No FEL on B2320 What about a Scoop?

[bikerdib]

OK, I'm going to go contrary to the general consensus here. I have a FEL on my 3300 but I still use the old scoop I bought 3 tractors ago. I don't use it all that often but I use it. First, I have a 3pt quick hitch that I welded 4 brackets to to hold suitcase weights for FEL counter weight. However, when I need more counter weight, I put the scoop on and fill it with sand. It also helps move more dirt with every trip when I need to go any kind of distance. With the scoop mounted so it faces backward on the 3pt, I will loosen up some soil into a pile with the FEL, back into and fill the scoop, then fill the FEL bucket. I travel to the location I want dirt, dump the FEL then the scoop and repeat. A scoop definitely isn't a FEL but it also isn't a worthless implement. Before I had a FEL, I moved lots of dirt with my scoop.

 

[bcal2]

That is a great idea. I don't have a FEL nor do I have $3500 to get one, so I bought a 24" scoop to move 16 yards of sandy clay. It worked great and I also use it to carry yard clippings ( like a wheel barrow) it is better than walking 2 acres. At some point maybe I will find a need for FEL but for now I will go the cheap route. And by the way I would like to thank all of you for sharing your experience and knowledge.

 

[mdelmarcelle]

I've got a scoop and an FEL. They both can provide value. The FEL is best for moving larger quanties. The scoop is nice for scraping smaller sections of ground. If your looking to create a small drainage ditch, the scoop can work well (assuming the ground is relatively dry, if it's wet, the tires will sink lower than the scoop). I used a scoop before I had an FEL, and it saved me a lot of time over digging by hand. What I hated about it was using the rope to trigger the dump. It is such a crude mechanism and I always felt uncomfortable having a rope dangling around the rear wheels as they were moving. Scoops are relatively inexpensive, and if you don't have an FEL, I would definitely get one.