Best Option for bucket mounted bale spear

[TheMan419]

So after years of using small square bales of hay for the horses we may be switching to large squares. I do NOT have a detachable bucket on my tractor. So I will need a bucket mounted spear. I realize that I will be pushing the limits of weight capacity of my FEL.

I know I do not want a spear that just clamps on the cutting edge. There appear generally to be two other options.

First NeatFarms 8 717 354 - Products-Bucket Hay Bale Spear Attachment with 43 inch Spike that appear to have a chain or strap that wraps around the bucket.

Second King Kutter Yellow Bucket Spike Penetrator by King Kutter at Mills Fleet Farm that appear to require a hole drilled in the bucket and a bolt run through the bucket.

These two specific models are just used as examples.

Do I need to worry about drilling a hole in the bucket? It is used to move dirt, manure and other odds and ends of material. Will be used to move limestone for building a drive extension.

Are either option inherently better than the other?

Yes I will have plenty of ballast on the 3 point hitch while moving the bales. I expect to have to move 1 or 2 per week out of the storage barn into the barn where the horse stalls are. At delivery the hay supplier will have his own equipment to unload and stack. OF course discussion will be held as to how high to stack so that I can pull them off the stack.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[rustyshakelford]

I would get a 3pt bale spear before going the route you’re wanting. Or pony up for a ssqa system so you’re bucket is removable and a proper spear can be used. With your sized tractor, the bale would be so far forward it would be placing a tremendous amount of stress on the front axle and tractors in that weight range typically have adequate axles before even adding a loader

Brett

 

[jdom84]

I dont know how heavy large square hay bales are but you will not be able to lift very much weight that far out from the loader pins

I have the LS version of the boomer 24 with the SSQA and was able to get 18 bags of 60# concrete in my bucket to lift 2-3 feet off the ground.. that is 1080 lbs directly in the bucket. As soon as i tilted the bucket forward, I could not lift any higher... granted the SSQA places the load 4 or 5 inches further out reducing the lift even more. I dont know how to figure the math but 16 inches from the pins... or the edge of the bucket would have a considerable less lift capacity and a Large bale does not put all its weight right at the edge of the bucket it will be spread out over the width of the bale and the more weight that is further out, the less of it you can lift.

here is my lifting test. I lost the video of me placing the load in different configurations on the pallet but youll get the idea. If the rain holds out ill do another video of what can be lifted at what distance from the pins.

Compact tractor max lifting test XJ 2025 - Forks vs Bucket vs 60lbs bagged concrete - YouTube

 

[TheMan419]

I would get a 3pt bale spear before going the route you’re wanting. Or pony up for a ssqa system so you’re bucket is removable and a proper spear can be used. With your sized tractor, the bale would be so far forward it would be placing a tremendous amount of stress on the front axle and tractors in that weight range typically have adequate axles before even adding a loader

Brett

The problem with the 3 point is I cannot stack the bale's then. The weight per should be right around 900 lbs. I figure I should be able to stack them two high and be right at the max capacity of the machine. The seller will bring his skidsteer to unload and stack them. Then I have to unstack them one at a time and move them from storage to the stall barn as needed. So I would take one down and then move it and stack it at ground level (well actually on a pallet, so a few inches above ground).

As for getting the SSQA attachment, my tractor does not have a detachable bucket so that is not an option. The NH version of the tractor has a pin on bucket not a quick attach.

 

[rustyshakelford]

The problem with the 3 point is I cannot stack the bale's then. The weight per should be right around 900 lbs. I figure I should be able to stack them two high and be right at the max capacity of the machine. The seller will bring his skidsteer to unload and stack them. Then I have to unstack them one at a time and move them from storage to the stall barn as needed. So I would take one down and then move it and stack it at ground level (well actually on a pallet, so a few inches above ground).

As for getting the SSQA attachment, my tractor does not have a detachable bucket so that is not an option. The NH version of the tractor has a pin on bucket not a quick attach.

For the SSQA, you can unpin the bucket and buy a SSQA system to use in its place. Then use ssqa tools. Check with the dealer

Brett

 

[TheMan419]

For the SSQA, you can unpin the bucket and buy a SSQA system to use in its place. Then use ssqa tools. Check with the dealer

Brett

Well hells bells I did not know that. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I think there are several outfits that make SSQA adapters that pin on in place of your existing bucket. Pretty sure EA also lists them on their website. Of course, then you'll be needing an SSQA bucket too.

 

[RickB]

You need a bigger Tractor if you think you need to stack 800 pound or heavier large square bales on top of one another. You absolutely won’t do it with a spear mounted in front of your bucket.

 

[TheMan419]

I think there are several outfits that make SSQA adapters that pin on in place of your existing bucket. Pretty sure EA also lists them on their website. Of course, then you'll be needing an SSQA bucket too.

True. Of the tractors I was looking at the NH was the only one wo a quick attach bucket. So I knew I was giving up ssqa attachments. To know that is possible is a good thing.

 

[stuckmotor]

Based on experience with the tractors listed under my user name, I suspect you'll have problems with any round bales larger than 4'x4'. This goes for both a loader mounted spear and a 3pt hitch spear. If your Boomer has front wheel drive, that might help. I have no experience with that. It might be best to buy or borrow a spear and one bale and give things a try before getting hung with a
trailer load of hay you can't move. Good luck.