Rock Bucket & Box Blade

[KYDan]

I picked up my new HLA rock bucket or stone fork as Horst Welding calls it a week ago today. It is a 62" model #SFR62, weighs 565 lbs. and is 62"width, 23" height, and 40" deep. This bucket is very heavy and it is the largest that I would think of using on my MX5100. In order to use it effectively I must have a significant counterweight on the rear of the tractor. This is fine as I put my 72" Dirt Dog Box Blade on the 3 point hitch and it weighs in around 780 lbs. However, when I have a load of rocks in the bucket it is still "tippy" when it is elevated above the engine cowl of the tractor. I have R4's on the tractor and the rear tires are filled with eco-fluid. The loader is the Kubota LA844. The bucket is a quality item with excellent welds and spring steel tubing with flat steel welded on the ends. It performs better than I had anticipated and that is great! As a followup on my earlier post about the box blade I have used it quite a bit since that post and only have one minor gripe about it. I was cleaning a ditch line with it angled on the back of the tractor. The ditch is in heavy clay, rocky soil. The box is braced on the interior with steel rods at each end and the wet clay would ball up there. It's not a big deal, simply an aggravation as I would have to get off the tractor at the end of the run and use a spade to remove the muck. Other than that this is a great box blade. I highly recommend both of these products.

 

[GreenWannabe]

To add stability, you might want to consider adding rear wheel weights on your tractor. You can add up to three on each side. They are available from a Kubota dealer, but they may need to order them. If you get the salesman to order them as whole goods, it may not be as pricey as through the parts department.

 

[KYDan]

I plan to use it in this configuration for awhile to really test it. The Wheel weights may be necessary even with the fluid and box blade. I was hoping not to spend anymore money on this project, but will if it is necessary. Thanks for the suggestion. There is an open house at my dealer's this Sunday and I will price the weights while I am there.