Mechanos
Veteran Member
That's some good lookin work. I've heard several people say you just could not dig with a tractor, only move loose material. Looks as though you've got it down to a science.
Don't know if I'd go that far. This is my first job ever excavating with a FEL. You just have to learn the limitation of the machine and work within those limitations to achieve the desired results. As I'm learning how to accomplish different tasks with the tractor, my technique is improving each time I get on it. I still screw up, though and have to go back and "fix" some areas.
If you're trying to cut into a 2.5' to 3' bank like I'm doing, you just cant do it in a single bite with this size machine. I'll approach the face of the bank and position the bucket about 6" below the surface and cut peel off the top layer, then back up and lower the bucket another 6" or so and take another bite. I do this a few times until I have a full bucket and go dump it. Then head back and keep slicing off layers however thick the tractor will handle until I'm down to the elevation I want. It sounds time consuming, but with an HST and practice on the bucket controls I'm getting really fast at it. I'm averaging about 1 minute or so per round trip to the stockpile. Or course that depends on how far away your stockpile is.