Please Respond Before Monday Morning

Ok, the rains subsided and I went out and loaded the 76" bucket with some clay. The machine handled it fine and it doesn't, even, have the counter weight kit on , yet. I have to admit, I'm pretty confused on what attachments and sizes to purchase. I dodged a bullet today, as my sales rep was busy and we just played phone tag today. Having never used a 4 in 1 bucket makes it hard to just sink all the eggs into that basket. Using the Tak today,i found myself needing a smooth bucket so I detached the toothed bucket and went to pick up my Bobcat's smooth bucket and it won't fit due to a welded brace. The 4 in 1 might have fit the bill, but I don't know that, yet.

RT, how far apart are your tines on that rock bucket? I have a bunch of stump piles that we are going to burn. The roots are loaded with that slate type rock that we have here on Sand Mountain. These stump piles are sitting where we plan to sew down seed for pasture ground. That rock will fall through a root grapples tines. Blue Diamond does make a rock bucket without the grapples that I could get, as well as the root grapple.

Just wondering, when you rent an attachment, is their a mixing of hydraulic fluid? Can you bleed the attachment? What if the guy that used said attachment before you had water in his hydraulic fluid?

KSSS, I probably had too high of expectations due to my salesman bragging the Rezlow up as the greatest thing since slices bread. My point to others here on the board being that if you expect to do serious digging in hard soils at some point you are going to need an aggressive tooth bar on a dirt bucket to get anything done. The positive to these SS's is you just keep adding tools to your arsenal as needs grow and the pocket book allows.

If your worried about purchasing the 4/1 can you ask the sales guy if you could demo/or rent it for a day?

My opinion is that on e you have the 4n1 you'll wonder why you never had one before. I have one on my 287 and was able to bolt on top mount teeth and still bolt on the reversible cutting edge, this does two things, adds strength to the cutting edge and allows me to very carefully clean up asphalt surfaces. I don't even own another bucket for it, the thing is just handy as can be. I believe you'll also find the 230 will handle a 78" 4n1 just fine loaded and even better with a weight kit.

Deere, I wish that I could have done this, but they don't have one there at the moment and I need to sew this deal up today. I will be meeting the rep at lunch today. Still am undecided on the size for the toothed 4 in 1, but will get a 78" root grapple and 72" open face brush cutter.

I've had my 4n1 since about 2003. I have over 4k hours on that bucket and loader. I have never once considered the cost a factor. Once you learn how to use this bucket , it is worth it. It is just now to the point of rewelding the clam opening surfaces ( if that made sense ?). I have never regretted owning this bucket. I WILL NOT go with out it. I wil refurbish this bucket and keep it.
I use this bucket in residential , light comm , pipeline, and assisting the dozer in clearing and clean up operations.
I use it to build house pads , final grades , small ponds , demo , tin horn install , city drive excavation and yes ,even a few basements !
My point is yes there may be a technical trade off as far as weight or capacity etc etc... BUT , it has never been a noticeable factor , not enough to discourage me from ever owning one. There has been a few time I've loaded other attachments thinking ill use them or it will make it easier. They usually just stay on the trailer. Now they collect rust in the yard. The only attachment I really like but don't use as often as I should is the Land plane. I would recommend one if flat surfaces are in your future.

If i we're to have one bucket it would be a smooth edge 4n1 with bolt on teeth or a tooth bar ( although heavy ). I'm not trying to discredit or offend the other members experience or opinion.
That's my Okie redneck opinion . :my2c

dirtmonkey, you've sold me on the 4 in 1 with teeth. :drinkup

Tags, thanks for your response. Do you have any experience with the TL230 and 78" bucket?

