Earth Mover my neighbor built

patrick_g · Aug 14, 2006

These don't do anything that "in theory" you can't do with a hd box blade but in practice they do a couple things that are hard for a box blade.

If you need to move dirt very far and over intervening obstacles the box blade is a bust. I can drag my box when it is full to overflowing even up hill but it strains the tractor and I can't travel over obstacles that this unit will easily glide over.

Even though it is prone to digging in if the tires aren't reallly hard, it still acts as if it had a longer "wheelbase" than a box blade. My box blade is capable of pretty level results but the requirements for doing it are levied on the operator and the skill required and concentration are tiring and do slow you down.

While these things don't compete with a Land Plane they do a better easier faster leveling job than a box blade and they can transport dirt over obstacles or surfaces you don't want mussed up by a box blade. Just try dragging dirt with a box blade where there are stumps sticking up just a tad.

Wish I had one NOW.

Pat

RobJ · Aug 14, 2006

Looks like someone has a lot of time on their hands....oh and a LOT of skill. Sweet looking. But I'd like to see it in action!

Tim_in_IA · Aug 14, 2006

here is a commercial version. I think they have movies of them in action as well. Expensive little critters

http://www.hoelscherinc.com/prod_dbscraper.htm

Egon · Aug 14, 2006

Do not fear Rob, it will work. Just needs enough HP in front to pull it.

RobJ · Aug 15, 2006

Egon said:
Do not fear Rob, it will work. Just needs enough HP in front to pull it.

No doubt there, just like to see things in action. When I was a little kid...5-6 I could sit and watch dozers, hoes work all day. Actually ran away from home once to watch them. Mom was ready to call the police (I was gone for hours) but Dad came home from work and suggest looking at the construction site. There I was. Mom talked to the operator and said he would watch out for me. I spent the rest of the week there, mom would bring me lunch and stuff. Great story but I wouldn't leave my 5-6 yo anywhere like that these days. And that was only 40 years ago!! See I'm not THAT old.

Any tractor pic helps to get me through the day!!

kub3130 · Aug 19, 2006

Do you want to trade neighbors? That's one heck of a quality job. Post some pics of that pan in action. Ask him if he can pull 2 at a time like those big articulating tractors!

bucmeister · Sep 24, 2006

This guy's looks virtually identical to the Hoelscher units that were linked to with the front door added, even the profile of the neck and the 3ph mechanism look the same. My issue would be having two control valves available. This guy demonstrates outstanding workmanship.

As to why this type versus box blade, the example I would give is the situation I have at my deer camp. Actually I need to move dirt several hundred yards, the dig and dump sites are connected by a gravel road that I don't want covered with dirt, no dump truck is available, and this is a DYI job. At one time my dad had a truck that would haul about 5 yds and I would guess that I could make two trips with the tractor and pan in about the same time that I could have dug and loaded the truck (11 scoops) then get off tractor, in truck drive (not much faster than the tractor could go) dump, drive back then do it again. The ability to load and dump on the move is a time saver if you have the open space to do both.

bucmeister · Sep 26, 2006

kub3130 said:
Ask him if he can pull 2 at a time like those big articulating tractors!

With enough control valves and open spaces it should be no problem just fill the front one on the way out for traction.

Kansas, Have you been able to talk him out of some plans, sketches, measurements, material list, parts sources (axle stubs, tires, wheels) etc. cause the fabricator in me is feeling the urge to build one. That 3 pt hitch mechanism of his needs some close up photos of the details with a few measurements of metal size to boot!

As a side note, you can sure tell it was not made in my part of the country cause the metal is not rusted. Around here if you take more than 2 days to put it together and then prime it will start rusting in a hurry.

bucmeister · Sep 27, 2006

For my purposes I would like to blend the single valve function of the Durabilt with the 3PH setup of the one Kansaskid posted the pictures of. That hitch setup is the cat's meow as far as degree of motion allowed without binding or bending something. Even if I do bite the bullet and buy a factory Durabilt my long range plan would be to fabricate a retrofit to this style of hitch for higher motion.