Rake Toothbar, Box blade, Rake, etc

[RichNJ]

I read various posts about these attachments and am still sitting on the fence. I find stripping topsoil and digging to be a slow process with my FEL on Kubota L4310HST. It seems the biggest problem I have is getting thru and digging up the sod. Not too many rocks. I leave the 750 lb finish mower on the 3pt hitch for extra weight. So for the next few projects I would like to speed things up and get the best attachments for the jobs and would like your opnions. My property is sloped gently and grass covered.
Project list:
1. Prepare planting beds and prep for concrete walkway to front door. Raise grade about 1 foot over half the area. Total area disturbed about 2000 sq ft. Walkway about 150 ft in length.
2. Prepare level area + swale for small chicken coop.
3. Clean up stone rows around property (11 acres, about 1000ft of stone rows). Move stones to fill in lower areas. The stones are fairly loose and small. The rows are about 4 foot wide and 1 foot tall. I know moving all these rocks will take time so this is a long term project. The areas to be filled in are about 800 ft from the farthest stone row.

Thanks in advance.

 

[radman]

If you want to dig in dirt, a tooth bar is the way to go. I never had one until last year. People here say it is 30-50% easier digging and now I'm a believer. I have used loaders for years and a tooth bar is a huge asset. I bought a used Bobcat tooth bar, heavy duty, for $200. Cut out an inch to make it fit and rewelded. The bolt-on type are quick and most common.
Don't have any experience with a rake and for me probably not needed. Boxblades with scarifiers can be very useful but not sure if critical for your projects. FEL can do most of your projects but may take more time. I have occasionally used a tooth bar like scarifiers.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Buy a good boxblade. Way less stress on your machine than digging with your loader and more effective. You will wonder how you ever got along without it.

 

[cowboydoc]

Here's a question for you guys with the bolt on toothbars. Whenever I go to take mine off it is always coated with dirt and such. Everytime you have to clean the bolt and even then it's really hard to get off. I grease them everytime I put them back on but it's always the same. Anyone else have ideas?

 

[Mike_Dumond]

If you're gonna get a rake, make sure it has guage wheels. Amazing how well those work. And for a few bucks extra, get one with a drop down blade.

Keep the greasy side down.
Mike

 

[HR_Mutt]

cowboydoc
I don't have the bolt on toothbar so I'm guessing here. Do you have extra bolt length leaving threads exposed? Maybe a 2nd nut or a shorter bolt? If not exposed threads what about sealing the thread w/ service removable loctite or even a little silicone?
Mutt

 

[HR_Mutt]

RichNJ
Box blade rippers or toothbar would certainly soften up the sod but I'm a little confused that you're not ripping it up with your FEL. My tractor is only slightly larger and I'm able to either rip it off gradually a couple inches at a pass or just plunge right in. Have you tried different angles of FEL? It really should work. That must be some tough sod/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
regards
Mutt

 

[mlmartin]

I loaded four tons of fist sized stones onto my neighbor's truck and trailer over the weekend. I have a JD 870 with a 60 inch HD FEL bucket. It was slow work. The stones seem to prefer being pushed, rather than jumping into the bucket. I think that a tooth bar would help out quite a bit.

I've done a few swales with my tractor. I roughed the first ones in with my backhoe and FEL and then I got a box blade. The box blade is a real timesaver for that task. A box blade is great for changing grades, too. If you have any gravel/dirt roads/paths to maintain, a box blade is the way to go. You should be able to break up sod with a box blade but I don't think it will make planting beds very well. Take a look at a 3ph rototiller for that task.

When I renew my lawns, I'll borrow/rent a rake. I can't really justify the expense of purchase for a one time use.

Matthew

 

[Bird]

I just haven't had that problem, but I don't put any grease on mine. Maybe my bolts just aren't old enough yet.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I bought a stone bucket for my FEL and use it in the bush to get firewood too. The tines are spaced about 2" apart so it picks up most of the smaller stones too. Might work for you as well.