3-point Scoop...what features?

Am I on the right track? If so, then what features do I want in a scoop? Does anybody have a brand they like? What do they cost?

Thanks
Steve

Steve

Yes, dirt spills out the sides. BUT after a few trips, you have a channel that most of the dirt stays in. The spill over is why how far and over what you have to go is a critical factor. I like the back blade because it eliminates the backing up to fill the scoop - if that is the case. And it is VERY easily dumped by lifting the control lever.

I use draft control doing this. You start out with a "heavy" setting to grab a load and then adjust up to a "light" setting to hold the load as you move along. I built up a pile of dirt as high as my N, wide as the blade at the top and about three times the length of the N. About as high, wide and short as I felt safe driving up and over. I have some picts I will post.

MOST important!! is as one said, is the time you get to spend on the tractor "playing" in the dirt!! So don't try to make it go faster, would be my advise - "too far to scrape" is better in that view. :-)

As we here on the board say,
N-JOY!!

The scoop is often hard to dump because of the weight of the load. Pulling that rope hurts my hand, and sometimes the rope breaks - so I'm going to add a little pulley to the scoop frame like JerryU says he has. That's a great idea.

Something to watch - sometimes you get a load that won't tip over and dump because of the way the dirt is in the scoop. You have to turn off the tractor, go back there, and dump it by hand. Be careful when that happens, it has to be done but it's a good way to lose some fingers.

Get a reversable scoop. You will want to put the opening to the rear, back into the pile while lifting then transport and dump. If you get a scoop with a flat front, you can back up over the pile, drop the scoop and drag the pile forward, spreading it somewhat.

Okay, you will want to use a stabilizer or the scoop will wobble all over the place. These are the bars that go to a bracket on the axles.

A thing to look for is the trip mechanism on the scoop. The latch should be mounted on the scoop so when you pull the rope it also tips the scoop. The weight of the load will tip the scoop, but this helps get it started. There are a few out there where the latch is on the frame.

Finally, I added an "awning pulley" to the middle of the scoop on the top rail. If you try to pull the rope with it just looped over the top, you will get a sore arm mighty fast. Run the rope through an awning pulley or clothesline pulley attached to the top rail with a bolt or u bolt or some manner and the whole thing will pull easier. If you have questions on this, I can shoot a pic and post it or email it.

You'll find the little scoop one of the handiest three point accessories you can by. A "poor man's endloader".

Have fun

JerryU

later,dave

Thanks,
Larry

Once you change it, You'll be in love with the way it works ! "Been there,done that"

later,dave