How to use the front loader to dig?

[hondarider]

I have a 4-in-1 front loader. How do I use it to dig for dirt? I need to get dirt to make a motocross jump.

Thanks

 

[Deerlope]

Practice make perfect. Practice,practice,practice.

 

[alchemysa]

I have a 4-in-1 front loader. How do I use it to dig for dirt? I need to get dirt to make a motocross jump.

Thanks

I've got one too, but I'm not sure that a 4in1 makes digging much easier than a normal bucket - although the dozer blade makes scraping off an inch at time pretty simple. The main thing I've learned is to just take it easy and take small bites. Don't be impatient. As soon as the tractor stalls just back off and start again. Try not to lift the front wheels off the ground too much. If the ground is suitable you can tilt the bucket down, put some weight on it and wobble the bucket SLIGHTLY to break through the top crust (while the tractor is stationary). But you have to be a bit careful doing that or you'll stress the rams.

 

[Ken Cunningham]

If the ground is hard, then a tooth bar will help alot with digging. Think more along the lines of scrapping the top layer than digging and you will get more work done. Once you are below ground level then you can force the bucket into the side of the hole and using tilt and raise motions brake that dirt loose. Hopefully you have 4wd cause it makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you have a box blade, lower the scarifier teeth to maximum depth and use these to loosen up the dirt. Use the box blade to drag it to a small pile that you can scoop up with the FEL and move to where you want it. I find that trying to dig with a FEL is near to impossible unless you are in sand or really loose soil.

 

[NSBound]

Agree on the take small bites at a time comment, even with a toothbar. I find that I only angle the bucket downward **ever-so-slightly**. And if you do use the FEL this way, try to take an even bite across the width of the loader, or you'll put angular stresses on the loader arms and rams. There's likely an engineering term for this, but I'm not an engineer!

 

[cmh61271]

I use the box blade method. It is very effective. I'm sure a tooth blade would help and this is my next upgrade.

 

[foggy1111]

The tooth bar and box blade rippers are good suggestions. I have used my tiller to loosen things up first - with pretty good results.

 

[powerstroke444e]

We use a tiller in hard clay then leave the bucket flat it seems to be the fastest I have found to move large amounts of dirt in short time and if the dirt is hard and dry add a little water when placing it, compact it in thin layers to get the best results.

 

[JANDG]

I have dug over 30 large stumps & a couple 1000'of large ditch useing the cutting edge of bucket & getting the front tires off ground as to use the front end wieght of tractor for digging & just wiggle it ever so slightly & curl. I have no bent anythingon my 3000 series JD. If ground is rock hard forget it. or do it in spring. Just gently let the tractor come back down on it's front tires. I have watched my masterfull neighbor do this with JD tractors for 30 years on stumps or anything else you can imagine. His tractors run as new,none have broke a cylinder or messed loader up, just make sure if you distribute load evenly across bucket cutting edge. If you hook a root on a corner just gently let off. I have put in alot of colverts also with FEL, in fact it is all I use for that task. My dad used to do this also with a little JD 750 & no problems, this is were light tractors might be a plus, as in just enough to dig, but less likely to tear something up.People will say just get a backhoe, easier said then done in real world sometimes as far as $ avalible when these projects arise.
Joe

 

[Soundguy]

ditto what gary said.. a fel is not the greatest digging tool for emplaced earth.. it's a greap powered scoop for stockpiled material. that said you can scrap up dirt with it as you run, then curl when the bucket is full.

ripping and dragging with a box then scooping will get you better results.... boxes are made to dig, drag and mound...

soundguy

 

[flusher]

I have a 4-in-1 front loader. How do I use it to dig for dirt? I need to get dirt to make a motocross jump.

Thanks

Do it the easy way and save a lot of time and wear and tear on your FEL. Get yourself a $150 middle buster plow (aka potato plow) from Tractor Supply. Plow the ground and scoop the loose soil with your 4-in-1 bucket. FEL buckets are made to scoop loose material, not for digging.

 

[RobertN]

The loader is better for loading, than for digging. A toothbar would help though.

Best is ripping with the scraper, then going back and scooping it.

Or... rent a skidsteer with a toothbar on the bucket. Even though it is a loader, a skidsteer will outdig a CUT. Then finish up with your tractor.

I have a 4-in-1 front loader. How do I use it to dig for dirt? I need to get dirt to make a motocross jump.

Thanks

 

[Ken45101]

Or... rent a skidsteer with a toothbar on the bucket. Even though it is a loader, a skidsteer will outdig a CUT. Then finish up with your tractor.

VERY true. A skid steer will out dig a tractor. A skid steer with a tooth bar will run circles around a tractor.

Ken

 

[PILOON]

Tooth Bar!

I get full buckets every time on my 4' on a 20 HP Mitsubishi in semi hardpan.
O.K., I have been 'playing' with it for some 800 hrs so perhaps I have an advantage, but it works for me.

 

[hondarider]

Thanks for the help tips.

My skip loader also has a scraper and ripper attachment. Using the scraper, are we talking about pulling the scraper or pushing?

 

[Opti-Mist]

The bucket of a tractor mounted loader will typically attain a depth of 4 inches below grade. The process is generally as follows (and start out slowly):
1. Place the loader lift control in the float position.
2. With the bucket flat on the ground, start moving slowly foreward.
3. Begin tilting the bucket down until it begins to penetrate the ground.
4. Return the bucket to the level position and continue foreward until the bucket is filled.
5. Tilt the bucket up to bring it back to grade.
All this is done while operating in float.

It takes practice but you can eventually dig a pit, with ramps at each end for entering and exiting. I remember a couple of guys demonstrating a wheel loader dig such a pit so deep that the entier wheel loader was below grade.

 

[carpenter383]

The bucket of a tractor mounted loader will typically attain a depth of 4 inches below grade. The process is generally as follows (and start out slowly):
1. Place the loader lift control in the float position.
2. With the bucket flat on the ground, start moving slowly foreward.
3. Begin tilting the bucket down until it begins to penetrate the ground.
4. Return the bucket to the level position and continue foreward until the bucket is filled.
5. Tilt the bucket up to bring it back to grade.
All this is done while operating in float.

It takes practice but you can eventually dig a pit, with ramps at each end for entering and exiting. I remember a couple of guys demonstrating a wheel loader dig such a pit so deep that the entier wheel loader was below grade.

Iteresting, I've never thought about digging with the fel while in float. Anyone else ever tried this?
I wonder if this could cause any problems with the cylinders since the cylinder's stops are taking the load and not the hydraulic fluid. Are hydraulic cylinders designed with this in mind

 

[Soundguy]

My fel's are on SA lift cyls.. so they are 'always' in flaot on the upward travel as ther eis no force holding them down. I can skim dirt by running along with the front of the bucket tilted down a bit. Not a great way to dig.. but you can move some dirt.. a box blade with teeth help aven more.

soundguy

 

[SPYDERLK]

Iteresting, I've never thought about digging with the fel while in float. Anyone else ever tried this?
I wonder if this could cause any problems with the cylinders since the cylinder's stops are taking the load and not the hydraulic fluid. Are hydraulic cylinders designed with this in mind

It depends on the angle of the arms when the bucket is on the ground. I cannot keep the ones on the 7520 from knuckling under when I push in float.
larry