Picking concrete with FEL

[willysmb]

I am buying a tractor and a house. The house has some old concrete sidewalks that I want to remove. Obviously this would be easy work with a backhoe but I am pretty sure I am not going to purchase the backhoe with the tractor. I was thinking that perhaps some type of fork or spike on the front of the FEL would make this easy work as I could push the spike under the concrete and then lift the concrete up from underneath.

Anyone have experience with this or recommend a good attachment? Would normal forks work fine?

 

[Zebrafive]

Forks, not the type that clamp to the bucket, but the type that replaces the bucket. Make sure the fork is rated for the breakout capacity of your tractor.

 

[willysmb]

Forks, not the type that clamp to the bucket, but the type that replaces the bucket. Make sure the fork is rated for the breakout capacity of your tractor.

Thanks, that is what I figured. Yes I will be getting a set of real forks for the tractor. I have about a million other uses for them as well.

 

[willysmb]

Forks, not the type that clamp to the bucket, but the type that replaces the bucket. Make sure the fork is rated for the breakout capacity of your tractor.

Hey, another Michigan person!

 

[jk96]

A grapple works very well also. I've moved a lot of concrete with mine as well as a little bit of everything else. You can grab pieces easily large and small with one.

 

[rswyan]

Just pray that there wasn't rebar embedded in it when the concrete was placed.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt ...

 

[GManBart]

Thanks, that is what I figured. Yes I will be getting a set of real forks for the tractor. I have about a million other uses for them as well.

One caution is that you want to be very careful about loading one side of the FEL, and not the other....easy to do with forks. What happens is you lift up, or push, on one side and it bends the torque tube between the left and right sides of the FEL. When that happens it's no longer level, and you have to try bending it back, or cut the torque tube, level everything, and reweld it.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I think Id be saw cutting through the slab pieces big enough to get into the bucket and carry them away that way. The concrete saws are cheap to rent, just get a dusk mask, ear plugs, and glasses.

 

[willysmb]

I think Id be saw cutting through the slab pieces big enough to get into the bucket and carry them away that way. The concrete saws are cheap to rent, just get a dusk mask, ear plugs, and glasses.

The pieces are all small enough to pick up with the bucket, I just need to get underneath them and get them out of the ground. I figured it would be easier to do this with forks rather than the bucket.

 

[k0ua]

The pieces are all small enough to pick up with the bucket, I just need to get underneath them and get them out of the ground. I figured it would be easier to do this with forks rather than the bucket.

It should be...
First rule, be gentle.

Then start forks at edge of concrete piece at a more steep angle, then curl and apply just a tad of pressure on the hydro forward pedal as the curl continues to level This should get under them fairly easyily. Make sure that your load will be evenly distributed (not a lopsided load).

When under them, curl back and lift. Don't lift them very high, just get them off of the ground. When carrying heavy loads never travel with the load above the hood in any case. If you need to load into a dump truck or something high.. line up and make sure you are stopped then lift carefully.

Traveling with a heavy load too high is the #1 reason for rollovers.

 

[ovrszd]

You haven't mentioned a need for forks otherwise? I say use the bucket. The process will go a long way in teaching you where the bucket lip is at all times. Very doable, just takes some practice.

 

[justinramani]

I used a bucket to do this exact thing. While it kinda worked - it wasn't the best tool for the job. I think forks will work a a lot better, but it's a lot of force - and it's possible to tweak your loader or QA if you aren't careful. Why not just spring for a grapple? I think it would likely be your best option.

 

[kebo]

Well, I'm glad to see that you have your priorities in proper order. Get the tractor first, the house can come later with whatever money is left over!

 

[willysmb]

Well, I'm glad to see that you have your priorities in proper order. Get the tractor first, the house can come later with whatever money is left over!

Haha, we close on the house end of the month. Going to buy a tractor shortly thereafter.

 

[willysmb]

I used a bucket to do this exact thing. While it kinda worked - it wasn't the best tool for the job. I think forks will work a a lot better, but it's a lot of force - and it's possible to tweak your loader or QA if you aren't careful. Why not just spring for a grapple? I think it would likely be your best option.

I can buy whatever I just wasn't sure what was the best for the job.

 

[willysmb]

You haven't mentioned a need for forks otherwise? I say use the bucket. The process will go a long way in teaching you where the bucket lip is at all times. Very doable, just takes some practice.

I have tons of usage for forks. I'll be getting a set either way.

 

[justinramani]

I have tons of usage for forks. I'll be getting a set either way.

If that's the case - I would try forks and see how they work for you.

 

[Oldpath05]

The before and after, spent about 10 hr. cutting up a 4-5"x16'x32', cement slab into 2'x6'ish with a diamond walk-behind saw. Then used home made clamp-on folks to move them one at a time, some broke but that's ok. they made a great/good 4' high retainment wall.

 

[willysmb]

The before and after, spent about 10 hr. cutting up a 4-5"x16'x32', cement slab into 2'x6'ish with a diamond walk-behind saw. Then used home made clamp-on folks to move them one at a time, some broke but that's ok. they made a great/good 4' high retainment wall.

Nice, That looks good. Fortunately mine is all small pieces.

 

[stuckmotor]

The guy who put in my neighbor's concrete driveway ripped out the old asphalt one with the loader on a 4WD Kubota. I estimate it must have been around 40 hp. There was some wheel spinning but, he got it out. I don't remember whether the bucket had a tooth bar.