Practicalities of a skid-steer bucket on a FEL (for digging)

[PandDLong]

With my L3540, I got the standard 72" materials bucket. My needs do include some digging and light excavation for which in the past I would rent a skid-steer (as my old JD 850 wasn't up to it) but I am hoping that I can use my new tractor for that task. I considered a removable tooth bar but I believe I will be better served by a "dedicated" digging bucket which will be narrower - probably 60" - with a welded tooth bar and pin-on teeth.

Since I have the SSQA, options abound for such a bucket and I can even find reasonable used buckets. However, they are all built for skid-steers and I can't find any such bucket options for a FEL in my local market. As I understand it from other threads, the issues with a skid-steer bucket are:

1. The angle of the back is different limiting the dump curl.
2. The bottom is longer pushing out the cutting edge and reducing break-out force.
3. The buckets are heavy.

I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has used a SS bucket on their FEL and their personal experiences - failure and/or success. I don't want to put down the $$ for a bucket just to experiment.

 

[TripleR]

With my L3540, I got the standard 72" materials bucket. My needs do include some digging and light excavation for which in the past I would rent a skid-steer (as my old JD 850 wasn't up to it) but I am hoping that I can use my new tractor for that task. I considered a removable tooth bar but I believe I will be better served by a "dedicated" digging bucket which will be narrower - probably 60" - with a welded tooth bar and pin-on teeth.

Since I have the SSQA, options abound for such a bucket and I can even find reasonable used buckets. However, they are all built for skid-steers and I can't find any such bucket options for a FEL in my local market. As I understand it from other threads, the issues with a skid-steer bucket are:

1. The angle of the back is different limiting the dump curl.
2. The bottom is longer pushing out the cutting edge and reducing break-out force.
3. The buckets are heavy.

I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has used a SS bucket on their FEL and their personal experiences - failure and/or success. I don't want to put down the $$ for a bucket just to experiment.

I would look into renting one to try out in advance, our local rental places have several bucket types including a grapple for rent.

 

[Ken45101]

You don't want to reduce the width more narrow than your tire track.

AFAIK, the back angles are the same. Some skid steer buckets are longer and lower to give the operator visibility of the cutting edge.

I suspect the big issue in digging with a tractor will be putting horsepower to the ground. As a salesman told me years ago, "it's a front end loader, not an excavator".

OTOH, my ss weighs significantly more than the M5040 (more power, more traction) and I have over the tire tracks on it (again, more weight, more traction).

Of course you want a "heavy" bucket if you are going to have teeth in it, otherwise when a tooth in the middle hooks a rock, you will bend up the bucket.

That said, a tooth bucket runs circles around a smooth edge bucket for digging, at least for me on a ss.

Oh, in my experience, tooth bars are a poor substitute for a toothed bucket. After repeatedly breaking off the corner teeth on my JD toothbar, I gave up and bought a tooth bucket. So far, much, much better.

I don't think anything on your list is a real problem however I would not expect near the digging performance from your L3540 that you would get from a skid steer or CTL. A tooth bucket will definitely help but it won't work miracles. Even my 70 hp, 8000# skid steer is not a perfect digging machine.

Ken

 

[1fastbob]

With my L3540, I got the standard 72" materials bucket. My needs do include some digging and light excavation for which in the past I would rent a skid-steer (as my old JD 850 wasn't up to it) but I am hoping that I can use my new tractor for that task. I considered a removable tooth bar but I believe I will be better served by a "dedicated" digging bucket which will be narrower - probably 60" - with a welded tooth bar and pin-on teeth.

Since I have the SSQA, options abound for such a bucket and I can even find reasonable used buckets. However, they are all built for skid-steers and I can't find any such bucket options for a FEL in my local market. As I understand it from other threads, the issues with a skid-steer bucket are:

1. The angle of the back is different limiting the dump curl.
2. The bottom is longer pushing out the cutting edge and reducing break-out force.
3. The buckets are heavy.

I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has used a SS bucket on their FEL and their personal experiences - failure and/or success. I don't want to put down the $$ for a bucket just to experiment.

I too would be interested in what you posted.

