Neat trick using loader as a box scraper!

[Nathan_OR]

I learned a cool trick with the FEL from my neighbor. When you have something else on the back of your tractor (like a backhoe) and yet you want to grade down some earth to say fill in a hole you've made with the hoe and/or loader, the loader actually substitutes really well as a box scraper!

First tilt the bucket all the way to "dump" position, so the cutting edge is upside down and the open bucket is facing the ground. Then lower the loader to the ground, then back slowly while controlling the cut with the raise/lower control on the loader. On my JD 3320, the beauty is that the top edge of the loader actually acts as a material catcher, so that not only does the leading edge cut the dirt, but the trailing edge carries along material just like a box blade!

This has made digging up stumps and backfilling as I go a LOT quicker.

Nathan

 

[JerryG]

Nathan,
You need to be very careful blading like that. The cylinders are not designed to be used like that. The nut can be broken off of the gland and the rods can be bent very easily. Some of the manufactures, if not all of them recommend against doing back grading with the bucket turned down over about a 30* angle.

 

[Nathan_OR]

Oh! Thanks for the heads up. I guess I learned *2* new things then

 

[texasjohn]

Kubota manual explicitly says... don't do that.... you can back drag with the heel of the loader bucket, with bottom of bucket nearly level and cutting edge pointed forward.

 

[Deadman]

yeah that makes everything vulnerable.

 

[RonMar]

Yep, as mentioned the cylinders are most vulnerable when fully extended. As for back grading, that is a usefull function for smoothing and why many loaders have "float" on the lift arm hydraulic circuit to allow the bucket to just drag along the and stay in contact with the ground under the loader weight as the tractor moves over uneven ground.

 

[darkviper]

I did exactly what the guy said about bending the cylinders on a 100 HP tractor one time. Bent both of them almost to a perfect 90. BAD BAD THING TO DO

 

[tydp]

My Bush hog loader also says do not do this.....

 

[EddieWalker]

Nathan,

The loader bucket is much better then a box scaper for leveling and compacting fill material. I do it all the time and never use my box scraper.

You just need to use the back edge of the bucket for pulling and cutting the material flat. Have the bottom of the bucket at the angle, or totally flat. Then drive past the loose material and lower the bucket all the way so that your front tires are not touching the ground. Drive backwards while pulling your bucket through the material. If you have the angle right, it will create a perectly smooth finish. Do this a few times and you will have a small pile between the tractor and the smooth area. Scoop up that material and dump it back on the low spots. Drive over it while doing this to compact it while building up your fill.

It wont take long to get the feel for doing this. It's all in the angle of the bucket. Too much angle and you're cutting deeper then you want. Not enough angle and you just slide over the pile. Get it just right and you'll be amazed at how much better the FEL bucket is over the box blade.

Eddie

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Nathan,

The loader bucket is much better then a box scaper for leveling and compacting fill material. I do it all the time and never use my box scraper.

You just need to use the back edge of the bucket for pulling and cutting the material flat. Have the bottom of the bucket at the angle, or totally flat. Then drive past the loose material and lower the bucket all the way so that your front tires are not touching the ground. Drive backwards while pulling your bucket through the material. If you have the angle right, it will create a perectly smooth finish. Do this a few times and you will have a small pile between the tractor and the smooth area. Scoop up that material and dump it back on the low spots. Drive over it while doing this to compact it while building up your fill.

It wont take long to get the feel for doing this. It's all in the angle of the bucket. Too much angle and you're cutting deeper then you want. Not enough angle and you just slide over the pile. Get it just right and you'll be amazed at how much better the FEL bucket is over the box blade.

Eddie

Eddie:

You say a couple of things here that I want to make sure I understand. You say, have the bottom of the bucket at "the" angle. What do yo mean by "the" angle?

You say, lower the bucket all the way so that your front tires are not touching the ground. Is that correct? Only the back tires touching the ground?

 

[John D]

Yes. set your bucket flat on the ground and tilt it forward as to dump. it will pick up the front of your tractor. works great but if your on a standard make sure you in reverse before letting out the clutch or youll have a trench to fill?? jb

 

[EddieWalker]

Nathan,

When the bucket is flat on the ground, both the front cutting edge and the back of the bucket are touching the ground. When draging the bucket backwards, it will smooth out the ground you drive over. This is how I fill ruts, smooth gravel and just about everything.

If you tilt the front cutting edge up so it's slightly off the ground, but the back of the bucket is touching, it will dig into the ground to a small degree. I do this when I have a pile of dirt that's too small to dig out, but bigger then I want to smooth with the flat bottom of the bucket.

The more weight you have on the front bucket, the more effective it is. For this reason, I usually push the bucket all the way down, which results in my front tires rising off the ground. I can't steer, so I just go straight back until I either smooth out the area I'm working on, or I start to change directions and need to re-align myself.

On bigger construction tractors, they have a "float" feature that helps keep the bucket level when back draging. This is a normal, every day job for a backhoe operator, but for some reason, compact tractor owners seem to not do this and rely on the box blade.

Eddie

 

[RobJ]

Only time I use the cutting edge like that is to get really close to something, like a wall or tree. Then use the heel of the bucket.

Rob

 

[JerryG]

Nathan,
Looks like we may have ganged up on you pretty good. I never like to see anyone damage their equipment and that is why I posted on this thread and I'm sure that most if not all of the other members that have posted are the same way. Sorry if it hasn't come across that way.

 

[RoyJackson]

Nathan,
You need to be very careful blading like that. The cylinders are not designed to be used like that. The nut can be broken off of the gland and the rods can be bent very easily. Some of the manufactures, if not all of them recommend against doing back grading with the bucket turned down over about a 30* angle.

Gee! I learned something today too!
Thanks, Jerry!

 

[mjarrels]

I have been told that it is HARD on hydralic pumps!

mark

 

[DayDreamer]

I'm actually going to have to read my 300cx manual now. I've done this technique, be it good or bad, a few times without issue. I wonder if other non-green brands lack the strength of the green 300cx? After reading many threads, it seems some orange hydraulic cylinders can be bent way too easily.

 

[thatguy]

Im a little confused.. Can someone post pics of what not to do AND the proper way??

sorry to be so dense..

Brian

 

[Rowdius]

Actually, once you get good with your loader, you should be able to grade with it while going forward; not needing to back drag in most cases. Setting the angle of the bucket is important. (Also, a hint is that that a full, or nearly full bucket will grade better than an empty one... this is also true for dozer blades.)

 

[MadDogDriver]

Im a little confused.. Can someone post pics of what not to do AND the proper way??

sorry to be so dense..

Brian

Copied this out of my FEL owner's manual for the graphics. (and photoshopped an additional NOT THIS at bottom)


Correct way: Figure 25 is what EddieWalker and others were referring to.
Wrong way: Pulling bucket in fully dumped position, which would be similar to Fig. 27 in forward direction. The FEL is not stressed to handle that angle.

Like EddieWalker was saying, tilting the bucket up slightly will allow the heel of the bucket to dig into the ground slightly when pulling a loaded bucket in reverse with the front wheels off the ground.