Moving #4 stone with a subcompact

   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #1  

DavidAubke

Silver Member
Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
130
Location
Southeast Ohio
Tractor
Kubota BX2350
I don't think it will surprise anyone who's tried but I can't move #4 limestone with my BX2350 subcompact. If the stone is sitting on pavement, I can usually slide underneath but trying to push my 4' loader into the middle of a pile is like running into a cement wall. The machine doesn't have the necessary weight and if it did, it would probably destroy the loader in short order.

Will adding a tooth bar allow me to scoop loads of #4?
 
   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #2  
I haven't tried a small tractor like that but in my opinion your trying too hard, back blade some material first from the top to the bottom to loose up some material, then start at the bottom and use mainly the tilt at first then lift and work your way up by scraping the material off the pile ... if you only get half a bucket, dump it back in the pile and try again.

see the video below... he his loading pure stone but same principle... note he slam the bucket in the pile harder then would like.

 
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   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #3  
Last year I got a load of #4 and I just took small bites of it. Even with a huge machine, the wider the bucket, it will experience the same thing if you've ever operated a large wheel loader or tractor.

You just need to finesse it and feel out... and not jab the loader into the pile. Also try not to spin the tires as you'll go though tires like crazy.

Another hint is that I recommend taking from the top of the pile where it doesn't have more weight on it.
 
   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #5  
Last year I got a load of #4 and I just took small bites of it. Even with a huge machine, the wider the bucket, it will experience the same thing if you've ever operated a large wheel loader or tractor.

You just need to finesse it and feel out... and not jab the loader into the pile. Also try not to spin the tires as you'll go though tires like crazy.

Another hint is that I recommend taking from the top of the pile where it doesn't have more weight on it.

Scooping from the top of the pile is a good strategy when the pile is small material but when you’re trying to scoop firewood or large rocks going from the bottom and trying to slide under the material is the best strategy.
 
   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #7  
Scooping from the top of the pile is a good strategy when the pile is small material but when you’re trying to scoop firewood or large rocks going from the bottom and trying to slide under the material is the best strategy.
Yes it is, but #4 limestone is what I call on the smaller side of material.
 
   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #8  
I don't think it will surprise anyone who's tried but I can't move #4 limestone with my BX2350 subcompact. If the stone is sitting on pavement, I can usually slide underneath but trying to push my 4' loader into the middle of a pile is like running into a cement wall. The machine doesn't have the necessary weight and if it did, it would probably destroy the loader in short order.

Will adding a tooth bar allow me to scoop loads of #4?
A tooth bar will almost certainly help.

Think of it this way....

Try pushing the side of your hand into a pile of #4 stones like a slow Karate chop. It's not gonna go very far.

Now try pushing your finger into the pile while wiggling it a bit. Goes in pretty easy.

So take that 48" of edge and turn it into about 6" of edge total at the tooth points. That's what makes the difference.
 
   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #9  
As I was taught..

- Start with the bottom of the bucket flat towards the bottom of the pile.
- Move into the pile and start lifting and curling the bucket as you move forward.
- The forward motion combined with the lift and curl will crowd the bucket with material. Gravity helps to fill the bucket as the angle of repose is breached.


- Tooth bar lets more force push into the pile in smaller concentrated areas at the tooth face first and breaks up the tension between the pieces to make it easier to knock them apart from each other and move into the bucket.
 
   / Moving #4 stone with a subcompact #10  
I don't think it will surprise anyone who's tried but I can't move #4 limestone with my BX2350 subcompact. If the stone is sitting on pavement, I can usually slide underneath but trying to push my 4' loader into the middle of a pile is like running into a cement wall. The machine doesn't have the necessary weight and if it did, it would probably destroy the loader in short order.

Will adding a tooth bar allow me to scoop loads of #4?

Your machine with its loader is only ment to reclaim materials light in weight it is not designed to
what you are trying to do.

Pushing the stone from the side of the pile in six inch slices to make a long windrow is the only
way to do this if you do not want to rent a tracked skid loader like a Toro Dingo.

A couple of square flat shovels with fiber glass handles, a small dump trailer for garden tractors,
good friends, beer and pizza is the only real way to fill the bucket filled by having the bucket fully
retracted and pushed against the pile.

Renting a toro dingo with a bucket will be faster.
 
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