How do I dig w/the FEL?

[jeffinsgf]

I think you would have similar problems if you put a 5' wide bucket on a BH. You would not have the power, weight or traction to do much digging.

Good point. I guess that's why the grubbers work --- because they're sort of like putting a backhoe bucket on your FEL.

 

[Timber]

Well the term is Live and Learn LOL, 1st you do need to have a tooth bar. I can only assume that is your tractor in your avatar. The only way to learn is by doing. It does take a little finesse as it does everything. I have dug some pretty big holes with my loader. Sink the teeth and curl to break up the soil. back up and do it again. after several times remove the loose soil. than do it again' If you need to dig a large hole over 4 feet deep you also need to cut in a ramp as you go. After your hole is done fill and pack the ramp. It is amazing what you can do with a loader and a tooth bar

 

[john_bud]

You didn't mention if you had the tooth bar installed, but if you didn't, that is the problem. If you did, then you just need more practice working the bucket to get the right angle and roll to dig. It is like learning to ride a bike, you have to do it and no amount of words are going to replace practice.
Dusty

Dusty,

I know that "common knowledge" is that you MUST HAVE a tooth bar to dig with a FEL, but before I was told that, I dug this. Knowledge may be power, but....

Merry Christmas!

jb

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You do not need a tooth bar to dig with the Front loader. Yes, it will help but it isn't vital. I do not have a tooth bar on any of our loaders (Ford 4400 TLB, NH TN65 and Ford 1920) I can dig with all of them using the front loader. Use the advice given to you in this thread and take small bites if you are trying to dig a hole. If you are trying to dig out a tree you can take a steeper bite with the loader but you will have to work the curl feature of the loader to try and work the bite loose so you can pick it up. Also, if you lift your front wheels off the ground trying to take a big bite they don't give you much traction in the air. Keep them on the ground as much as possible while still digging as it will help a lot.

If you can afford a tooth bar go ahead and buy one but don't buy it just because you are told you "need" one.

 

[shaley]

Here are some great books on Tractor Loader Backhoe operating techniques.
There is a lot of good info in the first one for loader work. I have all three.
1. Operating Techniques for the Tractor-Loader- Backhoe By Gary J. Ober
Everybody with a BH should read this. This is a trade school text book.
2. Backhoe Loader handbook. By Reinor Christian.
Good stuff less pictures than above.
I think the first 2 are great books with a lot of basic and advanced info.
This next one is more for planning construction projects that require excavation.
Excavation & Grading Handbook By Nick Capachi Craftman Publishing
__________________

 

[dirtworksequip]

champy, when digging dirt or pushing on a tree do not use just the corner of your bucket. Push on a tree with it in the center of your bucket. Also don't dig at an angle. You have a greater possibility of twisting your loader arms,damaging the mounts and bending your bucket. Go straight on!

 

[Glowplug]

Using a JD990 in MFWD; HD bucket w/toothbar; and my bushog on the back for balast..

I thought you WERE using a toothbar. Why all the questions as to if you were or not?

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

I have been digging up numerous small trees in the last couple of years with my loader and no tooth bar. Here is what works the fastest for me to get a deep, but not long hole.

1. Curl the bucket way down - not vertical, but definitely down there.
2. Use your joystick to push the loader down into the ground hard. Let the front wheels lift up a little, so you know you have some down-pressure on it.
3. Start curling the bucket upward.
4. When the bucket has curled a little, give another downward push into the ground with the joystick.
5. Keep alternating between 3 and 4 until the bucket is fully curled upward. At the same time, keep trying to move the tractor forward to keep forward pressure on the bucket. It doesn't take long to get the hang of this.

It's true that with the front wheels off the ground you don't have as much traction, but this method doesn't rely much on traction. Of course, you will still end up with a five foot wide hole for a two foot wide root ball, but without a backhoe, what else can you do?

Tom

 

[Champy]

I thought you WERE using a toothbar. Why all the questions as to if you were or not?

Glowplug - I was using a toothbar - just not very effectively. I do intend to build a tree/shrub bucket, but was simply trying to see what could be done using the regular FEL.

My mistake was thinking that I could simply curl the bucket like a backhoe and begin tearing up loads of turf/dirt. From the feedback, it is clear I need to take smaller shallow layers at a time.

Thanks everyone for the discussion........next time I'm out that sapling is history! BTW - its a locust tree so its very thorney.

 

[Farwell]

Was working on the property today, and thought I'd try to dig up a small thorny sapling (1.5"dia) using the FEL. I couldn't get it to even start taking a bite out of the turf. The ground was soft/somewhat wet....I though I would be able to plunge that bucket right into the ground and slowly work my way to getting a 5' long cut. What am I doing wrong - or is this not the right tool? (yes a BH would be better - but the FEL should be able to dig something - right?). No problems diggin into a dirt pile or rocks/debris. BTW - every time I took a shot at it, the front end simply lifted off the ground - do I need more weight on the front? Using a JD990 in MFWD; HD bucket w/toothbar; and my bushog on the back for balast..

Thanks

Champy,
I remove 1.5 inch trees with my Kubota riding lawn mower. I cut the trunk about 4 feet from the ground, hook a chain to the trunk and pull them out. I have used my John Deere 2010 to remove larger trees with the FEL. I follow pretty much the directions listed in the following posts to dig them out. I have done a lot of trench digging with my FEL without a tooth bar and as most have stated, keep trying, eventually you will master the art.
David B