Alternative Uses for Implements

[RobS]

We're finally going to have a garden this year but I don't want to spring for a tiller until I'm convinced we'll enjoy gardening. I called a rental outlet but no three point tillers available. Hmm, what to do. I know I can borrow a troy built rear tine, but it's pretty small and not immediately available. But wait, what's that under the tarp behind the barn? Yes, it's a backhoe just emerging from winter hibernation. That's the ticket!

So yes, I ended up "tilling" a 20X40 patch with my backhoe. It was fun and a great way to break up the weeds etc. Sprayed some roundup last night and will get the little troy built this weekend to finish it off.

What a great way to get backhoe seat time! And it sure beats the thing just sitting out behind the barn.

Anyone else have unusual uses for implements on hand?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[getut]

I used a single bottom plow to cut a ring (drainage ditch) around my barn about 6' out. Then put my boxblade back on and dropped both left side tires into the ditch to boxblade a slope out from the barn. Just connected another ditch heading into the woods and it took some tweaking to get it all going slightly downhill but worked well.

I don't think using a single bottom plow as a ditch digger is extraordinarily clever though. I'm probably person #4339885 to use one for that purpose.

 

[Tom_H]

One guy used a PHP to dig a line of close together holes. Only had the last 20% to shovel out, ending with a nice trench. Another uses FEL bucket to carry sprayer tank around spraying. One was using FEL as mobile scaffold platform.

This one wasn't on TBN, but some guy is a nut about medieval weapons & such. Heard he wanted to use the tractor to wratchet up a catapult & see how far he could launch a dead cow. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif (They used to shoot dead diseased cow bodies over castle walls to use as biological weapons; it lands & goes POP. Out come the maggots, etc.) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

Using and FEL bucket to make garden rows is another good alternate use. Just start on one side and work your way down building the mounds, back up and start the next returning until you've crossed the whole garden.
It's a good bit of work, but in the absense of a bedder disk, or not wanting to hoe it all, it's a good alternative. John

 

[BGL990]

I use my landscape rake turned backwards to break up and spread horse manure in the pasture. The lumps just roll ahead of the backwards-facing tines until they break up enough to fit between the tines. Works better than any harrows I've tried. One pass and you can hardly tell there were animals in the field.

 

[MaineTWLSB]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( wratchet up a catapult & see how far he could launch a dead cow. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif (They used to shoot dead diseased cow bodies over castle walls to use as biological weapons; it lands & goes POP. Out come the maggots, etc.) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )</font>

gross, but funny as ****....I would bet that guys a Monty Python fan... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tom_H]

Wonder how much they'd've paid a fella' with a defective smeller to shoot flyin' skunks at the enemy! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ' bet that'd'a' flushed 'em out'a that castle in a hurry! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[98_TBS]

John-
I am not quite following you. Could you expand a little. I have been trying to figure out how to make raised beds with an FEL.


Thanks in advance.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( John-
I am not quite following you. Could you expand a little. I have been trying to figure out how to make raised beds with an FEL. )</font>
Till or plow the garden then put the loader perpendicular to where the row is going. Start at the end, put your bucket down with the cutting edge facing foward down on the soil and then curl the bucket so that it pulls the dirt up into a mound. Move over a little and do it again and again until you have the beds built up. It's not an ideal way to do it, but it works. Time consuming and takes some practice to get the beds the way you want them, but it can be done. John

 

[Bob_Skurka]

John, have you tried using a back blade to 'windrow' the dirt into rough beds? You really need to have the ground tilled and pretty soft, but using a back blade, offset, angled and slightly tilted you can make a few passes and build raised beds.


As for other uses for implements, I use a Howse landscape rake as a snake catcher at my warehouse. The warehouse is sandwiched between a creek and a railroad track and there is a ditch along the RR. The back property is a haven for snakes. Run a landscape rake behind the tractor around the field usually pulls up a half dozen good size snakes. It sure helps to keep them from getting into the warehouse and scaring the night crew!