Removable bucket spade

ovrszd · Jan 12, 2014

Sodo said:
Could be a risk (notsomuch on a tractor with cylinders the size of my finger:laughing. For me, I can pay attention to the equipment - easier digging on the uphill side is what I'm concerned with for the moment!

For me the risky component is the hillside not the equipment. :shocked: I do have some gentle slopes to start on.

Yeah, you'd think so. But with the small cylinders comes small loader frame. Your little loader has the same ability to twist itself as my large loader. I avoid hard digging with the corner/end of my bucket.

You've got the perfect attachment on the rear of your tractor to work those hillsides. It'll do it a lot faster than a small spade.

Arc weld · Jan 12, 2014

You're much better off having a spade attached directly to the lift arms rather than the bucket. 1. you can see what you're doing. 2 you don't risk twisting your bucket. 3. you don't lose lifting power and have as much stress on the tilt cylinders. Spades are used on skid steers all the time. There is another type of spade as well that is basically a big "U shaped cutting edge with a totally open back. Then you don't have to carry as much dirt. If you scoop out a tree or a stump, etc., you use the spade like a cradle to carry it where you want. You can either tilt forward or tilt backward to dump it.

Sodo · Jan 12, 2014

ovrszd said:
You've got the perfect attachment on the rear of your tractor to work those hillsides. It'll do it a lot faster than a small spade.

I hear ya but its on the back of the tractor and the bucket is on the front.

The job I want to do, is make some ATV roads across a couple hillsides. I want to get the ATVs off the driveway so they can go fast and have fun without dusting up my driveway. This is not a paid job.

Can't turn the tractor around on a narrow trail I think advancing forward may be safer and more productive. Can't really turn around until I'm off the hillside.

Or back down and turn around and then back up and dig, then back down and turn around. See what I mean? Lots of travelling on a narrow road. I would be on the hillside for 100 feet to 300 feet sometimes. I suppose there will be hand work too if its faster than turning around.

Arc weld said:
You're much better off having a spade attached directly to the lift arms rather than the bucket. 1. you can see what you're doing. 2 you don't risk twisting your bucket. 3. you don't lose lifting power and have as much stress on the tilt cylinders.

I wouldn't twist my bucket. Can't go removing the bucket either, I plan to dig ahead a little then remove the spade. Use the bucket a little, then put the spade back on. Has to be quick-attach. THis way I move across the hillside. Unit may weigh 50-100 lbs, sounds reasonable, even on a BX

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ovrszd · Jan 12, 2014

Yeah, we understand. Look forward to a post of your progress once you get the equipment figured out. I am assuming you'd remove material on the high side and add it to the low side of the hillside trails. But maybe that's not the plan.