The 230 is the same size as my Ctl 60. Now this is my experience and opinion but I think a 78 " bucket is to much. I would stick anything from 66 to 72. I think 78 will " gut " the motor too much. Especially if you're doing heavy digging. I quess it depends on you're operating technique. My belief is pick a bucket that's only an inch or two bigger than your tracks on each side . Less bucket resistance pushing through the ground and more in line with your tracks.
Again just :my2c

Fyi. The Tak brochure gives a recommend bucket width of 67.5 inches

You are correct sir, that is the size bucket they delivered it with, but believe me that is not enough bucket. I am getting the 72", toothed, 4 in 1 bucket and the 76" Bradco / Takeuchi GP bucket with a cutting edge and the side cutters. I have been using the 76" toothed version and the TL230 handles it well. Another factor in this decision is that I have a 66" bucket with bolt on teeth and a 66" smooth bucket, already on the farm, that I use on the Bobcat 773. The plan is to use the 4 in 1 the majority of the time, the 66" toothed bucket for abusive tasks, and the cutting edge bucket for cleaning out horse stalls and other less abusive chores where teeth are not needed. I will sell the 66" smooth bucket with the Bobcat.

I, also, went with the 78" Extreme Root Grapple for brush and short logs. I plan to figure a way to fixate some fencing, mesh, or expanded metal in the bottom and the back of it for the rock duties that, hopefully, will be brief and short lived. I, also, decided on the 72" Open Face Brush Cutter over the enclosed one, because I can keep it lower to the ground in clearing the sapplings and small trees I have coming up. I am, seriously, considering adding an Extreme Auger with a 9" bit to the package. I have till tomorrow to make this decision.

Thanks to all for your help and opinions! :drinkup If you have any suggestions on the Auger and bit size for build fences and a riding arena, please chime in. I'll be using 6" posts for the fencing,except at the corners and 8" cedar posts on the arena. If I decide to build a pole barn, then I'll rent or borrow a bigger bit. I'll post pics once all these attachments get here.

DJ- sorry for the delay, been out of pocket. Probably all committed by now, but for what it is worth my root grapple tines are about 8" apart. My rock bucket is a Blue Diamond, where the spacing is probably 2" or so. With the poor soil quality here I can never get soil to fall through the 2" openings, so I find I never use that bucket. My intentions were that I could use it like a screen.

Best to you- and do update us on what you get. Good long holiday wekend coming up to play with the new toys!

Update on Attachments

Well fellas, I have received most my Blue Diamond attachments. The 72" Extreme Open Brush Cutter, the Extreme Root Grapple and the Extreme Auger with a 9" bit have arrived. I'm still waiting on my 4 in 1 toothed bucket. I used the cutter today for the first time. I am happy with it's performance, but need to lern how to stay with the contour of the ground better, as I put the blades in the dirt a bit. Not bad, but enough to make me say a dirty word or two Haven't, really, used the auger or root grapple yet, but hope to do that this weekend. Any advice on using that cutter is welcomed.

Had a thought about the float function. Would that work using the cutter to help me stay at the same level from the ground? It works great with a bucket, but not sure if it is applicable with the cutter.
TIA,
Duke

RTSmith said:

I run a Cat 242 which is ROC of 2000#. I recently picked up a used CAT 72" 4N1 planning on using it as my main bucket. What I didn't allow for is the fact that the 4n1 is 400# heavier, and I know it when moving gravel, etc. I had planned on "toothing" my regular 72" bucket, but rethinking that now. Like you, have seen that Rezloh stuff, but can't talk myself into the check.

By the way- I have a 72" root grapple. Seldom use it for roots, but have moved more brush and large rocks than I can recall. Width probably isn't a big factor, just depends on how heavy you load it up. A really handy device. Would buy again in a heartbeat for my use around the farm.

