What to look for in a stump bucket for a CUT?

[johnrex62]

I am considering the purchase of a stump bucket to help leverage some of my "mid-size trees" from the ground.

I have some small 3-4 inch trees that are too large to hog and well enough rooted that simply chain pulling is not easy. I would like to lessen their hold and hopefully pop them out of the ground without having to resort to a hand held shovel.

I have read some threads where an opinion was proposed that some stump buckets do not work well with tractors due to their shape. Can someone expand on that and maybe post a pic of the right and wrong shapes for use on a CUT? The only example I came across was the Piranha, but I cannot find anything online for this specific bucket.

I am looking at some that are 6" at the cutting edge and between 22 and 40 inches at the QC plate end and range from 24 to 36 inches long. I am thinking since I don't have the leverage a skidsteer does, the narrower the better, am I on the right track? Is 24" long enough to work with or do I need the 36", the longer ones all seem to be wider too. With a small cutting edge be enough to punch through the roots or would a wider edge with teeth be better?

Lastly, most of the cheap ones are 1/4" steel, is that tough enough for this job or do I really need something 3/8"? I am going to be using it on hard clay soil and trying to cut through roots about 8" down.

 

[johnrex62]

Hmmm, more than 24 hours and no opinions.

Did I mention I might wanna take off my ROPS and tie a steel cable to the back of my seat to pull the stumps if I don't buy a bucket? :cool2:

Any opinions yet?

I am looking to go kinda cheap on this and am looking at a small one on CL. Saw the same pics associated with an Ebay posting recently, similar pricing. Just want to be sure I am not being too foolish before shelling out the dough.

 

[Mowermoney]

I don't know much about using a stump bucket on a tractor, but I use one on my Skid Ster and it is the best purchase I've ever made. I have dug up and pushed over some monster trees and stomps with mine. I cleared an acre and a half on 8" to 12" multiple trunk honet locust trees and piled them up for burning in 7.5 hours with mine. I clear lots and roads and can compete pricewise with much larger machines.

The only thing I can say about using one on a tractor is thy one and form your own opinion.

 

[Piston]

I've never used one but it seems to me that the shortest you can get away with while still being "long enough" would be the best route to take. I don't see why it wouldn't work as long as you don't get something designed for a large skidsteer and take up all you fel capacity.

I also plan to buy one of these with a hydraulic thumb on it later this year or maybe springtime. I think the price is very reasonable for what your getting with some of them.

I say give it a shot!

 

[bcp]

Did I mention I might wanna take off my ROPS and tie a steel cable to the back of my seat to pull the stumps if I don't buy a bucket? :cool2:
...
I am looking to go kinda cheap on this ...

Steel cable is too expensive!

Get a discarded water ski tow rope. Drill a hole through the seat back. Stick the rope through the hole from the rear and tie it to a short 2x4.



Bruce

 

[CCBC]

You planning on using this on your Kubota? Not sure what the break out forces are on the Kubota or more importantly how rigid your loader boom is. Feel like this will be your issues more than can you do it. I've seen loader arms get bent up pretty quick on tractors doing this type of job, I've even done it, but it's what I had and how I got started in this business. A tractor loader system is not built like a Skid Steer or Back Hoe system. I would rent something and save my tractor looking back on it, however if you want to use what you have Rock-N-Roll. I did it with a normal loader bucket on the tractor so I know it can be done, again I would still rent something. Rentals are to cheap to risk messing up your loader arms.

 

[magicheater]

I don't know much about using a stump bucket on a tractor, but I use one on my Skid Ster and it is the best purchase I've ever made. I have dug up and pushed over some monster trees and stomps with mine. I cleared an acre and a half on 8" to 12" multiple trunk honet locust trees and piled them up for burning in 7.5 hours with mine. I clear lots and roads and can compete pricewise with much larger machines.

The only thing I can say about using one on a tractor is thy one and form your own opinion.

Please tell us what size machine you used. Size of the machine, weight and H.P. has a lot to do with the effectiveness of the "stump bucket". How many tress total did you uproot?

 

[k0ua]

JohnRex, I cannot comment much on the Stump bucket, other than I would not mind having one myself, but I will say this, 3 to 4 inch trees around here anyway pulled with the swinging drawbar about 2 days after a good rain come out easily. I use 2 or 3 20 foot log chains, and hook on the tree up at least 3 foot maybe a little higher depending on how "springy" they are, and pull very slowly with the L3400HST. I have never had one that didnt fall over, or a very few that broke off. No jerking, tire spinning or front end lifting. In fact as long as the ground is moist, you can push over most 3 to 4 inchers with the FEL, but there is more danger, of something falling on your hood or your head. Now if you try to pull when the ground is dry, then the results may be different. I have pulled a lot of tree's with the drawbar.

James K0UA

 

[Mowermoney]

Sorry about the delayed response. I haven't visited this site since I posted earlier.

I am using a Cat 248 (74 H.P). It works well digging 12" to 15" pines and oaks. It struggles with most hickorys and all winged elms. I can dig 10 to 12 " sweetgums and red cedars with ease. Those are most of the species we encounter here in Central Georgia.

As far as using it on a Kubota I would suggest renting one and trying it out for a day.

 

[johnrex62]

I found a guy here locally that sells equipment from different suppliers for skid steers. He carried Gator buckets and is willing to let me try one out and if it doesn't work I can return it.

I saw their extreme bucket and was surprised at just how big it is. I can see why folk would not recommend it for a CUT. I am hopeful the standard bucket is more reasonable for my needs. :laughing:

I am looking at MUCH smaller trees than what have been discussed here. The largest I would be wanting to dig out are going to be under 5" and most are going to be 3-4" size.

My tractor is the L3700SUHST. Total weight of the tractor with FEL is 3723lbs according to Kubota specs. The breakout force is listed at 1858lbs at 500mm forward and has a lift capacity of 853lb at the same point forward. I am intending to dig down about 6-8 inches and try to break off some of the roots on these trees. If the tree comes out easily, fine. If not, then I will chain and drag them out with the drawbar. It is just very difficult to pull some of these with their root intact and entrenched and I don't want to damage the tractor pulling on them.