Lessons Learned...

[Dougster]

Tried to do my first serious FEL bucket packed gravel digging & scraping work this weekend without the backhoe+thumb in place. Brought my red Beast's fighting weight down from around 7,250 lbs (+/-) to maybe 5,400 lbs soaking wet. Let me tell you... those 4 industrial tires were spinning like baldies and I wasn't going anywhere fast! Now I know why all you folks LOVE your loaded tires!

Important notes to myself:
1) When doing serious FEL work, make sure BH+thumb are attached.
2) If not possible, build yourself a monster ballast box
3) Consider loading at least the front tires (even if I go overweight on trailer load)
4) Very good news: New 78" HD bucket does not bend at all!!!
5) Very bad news: New 78" HD bucket is too wide for my relatively lightweight machine to bite into anything!
6) Buy 66" (or 60"?) digging bucket with outrageously large & nasty teeth!
7) Keep searching for good deal on used 7520. Any color but blue!

Dougster

 

[rback33]

What's the over/under on how long it takes Brian to reply?

 

[Dougster]

What's the over/under on how long it takes Brian to reply?

All depends on where he is hiding today!

Dougster

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I was wondering why you put the 78" bucket on there to start with....Same width as on my 6000 4WD....suggest you measure your front wheel spacing and go about 2" wider than the outside width of the front tires (4" total wider than width of front end...). Then get the loaded tires and ballast box AND teeth. ...I'm sure you'll make a note self: the "difference" is self evident! BobG in VA

 

[Dougster]

I was wondering why you put the 78" bucket on there to start with....Same width as on my 6000 4WD....suggest you measure your front wheel spacing and go about 2" wider than the outside width of the front tires (4" total wider than width of front end...). Then get the loaded tires and ballast box AND teeth. ...I'm sure you'll make a note self: the "difference" is self evident! BobG in VA

Ha!!! Well, after this weekend I wish I could load *ALL* the tires... but my need to transport by trailer limits me in that regard. My old 72" bucket fits your formula exactly, but it was way too light-duty to use for this kind of aggressive digging. It's bent up enough already. I have since bought the steel to beef up the old 72", but am still waiting for one of the three welders in the family to show up and actually do the work!

That 78" HD bucket seemed like a really good idea at the time... especially looking at my best alternative at the time: $600.00 in upgrades to the 72" bucket performed by the local welding shop. I essentially ended up with two buckets for the price of one... however, it's crystal clear that I still need a smaller... probably 60" or 66"... highly aggressive, toothed digging bucket. Found one that was perfect but lost it when I slept on the deal overnight. My bad. It was gone when I called to reserve it the next morning.

It's the story of my life. A day late and a dollar short!

Dougster

 

[MtnViewRanch]

All depends on where he is hiding today!

Dougster

LA, but a man has to do what a man has to do. Sorry to here that you wouldn't want my unique machine. You know just because it's blue doesn't mean that you can't get parts if needed. Oh well, since you don't want to trade or anything like that, I suppose that I'll have to keep using my heavy machine with all those darn implements that I have for it.

Two other things, have you had a need to use your grapple on many jobs and when you do get your 72" bucket beefed up, are you installing weld on mounts for the teeth?

Just wondering, and I sure do like my blue 7520. Oh, would you have a need for a 60" Road Boss. I think that I can get you a killer deal on one.

 

[Dougster]

LA, but a man has to do what a man has to do. Sorry to here that you wouldn't want my unique machine. You know just because it's blue doesn't mean that you can't get parts if needed. Oh well, since you don't want to trade or anything like that, I suppose that I'll have to keep using my heavy machine with all those darn implements that I have for it. Two other things, have you had a need to use your grapple on many jobs and when you do get your 72" bucket beefed up, are you installing weld on mounts for the teeth? Just wondering, and I sure do like my blue 7520. Oh, would you have a need for a 60" Road Boss. I think that I can get you a killer deal on one.

It's okay Brian! I just heard about some guy over on the NH forum who bought a brand new New Holland tractor, got drunk one night, went out to his barn... and spray painted it Mahindra Red!!! So the world is back in proper balance again!!!

Well, maybe I heard wrong... but I suppose it's possible... yes?

I still haven't decided exactly what to do with my old 72" bucket other than beefing it up with the steel I bought and then painting it blue... opps, I meant black! Plans keep changing based on availability of potentially better (and/or less costly) options. Good quality teeth and tooth bars are not exactly cheap... so I want to make sure they are on the right bucket(s) for my needs. I am currently waiting for a call back from the company that was blowing out those 66" Loflin HD skid steer buckets with the nasty good teeth. If they do get any more in anytime soon, chances are I will jump on one... in which case there is no need for installing costly teeth on the old 72". It will just get a new bolt-on cutting edge (in addition to the reinforcing steel)... possibly a landscaping tooth bar... we'll see. The new 78" HD bucket is perfect for pushing down trees and generally moving and spreading materials faster... and it doesn't bend!!! ...but it is clearly a bit wide for aggressive digging of hard-packed soils and gravel with my machine (especially without the BH installed).

Grapple hasn't seen much action since I bought it and did some initial testing with it earlier this year. There simply hasn't been any call for it. Frankly, it has ended up as more of a marketing tool so far. Good to have for its wide capabilities... but oddly unnecessary now that I have the wider HD bucket, BH thumb and am hooked up with a real tree service. And now with my new wood chipper, I'll be chipping the smaller stuff (under 6") right on site. No need to drag brush out to the dump trailer. Still, I'm sure... its time will come! Just give me one good storm... or field to clear of large rocks before mowing.

No need for a road boss. I've got my box blade and rake. I can do a lot with those two things... certainly enough to satisfy folks and needs around here.

Dougster