Using my dirt scoop

[RobJ]

No FEL on my tractor but the little dirt scoop that could worked fine. I wanted to build a little raised garden/bed near the house...within range of the sprinkler system since it's a weekend place. Worked like a champ. I did leave one side open so I could back in. My dirt was already prepared to be moved by piling it up with the BB. I also mixed in some compost, peat, store bought soil to spice it up. Somehow got my neighbors ancient tiller working that has been siting outside in the same place since 2001!

If I can keep my BIL cows out...it might work out! We'll see how that little electric fence works.

Few pics....

Rob

 

[johnk]

You did a nice job there. It sure beats using a shovel and wheelbarrow..

 

[mwb]

Before I bought my Montana I used an old dirt scoop on my Ford 2000 and it was an incredible tool. Spent a lot of time fixing it, welding cracks, built a new trip mechanism for it - but I worked it hard. It is now a working lawn ornament.

Once you get a loader you will never go back though!

 

[RobJ]

You did a nice job there. It sure beats using a shovel and wheelbarrow..

Thanks, that's for sure, I knew I had the tractor and scoop, but getting that tiller running was golden!! For a simple machine, it does it's job. Got an eye out for a used 3pt tiller, none yet.

 

[RobJ]

Once you get a loader you will never go back though!

I can promise you this tractor will never ever see a FEL. If I need one that bad, just a short walk to the west, or east or south...and I have one I can use!

Hey and this scoop is only a $300 option!

 

[2manyrocks]

A lot of work has been done with scoops. Try doing the same job with a shovel. I remember seeing mules pull one to clean a pond years ago.

 

[JoeinTX]

"A lot of work has been done with scoops. Try doing the same job with a shovel. I remember seeing mules pull one to clean a pond years ago....."



Sure has been a lot of work done with them. They were the FEL of their day for many people 100 years ago.


Several years ago we decided to clean out one of our smaller dirt tanks using one of these on an NAA while my 8n was tasked with pulling a chisel to loosen the soil. There we went, me making passes with the chisel and dad making passes with the scoop mounted front-facing scraper style. It took us several days but we managed to clean the little tank out and do so much cheaper than the dozer man could.


Those little scoops certainly aren't as good as an FEL (or a dozer) but they can earn their worth back very quickly doing a lot of small jobs around the place.

 

[EddieWalker]

Rob,

Nice job. Is it just for flowers?

I've never used a scoop, but find them interesting. Just one of those attachments that seem like a good idea for a very small investment.

Eddie

 

[sandman2234]

No FEL on this property either, nearest one is about 600 feet away.
I used mine on the little Ford 1100, but it was too small for my JD2555. I found a 30" scoop and managed to tear up the bucket (rusted pretty badly anyway). The new and improved bucket I made out of 3/16" steel works great.
I would own a FEL, but too cheap to buy one right now...
David from jax

 

[RobJ]

Rob,

Nice job. Is it just for flowers?

I've never used a scoop, but find them interesting. Just one of those attachments that seem like a good idea for a very small investment.

Eddie

Hey Eddie, some small Vincas, flowers around the edge then some veggies in the middle. Close to the house it will get water. Now if I can keep the cows out!!

$300 for this scoop a couple years back. Cheap and handy. I also used it this day to fill some holes in the yard. Dump just a little, drop it to lock it again, use the scoop to smooth it out! If you needed a little drainage ditch or swell, it'd do that to. I don't think it'll cut to deep.

 

[jwstewar]

I've got a dirt scoop that someone gave me. I used it one time as a counter weight when I was doing our little Koi pond. Almost got rid of it as I don't really need it with the FEL. Then I bought a little 15 gallon spot sprayer. It makes a great caddy for carrying the sprayer around. I plug the sprayer in to the 7 pin RV connector I added to the back of the tractor for lights and off I go.

 

[JC-jetro]

I made about 40 trips from " composted cow poop ground zero" to my garden site under 4 hrs. The travel distance back and forth was 0.4 miles x40 trips totaling 16 miles. I had to go up and down and traverse across a creek to drop zone. A shovel and wheel barrow and I still be at it. Using a dirt scoop is awkward and cumbersome specially when thing just don't want to fall off after you trip, but with all the draw backs sure as heck beats doing it the old fashion way.

JC,

 

[Johndeere3720]

Maybe I should get one. I use my grandpa's 2210 to grade my moms driveway and the main road with the grader blade and boxblade. Sadly, the 2210 doesnt have a loader. So now I have a reason to buy a rear scope.

 

[jsurgent]

I am new to tractors and just bought a B7800 Kubota 30hp with a backhoe. If you were going to lower an area 20 x 50 about 1 foot should you use a scoop or a box scraper or just your front loader. The soil is a forested area in the northwest. It has roots and small rocks are mixed in the soil.

 

[JB4310]

I had my first experience with a scoop last fall when I repaired and put a new cutting edge on one for an old timer friend of mine, he bought this one in 1948, 60 years ago!

Any way I've been working on a patio and walk this past 2 weeks and was using my 5 ft box scraper to dig out for the base, when it came to the walk I didn't want to dig 5 ft wide for a 3 ft walk width.
My helper suggested I ask to borrow the one I fixed, at first I thought I ain't gonna use no old style fashioned scoop with all this new equipment I have.

Well after exhausting all other efforts I lowered my pride to borrow the scoop. I was pleasantly surprised at how efficient it worked, it was the perfect tool for the job. If I didn't have a loader I'd go right out and buy a modern one like in JC's picture, for now I'm gonna keep my eyes out for a used one.

JB.

 

[RobJ]

I am new to tractors and just bought a B7800 Kubota 30hp with a backhoe. If you were going to lower an area 20 x 50 about 1 foot should you use a scoop or a box scraper or just your front loader. The soil is a forested area in the northwest. It has roots and small rocks are mixed in the soil.

It depends, what are you going to do with the dirt you remove. A scoop will allow you to move it somewhere cleanly. A BB will move it a short distance but will leave a trail. The BB will move it faster. Someone else can do the math, but 20x50x1 feet of dirt is more than you think.

 

[RobJ]

I lowered my pride to borrow the scoop.

You didn't lower your pride...you raised your intelligence!!

 

[MikeD74T]

JB4310, Any chance you could post a picture of your scoop in the tripped/dump position - a side view of the linkage ? MikeD74T

 

[JB4310]

JB4310, Any chance you could post a picture of your scoop in the tripped/dump position - a side view of the linkage ? MikeD74T

It's not mine, I borrowed it and returned it. But do have some pics from last fall when I repaired it.

JB.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

I've got a dirt scoop that someone gave me. I used it one time as a counter weight when I was doing our little Koi pond. Almost got rid of it as I don't really need it with the FEL. Then I bought a little 15 gallon spot sprayer. It makes a great caddy for carrying the sprayer around. I plug the sprayer in to the 7 pin RV connector I added to the back of the tractor for lights and off I go.

That is a great idea. I have a scoop and I just got a 20gallon sprayer. Never thought of using it as a platform. Thanks