Digging with a FEL..

[clovergamecock]

I know that the FEL is mainly used for moving piles from one place to the other. But is there a good way to modify it for some digging? I know you won't be able to dig huge holes but I have a lot of bricks from a house we had moved. I have given away the good ones but I still have several big piles of broken ones that I would like to bury. I know I can rent a backhoe but those are pretty pricey per day and I am sure I will need it more than a day.

Thanks
Wade

 

[sierradmax]

use a toothbar but expect to move 10x more dirt than using a backhoe/excavator.

 

[clovergamecock]

Thanks! Where can I get one? How are they installed? Tractor supply??? Also, did you mean don't expect to move more dirt???

 

[sdkubota]

The biggest issue is getting enough weight on your rear tires to do some serious pushing. The loaders can move and excavate dirt without a problem. Just take your time and don't over stress the tractor.

 

[kevin37b]

Would it be easier to haul them off , just asking .

 

[Baby Grand]

sdkubota gives good advice - plan on taking some time to get it done & put something very heavy on your 3pt. A tiller or box blade is good if you don't have a dedicated counter weight. Actually, a box blade might work better than the FEL for what you're doing, if you have one to use.

If you can, take an inch or two cut along the surface, working down gradually.
As you do this, you will be carving a gradual ramp down to a flat, then another ramp back up, dumping the load some distance from the exit ramp. As you dig down the distance between the entrance to the down ramp and the end of the exit ramp will get longer, so make sure you dump a good distance from the end of that exirt ramp.

Is your soil deep, rocky, etc?
If you can use the tiller or box blade scarifiers to loosen the soil before scooping, that may help with compacted or rocky soil.

Personally, I'd keep the bricks for use making drainage features or road base for other projects, but that's just me.

-Jim

 

[Danner]

Tagging this tread for my own interest.

Please go on...

 

[k0ua]

You can dig huge holes with a FEL, Big enough to bury the tractor in. A lot depends on what kind of soil you have. A toothbar will speed up the work. Good soil without many rocks will REALLY speed up the work. I have moved an entire hilltop with a FEL. All it takes is time. The operator's skill makes a big difference also. You will be a lot better operator at the end of the project than you were when you start.

James K0UA

 

[MarkV]

Another vote for a tooth bar. They make a big difference in your digging capabilities. They install by slipping over the cutting edge of your bucket and are held in place by a bolt through each side face of your bucket. I believe several of the advertisers here on the forum sell them.

MarkV

 

[Sassi]

I use an all purpose plow on the back of my L3240 to dig down as far as the shanks will go. This works great in rocky soil, or where there is a lot of roots. I can then can push and pick up with the FEL. I have done a lot of digging with this setup.

 

[Baby Grand]

I think KCender did some major excavation with his tractor, too.
Digging this test pit was one of the first things I did with my tractor:


I'll confirm what James KOUA said - I got schooled on that job.
4 things I learned:
> How to use the FEL at a beginner level.
> I was lucky to have a bucket slightly wider than my rear tires (sidewall to sidewall).
> A brush hog is not the right implement to wear to that dance - but it was the only heavy implement I had at the time and it was much better than not enough ballast weight.
> It's amazing how easy it is to get stuck, down a ramp of wet clay with a bucket full of wet clay and no ballast weight on the 3pt.

 

[storeman]

The bricks with a little soil on them would make a perfect range backstop. IMO.
Jerry

 

[dex3361]

I have a FEL and a tooth bar and I installed my septic system with the FEL. A box blade with rippers to loosed the soil would make things go smoother. I used a tiller to loosen the soil so I would not compact the ground. You could also use a sub soiler to loosen the ground up a bit. Tooth bar really makes a big difference in how well your FEL can dig. I bough mine off of Ebay seller IowaFarmTools

 

[dex3361]

I have a FEL and a tooth bar and I installed my SEPTIC SYSTEM with the FEL. A box blade with rippers to loosed the soil would make things go smoother. I used a tiller to loosen the soil so I would not compact the ground. You could also use a sub soiler to loosen the ground up a bit. Tooth bar really makes a big difference in how well your FEL can dig. I bough mine off of Ebay seller IowaFarmTools

 

[texasjohn]

layer of bricks, layer of soil, layer of bricks, etc, water down, cover whole mound with foot of soil, plant with grass, shoot.

 

[El Wood]

Thanks! Where can I get one? How are they installed? Tractor supply??? Also, did you mean don't expect to move more dirt???

Here is a picture of my tooth bar I picked up from my JD dealer a few weeks ago.