Moving #4 stone with a subcompact

[DavidAubke]

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?

 

[Rockbadchild]

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.

 

[diesel85]

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.

 

[Rockbadchild]

 

[4570Man]

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.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

New Holland tc29d... 29HP. Same issue. Added an Everything Attachments toothbar, changed the world...
Best investment for a sub...

 

[diesel85]

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.

 

[MossRoad]

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.

 

[MossRoad]

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.

Angle of repose - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

- 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.

 

[leonz]

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.

 

[Rockbadchild]

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.

i digress but anyhow, for me it dosent matter what the fibreglass handle is attach on I can’t handle it ( lol no pun intended) I can’t deal with the flex I much rather a wood handle every time.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I have a much bigger tractor but did load and haul a whole truck load of 2inch minus that sat there for a long time it was very compacted. It was challenging at the beginning to get a full buckets but after a while it loose up and it wasn’t bad … it’s all in the technique and it dose take a bit to master … I also agree with MossRoad reasoning but it would only be the case for the first two inch or so then you are back to the full cutting edge contact and just like if it wasn’t there altho that two inch and the irregularity could make a difference and probably dose.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

This is the second time I've moved 12 ton of 3/4" gravel. First was with a 24hp with standard bucket. Could not break surface tension and get a bucket load. Now, 29 hp with the EA toothbar, so much easier. Moving compacted dirt as well...

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

FWIW...... trying slowing down your fwd motion and increase the use of your curl function. Curl/lift/shave into your pile.

This is good technique which is easier on a loaders driveline and less ground damage which uses more of your lift power than your weight/fwd momentum. Helps ensure fuller buckets as well.

Cheers

 

[dodge man]

I don’t think a tooth bar will help much. I had a BX 2350 for 10 years and I could fill the bucket with gravel. Do you have filled tires and/or ballast on the back? I had Rimguard in my tires and a 500 pound ballast box on the back.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

So, you don't have a toothbr, but don't THINK it would help? I have one, it helps with the breaking of surface tension, which is one issue...

 

[MossRoad]

I have a much bigger tractor but did load and haul a whole truck load of 2inch minus that sat there for a long time it was very compacted. It was challenging at the beginning to get a full buckets but after a while it loose up and it wasn’t bad … it’s all in the technique and it dose take a bit to master … I also agree with MossRoad reasoning but it would only be the case for the first two inch or so then you are back to the full cutting edge contact and just like if it wasn’t there altho that two inch and the irregularity could make a difference and probably dose.

Once your break that lock the material has, the teeth lift it and cut through it like a wedge using the material to break itself apart. I've got two buckets. One is 48" straight edge. The other is 42" with teeth. I sharpened the teeth with a grinder. It's really impressive the difference. Once you're into the pile a few inches, the curl and lift coupled with forward motion pretty much self-loads the bucket. No need to go in more than a few inches with a small tractor/loader.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's an old picture of my machine and attachments. You can see the two buckets to the left. At first, the teeth didn't help much. They are blunt. Then someone suggested I sharpen them with a grinder. I did. Night and day difference.

I can't push that wide bucket into sod. It'll lift the tractor instead. I can push the toothed bucket into sod, and by rocking the curl/dump lever, I can pry right down, through, and under the sod and take out bucketfuls at a time.

Teeth make a huge difference. Cheap upgrade, too. Money well spent.

 

[4570Man]

I have a tooth and straight bucket on my skid steer. Teeth absolutely make a big difference for cutting dirt. But I don’t think you would experience much difference for scooping loose material like gravel.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a tooth and straight bucket on my skid steer. Teeth absolutely make a big difference for cutting dirt. But I don’t think you would experience much difference for scooping loose material like gravel.

With a smaller machine it makes a big difference with something like #4 crushed limestone like the OP has. It's crushed to 1" to 2.5" irregular pieces that tend to lock together easier. Gravel is smooth and rounded and easy to scoop.