Dirt Moving Clearing a dirt pile in the cold

[ruralwarrior]

I have a Kubota BX23S. I'm still a relative newbie, have had my SCT for a couple of years but certainly not an expert.

My neighbor asked me for a favor. He had a couple of dirt piles delivered and wanted me to move them. We live in Canada and it is still pretty cold here even end of March.

I told him I'd probably damage his lawn but he wanted me to try anyways. I did - dirt pile was frozen and the wheels just spin trying to dig the loader into the dirt.

He's a good neighbor and has helped me out a few times so I'm disappointed I could not help him more.

I would always wait until early May to have anything delivered... not sure why he had the dirt delivered so early but he did.

What consistent temperature would I need to be more successful? I'd like to give it another try but obviously the temperature needs to be consistently higher so the dirt becomes much softer.

Appreciate your comments. Thanks.

 

[mopardude318]

Do you have a tooth bar? Or just a straight bolt on cutting edge?

 

[ruralwarrior]

No tooth bar. Standard bucket that came with the loader.

 

[Wagtail]

How did you approach the pile?

Hopefully not from the bottom, hoping for a full bucket... smaller 'bites' from the top and sides wok best until the size of the mound is reduced.

There are youtube videos available.

 

[mikester]

The temperature you need is called end of April

 

[Tomtint]

Yesterday I burned brush for the first time this year. I was surprised to see how much the ground was frozen in the shady areas where I was working. It was 10-12" deep in some spots. Even with my KX121 Mimi X , frozen dirt and ground is going to win. I popped a big chunk of dirt, brush and leaves out of the burn pile that was probably 8' across 3' wide and 2' thick. It was rock solid. .. left it near the fire for about 20 minutes and I could then break it up. .. it's amazing how strong ice is.

 

[Egon]

Forget the dirt pile till it is not frozen.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Most of my dirt piles are still covered with snow, so I would have to wait.

Did you try coming at the pile with the bucket from above, and try to drag some dirt off the top towards you? Then maybe you can back up, set the bucket on the ground, and come up under the smaller pile of dirt you pulled off the top?

 

[Jchonline]

Unless you have big iron (ie 20+ ton machines) avoid frozen ground. However, there are nice things about the winter. You wont tear up the ground as much so transporting things (ie logs, etc) will be easier on it.

 

[oosik]

For sure - wait until all of the pile(s) are thawed. No need to damage anything on your tractor. Besides, when frozen, you will be trying to spread big, 'ol lumps anyhow.

 

[diesel85]

You need to do smaller bites.

No different than when I chunk up and move ice.

 

[ruralwarrior]

You need to do smaller bites.

No different than when I chunk up and move ice.

Yes I tried to attack if from the top. Not much success. Small chips only. Left a smooth surface showing how hard the dirt was.

I guess I'll attack it again end of April.

Thanks for the comments/feedback.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I am two hours north of you. I have two stock piles of limestone and "A" gravel, that is inaccessible to me, before spring, using my small wheel loader. And, soil is much worse still. If I had to, I would hack away at it with the backhoe, but then it would just be in chunks.

Even a 4X4 lying on the ground used to support something cannot be broken loose without taking a huge chunk of earth with it!

 

[quicksandfarmer]

The problem with waiting for spring is then the ground in your neighbor's lawn will be really soft. Unless it warms up really slowly the ground will thaw from the top down, which means all the moisture will be trapped until it thaws completely and can drain. You don't want to drive on that.

When the grass breaks dormancy it sucks an enormous amount of water out of the soil. You want to wait until the grass has grown enough to be mowed.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So fine, what's the answer? Rent a hi flow skid steer and an ashalt planer.

 

[fried1765]

So fine, what's the answer? Rent a hi flow skid steer and an ashalt planer.

Buy 10 bags of charcoal briquettes , light them, and when hot, spread them out over the pile.
Cover with some pine needles, damp leaves, or old fibreglass insulation if available.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Or an excavator with a frost bucket.

Or a party tent and rental heaters.

Three bus loads of Menonnites with pickaxes would work too.

 

[Thomas]

Least you gave it shot :thumbsup: like others said warmer temps.

 

[fried1765]

Or an excavator with a frost bucket.

Or a party tent and rental heaters.

Three bus loads of Menonnites with pickaxes would work too.

The party tent and rental heaters would still be necessary to house the Mennonites.
Three bus loads of Mennonites,... means piles of groceries also.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Offer them FREE WIFI and they would probably come for free! Although kind of hard to swing a pick with a smart phone in each hand.