Best CUT attachment for this kind of earthmoving?

[tallguy104]

I've got my first ever tractor arriving soon! (Kubota B2301). I've got a FEL and 4 in 1 bucket coming with it, as well as a rotary hoe. No other attachments as yet.
I know FELs aren't bulldozers, and I've read the warnings about not abusing your FEL when earthmoving in this thread. I'm determined to do a bunch of earthmoving with it though, thought I understand I will have to take it slow. I really don't want to prematurely destroy my tractor in the process. So I could use your advice!

One of the major tasks I'll be doing is to re-landscape some grassy fields: I want to slice off some ~2'-4' high spots and use this to fill in some low points. We're talking a high spot which is say 30'x30'...so not just smoothing little lumps and bumps in the field. It is all presently covered in grass too. The soil is a clayey basalt, with occasional stones of varying sizes.

To tackle a job like this, I understand from reading the above thread that it could be done by taking it very slow, a few inches at a time, with a tooth bar attached to the bucket. I haven't bought a tooth bar yet. What I'd really like to know is, should I consider using some other attachment for this kind of work? Am I better to run a middle buster or something like this through it a few times, and then use the loader to shift the loosened soil? Would a box blade be a better investment than a middle buster? Maybe I need both? (I have a gravel driveway to maintain, too). What about a back blade or something else?

Any advice or tips appreciated!

 

[/pine]

Even a tooth bar will have a hard time penetrating heavy sod...something like scarifiers on a box blade will work well...

for moving the most material you might consider a rear 3ph scoop...I see them on CL all the time...

I'd get used to collecting enough material to load the FEL than fill the scoop and move the payloads to the low areas...low and slow...

A box blade is good for moving material and just as good for smoothing but the scoop and fel combo make a good match...
you can always sell a scoop once you've finished with it...keep the box blade for driveway maintenance...

 

[bcp]

When you take off your 2-4 ft high spots, will there still be good soil, or will you have a big area of subsoil that won't grow much?

I would use a box blade if the low spot is next to the high spot. If they are far apart, I would make piles with the box blade, then use the loader to carry it to the low spot.

Bruce

 

[/pine]

Moving material with a box blade even short distances usually requires frequent changing of the aggressiveness of the cutting edge...without a hydraulic top link that can get tiresome moving a lot of earth...

 

[4570Man]

I’d say a plow or something to bust up the ground and make it fairly easy to scoop is what you want. Well besides a D6 dozer.

 

[buck12]

You have been given very good advice. The key as you said is to take it slow with the FEL. Also remember grease is the friend of your FEL. Grease often when using the loader hard.

 

[bdog]

A 3’ by 30’ by 30’ area is 100 yards of material which is about 500 bucket fulls with your loader. your Tractor really isn’t the right tool for the job especially if there are more than one of these areas. If you attempt it definitely break the ground first using a chisel plow or the subsoilers on a box blade.

 

[Wagtail]

I’d say a plow or something to bust up the ground and make it fairly easy to scoop is what you want. Well besides a D6 dozer.

Exactly. Either plough, disk or till the area and then using the bucket with FEL (as it is designed to do) to scoop & deposit the earth as you see fit.

That's how I prepared the ground for the concrete pour for my 5-bay shed... tilled then scooped. Easy-peasy and a pleasurable evolution.

 

[mikester]

One of the major tasks I'll be doing is to re-landscape some grassy fields: I want to slice off some ~2'-4' high spots and use this to fill in some low points. We're talking a high spot which is say 30'x30'...so not just smoothing little lumps and bumps in the field. It is all presently covered in grass too. The soil is a clayey basalt, with occasional stones of varying sizes.

Yes you can do this job with that little SCUT.

You must hate that new little tractor, have too much time on your hands, and have a lot of money to burn in fuel and repairs.

To each his own, enjoy your new hobby.

 

[Henro]

I've got my first ever tractor arriving soon! (Kubota B2301). I've got a FEL and 4 in 1 bucket coming with it, as well as a rotary hoe. No other attachments as yet.

What is a rotary hoe?

I doubt you will be happy with what you want to accomplish using a loader/toothbar as your main tool.

As mentioned above, you really need to break the soil free before using the loader to move it. You will soon learn why after you get your tractor. A box blade can be very useful. Especially as mentioned above if you have a hydraulic top link. Then you can fill it, change the angle and drag the full box to the point where you want to empty it.

Removing 2’ of earth is a lot. In my case I Would probably first dig a section with my backhoe, then cart the spoils off with my loader. (If I did not have a hydraulic dump trailer my BX can pull, which I do).

Have you considered adding a backhoe to your list of attachments?