Too much stump bucket?

[dickfoster]

So thanks for the advise guys. In the end I did decide that the Loflin stump bucket was probably too much bucket for my machine. I did look at both of the Titan stump buckets and had just about decided to go with the lighter one, but it was back ordered, so that one is out. After doing a bunch of reading on the subject I finally came to the realization that my machine isn't a skid steer, and as such it really isn't capable of using a stump bucket to it's fullest potential anyway. So buying a heavy duty bucket that is made for the severe abuse that a skid steer can dish out is almost certainly overkill. And the Heavy Duty models tend to weigh around double what the standard ones weigh, which of course only cuts into my potential lifting performance.

Then in an unusual turn of events I was taking an different route home from work one day and BAM, there it was sitting is a guys front yard. A brand new Tomahawk brand stump bucket for sale along with a few other attachments. I stopped in and it turns out that he had bought three of them at an auction a while back, he uses two of them on his skid steers and he is selling he third. Kind of randomly I ended up fixing an electrical problem he was having on a hydraulic power pack he had been working on for a few days, so he gave me the bucket for what he paid for it at auction, $275. Score! Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

So of course I took it straight home and put it right to work. I had been uprooting trees with a chain choker the day before, and of course when you're doing that you inevitably run into a few that you just can't pull. Well, the Tomahawk stump bucket made short work of all of them. So I moved on to something much larger, see the big cedar stump in the picture below. That took about ten minutes to dig out, but it did it with minimal trouble. Then I popped out a couple dozen more saplings; MUCH faster than using the chain choker. Then I went and dug out 8 concrete footers that used to be under a mobile home years ago, but lately are only good for tearing up my mower blades. To make a long story short, this thing made short work of every single thing I put in front of it. I've gotta say that I am impressed. It only weighs 175 pounds, which as stump buckets go is pretty light. It has the same general design as the Titan extreme stump bucket, but is a lot lighter because it isn't made out of 1/2" plate. Frankly I would be shocked if a compact tractor could tear this thing up. This may be my new favorite bucket! I will say that this bucket has welded teeth on the front, whereas the more expensive ones have pinned teeth that can more easily be replaced. Eh, shouldn't be a problem for a long while.

And finally, I had been considering a stump grapple instead of just a bucket. After spending a little time digging with one I'm glad that I didn't go that route. I'm now pretty sure that the grapple would be in the way of the digging in a lot of situations. So now I'll dig out a few dozen trees, swap on the root grapple to pile and transport them, then swap back to the stump bucket. Best to let each implement do what it is best at.

View attachment 461549 View attachment 461550

Well if you haven't tired of playing with that thing yet, bring it on by my place. I have lots of stumps you can practice on. Big ones, little ones, old ones and new ones.

 

[shootbikehunt]

A stump bucket is on my short list for new attachments. I am leaning toward the Titan HD and plan on using it for digging up stumps on our Christmas tree farm. How has the lighter duty stump bucket held up over the last two years?

 

[Stomper]

Thats great, Glad to hear you found a good bucket. 175lbs is nice and light to boot.

 

[eddie48]

I have a stump grapple, Extreme model from CID. I don't find that the grapple gets in the way of digging and it is a real treat not to have to fumdumble the stumps over to the edge of the field or to the stump pile. Just pick them up and carry them to where I want them to go. I also use the grapple for putting logs on the sawmill or holding them up to cut into firewood. Probably the best attachment I ever bought. I use it on my NH tc40Da tractor.

 

[Einthewoods]

Anyone have experience with the Titan HD stump bucket on a Kubota L3301/LA525 FEL? I am just curious if the weight of the bucket is too much for the tractor and should I go with the standard Titan stump bucket instead. Such a big difference in weight....and of course with that strength.

Lift capacity of the Kubota is ~1100lb and the weight of the HD is 470lb. Just doesn't seem like a lot of working room versus the 150lb of the standard bucket.

 

[Deerherd]

That is WAY too much bucket for your Kubota. I have the HD model and it belongs on a 70+ hp tractor or a skid steer IMHO.

 

[Fallon]

Anyone have experience with the Titan HD stump bucket on a Kubota L3301/LA525 FEL? I am just curious if the weight of the bucket is too much for the tractor and should I go with the standard Titan stump bucket instead. Such a big difference in weight....and of course with that strength.

Lift capacity of the Kubota is ~1100lb and the weight of the HD is 470lb. Just doesn't seem like a lot of working room versus the 150lb of the standard bucket.

I used a bucket spade on the forks on my L3200. Barely enough machine for that & a bucket spade is smaller (Its basically its a double size round point shovel missing a handle). I could dig a hole for a live Christmas tree with it in 15 min or so. Fine for my occasional needs at under $200, but very limited. I had to work to get it into the ground & scoop dirt, no way it would have worked even a Christmas tree stump. My new L4060 at double the weight might, but I'm not likely to ever try a stump with it, even a small one.

You are going to be disappointed with any digging bucket on a L3200/L3301 I'm guessing.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200356534_200356534 https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200356535_200356535 costs more, and has worse visibility connected to a bucket.