Dirt Scoop

[Steve_in_Ont]

Anyone have any comments on the various dirt scoops that are available? I have been looking at the one listed on King Kutter's website... For the 30" model, it is listed as being 100 lbs heavier than those sold by Wallace, Howse, McGee's or Northern (McGee's & Northern might be manufactered by Howse...?). Generally, I would think that weight would be a good thing here...

I know that nearly everyone who reads this posting already has a FEL, but think back in your early days of when you used to use that dirt scoop that is now out back of the barn...

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Old_Wanker]

Weight is a good thing if youre really planning on digging. If your just moving mulch and the like then the differences are negligible. Also youll want front weights on your TC21 probably once you load up the scoop.

 

[chim]

I don't know who made mine. I bought it new at Central Tractor about 6 years ago. It is surprising how the thing digs. It has sets of 3PH pins fore and aft, so you can dig forward or backward. There's a trip lever for dumping the load. A rope on the lever allows for dumping from the seat. I have used it several times, but had two major projects it really simplified.

The first was trenching a swale along the West side of my property. It took a lot of trips, but it was something I fooled around with for a number of Saturdays and evenings. I was able to make a decent pile of the material (mostly topsoil) at one corner of the lot.

Next project was a few years later when the driveway was paved. At about the same time, the State decided to resurface the road along the front of the lot. Neither paving operation included any landscaping - the paving was anywhere between 4" and 8" higher than the adjacent existing grade. The scoop was used to take about half of the topsoil stockpile and haul/dump/rough-spread it along the paved areas. The back side of the scoop was used as a primitive grader blade for rough spreading.

This was all done with a Ford 1210, and it could overfill the scoop in low 4WD. A number of times, the front wheels were off the ground between the topsoil pile and worksite.....................chim

 

[MikeFLA]

Steve,

I posted this awhile back....

I have a Tractor Supply 30" dirt scoop ($239) that I am very impressed with. I did make some modifications to make it easier to use. I fabricated a mechanical dump arm that is within easy reach when I turn around. This unit dumps 100% of the time. I just used it to dig a launching ramp on my lake for my boat and to widen my dirt driveway. After I dump the contents, I back over the dumped material, lower the dirt scoop, drive forward and flatten the pile just as I would with a box blade. I don’t find myself changing to the boxblade very often.

I use it for taking out the garbage cans (holds two), carrying "stuff" around the property. Holds my 35 gallon water drum for watering new plants far away from plumbing. I also stand on the top of the structure for trimming palm tress. Cutting a layer of sod for transplant in another area. Pick up my kids from the school bus stop. The list goes on…

Since this implement is my "default" 3 pt. attachment and I have a continual need to move a utility trailer, boat, etc. I fabricated a "easily removable" (in seconds) trailer hitch that mounts to the rear facing set of pins. It can handle tongue weight of 300 plus pounds.

Best $239 I have ever spent!

 

[Soundguy]

<font color=blue>"Best $239 I have ever spent!"

<font color=black>I couldn't agree more.

I have a TSC 30" model ( uses angle iron frame rather than tube style frame ). Last summer, I moved about 10 yards of topsoil on my property to make up for some damage left by the house contractor ( ruts, washouts, borrow pits, etc )

I did it with my little yanmar 1700, and alot of weight on the front axle. I figure I was moving about 400lbs of dirt per scoop. If I would have had my NH 1920 at the time, i could have probably loaded up the bucket to capacity.
I looked at the heavier frame ones, but at the time.. if the scoop had been 200lbs heavier.. I would have only been able to carry half the load on the little tractor. In any case, it is great, second only to my boxblade.

I also use it as a carry and tool platform when fixing the fence line. Works great.. I tow the 16' boards with a slip knot and the nails / tools and beverage stay on the scoop.

Soundguy

 

[Twanger]

I think there was quite a thread on dirt scoops here recently. However, I have a KK 30". I bought it before the new tractor and fel. It was a great tool for a few years. Recently I unburied it for a sewer finding expedition. It is a great tool for trenching. Once it catches on sod and starts to dive it will plunge into the dirt. Lifting it out requires a strong 3ph and front weights. It still has its applications over the fel. I would like to mount a 3ph adapter for my fel to use the ds on the front. Anyone have ideas about that?

 

[Mrwurm]

My dirt scoop is a king kutter. It's the 24 inch model. I bought it at the old Quality Farm-n-Fleet. I'm glad I did'nt get the full size (30 in) model. My little John Deere 650 could just barely lift it when it was full of wet muck from my pond. Front end weights were a must. Now that I have a larger tractor (NH TC30), it is the heaviest rear implement that I have, so I use it for ballast when using the fel. In fact, I still have the front end weights from my JD650 and can throw them in the scoop. Total ballast about 450 lbs and it's small enough that I don't have to worry about it too much back there.
Jerry

 

[Soundguy]

The nice part about the dirt scoops I have seen is that you can turn them around and use them like a belly pan to dig going forward.

Soundguy

 

[Mosey]

This subject did come up before:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=34648&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=34648&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1</A>


Here’s what I had to say then and still agree:

I have the King Kutter 30" scoop which I use on my NH TC29D, which weights about 2500lbs. It works real good - now. I had to file down the pins to get them to fit my 3pt arms. The first time I tried to use it, it wouldn't dump. With it full of dirt, there was too much resistance and the trip lever wouldn't slide. The bolt that the bottom of the trip lever slides against was too tight and wouldn't allow the roller that goes over the bolt to roll. It's not a very precision fit and I'm not sure if they intended for it to roll or slide, but I modified it so it will roll. I removed it, greased it real good, and put the bolt back on and didn't tighten it down as much so the roller can roll. I also put a piece of treated lumber in the top brace so the pull cord will stay back a little farther, creating a better angle so the pull cord (use nylon so it will slide easy) will pull back on the top of the trip lever a little more, rather than straight up. Now it works great. It still doesn't hold a whole lot, so the 24" would probably be a mistake. I got mine at Quality Farm and Fleet. King Kutter stuff seems sturdy, but they don't pay a lot of attention to detail. My brother bought one of their bush hogs and had to make minor modifications to the 3pt arms to get it to work right, but now it works good.

I would like to modify the trip handle so I could do it without a rope like MikeFla did. I have never had a need to reverse it, I even robbed the pins for something else, so I would have to swap the pins from front to back if I ever did. It’s definitely a very valuable attachment for the money. I expect to get a lot more use out of it this summer.

 

[Twanger]

I also use my self contained hydraulic top link to help in tilt for digging then I leave the scoop on the ground through my hydraulic lever inch forward and this motion shortens the link and tilts the scoop up for easier carrying and easy dumps.

See this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin...r=120358&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=