John Deere 512 Loader

The John Deere quick-change attachment carrier allows one person to quickly change attachments without the use of tools.

Step 1

Retaining Pin

Detail of indicated area with pin in storage area

Step 2

Roll the attachment forward to disengage pins

Roll the attachment forward to disengage the lower pins.

Step 3

Lower attachment to ground-disengage top hooks

Lower the attachment to the ground to disengage the top hooks.

Step 4

Back away from attachment

Back away.
To install another attachment simply reverse these steps.

Parking stand

Parking stand coupler

For parking the 512 Loader.

To see instructions on how to park the loader using the stands, go to parking stand section. 

512 Loader

The 512 Loader boom is made with tapered rectangular boom sections. The upper boom section overlaps the lower boom section to provide strength and durability to the loader structure without the use of an added knee plate. 

Bucket level indicator

An optional bucket level indicator is available to enable the operator to determine the bucket position at ground and adjust as required. 

Parking stand

Parking stand coupler

For parking the 512 Loader.

To see instructions on how to park the loader using the stands, go to parking stand section. 

500 Series loader hoses

The 512, 522, and 542 Loaders use the same two-wire braid, high-pressure hydraulic hose found on larger loaders. This provides added reliability and longer life.

500 Series O-ring fittings

The 512, 522, and 542 Loaders utilize O-ring face seal fittings to virtually eliminate oil leaks.

Nitrite cylinder rod for optimal protection

The hydraulic cylinders for the 512 Loader incorporate the nitrite (black) cylinder rods for superior corrosion resistance versus a simple chrome-plated cylinder rod, which many of the competitors in the economical loader market segment utilize.

2-function single-lever

Two-function single-lever

Two-function single-lever

Quick-change attachment carrier

The John Deere quick-change attachment carrier allows one person to quickly change attachments without the use of tools. Simply roll the attachment back slightly, remove the retaining pins, and then roll the attachment forward and lower to the ground.

Attachment adapter brackets

Allows using non-John Deere, specialized attachments with 512, 522, 542, 553, and 563 Loaders.

• Quick-change feature is retained

512 Non-Parking Loader

The 512 Loader is designed for operators who do not require the loader to be removed for use of the tractor for other applications where the loader is not required. The normal mast and mounting frame components have been combined into one component, the mounting frame, which is solid-mounted to the tractor chassis.

For those instances where the loader needs to be removed, the loader boom can be removed from the mounting frame by removing the boom cylinder pins and the boom pins provided the boom is supported in some manner. Parking stands and hydraulic hose couplers are available as an option to assist in this process.

512 Loader mounting frame

Mounting frame plates and parts are shown in light blue.

Hood guard on 5303 Tractor

The hood guard is highly recommended for 5103, 5203, 5303, 5105, 5205, 5200, 5210, 5220, 5300, 5310, 5310N, 5320, 5320N, 5400, 5400N, and 5403 Tractors. The basic function is to:

• Help protect the tractor grille and hood from falling debris or stationary objects such as a wagon or mixer
• Allow for lighting at night
• Can be used with or without the tractor front weight bracket but not with the actual front weights while using the loader (this would overload the front axle)
• Cannot be used with a front hitch

It is highly recommended to purchase a front weight bracket when using a loader. The hood guard is designed to be slightly rearward of the front weight. This is so the front weight is the first point of contact against lower stationary objects. 

Brush Guard

The brush guard is designed for operators who require added protection against debris from damaging the expensive-to-replace front grille or lights.

NOTE: Not compatible with front hitch.

Shown with optional brush guard (BW15683)

The hood guard is highly recommended for the 5D and 5E Tractor Series. The basic function is to:

• Help protect the tractor grille and hood from falling debris or stationary objects such as a wagon or mixer
• Allow for lighting at night

Compatibility:

• Can be used with or without the tractor front weight bracket but not with the actual front weights while using the loader (this would overload the front axle)
• Cannot be used with a front hitch

It is highly recommended to purchase a front weight bracket when using a loader. The hood guard is designed to be slightly rearward of the front weight. This is so that the front weight is the first point of contact against lower stationary objects. 

The basic functions of the hood guard are:

• Help protect the tractor grille and hood from falling debris or stationary objects such as a wagon or mixer while loading
• Allow for lighting at night
• Can be used with or without the tractor front weight bracket but not with the actual front weights while using the loader
• Cannot be used with a front hitch

It is highly recommended to purchase a front weight bracket when using a loader. The hood guard is designed to be slightly rearward of the front weight. This is so that the front weight is the first point of contact against lower stationary objects.

Bucket with added tines

For 61-in. (1550-mm) bucket, and 66-in. (1680-mm) bucket.

Bucket with added tines

For 73-in. (1850-mm) bucket order:

• 1-BW13716 (7 tines)
• 1-BW13717 (2 tines)

General Purpose (GP) buckets

• The GP buckets have replaced the 61-in. and 73-in. materials buckets
• Compatible with digging teeth and replaceable cutting edge
• The 66 in. GP bucket will cover wheel tracks where the 61 in. would not
• Not compatible with grapples
• The GP buckets are more durable than materials buckets with full length side cutting edges, additional bottom skid plates, and a double reinforced top section
• Holes are drilled in the cutting edge allowing easy attaching of a reversible and replaceable cutting edge

General Purpose (GP) buckets

• The 73-in. GP buckets have replaced the 73-in. materials and heavy-duty buckets
• Not compatible with grapples
• The GP buckets are more durable than materials buckets with full-length side cutting edges, additional bottom skid plates, and a double reinforced top section
• Holes are drilled in the cutting edge allowing easy attaching of a reversible and replaceable cutting edge