Holes in FEL bucket for water drainage

mhalla · Dec 2, 2004

Do any of you drill holes in the bottom of your FEL buckets to provide for water drainage?

Is this a bad idea?

When I remove my FEL it unfortunately has to sit outside and sometimes rainwater begins to accumulate in the bucket. I thought If I put some drain holes in the bucket bottom that would keep the rainwater from collecting. Leaving the bucket tipped forward to keep the water out doesn't work when it comes time to detach or re-attach the bucket.

I suppose I could just cover the FEL with a tarp but then I would have to tie it up or do something to keep the tarp from blowing away. If the tarp were not taut I suspect that the bucket would still collect water but it would be held in the collapsed part of the tarp.

Any thoughts about drilling holes?

Mike

bandit67 · Dec 2, 2004

I don't see how 1 or 2 holes would hurt, as many of us have drilled a couple of 1/2" holes in the sides of the bucket to attach a toothbar (bigger machines have a half dozen holes in the cutter bar to accomodate their toothbars). I've never noticed any dirt pouring out of the holes when the toothbar is removed.

I would think you could easily get away with 2 or 3 holes that are 1/8" or 1/4" diameter if all you're looking for is water drainage. I can't see how they'd cause problems, and if you were needing to move liquid, or fine sand, with the FEL, then it would be easy to plug the holes for those jobs.

bczoom · Dec 2, 2004

Mike,

Mine came with holes from the factory so I'd think it's OK.
I think mine are almost 1/2" diameter.

Brian

Freds · Dec 2, 2004

I'd say that if you need them there, then put them there. I would go with at least 1/2" holes and get some rubber plugs from the hardware store just in case you need to water something a ways from the house.

beenthere · Dec 2, 2004

Sounds like a good idea to me, and if I do it (just may) they will be 1/2" or at least 3/8"'s. I did this with a pickup, to drain the box and found that 1/4" holes just didn't seem to do the job (plugged easily with debris and tree seeds).

chucko · Dec 2, 2004

Drill them the same size as a transom plug in a boat

JDFANATIC · Dec 2, 2004

mhalla,

Why can't you tip the bucket forward? I did this with my 755 and do it with my 2210 with no problem (I still cover the loader with a tarp attached with bungee cords to protect the hydraulic cylinders etc).

Cliff_Johns · Dec 2, 2004

One downside, as someone else up-thread said, if you wanted to carry water in the FEL, which I do from time to time. but another is if you want to mix concrete in the bucket, then any plug you used would get in the way of using the mason's hoe to mix with.

Personally, I like having a water tight bucket.

Cliff

btolle · Dec 2, 2004

( mhalla,

Why can't you tip the bucket forward? I did this with my 755 and do it with my 2210 with no problem (I still cover the loader with a tarp attached with bungee cords to protect the hydraulic cylinders etc). )

My concern with tipping the bucket forward is that the hydraulic rams are then exposed to the weather. I would rather have a rusty bucket than rusty hydraulic rams.

Bill Tolle

shoppintractors · Dec 2, 2004

My concern with tipping the bucket forward is that the hydraulic rams are then exposed to the weather. I would rather have a rusty bucket than rusty hydraulic rams.

I agree. Dragging rusty dirty rams back into the cylinders sure won't do the seals any good.

Don