 

[PhilY]

I have a ripper and would suggest looking into one of those smaller ones from TSC. They work great for loosening up the soil and since you probably only need to loosen up about 5 inches at a time the work should go smoothly. If you don't have to do digging all the time with the FEL, the ripper might suffice. Just watch out for those underground obstacles and take it slow.

 

[Gary Fowler]

For my soil that has a lot of rocks, some big-some small, I find that a box blade using the scarifiers set as deep as they will go works best for digging. I do break a scarifier on large rocks occassionally; it usually bends sideways first and I can straighten them once and next time it breaks. It does loosen up the soil quiet well and I can then load it up with the FEL. I use the boxblade for counterweight also. After running the BB across, I can pick up the dirt with my smooth blade easily. I had a toothbar on my Yanmar 4220 because it wouldnt dig without one, but my LS P7010 and my Kubota B26 both dig well with smooth blade so I havent bothered with a tooth bar again. I do think the toothbars strengthen the bucket lip up a bit so that is a plus.

 

[bucktaker]

I have found my pallet forks do quite good at digging holes....plan on using them, inconjunction with my bucket to create a mound for a target shooting backstop into a hill side

 

[SSdoxie]

I have the setup OP is asking about. My tractor came with 68" material bucket. I bought a 60" Low Profile SS dirt bucket with welded teeth.
1 - dump angle? I haven't noticed any difference
2 - bucket longer, reduced breakout force? Yes there is.
3 - Bucket is heavier.
There are some advantages of the longer bucket even with reduced breakout. The longer bucket does give a little better visiblity to cutting edge, and is easier to set for level grade cut.
The bucket being heavier/heavier duty you probably won't be able to bend it, but the extra plus the extra length greatly affects the net load capacity. Both of my bucket have very close to same capacity but I can only comfortably lift and carry about 2/3 bucket in the SS bucket.
If I was to do it all over, I would either get a second tractor bucket and add another cutting edge to it then weld on teeth or look for a C&I style SS bucket - these are heavy duty like the LP bucket but have shorter bottom length than the more common low profile.
Note: for digging into hard soil I put the 60" tiller on the back for ballast plus use it to work the gorund first the scoop up with the SS bucket. Tooth bucke still fills easier than the smooth 68".

 

[SPYDERLK]

I know the subject is SS buckets, but I will throw this in. I ordered my 7520 with a 72" bucket altho std is 78-84". The 72" bucket came from a different supplier [Beuhler] and I think it offers digging benefits over conventional flat bottomed buckets. The 2 angle bottom surface of the beuhler greatly enables pry force when pressing down and curling. I have a 60" flat bottom tooth bucket on the tractor right now and would prefer the Beuhler in most digging situations due to the leverage demonstrated. Both buckets are SS QA compatible. ... :confused3: FWIW
larry

 

[MarkV]

Same here, I use a SS bucket on my L39 Kubota. I have mixed emotions about it. The longer profile does cut down on breakout force a good bit. It is heavier than the standard bucket so less lift. It is great for grading and has about eliminated my boxblade for the limited grading I do. If I were to do it again I think I would go with the standard bucket and add a tooth bar to it. That is what I have on my B21 Kubota and think it is a better match. Not as good for grading but you are talking about digging.

MarkV

I have the setup OP is asking about. My tractor came with 68" material bucket. I bought a 60" Low Profile SS dirt bucket with welded teeth.
1 - dump angle? I haven't noticed any difference
2 - bucket longer, reduced breakout force? Yes there is.
3 - Bucket is heavier.
There are some advantages of the longer bucket even with reduced breakout. The longer bucket does give a little better visiblity to cutting edge, and is easier to set for level grade cut.
The bucket being heavier/heavier duty you probably won't be able to bend it, but the extra plus the extra length greatly affects the net load capacity. Both of my bucket have very close to same capacity but I can only comfortably lift and carry about 2/3 bucket in the SS bucket.
If I was to do it all over, I would either get a second tractor bucket and add another cutting edge to it then weld on teeth or look for a C&I style SS bucket - these are heavy duty like the LP bucket but have shorter bottom length than the more common low profile.
Note: for digging into hard soil I put the 60" tiller on the back for ballast plus use it to work the gorund first the scoop up with the SS bucket. Tooth bucke still fills easier than the smooth 68".