PT425 and FEL

[pajoube]

Have been seriously looking at the 425 and a trencher. But after reading many
posts with guys welding up their own bar teeth I was wondering if this would be possible.
Use the FEL with small bucket. Attached in the center of the bucket a single tooth (removable)
that would dig about 8 to 10 inches down as you moved forward.
I have need to run waterlines in my yard (summer use) and have no rocks to catch on tooth.
Can the FEL do this without damage? Would this work instead of spending 1k on a trencher?
PJ

 

[king_black_shoes]

I cut a short section of wide flange 8 inch I-beam (w 8 x 40 lbs. per ft.) into a wedge shaped scarifier and bolted it to a quik-attach plate. I pull it in reverse and with two or three passes get a decent 8 inch trench in hard soil. I used a sawzall and a few new blades to cut it out. The size of the beam isn't that critical. I used a scrap I had from a building project. I have a longer piece of six inch beam that I'm going to try for deepening the trench. I also use a W6 x 9 beam 5 feet long as a box blade. I bolted it to my forks so can use it in forward or reverse by angleing the forks. I serrated one edge of the beam and it works like a rake at one angle and a leveling plane at another. I haven't needed a welder yet, just sawzall,1/2 inch drill, bits, blades and bolts.. I'm sure that factory made implements can be a lot better but designing. building and improving them is fun. I get lots of free steel scrap from our town recycling program. I could e-mail you a sketch if you like. Tom

 

[MossRoad]

Post those sketches! We're all interested in any home made atachments or improvements.

 

[pajoube]

Tom, thanks for the information and advice. Like MossRoad, if you can post some pictures of what you have designed and built this would be of great help for all PT owners.
PJ

 

[kcook]

Please let us know how it works!

KCook

 

[FOURTEEN]

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Why not just use the Potato Digger?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'm getting one for just that use. The PT demo tape shows it doing a real nice job. If not deep enough or wide enough, just make a second pass. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pajoube]

You’re correct, the potato digger is the perfect choice. I did purchase the potato digger about two months ago and have used it often to loosen up the soil and then use the FEL to pick up. Sure saved time as you can use the quick attach for both without getting off the tractor. I also used the potato digger to loosen soil from 10 feet above me on a hill that worked very well also.
PJ

 

[FOURTEEN]

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Great! You took my advice before I gave it!!??

I'm getting a MiniHoe also. For a shallow trench though, maybe it would be easier to dig it with the PotatoDigger, then just clean out the loose soil with the MiniHoe rather than scoop, scoop, scoop, with the MiniHoe!

I hate backhoes, but maybe these two tools will do all the hoein' around I need!

On my heavy clay garden soil last year I spread compost, then forked it under by hand. This year, I plan to spread the compost, then mix it in with the PotatoDigger. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[pajoube]

You probably saw my post Mini Hoe Project, that is one tough attachment.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gifPJ

 

[FOURTEEN]

No, but I am reading ALL posts concerning Power Trac, so I should get to it!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks for sharing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif