Help: How to level with a front end loader

nschneid · Jul 11, 2013

I have a Kubota L4400 with a FEL and I've used it for spreading, but never for digging. I've been searching for a while but haven't stumbled across any resources teaching how to level with it. I need to level an area for an above ground pool.

Can someone either point me to a good tutorial or explain it to me like I'm five?

I don't know the terrain, as I'm doing this for a friend and haven't seen the site yet, so any limitations on this would be good as well. The soil will most likely be hard clay, like everything around here.

xzcVAbc5 · Jul 11, 2013

Does the bucket have teeth? Do you have a box blade, also?

nschneid · Jul 11, 2013

jjsjeff said:
Does the bucket have teeth? Do you have a box blade, also?

No to both

BigE_ · Jul 11, 2013

The FEL isn't really made for leveling. You can easily tear it up...

I've tried, and it's pretty hard to do with just a FEL, especially if you are starting out on ground that isn't level. If you start out on level ground, then you have a fighting chance. Keep the four wheels on level ground and dig forward.

Starting out on unlevel ground... Use the FEL to loosen up the soil, then get yourself a shovel and level a portion by hand...

My best results were after I spent $500 on a boxblade, and even then, now I start out with the back hoe to level something.

BethelHntr · Jul 11, 2013

Backhoe is your best bet.

bandaidmd · Jul 11, 2013

rent a box or regular blade for the back then you have the ability to tilt the cutting edge.

Wagtail · Jul 11, 2013

OK, what implements do you have, Mate?

A few months ago I had to level a large area prior to pouring a cement pad for a 5-bay shed. I did it using the old "Mark I eyeball". Using my 655 tiller I tilled the marked out area (clay mixture) about 3" deep then used a regular bucket to scoop/scrape what had been tilled. Any area that needed more off I re-tilled and scoop/scraped to level the area.

It took time but the job got done & when the blokes came to build the mould for the pad (using a laser level) there was only one slight area that needed to be finally levelled. I was quite chuffed at my efforts!

And this was the first time that I'd ever used my tractor to do such a thing.

k0ua · Jul 11, 2013

As said if you don't have level ground for the wheels of the tractor to start from. it is very difficult, as the loader bucket will be "off camber" I have leveled ground when the surrounding ground is not level. It takes a long time, is frustrating, and is difficult to tell what you are doing from the seat. And I have thousands of hours behind the loader. You can get off and "eyeball" it a bunch of times to help. But I think you would be better served and have more luck with a boxblade. I am not saying you cant make ground level by digging off high spots with a loader, I am saying it is hard. Maybe others are more skilled than I, and will comment.

James K0UA

k0ua · Jul 11, 2013

Wagtail said:
OK, what implements do you have, Mate?

A few months ago I had to level a large area prior to pouring a cement pad for a 5-bay shed. I did it using the old "Mark I eyeball". Using my 655 tiller I tilled the marked out area (clay mixture) about 3" deep then used a regular bucket to scoop/scrape what had been tilled. Any area that needed more off I re-tilled and scoop/scraped to level the area.

It took time but the job got done & when the blokes came to build the mould for the pad (using a laser level) there was only one slight area that needed to be finally levelled. I was quite chuffed at my efforts!

And this was the first time that I'd ever used my tractor to do such a thing.

That sounds like a good plan!.. and don't pay no nevermind that he is working upside down, on the other side of the world... it should work up here too!

cletus99 · Jul 11, 2013

Ironically I was looking for the same thing yesterday and didn't find much info. My backyard has a good slope to it and my wife keeps bugging me about a pool. I told her we can't have one with the yard sloped the way it is. I don't have a tractor with a FEL but I do plan on getting one within the next year. So I'm interested to see everyone's inputs as well.