Go BottomPURCHASING A DIRT SCOOP
 | RONM
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2003-02-04 48684
HELLO, I AM LOOKING TO PURCHASE A DIRT SCOOP AND AM WONDERING IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME WHAT THEY HAVE AND IF THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. I HAVE NOTICED MANY DIFFERENT BRAND NAMES BUT THEY BASICALLY LOOK LIKE THE "HOWSE" OR "KING KUTTER" MODELS (FARM STAR, CIMMERON). THEY LOOK TO BE IDENTICAL BUT PAINTED IN DIFFERENT COLORS. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP BEFORE I BUY. ALSO, HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY? THANK YOU
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| TC40D
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2003-02-04 48700
I had a King Kutter scoop a few years ago. I mounted it on my JD 2520 which was more tractor than the scoop was rated for. I believe the scoop was supposed to be limited to about 35 hp. My JD was rated about 60hp. I backed into a pile of dirt that was partially frozen. The John Deere lifted the scoop but it bent in the shape of a pretzel. It was my fault. I think if you use the scoop as it was intended and have reasonable expectations then they work ok. They aren't as good as a front end loader but they are a lot better than a shovel and a wheel barrow. ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2003-02-05 48712
3ph scoops are pretty good inexpensive solutions I've heard. I believe that they are just scoops though, and are useful for scooping up loose material and moving it somewhere else. I don't think any of them can be used for digging or compacting like a loader. The hydraulics on most loaders can hold down the bucket and apply down-pressure. 3ph's aren't held down and scooping hard material is likely to just lift the hitch. Most 3ph trailer hitch adapters have a limiting chain to limit how far the hitch can float up and maybe some scoops also have something like that.
I imagine that the tractor doesn't have a loader now so front ballast would be a good idea. I'd add the price of front weights on to the scoop price.
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 | BillMullens
Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 649 Central West Virginia 
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2003-02-05 48714
I bought a dirt scoop for my TC29 on the way home with the tractor. They are great for moving loose, piled material; or for using as a mini-trailer to haul rock in. I believe that mine is the same as a Howse, it is the wider of the two sizes (30" wide, I think) and I paid about $225 for it. I bent a piece of angle iron in it, trying to dig up a rock, but that was my fault. A dirt scoop will dig some; you just have to angle it down so that it burrows when you drop it and back up. I've heard of people digging out basements with them, but not sure if I believe it.
Bill ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-02-05 48717
Morning Bill: Glad to hear some experience about digging with scoops. I think it's much the same as digging with a loader in float. I do that a fair bit and control the cut by riding the bucket valve. I do get variable results though. Too little angle and the blade just floats on the surface. Too much and it digs in and jack-knifs the loader.
If there's room, a couple of sand bags strapped on top of the scoop would help one dig better initially. I suspect that a scoop might dig better than my loader in float because it would get heavy as soon as it starts taking a load. My box scraper weighs over 700 lbs. and does a reasonable job of dozing with the rear cutter, but even it will float up if I get the cutter angled too deep. Of course, a box doesn't take a load to help hold it down.
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| BillMullens
Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 649 Central West Virginia
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2003-02-05 48718
Tom,
I hadn't thought about it before, but a hydraulic top link would make a rear scoop MUCH more useful. If you tilt it down enough to dig, it stops the tractor pretty easily. With a hydraulic top link, one could sequentially tilt & dig; then level and push until the scoop was full.
Reason #8 why I need a hydraulic top link. When I get to 10, I'm setting one up.
My other thought is that if the ground was too hard to dig with the scoop, one could run over it first with the rippers down on a box blade, or even a plow. For my use, the box blade pretty much takes the place of the dirt scoop, except for moving piled gravel. I don't have an FEL.
Bill ....
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| RONM
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2003-02-05 48719
Hello, I should have put more information about my situation. I have a JD950 with no loader. I really do not need a loader but do need to move primarilly loose material around as well as rocks, etc. I priced a loader and the cost doesn't justify the use (even though I would absolutely love one). I don't know anyone with a dirt scoop but have heard that they act as a good poor man's loader. My concern is King Kutter vs. Howse vs. Cimerron vs. Farm Star vs. other brands. I don't want a cheap one since I beleive in buying the best one I can afford and $200.00-$300.00 isn't a real problem. Some of them look like they are exactly the same except for color. I really appreciate the input. I don't want to spend $225.00 on one brand that has a shortcoming when an extra $50.00 or so would give me the best. I am concerned with dumping, loading, build, reversible and ease of use. Thank you ....
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| Todd-AgEquip
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2003-02-05 48721
I deal with some of howse's dirt scoops. They are built tough and seem to last. I've seen some of King Kutters work and it doesn't impress me much. the other two I don't know anything about. Using a Scoop isn't very hard it might take a few to get use to, but it's quite simple. Don't plan on taking 5" or 6" of dirt up at a time it's a slow process but it's cheap and works. I used a dirt scoop and a 5ft disc to dig my first pond. I would run the disc around the pond and weight it down some to get the dirt loose then i used the dirt scoop to remove the dirt. took some time but it was worth it. ....
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| Todd-AgEquip
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2003-02-05 48723
I deal with some of howse's dirt scoops. They are built tough and seem to last. I've seen some of King Kutters work and it doesn't impress me much. the other two I don't know anything about. Using a Scoop isn't very hard it might take a few to get use to, but it's quite simple. Don't plan on taking 5" or 6" of dirt up at a time it's a slow process but it's cheap and works. I used a dirt scoop and a 5ft disc to dig my first pond. I would run the disc around the pond and weight it down some to get the dirt loose then i used the dirt scoop to remove the dirt. took some time but it was worth it. ....
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| BillMullens
Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 649 Central West Virginia
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2003-02-05 48725
Ron,
Yes, we probably manage to get off topic. As long as you're scooping loose material, either Howse or KK would be fine. I've had good luck in general with the other KK implements that I have; I think that my scoop is the same as a Howse, I bought it because the local Southern States store had it on the lot. You can move a dump truck load of gravel in a few hours with one. I see no reason to get the 24" instead of the 30". The only way I've managed to damage mine was by backing up to the corner of a rock, getting the edge of the scoop wedged under it, and backing up while pulling up with the 3-point hitch. Just backing into piles of gravel or dirt, my TC29 would never hurt the scoop; it will spin or stall first.
Bill ....
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