Click to expand...

bold^
I totally agree. I would never own a skider without a root grapple. I've never tried a rock grapple so can't really comment on that but the way you can rake the ground with the root grapple is indispensable - and the ability to leave the dirty behind is big. For my 2 cents, if I could only have two attachments they'd be a smooth bucket and a root grapple. But then, I already have a 4 in 1 on my CAT backhoe. Speaking of that, sometimes I pull steel t-posts with it. You have to be very, very careful doing that as the clamshell will snap t-posts in two before you know it. I still can't believe it'll do that. I'd hat to get my pecker caught in there. LOL That reminds me of an accident here a few years ago. Sorry if this grosses anyone out - chock it up to experience. A guy was standing at the back of a dump truck and there was an unoccupied wheel loader behind him - he wasn't facing it and there was background noise. Do you see where this is going? Yep, loader rolled into him pinning him against the truck and cut both legs off at the knees. Dude had a great attitude about it though and he gets around in his chair - and he still has his pecker. Be careful out there.

dukeyjoe said:

Well fellas, I have received most my Blue Diamond attachments. The 72" Extreme Open Brush Cutter, the Extreme Root Grapple and the Extreme Auger with a 9" bit have arrived. I'm still waiting on my 4 in 1 toothed bucket. I used the cutter today for the first time. I am happy with it's performance...

Click to expand...

DJ...How about some pics?? And now that you've used your brush cutter, how are you doing on fabricating your mar-guard shield (per another thread of yours)??

StumpyWally

Ron, frightening story. You can never be too careful around machinery. Root grapple will be handy, for sure, but it does let a lot of stuff fall through. I've been debating whether I made a mistake, mainly because it's difficult to even pick up 8 - 10 in logs. I think I'll get better at using it, but the rock grapple, with it's flat bottom would get under stuff easier and wouldn't allow the smaller stuff to fall through. I'm going to try and fixate some square fencing in it and see how it does.

StumpyWally, I'll try and get some pics tomorrow. I'm thinking about using a gas shock to force the Marguard with some magnets to close against the grey grab rails. I could hold it out long enough to get the roll down door to close and open the roll down long enough to pop the magnets loose. May cut a piece of pvc in such a way that I can pop it over the other grab rail and use it as the pivot. Just some ideas. Feel free to give your input. Got the 4 in 1 bucket, but they did not send the pilot operated check valve and it needs it, cause the clam shell tends to open up due to bleed back. It, also, was sent with short lines. I can not tilt the bucket, but half way, before banjo stringing the lines. I can not open the bucket and see the leading edge, because I can't tilt it far enough. That sucks!!!

DJ- When I'm using my root grapple to pick up logs, etc. I usually open wide, and roll attachment way forward. This let's me come down over the top of the item, then close jaws and roll back. So the fingers of the jaws are going against the ground under the logs closing towards the machine and trapping the item against the tines. Makes for a cleaner pick than trying to run the bottom tines under something and having it scoot. With a little practice you'll know where the jaw fingers are and won't much more than scrape the surface underneath.

You can grab ungodly amounts of brush cuttings that way by squishing a whole pile down & clamping it against the ground.

Stay with the root grapple . The curved tines are excellent for digging out small trees and stumps and the spacing lets the dirt fall through. Good for raking too. Make sure the bucket they send is made specifically for a Takeuchi. Apparently Taks have a different hitch height than the others.

phil.... you are correct. The root grapple and the 4 in1 bucket were sent with short lines, not allowing a full tilt of these attachments, which, definitely, inhibits their use. The lines for the Taks are 18 inches longer. BlueDiamond is sending me the longer lines for the grapple and 4 in 1, as of this morning. The cutter and auger do not need the longer lines, as neither should ever be rotated that far. Don't know where the mix up was, but it's being rectified. Also, I'm staying with the root grapple. I'm going to weld on some nuts to the outside tines, so that I can bolt on some expanded metal in the bottom of the bucket for sifting smaller debris.

RT..... I will try to apply these techniques when I get the longer lines, allowing me to roll the grapple "way forward", in order to come from the top, like you suggest. Thanks for the tutorial. Don't hesitate to provide any tips, as I am knew to this stuff.

Anyone using a 4 in 1 bucket...... Is it normal for the bucket to drift open due to bleed back? I paid for the pilot check valve but have not received it, yet. It is suppose to cut down on this problem in machines that put out a lower psi.

Pictures will be coming, when it stops raining.

DJ ....The difference in the buckets I was referring to was the mounting height of the bucket not the hoses . Have a look here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRlLjvEv1Q8.