Pond/dirt Scoop

[armyret]

Have new toy and not sure of how to use. Bought a pond scoop that may be connected to 3PH front or back with a trip lever. If anyone has any tricks to using this let me know. I need to move some dirt and would like to deepen the edges of my pond. Should it be level, tilted, best position hook up front or back? All advice will be read and accepted.

 

[SteveM]

Trial and error is the key, but the length of the top link is really everything...the longer you set the link, the deeper the angle it cuts when pulled forward...which is how it works best. If you try to cut to deep an angle, it will simply stop the tractor. You will have to keep the trip lever well greased, and a good heavy rope is needed to give it a yank. I find it is best to simply tie the rope around the seat so it cant fall free and tangle in something. Also keep in mind that some ropes have a lot of 'give' - you dont want this, since it takes a bit of yank to trip the lever when fully loaded.

Anyhow, the only time to have the bucket pointed backwards is when moving material from a pile. Otherwise, pull it forward....lots of fun once you get the hang of it.

 

[rpeter]

I have a 6 acre pond and have never heard of a pond scoop. What does it look like? Could you possible post a picture of it /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue">Could you possible post a picture of it </font>

Here's a picture of mine. It's a KK and works pretty well.

In this picture it is on backwards so I could back into a pile of dirt...

 

[Taylortractornut]

Henro I still Find that with my fullsized backhoe and compact excavator we use our 24 inch pond scoop alot. I cant think of the bran we have its made in Redbay Alabama about 6 miles from where we work by Mike Raper. THe 32 horse Yanmar pulls is well even though its 2 wheel drive. Our 4000 Ford at work will pull it like its not behind it. We have an 11 yard scraper there but we still find times landscaping we need the 4000 and the 3point scoop. We ditch alot iwth ours and use it like a carryall to. I have dug a few small goldfish ponds as well with it. Back in the old days dad says they were high tech used to build alot of cellars and cattle ponds.

 

[Slippy]

What is the advantage of a pond scoop over the FEL?

 

[spanky8N]

Hello,
I found with mine that it took a little time to "break in" the trip lever. Keeping it well greased is sound advice in the above post. Don't get frustrated if the lever is a little hard to pull. Mine got increasingly easier the more I used it.
Dan

 

[Taylortractornut]

they can make a deep cut onthe run be hind the tractor for one. If your rea steady with tyour lift lever they can be used to cut sod from one area to another. Most are 24 to 36 inches wide. We have a 24 for the 30 hp Yanmar but it can easily pull a 36 inch. I have used one on a loader tractor to scoop a load with the front and in the sam motion drop the scoop and load it up to. Its a working counter weight. Cutting an narrow ditsdis another thing the scoop does good. You can travel down the ditch line and load rather than ith a loader having toscoop out perpendicularly to it. A scoop is really a poormans loader. mast and be used as a backfacing implement or as a front pulling unit. Both attacment have their pros and cons but I use both alot At work we have a D5 Cat and a JD762 scraper. We also have a4000 Ford tractor but no loader. I keep my scoop down theres. I f I see a young tree I want Ill take and drop the scoop down far enough back for it to dige in and take it and enough of its soil to make a nice shade tree here. I also use it lot alns scap around the pond at work. Ill take a load of topsoil where I need to fill in a low spot and dump it If its not easy to reach with the scraper then take the tractor and the scoop and tote it to the spot then get my box bladeand finish. When we get gravel dlivered we use it to scopp up and take it to the spots that need the gravel taher than havint to try to get all the soil out of the scraper and scoop up a minute load of gravel.

 

[RickO]

I was wondering if I could use a dirt scoop since I don't have a loader. Now I know there is actually a lot you can do with one. I realize a loader would be nicer but also a lot more money. Thanks for the post, is is very insightful.

 

[JohnVa]

Ok, where can U get one and what do they cost /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Looks good to me.

John

 

[mowingcorey]

I bought my 30 inch dirt scoop at Rural King for $220. It's made by Wallace. I had to choose between $220 for a dirt scoop or $2200 for a koyker loader. I really like the dirt scoop so far.

 

[JohnVa]

Thanks mowingcorey,

I'll have to look for that one.

John

 

[slydog]

I bought mine at a local Homier sale for 119.00. It's a 24".

 

[RickO]

You can get them at Tractor Supply Company TSC for about $290. I think Northern Tool co. has one also. I got mine at TSC. Haven't used it yet.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You will have to keep the trip lever well greased, and a good heavy rope is needed to give it a yank. )</font>

I have never been a real fan of the new dirt scoop's dump mechanism. I rounded the corners on my dump handle latch and added a 1' extension with a piece of square tubing to give me the leverage I need to dump the bucket. I used to have to set the bucket on the ground to release tension against the latch before pulling my dump rope, but my modifications made the mechanism a lot easier to operate.

In the 1950's I grew up using a dirt scoop that had a much better designed dump mechanism (see attachment). I believe that it was a Dearborn scoop, and it's dump lever was attached to the bucket instead of the frame. My drawings are crude representations of the mechanisms. The old style scoop dump arm had a spring behind it (shown in red) and a lip that extended out under the fixed roller to latch the bucket in place. When you pulled the rope, the lift arm released and also became a handle to assist in rotating the bucket full of dirt.

I have moved thousands of loads with the old scoop and the new scoop and I prefer the old Dearborn style.