Dundertaker
Member
When I bought my SA425, I got a package deal: Tractor, Box Blade, 5' Rotary Cutter, Canopy (which I've not put on), and the 18' Trailer. I added a Landscape Rake to the deal. I've not used the BOX BLADE yet, but the Rotary works great (Agri X ATLAS Agri "X Rotary Cutter » Darrell Harp Enterprises, Inc.) on my pasture at about 5" cutting height, and the Landscape rake is the best tool for clearing up trails and moving sticks and brush across the ground, scaring up the ground for broadcast seeding, etc...very handy. But the BIG ADD that I spent for was THE BUCKETEER. (They're updating their website, apparently, and the website is down...I called them to get some information last week, but here is the link for future reference: https://bucketeergear.com/ Here is an article with their contact information: Pivoting Bucket Forks Fit Compact Loaders) They're very nice people and responsive to every question I've asked. Based out of Texas.
This is actually the most useful tool I have on the tractor at this point. I had originally planned on getting a set of pallet forks based on a conversation I had with several "tractor owner friends." One of them said, "Pallet Forks are the POOR MANS GRAPPLE!". So when I asked about a set at the dealer, they were close to $900 from Yanmar, and they didn't have them in stock. Also, with the PINNED BUCKET, they would have been an "either-or" and a total PIA to switch out. I ran across this video on YOUTUBE while researching between Yanmar and JD.
I have 15 acres 8 of which are wooded. I sometimes need to move leftover hay from round bails, piles of brush, downed trees, etc..
After using these for about a month, all I can say is WOW...these are a game changer. They are SOOOOOO HANDY, especially when moving downed trees and brush. Over the weekend, we had a tree go down in the Midwest storms. 30' tall and fully bloomed out. About 2-2.5' in diameter. I cut it into about six pieces and took the top down to manageable lengths, and had the entire mess moved 200' to the "hole" in about 30 minutes by myself. I'd estimate I had the trunk cut into 6-10' lengths and carried two sections at a time to the pile. The larger and more "locked together and messy," the better the green top/brush holds up inside the forks to the bucket.
They are better than pallet forks because you don't have to switch them out, you can use the bucket with the fork for an extra deep "scoop" with the forks down, you can flip them up and down as needed on tasks, etc...so the utility is really much more functional.
Additional uses: It's like a rake...you can push and drag things with the forks angled down, and you can use them as a HAY FORK, Pallet Forks; the individual forks are mounted into a standard 2" box hitch and can be removed, and you could put in a ball hitch to move equipment, etc...very versatile. The load capacity is rated for 1400 lbs which is more than the bucket is rated for, so shouldn't be any issues there.
The individual "spears" are set into a 2" box hitch steel, then a 1.5" pipe welded over a 1" solid pipe in a "pyramid" and seem very strong and unlikely to bend without major abuse. Mounting was about a 2-hour job (I also added the "add a hook/shackle" kit at the same time also a great product). If you are working with downed trees and brush a lot, I think they're almost the best tool you could use that isn't a single-use item like a Grapple. On that subject, they dump "CLEAN," as in...vines and trash do not tend to stick onto these. I've used a grapple and spent lots of time pulling trash out of the tines. These are not as secure as a grapple, but I think the "other uses" on a Compact Tractor make them a great option for all-round small tractor work and much less costly and almost nothing to break.
The only problem I've is the Hitch pin/keys popped out and I lost a Pin and almost lost another one. I bought some that were Plasti-dipped https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091F679BL?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I think wrapped the keys in "rescue tape" to A: Make them a little more secure and B: if they do fall out the YELLOW should be easier to see. The BRIGHT SILVER one is lost to the wood Gods. I've not lost one (yet) since doing this. They provide COTTER KEYS, but then you lose the ability to remove and replace them quickly...we'll see how my "super special tape" works
This is actually the most useful tool I have on the tractor at this point. I had originally planned on getting a set of pallet forks based on a conversation I had with several "tractor owner friends." One of them said, "Pallet Forks are the POOR MANS GRAPPLE!". So when I asked about a set at the dealer, they were close to $900 from Yanmar, and they didn't have them in stock. Also, with the PINNED BUCKET, they would have been an "either-or" and a total PIA to switch out. I ran across this video on YOUTUBE while researching between Yanmar and JD.
I have 15 acres 8 of which are wooded. I sometimes need to move leftover hay from round bails, piles of brush, downed trees, etc..
After using these for about a month, all I can say is WOW...these are a game changer. They are SOOOOOO HANDY, especially when moving downed trees and brush. Over the weekend, we had a tree go down in the Midwest storms. 30' tall and fully bloomed out. About 2-2.5' in diameter. I cut it into about six pieces and took the top down to manageable lengths, and had the entire mess moved 200' to the "hole" in about 30 minutes by myself. I'd estimate I had the trunk cut into 6-10' lengths and carried two sections at a time to the pile. The larger and more "locked together and messy," the better the green top/brush holds up inside the forks to the bucket.
They are better than pallet forks because you don't have to switch them out, you can use the bucket with the fork for an extra deep "scoop" with the forks down, you can flip them up and down as needed on tasks, etc...so the utility is really much more functional.
Additional uses: It's like a rake...you can push and drag things with the forks angled down, and you can use them as a HAY FORK, Pallet Forks; the individual forks are mounted into a standard 2" box hitch and can be removed, and you could put in a ball hitch to move equipment, etc...very versatile. The load capacity is rated for 1400 lbs which is more than the bucket is rated for, so shouldn't be any issues there.
The individual "spears" are set into a 2" box hitch steel, then a 1.5" pipe welded over a 1" solid pipe in a "pyramid" and seem very strong and unlikely to bend without major abuse. Mounting was about a 2-hour job (I also added the "add a hook/shackle" kit at the same time also a great product). If you are working with downed trees and brush a lot, I think they're almost the best tool you could use that isn't a single-use item like a Grapple. On that subject, they dump "CLEAN," as in...vines and trash do not tend to stick onto these. I've used a grapple and spent lots of time pulling trash out of the tines. These are not as secure as a grapple, but I think the "other uses" on a Compact Tractor make them a great option for all-round small tractor work and much less costly and almost nothing to break.
The only problem I've is the Hitch pin/keys popped out and I lost a Pin and almost lost another one. I bought some that were Plasti-dipped https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091F679BL?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I think wrapped the keys in "rescue tape" to A: Make them a little more secure and B: if they do fall out the YELLOW should be easier to see. The BRIGHT SILVER one is lost to the wood Gods. I've not lost one (yet) since doing this. They provide COTTER KEYS, but then you lose the ability to remove and replace them quickly...we'll see how my "super special tape" works
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