Holes in FEL bucket for water drainage

Egon · Dec 2, 2004

Well; Ive had my tractor exposed to the elements with exposed rams and no rust.

I've also had my tractor do some bucket work and wore holes in the bottom of the bucket .

Think Ive got it all covered now.

Want to mix concrete - cover holes with duct tape.

Egon

Henro · Dec 2, 2004

I am sure that drilling holes will not affect the bucket one way or the other...

But I am equally sure that if I put them in my bucket, they would end up plugged up with dirt/dried mud/clay and would not function most of the time...

I would suggest that if you do put holes in the bucket, that you make them large enough that they tend to be self cleaning...

KiotiJohn · Dec 3, 2004

So what if you get some water in the bucket? At the worst, you're going to get some rust, but if you keep it painted once a year, probably not a problem. If you do drill holes, you'll need to paint the openings or the rust will be a problem there. I have to leave my Backone out in the open, cylinders retracted and the bucket fills with water, but as soon as I use it, the surface rust is abraded off with the dirt, so no problem. I wouldn't worry about the water, or bothering to cut extra holes. John

jinman · Dec 3, 2004

( But I am equally sure that if I put them in my bucket, they would end up plugged up with dirt/dried mud/clay and would not function most of the time...
)

Bill, this is scary! I'm starting to think just like you. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif My first thought was that the holes would become filled with dirt and self-plug. I guess the bucket could be cleaned before storage, and it would probably have to be for this to work. I also really agree with KiotiJohn. Why worry about it? A little rust is just cosmetic and any long-term damage because of water is not something I'm going to live long enough to see. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

What I want to do is drill holes in the top of my bucket so I can see thru to the cutting edge/toothbar. That way I will know exactly where my cutting edge is when I want to pick up things like rocks. Sometimes I can scoop them up without a hitch, and other times I get a couple inches of dirt. One of the advantages of my sloped hood is that I can see almost all of the top of the bucket, so some holes would let me see the cutting edge too. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Henro · Dec 3, 2004

Bill, this is scary! I'm starting to think just like you.

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

em14 · Dec 3, 2004

Why drill holes in your bucket? Just tilt it so water cannot collect. A little rust is good for it's soul anyway! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Leo

LBrown59 · Dec 3, 2004

( Do any of you drill holes in the bottom of your FEL buckets to provide for water drainage?

Is this a bad idea?
Mike )
It is if you want to haul water in it.

The other day I used my bucket for a wash tub- Would have been hard to do that with holes in it.

Freds · Dec 3, 2004

Depending on how long you leave the FEL set between uses and where you live, I wouldn't want standing water sitting in it. You create a potential mosquito breeding ground. There's no sense adding to the problem, but drilling drainage holes in your FEL may just be a drop in the bucket solution...

kensfarm · Dec 3, 2004

"What I want to do is drill holes in the top of my bucket so I can see thru to the cutting edge/toothbar"

I think we've all have fought to pick up that one rock w/ the bucket.. instead of getting off the tractor and tossing it in.. I've been getting some practice in lately w/ picking up a single RR tie w/ the bucket teeth.

Instead of holes.. how about a "bucket mirror".. I know they make some mirrors w/ plastic instead of glass.. w/ a magnet for attaching.. could be an easy off/on fix.

jinman · Dec 5, 2004

( I think we've all have fought to pick up that one rock w/ the bucket.. instead of getting off the tractor and tossing it in.. I've been getting some practice in lately w/ picking up a single RR tie w/ the bucket teeth.

Instead of holes.. how about a "bucket mirror".. I know they make some mirrors w/ plastic instead of glass.. w/ a magnet for attaching.. could be an easy off/on fix. )

I'm pretty darn good at picking up things as big as a crosstie, but I have lots of rocks that are the size of an old #2 washtub. I want to get good at picking them out of the ground and scooping them up. What I really need is a set of rock forks, but I'd like to make my bucket do double duty.

I can't see using a mirror, because I am often working in the woods at the same time as lifting and moving these boulders. I'd probably knock the mirror off and then run over it before I realized what I had done. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I just started noticing that even with my bucket full, often the dirt does not completely touch the top edge. What the heck, if I cut holes in the top of my bucket and it doesn't work, I can just tack repair plates back on top of the holes.