davesisk
Platinum Member
Hey bmac:
Check out this link: http://www.ipass.net/~davesisk/tractor.htm), then used it to carry in around 200 retaining wall blocks, 3 pallets of brick pavers, 10 tons of gravel, and about 12 tons of sand.
Can you dig with the FEL bucket? Yup. Takes some patience and a little bit of practice, but you can sure do it. (I did this with the light material bucket, by the way...I don't even have the smaller, more aggressive bucket with teeth!)
The digging technique that seems to work with the 4' bucket is to angle the bucket down just shy of vertical, pick up the front end of the tractor on the bucket's edge with the lift arms, wiggle it by turning the steering, and curl the bucket up while driving forward. You can come out with a decent scoop o' clay. This takes a little practice (not much), but I was very pleased the first time I came up with a half-bucket full! The machine isn't nearly as heavy as many excavating machines, so you have to use everything to get the force onto the bucket edge.
I use the same technique to dig with the 8" backhoe bucket that I have rigged-up now, and it works even better. Plus, I can dig a 8" width trench rather than a 48" wide trench. I managed to do a 14" deep trench 60' long for a plumbing repair at my house in about 4 hours or so.
Keep posting questions. Also, if you live close to some of the folks on the board, they might let you come check out theirs if you simply ask. I'm in Raleigh, NC, if you're interested, but mine's probably not a good example to look at, since it's 12 years old and doesn't have the quick-attach.
Concerning resale, I wouldn't be too concerned. Apparently, folks buy these things and never resale them. The factory has a waiting list of folks wanting to buy used ones, so I really don't think resale is that much of an issue.
Good luck!
Dave
Check out this link: http://www.ipass.net/~davesisk/tractor.htm), then used it to carry in around 200 retaining wall blocks, 3 pallets of brick pavers, 10 tons of gravel, and about 12 tons of sand.
Can you dig with the FEL bucket? Yup. Takes some patience and a little bit of practice, but you can sure do it. (I did this with the light material bucket, by the way...I don't even have the smaller, more aggressive bucket with teeth!)
The digging technique that seems to work with the 4' bucket is to angle the bucket down just shy of vertical, pick up the front end of the tractor on the bucket's edge with the lift arms, wiggle it by turning the steering, and curl the bucket up while driving forward. You can come out with a decent scoop o' clay. This takes a little practice (not much), but I was very pleased the first time I came up with a half-bucket full! The machine isn't nearly as heavy as many excavating machines, so you have to use everything to get the force onto the bucket edge.
I use the same technique to dig with the 8" backhoe bucket that I have rigged-up now, and it works even better. Plus, I can dig a 8" width trench rather than a 48" wide trench. I managed to do a 14" deep trench 60' long for a plumbing repair at my house in about 4 hours or so.
Keep posting questions. Also, if you live close to some of the folks on the board, they might let you come check out theirs if you simply ask. I'm in Raleigh, NC, if you're interested, but mine's probably not a good example to look at, since it's 12 years old and doesn't have the quick-attach.
Concerning resale, I wouldn't be too concerned. Apparently, folks buy these things and never resale them. The factory has a waiting list of folks wanting to buy used ones, so I really don't think resale is that much of an issue.
Good luck!
Dave