stone bucket

[leaddog]

just got done making a stone bucket for my new century 3045. I made it out of scrap iron and the tines are made from car axles. I used them because they are forged and won't bend very easily. I just went out to an old stone pile and started digging and ripped out several buckets of sones and it worked great. The dirt fell out good except for sod and I could roll the stones back into the bucket and they stayed there while I loaded others. It sure beats getting off and hand rolling them in as some of them weight over 300#.

 

[leaddog]

Here is another view. So far the only changes I would make is adding another top bar to make sure no stones can roll out when I tip it all the way back

 

[tdenny]

That looks like it would do the job REALLY well. I have to resort to getting off the tractor and rolling them into the bucket as you mentioned. Not fun /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[leaddog]

One more view. I really worked it hard trying to see how strong it was and make sure I couldn't bend it and it held up very good

 

[JohnMiller3]

Very nice work Les... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

...another thing when you rollback the bucket is the trapped/smaller rocks/soil will disperse out the "open" back of the rock bucket (bouncing off the tractor /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)... how about a piece of 3/16" sheet of steel you can "slide" into the back of your bucket to prevent this and also make it higher to prevent overspillage backwards... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...I could roll the stones back into the bucket and they stayed there while I loaded others.)</font>

Another design which caught my attention uses a chain mesh
as the bottom of the bucket:

http://www.compact-tractors.com/products/rock10.jpg

It appears this allows more retention of the stone payload
and results in a lighter weight bucket. Interesting concept.

 

[leaddog]

John, The bucket is far enough in front that the dirt and small stones fall out and don't hit the tractor I just need to put another bar on top so no BIG ones roll over the top when I roll it back and bounce it to shake the dirt out. I didn't have any do that but I could see that one JUST might if I wasn't watching it. 300# stones rolling onto the red hood would not make my day.