Neat trick using loader as a box scraper!

[Nathan_OR]

I learned a cool trick with the FEL from my neighbor. When you have something else on the back of your tractor (like a backhoe) and yet you want to grade down some earth to say fill in a hole you've made with the hoe and/or loader, the loader actually substitutes really well as a box scraper!

First tilt the bucket all the way to "dump" position, so the cutting edge is upside down and the open bucket is facing the ground. Then lower the loader to the ground, then back slowly while controlling the cut with the raise/lower control on the loader. On my JD 3320, the beauty is that the top edge of the loader actually acts as a material catcher, so that not only does the leading edge cut the dirt, but the trailing edge carries along material just like a box blade!

This has made digging up stumps and backfilling as I go a LOT quicker.

Nathan

 

[JerryG]

Nathan,
You need to be very careful blading like that. The cylinders are not designed to be used like that. The nut can be broken off of the gland and the rods can be bent very easily. Some of the manufactures, if not all of them recommend against doing back grading with the bucket turned down over about a 30* angle.

 

[Nathan_OR]

Oh! Thanks for the heads up. I guess I learned *2* new things then

 

[texasjohn]

Kubota manual explicitly says... don't do that.... you can back drag with the heel of the loader bucket, with bottom of bucket nearly level and cutting edge pointed forward.

 

[Deadman]

yeah that makes everything vulnerable.

 

[RonMar]

Yep, as mentioned the cylinders are most vulnerable when fully extended. As for back grading, that is a usefull function for smoothing and why many loaders have "float" on the lift arm hydraulic circuit to allow the bucket to just drag along the and stay in contact with the ground under the loader weight as the tractor moves over uneven ground.

 

[darkviper]

I did exactly what the guy said about bending the cylinders on a 100 HP tractor one time. Bent both of them almost to a perfect 90. BAD BAD THING TO DO

 

[tydp]

My Bush hog loader also says do not do this.....

 

[EddieWalker]

Nathan,

The loader bucket is much better then a box scaper for leveling and compacting fill material. I do it all the time and never use my box scraper.

You just need to use the back edge of the bucket for pulling and cutting the material flat. Have the bottom of the bucket at the angle, or totally flat. Then drive past the loose material and lower the bucket all the way so that your front tires are not touching the ground. Drive backwards while pulling your bucket through the material. If you have the angle right, it will create a perectly smooth finish. Do this a few times and you will have a small pile between the tractor and the smooth area. Scoop up that material and dump it back on the low spots. Drive over it while doing this to compact it while building up your fill.

It wont take long to get the feel for doing this. It's all in the angle of the bucket. Too much angle and you're cutting deeper then you want. Not enough angle and you just slide over the pile. Get it just right and you'll be amazed at how much better the FEL bucket is over the box blade.

Eddie

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Nathan,

The loader bucket is much better then a box scaper for leveling and compacting fill material. I do it all the time and never use my box scraper.

You just need to use the back edge of the bucket for pulling and cutting the material flat. Have the bottom of the bucket at the angle, or totally flat. Then drive past the loose material and lower the bucket all the way so that your front tires are not touching the ground. Drive backwards while pulling your bucket through the material. If you have the angle right, it will create a perectly smooth finish. Do this a few times and you will have a small pile between the tractor and the smooth area. Scoop up that material and dump it back on the low spots. Drive over it while doing this to compact it while building up your fill.

It wont take long to get the feel for doing this. It's all in the angle of the bucket. Too much angle and you're cutting deeper then you want. Not enough angle and you just slide over the pile. Get it just right and you'll be amazed at how much better the FEL bucket is over the box blade.

Eddie

Eddie:

You say a couple of things here that I want to make sure I understand. You say, have the bottom of the bucket at "the" angle. What do yo mean by "the" angle?

You say, lower the bucket all the way so that your front tires are not touching the ground. Is that correct? Only the back tires touching the ground?