Neat trick using loader as a box scraper!

[PineRidge]

Naturally a tooth-bar also rules using the front edge of the bucket out for leveling. I have always used the back of the bucket successfully.

 

[Westendorf-RR]

Back dragging with bucket rolled under is a big NO... NO... You will damage your cylinders. Having the rams fully extended leave them very vunerable to bending or damaging internal components. Here is a solution to protect those cylinders and give you extra power while dragging - with our without teeth. For frequent dirt work - a back drag blade is a lot less expensive than repairing a cylinder and it works great!

 

[AlanB]

Back dragging with bucket rolled under is a big NO... NO... You will damage your cylinders. Having the rams fully extended leave them very vunerable to bending or damaging internal components. Here is a solution to protect those cylinders and give you extra power while dragging - with our without teeth. For frequent dirt work - a back drag blade is a lot less expensive than repairing a cylinder and it works great!

Man, that is cool, I had never seen one of those before. Might think about adding that next time I work on the bucket, and it would make backdragging with the toothbar on Sweet.

 

[jimmysisson]

Is that a Westendorf part? It tips the bucket up somewhat, too, which mine needs. Do you have a link? Thanks for posting it.
Jim

 

[Westendorf-RR]

Yes - this is an option on all Westendorf Buckets or as an aftermarket add-on.
Here is the link to our web site for the Back Drag Blade. Available with or without teeth.
Front-End Loaders by Westendorf: loader for tractor, shade canopy, wagons, manure & landscaping equipment.

 

[rico304]

can you get something like that to fit other buckets????? That is a great idea!

 

[GreenMtns]

Naturally a tooth-bar also rules using the front edge of the bucket out for leveling. I have always used the back of the bucket successfully.

Quite right. I found out the hard way as a new equipment operator many years ago that the best way to have a "heart to heart" with the foreman was to roll the bucket of the BIG loader slightly and back drag. Wow Turns out that the way to do it (and the only way he said) is to place the bucket on the ground flat, loaded or unloaded and back drag in float or not. Yes sir I learned that lesson fast.

Regardless of what the manual says, I figure if you should not do it with the big ones, it follows that it won't be good for the CUTs. And I get very good results with the flat bucket.

And I should add the the loader I use is the 300cx. Cylinders are cylinders no matter what color.

 

[hill]

Naturally a tooth-bar also rules using the front edge of the bucket out for leveling. I have always used the back of the bucket successfully.

Yeah, I've been popping my toothbar on and off so I could drag what I'd dug.

It scares me to use the back of the bucket for dragging because it's just the one thickness of non hardened steel so I envision wearing a hole in the bucket. I've thought of welding a wearbar onto the rear lower corner but taking off the toolbar isn't much work.

Very interesting addition above - no doubt it's made of hardened gold?

Oh, my 'heavy equipment' B7800 has float too. I thought all CUTs do...

 

[Westendorf-RR]

Maybe not gold, but a high grade "hardened steel". Roughly will run about $250 and up depending on length or if you want to add the scarifying teeth. I can be added to most buckets. It is less expensive the replacing or repairing your cylinders if you hit a stump or rock.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Of course the problem with this technique is that there is no tilt, so you'll always grade level with your wheels. If the ground is uneven you won't be able to even it the way you could with a box blade with tilt.

 

[rico304]

Maybe not gold, but a high grade "hardened steel". Roughly will run about $250 and up depending on length or if you want to add the scarifying teeth. I can be added to most buckets. It is less expensive the replacing or repairing your cylinders if you hit a stump or rock.

So if you are engaging the scarifyers and hit a rock or roots strong enough to stop the tractor, that wouldn't cause any damage to anything? I was wondering about putting some weight (dirt) in the bucket and back dragging my camp road??? What do you think?

 

[SPYDERLK]

It is a leverage and column strength issue with the cylinders at full extension. That expensive green paint dosn't make the cylinders any stronger

It does if the greens are speced with bigger rods. My Mahindra with the ML275 handles backdrag at 90 with the loaded fronts in the air. Im careful, but at times I need to take advantage of all the equipment is capable of. I would be extremely apprehensive at FULL dump because leverage against the cyls is tremendous.
larry

 

[4720 OWNER]

I did exactly what the guy said about bending the cylinders on a 100 HP tractor one time. Bent both of them almost to a perfect 90. BAD BAD THING TO DO

When i did the same thing a number of years ago, brought in to northern tool and asked the sales lady if they had any new ones like this, she dead faced me and said that 'they only had straight ones'. Still chuckle over that one.

 

[ropinghorns]

If you know how to use a boxblade , you will not need your FEL. I know several full time tractor guys who do not own front end loaders on their tractors. They use a boxblade for everything.
Lanterman Tractor

 

[Sweden-Art]

Found this on the tube.

Is this the right way to go?

YouTube - LGW-254 Townsunny (FEL-254)

YouTube - LGW-254 Townsunny homlokrakodóval

 

[School_Farmer]

I too am thankful that I now understand the warning I had read in the loader manual about not bulldozing with the bucket in the dump position before any damage was done.

I am curious, however, about the comment about never using a "big" loader in this way. Specifically, I see many large construction loaders use some kind of crank arm to reverse the motion of the dump cylinder(s.) Of course, using such a crank arm lets the cylinder push/extend rather than retract when curling the bucket - extend being the kind of motion in which a cylinder has more force. Doesn't this kind of construction, however, pretty much *allow* dozing with the bucket edge since dumping the bucket on this kind of loader retracts the curl cylinder(s) instead of extending them into a vulnerable position as this thread has discussed? I enclose a sample pic off of the web of such a beast.

 

[prosperity]

The larger loaders like the one you pictured use what is called a "Z" arm.

That is the arm that is connected from the hyd cylinder to the bucket for the curl function.

The reason for this is force - a hyd cylinder has more power pulling in rather than pushing out. The "Z" arm configuration gives the most force for curling the bucket.

 

[Botabill]

Kubota manual explicitly says... don't do that.... you can back drag with the heel of the loader bucket, with bottom of bucket nearly level and cutting edge pointed forward.

I back bladded like crazy for 4 years with my Kubota BX. Often the front wheels were lift off the ground and I'd be hitting hard bumps. I could never see the need for a box blade. Not a problem. I've never seen anything in my manual advising against it. Perhaps it is bad for the bigger machines because of their weight and power.

 

[have_blue]

Found this on the tube.

Is this the right way to go?

YouTube - LGW-254 Townsunny (FEL-254)

YouTube - LGW-254 Townsunny homlokrakodóval

That's the way. As long as the loader is in float position, the cylinders or tractor can't be damaged. Get the angle just right (according to the soil conditions) and you can do a great job without stressing your tractor.

Just an aside, float position is pretty worthless with the tractor going forward.

 

[Botabill]

Kubota manual explicitly says... don't do that.... you can back drag with the heel of the loader bucket, with bottom of bucket nearly level and cutting edge pointed forward.

I back bladded like crazy for 4 years with my Kubota BX. Often the front wheels were lifted off the ground and I'd be hitting hard bumps. Not a problem. I've never seen anything in my manual advising against it. Perhaps it is bad for the bigger machines because of their weight and power.