Welcome to the Little Buck Loader Blog!

Looking to get more out of your John Deere or Kubota lawn and garden tractor all year long? You’re in the right place. The Little Buck Loader Blog is your go-to resource for expert tips, maintenance guides, product updates, and real-world stories from folks who’ve turned their tractors into four-season workhorses with our American-made aftermarket front-end loaders, grapples, and accessories.

Here, you’ll find:

  • Advice on maintaining your Little Buck Loader, Little Bull, and Z Buck

  • Tips for seasonal property care, from snow in winter to brush, mulch, and gravel in spring and summer

  • Updates on our growing arsenal of grapples, including the KBX Talon, the JD Talon, and the Antler Grappler

  • Behind-the-scenes stories from our family-owned factory in Sycamore, Illinois

Whether you're an experienced operator or just starting your tractor journey, our goal is to help you make a smart, all-seasons investment in equipment that works as hard as you do. Explore the blog and see how the right attachment can save your back and transform your property year-round.

Leah Davis Leah Davis

Why Ballast Weight Matters on a Garden Tractor (Especially With a Loader)

Proper rear ballast isn’t optional. It’s a key part of how your tractor stays stable, predictable, and safe while lifting and carrying material. In this post, we’ll break down why ballast matters, what happens when you skip it, and the two most common ways Little Buck Loader owners add rear weight.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

The Mystery of Our Mechanical Grapple: How It Works (and Why It’s So Clever)

One of the most common reactions we hear when someone sees our mechanical grapple for the first time is: “Wait… how does that work?” There are no extra hydraulic hoses. No third function kit. No switches or solenoids. Yet the grapple opens and closes smoothly, right along with the bucket. To a lot of folks, that feels like a mystery…so let’s pull the curtain back.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

How Fastenal Shipping Works (And Why So Many Customers Choose It)

Shipping a front-end loader isn’t like shipping a box from Amazon, and that’s exactly why Fastenal shipping is such a popular option for Little Buck Loader customers. If you’ve ever wondered how it works, what to expect, or how you’ll unload it at home, this guide walks you through the entire process step by step.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

Why Little Buck Loaders Feel Faster: The Hydraulics Behind the “Zippy” Response

One of the first things customers tell us after running a Little Buck or Little Bull loader is the same thing: “This thing is quick.” That responsiveness isn’t an accident, it’s a direct result of how our loaders are designed to work with your tractor’s hydraulic system (stay tuned for part 2 where we will compare and contrast the use of actuators for tractors that do not have onboard hydraulics). In this article, we’re going to break down why Little Buck Loaders feel fast, what’s happening inside the hydraulic circuit, and how features like one cylinder per function and a lockout valve dramatically improve performance.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

A Simple, Inexpensive Way to Protect Your John Deere Garden Tractor Hood When Attaching a Loader

If you own a John Deere X700 Series or another John Deere garden tractor, you already know how much capability a front-end loader adds to your machine. Whether you’re running the Little Bull Loader or any other aftermarket loader attachment, attaching and detaching the loader can feel intimidating the first few times.

Recently, one of our Little Bull owners shared a simple, inexpensive hack that protects your tractor hood and side panels during the loader installation process. It’s clever, cheap, and worth passing along to the rest of the LBL community.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

Comparing John Deere Garden Tractor Loaders: Little Buck vs Little Bull vs QuikMount

If you’re shopping for a front-end loader for your John Deere garden tractor (or compatible Kubota BX series), you’ve likely come across our product families: the Little Buck, the Little Bull, and now the QuikMount. Each offers its own balance of capability, ease-of-use and value. In this article we’ll walk through compatibility, mechanism, pricing, and key use-case differences, so you can choose the setup that’s right for your tractor, your tasks and your budget.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

How to Replace a Cylinder on Your Little Bull Loader

Even with the toughest equipment, wear and tear can happen over time. Every so often, a hydraulic cylinder may fail and need replacement. Fortunately, swapping it out on your Little Bull Loader is a quick and straightforward process, just a few tools and a little know-how, and you’ll be back to work in no time.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

Top 7 Fall Lawn & Garden Projects Made Easier with a Loader or Grapple

Fall brings a long list of outdoor chores that require moving materials, such as leaves, compost, storm debris, firewood, and more. With the right loader or grapple, those backbreaking jobs get faster, easier, and a whole lot more efficient. Here are the top 7 fall projects where your tractor, outfitted with a front-end loader and grapple, can really earn its keep.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

The Little Bull QuikSystem: Quick-Attach Power for Your John Deere

For years, Little Bull owners have counted on their loaders to handle tough jobs around the property, from moving mulch and soil to clearing snow and gravel. Now, with the Little Bull QuikSystem, we’ve taken that versatility a step further. Built around a simple, rugged quick-attach design, the QuikSystem makes it faster and easier than ever to swap between tools, so your tractor is always ready for the task at hand.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

Why the John Deere 425, 445 & 455 Series Are the Best Garden Tractors for Front-End Loaders

My prospective customers come to us to help them decide which garden tractor to purchase (that is compatible with our loaders), and time and again, we point to John Deere's legendary 4X5 series. Built to last, engineered for real work, and compatible with front-end loader attachments like the Little Buck and Little Bull, the JD 425, 445, and 455 models are true classics. In this article, we’ll explore why they remain top picks, how they compare, and what makes them so ideal for loader work.

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Leah Davis Leah Davis

The Perfect Loader Setup: What to Order with Your Little Buck or Little Bull

Investing in a front-end loader is a big step toward making your John Deere garden tractor more capable, efficient, and fun to use. But if you’re only buying the loader itself, you might be missing out on the full potential of your setup. In this post, we’ll walk you through a simple formula for building the ideal Little Buck or Little Bull system, from essential ballast weight to versatile accessories like grapples and pallet forks. Whether you’re working on your acreage every weekend or just need help managing seasonal projects, these add-ons will make your loader even more powerful and practical.

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