Advice Needed for spreading dirt

[UnionParish45]

Hello,

I need to spread about 50-60 yards of dirt with a 2501. I’m fairly new at working a tractor but I’m capable. I’ve just never done any dirt work on this scale. I will be spreading it on top of a 60 yard pond dam. I will be using the bucket of course and then a box blade.

Would it be best to dump the dirt, back drag with the bucket, and then smooth it all out with the box blade at the end? Or would it be better to dump all the dirt in successive trips and then come at it from the opposite direction smoothing out all the piles with the box blade? Any other thoughts? I think the first way would be the best, but it will also take longer.

Thanks!

 

[TheOldHokie]

Hello,

I need to spread about 50-60 yards of dirt with a 2501. I’m fairly new at working a tractor but I’m capable. I’ve just never done any dirt work on this scale. I will be spreading it on top of a 60 yard pond dam. I will be using the bucket of course and then a box blade.

Would it be best to dump the dirt, back drag with the bucket, and then smooth it all out with the box blade at the end? Or would it be better to dump all the dirt in successive trips and then come at it from the opposite direction smoothing out all the piles with the box blade? Any other thoughts? I think the first way would be the best, but it will also take longer.

Thanks!

By my calculation thats 5,-6 tandem loads. Have them dumped in equally spaced piles across the area to be covered. Push and back drag to spread each pile. You can spread a pile in a matter of minutes and I would rough spread each one between deliveries. Finish grade after all the loads have been spread.

Dan

 

[ken erickson]

My pond work with my L2501, loader and box blade is not exactly the same situation as yours in that I built my pond dam up from the spoils as I dug the basin.

What I can tell you is that I would use the bucket to deposit soil where needed, a bit of back dragging, most of it in the float position. The majority of the actual smoothing was using the box blade. I do not have a hydraulic top link so I found a top link adjustment that worked pretty well for pushing with box blade to move large amounts of soil and when dragging the box blade forward it was not as aggressive and would leave a decent smoothed surface.

Good luck on your pond project!

 

[The Evil Twin]

If they'll drive on the dam, that would work.

 

[D2Cat]

Ask the truck driver his opinion of spreading as you want. He can see it with his own eye, probably has good understanding of how and where he can get his truck to spread the best.

 

[UnionParish45]

Ask the truck driver his opinion of spreading as you want. He can see it with his own eye, probably has good understanding of how and where he can get his truck to spread the best.

Dirt is already on site and not being delivered by truck. It was piled up while digging part of the pond deeper. Don’t want the dirt to just go to waste so I thought I’d spread it on the dam.

 

[UnionParish45]

By my calculation thats 5,-6 tandem loads. Have them dumped in equally spaced piles across the area to be covered. Push and back drag to spread each pile. You can spread a pile in a matter of minutes and I would rough spread each one between deliveries. Finish grade after all the loads have been spread.

Dan

Dirt is already on site and will not be delivered. It is in large piles from one end of the pond being dug deeper with an excavator. No dozer on site either. Carrying everything with the Kubota fel.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Dirt is already on site and will not be delivered. It is in large piles from one end of the pond being dug deeper with an excavator. No dozer on site either. Carrying everything with the Kubota fel.

Then you bucket it to the point of use and spread it as you dump.

Dan

 

[D2Cat]

How long has this material been laying since removed form the pond? If it's not totally dried I'd leave it until it is. That could actually take a couple of years. You try to work it with only the outer crust dry you'll have fun no matter how you move it!

 

[animals45]

You might break it up every once in a while to help it dry . Roller skating in peanut butter ain't any fun .
animals45

 

[UnionParish45]

How long has this material been laying since removed form the pond? If it's not totally dried I'd leave it until it is. That could actually take a couple of years. You try to work it with only the outer crust dry you'll have fun no matter how you move it!

It has been out for about 5 months. It is dry as I have used some already in other places on the property.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Roller skating in peanut butter ain't any fun .
animals45

Don't knock it till you try it!

 

[UpNorthMI]

As commented rough spread with front bucket as you move the dirt, I would then rough flatten things out by dragging front bucket. Box blade can also be used but I would strongly recommend a drag harrow chain which I find does a great simple job of smoothing out areas. Sounds like a great project for your L2501.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

get a bucket full, go far,far away.....backup and dump, repeat another 200-300 times..
you'll get real good at tapping the 'curl ' lever to lay down a nice amount of dirt.....