Using the rear scoop

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Last week I switched attachments around and for the first time I had my rear scoop on a tractor with hydralics. I had tried it on Missy, but a scoop full of dirt was a real challenge with the hand lift. I used it Saturday and today, and there is definitely a learning curve involved. I was filling in the ruts left by a backhoe that had to put in a new drainfield while my yard was muddy a couple years ago. I can't ride the cub more than 45 minutes or an hour at a time, so it took a while to get it done. My ground is to hard (red clay, fescue sod, and very dry) to scoop up the dirt without it being loosened first. I had tried the scoop with the hand lift, and was so disapointed that I was considering putting it up for sale and using the money to hire a neighbor to fill in the ruts for me. After a little practice with it on the 48 with hydraulics I was pretty happy with it's performance. I wouldn't want to build a lake with it, but it sure beats a shovel and wheelbarrow. It picked up a full load of dirt with no problem, and it felt like I had power steering. As with any piece of equipment caution is required, but even if it should raise the front wheels they will only come up a little before the scoop hits the ground and stops them.

[Bigdog]

John, I can't see the picture. I think part of the url got truncated.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Try again, the picture was too large and you caught me while I was redoing it.

[Jim Hudson]

John give it some teeth to bite with.

[Bob Hawley]

John, Thanks for letting us see your scoop. That's the first one I've seen. I'll keep my eye open for one. Other than the mower, the scoop would be the only thing I'd be interested in. It looks like it does a nice job. The learning curve would definitely be a factor for me. Good luck, Bob

[johnbron]

Thats a good amount of dirt you got in your scoop John. How much do you suppose that weighs and how does it or you dump it?.

[Jim Hudson]

Here is a link to 17 scoop pictures I made from plans John sent me. The duel wheel Cub is JP Tractor's at the Cubrama I think.
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=3007510&a=31227203&f=0 If the link don't work I will do something else.

[Rudi]

Bob:

If you go here: John Puckett's Dirt Scoop, then you can see how it is built. John graciously sent me the drawigs to post on the server!

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Jim, I gave teeth some serious consideration, but as you found out, the original lift setup doesn't give you much ground clearance for dumping, plus as hard as the ground is here I don't think I could get enough traction to make it work. Was thinking about cutting a little off the front edge of the bucket and then adding teeth. That way I would still have the same dumping clearance.

JB, I don't know the weight for sure, but I would guess the dirt in the scoop weighed 300+. It does make the front fairly light, and when I got it that full on Missy (hand lift) it was all I could do to grab the steering support with one hand and use the other one to lift it, even with the helper spring run as tight as it would go. Also with the scoop that full, if you are stopped in soft ground and come off the clutch too quick with the engine revved up it will bring the front up a little, but it comes back down pretty quick.

[Jim Hudson]

Dump while backing up!

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Depending on the circumstances I've been doing that part of the time too. Also been letting it down and backing up to smooth the places where I was dumping.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

JB, I forgot to answer the dump part of your question. There is a rod sticking out the back at about a 45 degree angle. You dump it by pulling the rod forward. It has an overcenter setup on the pivots, and it will stay dumped until it is empty and then return on it's own.

[Bob Hawley]

Rudi, Thank you for the tip on John Pucketts scoop. Bob

[Jim Hudson]

I never noticed anything about the front end being light. But I have front wheel weights. I always scooped when the ground was a little damp. Made it dig in better but harder to dump and spread.

[Jim Hudson]

Have you seen this? Look at the weights on the front. Is that 3 sets?
http://www.tm-tractor.com/gbrochures/scoop.htm