Loader Subsoiler to help FEL digging?

[jinman]

Check to see if a local rental yard has a tiller. If you drop the tiller and go slowly, you can make your FEL work a dream. Till the dirt 4" to 6" deep and then remove the loose dirt with a FEL over and over until you've achieved your final grade. Daily rental rates on a tiller with a slip clutch shouldn't be too bad.

 

[skipmarcy]

It's what I bought my subsoiler for - when I was cutting into the hillside for my homesite a few years ago. I have a reddish-brown clay here and then some layers of chert rock - I hit a layer of chert and used the subsoiler in low range to break it up so the boxblade and loader both could get it out, worked great for me. Of course it stopped the tractor a few times on larger chunks of rock but my 1st gear is extremely slow and I crept along and got the job done without any damages or problems, my tires would just start to slip and I'd clutch it and raise the plow.

 

[dex3361]

I have used both a Sub Soiler and a Box Blade both were successful only the Box Blade was a bit faster because it ripped with more teeth. The box blade will be more useful after the pool as well. I think the best tool for this use would be a tiller if you had one though. We work with what we have sometimes.

 

[pat32rf]

If you have another driver I'd rent a small excavator for the day. One man on each machine will move a lot of dirt. 16X32 (Plus wall footings) does not give a lot of room to maneuver and if there is any moisture in that clay you will have trouble backing up and out with a full bucket (even with chains). Been there, done that....

 

[JIGBUILDER]

I built a small pond on the back side of my place that is about 5' deep. I started out with the intention of using the FEL.

I found out my 6' box blade with all 6 rippers as deep as they would go removed dirt/rock faster than messing with trying to move the piles of dirt with the loader.

I did use the loader to make most of the dam from the piles the box blade left.

Try them all and see what works best in your type of soil.

 

[fish6942]

If you do try the box blade don't be surprised if the BX has a hard time pulling it with the rippers down. I used a BB for my landscaping last year and many times it would just sit and spin. This was with chains all around and diff lock engaged. Of course soil conditions will make all the difference. The flip side may be that the ground is too hard and the rippers will simply drag along the top of the soil (not enough weight). I'd suggest trying the subsoiler first.

You may want to think about renting an excavator or backhoe for the digging. If you're set on using the BX to help then it can be used for relocating the piles. You'll be lucky to get 1/5 to 1/4 of a yard in the FEL so do the math and see how many trips this ends up being.

 

[foggy1111]

Depending on soil conditions, I'd vote for a tiller to loosen stuff up and then using your loader. A close second is the box blade....but you may not be able to use all the shanks at once.

 

[DiezNutz]

I just started using my Kubota BX2350 to excavate for an inground swimming pool (I know it is crazy):confused2:. To make it even more challenging, the soil here in central NC is hard clay.

I thought I was ambitious digging out the grade and foundation for my 2600sf shop with my own setup...

Hopefully a couple of things you have considered ahead of time:

* Overdig, i.e., a safe amount of. When you're rooting around in the deep end, it's going to be pretty creepy with high walls of dirt all around you. More than creepy if one decides to collapse on top of you. Headache if it collapses due to rain, etc. when you're not down in the hole.

* Backfilling, and whether your placement of spoil is conducive to it. Also, compaction of said backfill, to avoid future settling problems around the pool.

Lord help you if you hit ledge/bedrock...

This is obviously a job that's better suited to a large excavator, but hey where there's a will there's a way! :thumbsup:

 

[pitt_md]

Your machine is on the small side for soing that job. You can rent a mini excavator for a day and have every thing done by noon. Save your tractor and use the right tool.

 

[BXpanded]

I just started using my Kubota BX2350 to excavate for an inground swimming pool (I know it is crazy):confused2:. To make it even more challenging, the soil here in central NC is hard clay.

With a tooth bar I am able to dig, but it is real tough. I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to get a subsoiler and use it to break up the dirt to make it easier for the loader to dig into it. Has anyone ever tried this? Thanks.

A turning plow works great. My guess is a subsoiler will do well too. Based on my experience, it'll take about 35 hours if you're a fairly accomplished operator and don't hit rock.
The machine will survive nicely.