Grading 4 in 1 bucket or regular bucket and blade

pajoube · Oct 29, 2004

I have all of the attachments you mention. Each is the right one for that job. If a choice had to be made I might lean towards the regular (10cu) bucket and the snow blade. The problem is that you will only use the snow blade during a short period of the year. The buckets can be used all year. If you have hard digging the 4 in 1 or 5 cu bucket is the work horse. You can get by with the regular 5 cu bucket for most projects. The 4 in 1 just does a little more.
Good luck, keep us posted as to what you end up doing.
PJ

kcook · Oct 29, 2004

I will, I would like to hear any more comments

KC

pairodime · Oct 30, 2004

I've had my 425 with 4n1 and a snow blade for 4 months. In that time I've put 135 hours on the tractor with almost exclusive use of the 4n1 to move about 1200 cubic yards of dirt. When I bought mine I made side by side comparisons with regular and large buckets and I felt that the 4n1 held more than the standard bucket. More or less, no matter, because it certainly will pick up enough for the PT to go into pucker. The 4n1 has tremendous versatility, I love how it can pick up logs and it works phenomanally when back dragging. It's "dozer mode" (fully open and grading forward) leaves much to be desired as the PT lacks the weight and power to be effective in dirt that way. I believe a snow blade would also struggle to push dirt, but have had no need to try. My snow blade will be for snow, and I look forward to the privilege of using it when winter comes. In terms of cost, the snow blade appears to be the most cost effective implement that is powered from the aux hydraulic circuit.

MuncyBob · Oct 30, 2004

The 4 in 1 is on my wish list...as is the light material bucket. I have the rock bucket(5 cubic ft.) with teeth(detachable). So far I have mostly done sawdust , manure loading/dumping...works well but a bit small(hence the wish list)I use the bucket to help maintain 1/4 mile dirt lane to our property...put the teeth on and digging up rock/dirt is a breeze(within the tractor's limits). I wish the teeth were on a bar rather than each one attached individually. I'm about to put the 422 and bucket to the test as we are adding on to our house...have had the major excavation done with a large CAT dozer and loader(26 dump truck loads of fill removed)...now, as soon as it dries up a bit I'll be "groomng" the area and back filling the foundation block.

stray · Oct 31, 2004

With that kind of work to do you will definitely like the 10 cu bucket. I did a lot of that type of work with my 422 and found that the 10 cu bucket matched up to the machine just right. I did however have to dig up the mounds of dirt with the mini hoe so I could dip it up quicker. 14 says that the potato digger would do this type of dirt loosing. I, like Moss, have the small bucket with rock teeth and find with the 10 cu bucket I don’t have much use for the small one. If Power Trac would recommend the larger bucket when one first bought their machine I don’t believe they would sell many small buckets.

kcook · Oct 31, 2004

My thoughts on using the 4 in 1 bucket in the winter are, using it like a blade till the tires spin. Then dropping down the rest of the bucket and back up and dump.

I don't have a long drive way 45 feet or so but its 24' wide and I have both concrete and gravel to clean. Also I need to clean some in the road as the Road Commision only makes one pass down the center of the road. My car has very little ground clearance.

Third money will be tight, I figured the 4 in 1 bucket and the two regular buckets and blade with attachments were about same price.

Any thoughts?

KC

tracdoc · Oct 31, 2004

kcook,

I just noted from your header that you are in Michigan /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Doesn't that mean lots of snow?

Here's a consideration which you may be able to better evaluate when you visit Tazewell. Consider a 422 with an added ROPS (~$500 added to cost of basic 422) for an immediate savings of approximately $2,000. The ROPS is a bolt-on unit, and the 422 has the holes already tapped. Factory can do it before delivery. Then, you could consider the 4-in-1 bucket, plus the snow blade, plus the large materials bucket. You would still have $ in your pocket after that, to consider other implements or to sweeten the pot at home. Just some thoughts, particularly if you do not have a lot of hills which might better justify the 425 over the 422.

kcook · Oct 31, 2004

( kcook,

I just noted from your header that you are in Michigan /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Doesn't that mean lots of snow?

Here's a consideration which you may be able to better evaluate when you visit Tazewell. Consider a 422 with an added ROPS (~$500 added to cost of basic 422) for an immediate savings of approximately $2,000. The ROPS is a bolt-on unit, and the 422 has the holes already tapped. Factory can do it before delivery. Then, you could consider the 4-in-1 bucket, plus the snow blade, plus the large materials bucket. You would still have $ in your pocket after that, to consider other implements or to sweeten the pot at home. Just some thoughts, particularly if you do not have a lot of hills which might better justify the 425 over the 422. )

How is the Robin engine? I do like the Kohler engine, lots of repair places in my area

As for snow, each year is different some years we can get alot of snow but not like the UP

KC

MossRoad · Nov 1, 2004

The 422 might be a good option. Just remember it has a little less lift height and the wheel motors have a little less torque. But that might be a good way to get more attachments. Decisions, decisions... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

kcook · Nov 1, 2004

( The 422 might be a good option. Just remember it has a little less lift height and the wheel motors have a little less torque. But that might be a good way to get more attachments. Decisions, decisions... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

I have been thinking of that but I would rather buy an attachment down the road and get the larger machine. I was hoping some one could give some idea's on how well the 4 in 1 works in the snow

KC