most useful front loader implement

cuculainn

Recently purchased a tractor with front loader. it came with basic spike, which i used to put in round bales last winter.

borrowed a bale handler for stacking bales this summer, which was brilliant as i was able to keep all bales close to shed and on hard stand rather than the usual single layer in field.

Was thinking of getting a tine grab as it would be useful for putting in bales but also dividing bales up a bit in shed. It would also be useful for tidying up round yard/fields, hedges etc…..

But before i do i just wanted to get the opinion of the good people here as to what the most useful front loader implement is!!

BTW its a small part time farm, that i have to travel to, with about 100 bales, and house about 25 ish cattle.

tractor is a Renault ceres 85.

Conversations 3

Definitely a decent tine grab is the most useful and can do a lot of different jobs.

Maybe a bucket after that.

kk.man

Pallet forks.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846437#Comment_123846437

Pallet forks are one thing I couldn’t be without alright but for what the op describes I don’t think they’ll have massive use for pallet forks.

I would say the first must haves are tine grab and bucket. After that the roller type bale handler because the rollers can be taken off and the spikes used like pallet forks for the odd time they may be needed.

cuculainn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846412#Comment_123846412

would a four foot tine grab be big enough? when you say decent what are the main things to look out for?

Cashel tine grabs seem to be about €2250 new, they seem to be scarce enough second hand. I was thinking that was because there wasnt much to go wrong and not a thing you generally trade up?

dmakc

Pallet forks as already mentioned

cuculainn

it was the roller bale handler I had use of….found it brilliant. and the option of using just the spikes was making me wonder could i get away with just that instead of getting grab, but grab still seems to be more useful for general jobs

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846453#Comment_123846453

I bought pallet forks when I bought an 8 ft yard brush and I should've had them years ago.

If I put my implements into a shed, I put them on pallets, They're never in the way then,

That's apart from ordinary day to day stuff,

Conversations 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846492#Comment_123846492

We had a 4ft Wylie for over 20 years and only ram seals and a few tines needed.

Not sure what brands are best or worst at the moment, Fleming seem ok and good price wise.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846509#Comment_123846509

Yea I fully agree, they’re used at minimum on a weekly basis here and more often than not they’re used on a daily basis (if not by me then be the neighbours!) but if someone is on a budget I wouldn’t be getting the forks at the expense of the tine grab or bucket. If budget permits absolutely get the forks and you won’t regret it but for me on a small setup as the op has stated the order of preference would be tine grab, bucket, bale handler, forks.

Tibulus

Was thinking about a basket to work from. Go galvanized 2m x 1m.

Might only use a few times a year,

893bet

Would a “bucket grab” be a decent all rounder?

cuculainn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846549#Comment_123846549

Oh now thats a curve ball!!

bogman_bass

you can do 90% of what a tine grab does with a dung fork.
quicker to put on, less weight on the loader and less cost

blue5000

4 in 1 bucket here. But it's a load in itself. I'm surprised no one has started making them for a tractor loader.

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123848478#Comment_123848478

The polish sellers in Kiltegan, Wicklow sell a 4in1 for a tractor loader. I'm fairly sure.

They've ads on DoneDeal.

epfff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846549#Comment_123846549

Big no if it's a man basket you are talking about.

If pipe bursts it's instant death.

I've had them burst a few times with bales and stuff and the speed the loader drops is frightening. Check valves a must if you go climbing.

Bucket tine grab roller bale handler

_Brian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846453#Comment_123846453

Ive seen sleeves for pallet forks for stacking bales, was home made but handy cheap modification and you had both.

_Brian

We’re small operators. Have a spike, bucket and pallet forks.

Spike is on 99% of the time. Even lifting IBC’s we just throw a sling through the bars and lift with the spike.

A good set of slings or brothers lifting chains are great with a loader. Then it does All the lifting of the hard crap round a farmyard that fits nothing.

