Bucket mounted hay spear?

Rodeo man · Aug 23, 2014

I've muddled thru life without a FEL. I finally bought one. It has a very heavy duty bucket on it. I will be needing a hay spear before winter. Will I be satisfied with a bucket mounted spear? I don't have quick attach, and it seems easier than changing back, and forth.

bison · Aug 23, 2014

These bucket spears are a PITA.
it carries the bale to far ahead of the loader(weight issue) and you can't see a damm thing cause of the bucket.
Do you self a favor and build a dedicated 2 prong bale fork( pallet fork style)pinned to the loader arms.

Rodeo man · Aug 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:08:02 08/23/14) These bucket spears are a PITA.
it carries the bale to far ahead of the loader(weight issue) and you can't see a damm thing cause of the bucket.
Do you self a favor and build a dedicated 2 prong bale fork( pallet fork style)pinned to the loader arms.

I had thought about the weight being too far forward.

Tx Jim · Aug 23, 2014

Ditto what bison stated.

old · Aug 23, 2014

I have been using one for years now and the only problem I ever ran into with it is the bottom of the bucket peeled out so I had to fix that. Big thing is making sure you have enough weight on the 3 point to off set the loader and bale weight. Sure as heck easier to use then removing the bucket and I use the bucket as much as the bale spike and it takes all of 5 minutes to change out

Rodeo man · Aug 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 20:10:35 08/23/14) I have been using one for years now and the only problem I ever ran into with it is the bottom of the bucket peeled out so I had to fix that. Big thing is making sure you have enough weight on the 3 point to off set the loader and bale weight. Sure as heck easier to use then removing the bucket and I use the bucket as much as the bale spike and it takes all of 5 minutes to change out

Thanks for the reply. I feed about 15 rolls a week in the winter, and need the bucket very frequently.

old · Aug 23, 2014

It is a good idea to weld hooks on each upper corner of the bucket then use a chain under the spike to keep the bottom of the bucket from ever bending or peeling out like my bucket did.

rrlund · Aug 23, 2014

I don't like them sticking way out there. I'd invest in a quick attach setup. I made my own for my bale handling loader after I bought one with a quick attach. Now I can use any attachment or bucket on either loader. Pretty cheap and simple once I had one here to pattern it after.

RustyS · Aug 23, 2014

I use a spear that slips on the bucket at one property that works very well. Remember that the bale is two foot farther out than if you built the quick attach pieces for the tractor and bucket. The extra distance increases force and stress on the FEL when traveling rough roads. By turning the spear straight up after picking up a bale you reduce some of this stress. At this particular property I would use the slip on spear even if I had access to the QD setup.

paul · Aug 23, 2014

With pallet fork style, be careful on tipping the loader up and
raising high, the bale can tumble down the loader arms and
crush the driver. There is nothing holding the bale in place.
Need a bracket to stop that from happening, a tall shield bar.

Paul

JMS/.MN · Aug 23, 2014

If you"re going to put a single spear on the bucket...why not make one that attaches to the top of the bucket, so the bucket has to be tipped down to spear the bale? Then the lower bucket edge would help support the bale and the bale would not be so far forward....

Personally, I have two pallet fork style bale forks, identical mounts that go either on the 3ph or the quik-tach on the JD 148 loader. Only a slight modification to make them fit both.

JD Seller · Aug 23, 2014

You did not tell us what tractor or loader. If it is a newer loader then it should be quick tach and then make a separate bale spear. They work better as the weight is closer to the tractor and you can see the bale much better.

I have seen many a loader or tractor torn up with bucket mounted bale spears. The weight of a large round bale moved out 2-3 feet makes a HUGE difference in the stress you put on the loader.

On older loader get a MDS Sur-loc attachment. That makes the bucket quick tach. They work well.
Here is a link to their web site.
MDS Sur lock attachment.

JMS/.MN · Aug 23, 2014

That"s the quik-tach I"ve had on the 148 loader since the 80s. Actually mine is a previous model...I modified mine to make the latches similar to current production. Works very well. For shipping purposes they make the unit a 3 piece. I welded mine together and it works better that way.

Rodeo man · Aug 23, 2014

451 Massey Fergueson. A bushhog brand loader. Idk the model. I butted it up to a hay roll, and got off and looked at it. It looked like a lot of weight out on the front of the tractor.

RustyS · Aug 23, 2014

If you have a fixed spear on the bucket mount you can turn the spear straight up to reduce the stress added by the extra leverage. The down side is you lose sight of everything in front of you. A big round or square bale on top of the bucket hides a lot of stuff. If you can't drive backwards a lot convert to QD. Going to QD will get you set up for other FEL attachments as well

bison · Aug 24, 2014

(quoted from post at 14:33:24 08/23/14) With pallet fork style, [b:2198b927eb]be careful on tipping the loader up and
raising high, the bale can tumble down the loader arms and
crush the driver.[/b:2198b927eb] There is nothing holding the bale in place.
Need a bracket to stop that from happening, a tall shield bar.

Paul

tupid is as stupid does.

I poke mine normally in the bottom half of the bale.
I often pick up 2 bales at the time, one tine in each bale.
I put the fork only under the bale when i have a bad bale with little or no twine or when they're froze to the ground and the twine would break.
I can also pick up a broke bale with it.
I have a 2 bale 4 tine fork in the 3 point.

4 bales at the time makes for fast feeding

Try doing all that with a single spear :wink:

495man · Aug 24, 2014

A chain on spear will work fine.

I use one on a 2wd tractor and the hay gets moved easy enough. I would not want to be messing with a pin on change over everytime.

I would get a dedicated bale spear if you had a QA bucket i.e. Euro or Skidsteer mount.

Yes to bale is out further with the chain on, but also lets you load/unload a wagon from the same side and I find the extra reach is handy when stacking.

RodinNS · Aug 24, 2014

Given the tractor and loader combo you have I suspect that it probably won't lift much (if any) bale on a bucket mounted spear and if it does it will soon wreck the bucket. I'd invest in a quick tach adapter and get an appropriate spear for the quick tach.

Rod

Dan in North Houston · Aug 24, 2014

Ill add another vote for the MDS shur-lock. I added one to my JD 148 loader, and I am very pleased with it

4435 · Aug 24, 2014

My vote goes to this http://ottawamfg.com/couple.htm Only two moving parts to rust up. Moves the bucket forward about 4 inches. Tom

NEBeef · Aug 26, 2014

You didn't say how much your bales weigh.

I use a home made spear that slips over the cutting and is held on by a chain binder that comes up the backside of the bucket. But I bale 4x4 bales, they are relatively light...

Fred Werring · Aug 27, 2014

Tried the bucket spear, weight was too far forward, bounced way too much.

FWIW, made my own quick attach...just a thought
Homemade quick attach

Bucket mounted hay spear?

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