TREES REMOVED BY ROOTS USING FEL AND BUCKET SPADE.

[jeff9366]

September 2012 I posted pictures of Bucket Solutions' Bucket Spade planting Sand Pears.

I only clamp-on the Bucket Spade occasionally. Each occasion I am impressed by its effectiveness.

Today I took pictures while tearing out several small oak trees and unearthing stumps with the FEL and Bucket Spade. I prefer to remove trees by the roots so later I can bush hog unimpeded.

The holes in the 'stump' pictures are 36-42" deep and fairly broad. The pair of stumps took 20-25 minutes to unearth, the tenacious roots spread through Florida sandy-loam.

Bucket Spade is NOT a backhoe. But it only costs $370, delivered, not $X000. It is (relatively) easy on/off and never migrates once the clamps are tight, it does not require dedicated hydraulics, and the three point hitch is available for an implement; today a Wallenstein BX42 PTO powered chipper/425 pounds. I like some weight behind the rear axle when I have root cutting and stump prying as part of the job. Rear ballast keeps the rear end down and decreases load on the front axle.

My tractor is a Kubota B3300SU, 33-hp/1,800 pounds/industrial tires. I am not sure a lighter tractor would have enough power to dig with this tool, which weighs 110 pounds, and works cantilevered forward of the bucket.

Bucket spade would be optimal on a 35-60-hp/3,000 pound tractor with proportionaly heavier bucket.

FEL Bucket Spade ranks with $320 Ratchet Rake in terms of most utility per dollar spent.

LINKS:

Tractor Forks, Bucket Forks, Loader Forks

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/a...rs-kubota.html

[creekbend]

Well done.

[oldballs]

Thanks for the post and pictures, Jeff. It's good to know how that attachment works. Cheers Mike

[sixdogs]

Interesting. I just saw a photo of one of these a couple days ago and wondered how it would work for transplanting smaller trees. Sort-of wished the shovel was bigger for that use but yours sure looks strong enough.

[gwiley]

I have used a similar spade attached to my skid steer dirt bucket and was really impressed. Well worth the money. I ended up getting a stump bucket (a 12" opening that tapers back to the full width of the universal attachment plate) and was amazed at what I could do with it. If you like the spade, take a look at stump buckets - only a few hundred more $$ but simply amazing if you are uprooting stumps and large trees with a FEL.

[gwiley]

The stump bucket that I have is similar to this one (can't find the site where I got mine):

Skid Steer Stump Bucket

I bought a grapple from these guys and have been very happy with it.

[the old grind]

I want to give Paumco's Quick Spade Combo kit a try for transplanting with the FELs. Paumco Products Quick Spade Combo — Model# 1101-Quick Spade | Skid-Steers Attachments| Northern Tool + Equipment There are tricks to using a backhoe bucket for this (16" on the Terramite) and you risk beating up trunks along the way, not to mention some awkwardness with wide shrubs & conifers.

Reviews at Northern Tool suggest I can make it work ok, but there may be some technique to grasp if attached to a small-ish (<30hp) tractor. I should have some results/pics to post by Springtime ...

[jeff9366]

If you like the spade, take a look at stump buckets - only a few hundred more $$ but simply amazing if you are uprooting stumps and large trees with a FEL.

After web research I find stump buckets are generally 400 - 500 pounds weight and intended primarily for skid steers.

Lift capacity on B3300SU tractor FEL is 1000 pounds (+/-) in the bucket, so with 400 pound stump bucket remaining lift is only around 400 pounds, as "out front" mount reduces lift. As I often want to pry under a stump while the tool is full of dirt.....tractor operator runs out of lift capacity early.

Next you have the issue of traction on tractors, which are designed to PULL not PUSH like a skid steer, especially a tracked skid steer.

Last, MOST compact tractors are not set up for SSQL/skid steer attachments, though a few are.

For most compact tractor/loader operators a 110 pound Bucket Spade will be the realistic alternative to a backhoe.

[Deerherd]

Thanks for sharing, I've been looking for something to transplant small trees also and that looks like it has possibilities.

[Ken45101]

I would be leery of too much pressure on the loader cylinders in certain (extended) positions. Tractor FEL are not designed for that sort of work and I've seen pictures where the cylinders have been bent. The FEL cylinders are better at retracting than in working in extended mode.

As Jeff points out, tractors don't have the front traction that a skid steer/CTL has.

Ken