods]

I just bought a Henderson Midget 2 weeks ago. Since you have already finished yours, you may not have any questions but feel free to ask. I have everything but the front braces. Anybody else have one?

[Cecil]

Nice fabrication job.

[Bill E Bob]

That's just plumb nifty Nice fabrication

[bythepond88]

That's very impressive.

[challenger]

That is a great looking loader. Wish it were mine. Just a constructive suggestion with respect to the loader arms. Because of their length, you might consider putting a half inch round stock running along the top center 2/3rds of each lift arm, welded to the beam on each end, after being fulcrumed over the lift cylinder joint. I'm no engineer and you know more about the lift capacity of your arms than I do but just looking at the picture it seems to me there is considerable length in each arm and with the lift cylinder joint being in the approximate center of the beam, a heavy bucket might overstress the beam without a truss rod.

[Landreo]

The total cost was a bit less than $500. I get steel from Metal Depot or Metal Supermarket, I can't remember which one it is, and their prices are higher than elsewhere but they are open on Saturdays. I had a spool valve, other than the valve, all else was purchased new.
Steel, aluminum for the bypass block, cylinders, valve, hoses, welding rods, and that is about all that you need.

The bucket was made along with the rest of the loader.

The original design appeared to have a separate pump but I decided just to make a bypass block and use the cub hydraulics.

I put the bucket under a JD tractor and lifted until I realized either the loader arms were going to bend or the cub was going to crack a casting, eitherway I decided it was a bad idea to test the limits. The cub I used is my test cub to do what I want with it and already has some welds on the engine so I did not want to break the cub in half. I think for normal use it will be fine, it has a fairly small bucket. I did load the bucket with 3 rear cub weights and it did fine. I agree the loader arms would be better with some top bracing but I was trying to copy the original design as best I could determine. The photo had no braces although the parts diagram on TM's website appears to have some top braces on the loader arms.

[ToddW]

Is it a trip bucket then? Nice work!!