I do have and alert on DD for a time grab locally but I’ve been told I’ve bought enough rusty stuff for a few years 🙄

funkey_monkey

If you are working with bales:

1. Roller Bale Handler - the tines can be used in lieu of forks in most instances.
2. Bucket - if possible at least width of tractor.
3. Dedicated forks - your loader/tractor will thank you when you are able to lift bags of fertiliser centrally rather than offset using a single pallet tine as it puts a twist on the loader.

You could get a fabricator to weld on a hook centrally to the roller bale handler to lift bags of fert. You'd just need to watch the positioning of the tines in relation to the cab of tractor when loading into the spreader.

Not sure about a tine grab - we empty all our straw bedded sheds using the bucket with no real bother bar a bit of graiping/shovelling for the last bit to tidy up.

Gillespy

Once bedding doesn't get too high, bucket will do. In high fresh bedding, any kind of dung pike, tine grab will be far more sympathetic to your loader/tractor.

Wouldn't recommend a roller bale handler. One, they're terrible at their primary job. And they wear out in no time if used for feeding as well.

Bass Reeves

The most used implemented on the loader is a two spike bale lifter. All feeding is done with it. If bales are chopped easy enough to split in half. It cost 300 euro nearly 10byears ago now. Can lift a packet with it. But unless you have a very big tractor a half tone is the most you will be lifting with it. Woukd never use tine grab for day to day feeding to heavy on tractor, too hard to spike bale with it and to messy to remove plastic and net

Bucket is probably next, it has made the power link box nearly redundant. Bale handler we have a roller type doing near 500 bales a year. Not a cannot usingvtge spikes of it for feeding as you constantly have to maje sure spikes are tightened as well two spike handler is lighter and tighter to front of loader and puts less pressure on loader

Was looking for a grab for years, picked up a 4' one second hand in gc for 400 euro. Had to redo hoses as they were very long. Do not use it thst much as nearly always feeding full bales or a half bale.

Get a weight for the back of the tractor bales are getting very big. Do not go for too heavy implements. Will pick up a dungfork if I come accross one cheap.

I presume your loader is Euro hook if not get it redone and adapt what you have already. It's easier pick up implements for it.

SodiumCooled

Bucket and roller bale handler (with the rollers off) are probably fairly equal in their usefulness. We do all the winter handling of bales with the spikes only on the bale handler but also use it for pallets regularly*. Bucket used for loads of stuff including cleaning out bedded sheds etc hard to be without either.

We have a soft hands also for summer handling of bales as better for stacking on ends that the roller handler. Can’t say I’d see much use for a tine grab on our farm anyway.

*it’s not really ideal for pallets, I’ve used them a lot with doing a self build and in hindsight I should probably have bought pallet forks at the start wouldn’t be worth it now at this stage.

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123848670#Comment_123848670

Better than standing in a bucket which is what I see going on.

I have a sheep ambulance for the lambing that I use on the forks for heights

cuculainn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123850084#Comment_123850084

Yeah it's a euro loader....is the main reason for the rear weight to take some of the weight off the front axel?

I have a two prong spike at the moment but it's hard to break up bales with just that...hence the idea of tine grab....then we also have aot of branches that need tidying from trees that fell that would be easier deal with with the grab .....might lessen the pulling and dragging I seem to do

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123850662#Comment_123850662

Are they well chopped. Loads of contractors either have the knifes off, not edged or half them off the machine. It's not exactly easy to break a properly chopped bake but it's doable

cuculainn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123850686#Comment_123850686

They are chopped alright.....and should be better chopped this year..…I was able to spread them out but it takes a lot of shunting in and out as it's a back to back shed.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123850753#Comment_123850753

I always feed complete bales just split in half and put the two halves in front of a pension. Keep pushing in until they finish if it's too long to finish a bale put a half bale in front of pen.

bogman_bass

I split them in half and then pick up the halves and shake them out. Much easier to push in then and make sure everybody get a bit.

FintanMcluskey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846664#Comment_123846664

Used a grab for years at home, never want to see one again. A real bolix of a thing. Might be better on a tractor with a 100l/min plus pump but opening & closing for every bale left it very slow.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846492#Comment_123846492

4ft is too narrow - 5ft would be ideal for most tractors