Toughest Material To Move With FEL

[RoyJackson]

not sure if this one has been mentioned? But so far the most difficult thing I have found to try loading/moving is leaves...

I don't think most manufacturers had leaves in mind when they designed loaders...

 

[The Haymaker]

Try a pile of good old Maine marine clay, dry or wet.....

That's funny, I was just going to say clay! Just got rid of a 12" tall hump that runs along the abutting property and driveway. Tired of scalping it every time I try to mow. Thought it would be gravel from years of snow plowing, but was 2" of sod and marine clay underneath. Wet, of course. Try to move it in as little passes as possible because it turns to goo after two passes.

 

[jimmyj]

One of the hardest things for me to scoop up with the loader is cut split firewood. You never get a good load in a conventional bucket.

 

[gwdixon]

One of the hardest things for me to scoop up with the loader is cut split firewood. You never get a good load in a conventional bucket.

I hear that. The wood seems to just want to move away and not be scooped into the bucket. Getting one layer on the bucket's bottom is an accomplishment.

Here are a couple of pictures for the ballast portion of this discussion.

 

[techwrtr2]

it isn't always the material you are trying to scoop that makes it hard, the terrain doesn't help. Case in point, today I was trying to scoop wet soggy yellow clay. To make matters more entertaining, i was working up hill (didn't feel like working across the hill with a loader) and I was on plant matter made wet by said clay. Lots of spinning and very small scoops per pass.

Job done though.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I hear that. The wood seems to just want to move away and not be scooped into the bucket. Getting one layer on the bucket's bottom is an accomplishment.

Here are a couple of pictures for the ballast portion of this discussion.

I'm now eager to see this thread develop into a "Oddest Ballast" discussion.

 

[gwdixon]

I'm now eager to see this thread develop into a "Oddest Ballast" discussion.

Never happen. I declare myself the winner with the pictures above.

It really is not a bad idea for a new thread. Lots of pictures and curiosity for the farm boys. Go ahead a start it!!

 

[Gittyup]

The hardest thing I've found to load is big rip-rap (bowling ball to basketball size boulders) mixed about 50/50 with wet clay. The whole pile just bonds together in one big mesh. It's very difficult to break loose a bucket full because one or more boulders is always locked to another one deeper into the pile. I ended up simply back-dragging the pile apart and then loading the boulders separately (by hand) into the bucket. What a PITA it was! You need a lot of breakout force to overcome this situation.

 

[rekees4300]

Ditto on the riprap and manual loading even the 6" without clay

 

[SPYDERLK]

I just have my Loader Buddy! You forgot to mention rocks!

The hardest thing I've found to load is big rip-rap (bowling ball to basketball size boulders) mixed about 50/50 with wet clay. The whole pile just bonds together in one big mesh. It's very difficult to break loose a bucket full because one or more boulders is always locked to another one deeper into the pile. I ended up simply back-dragging the pile apart and then loading the boulders separately (by hand) into the bucket. What a PITA it was! You need a lot of breakout force to overcome this situation.

I think Loader Buddy has that dealt with. Lotsless force needed & good ability to pick up.
larry