Bucket loader for small tractors and all terrain vehicles

A method of operating a bucket loader having a clam shell bucket including a base plate and a bucket shell pivotally connected to said base plate and movable between a raised open position and a lowered bucket-forming position, and a linear actuator operably connected to said clam shell bucket to affect movement thereof, said linear actuator including a base housing and an extendable piston;

• the steps comprising:
• positioning a selector link connected to said base plate in a first mode of operation engaged with said linear actuator;
• extending said linear actuator to operate said loader bucket to load material therein;
• retracting said linear actuator to affect a raising of said clam shell bucket having material loaded therein;
• re-positioning said selector link in a second mode of operation engaged with said linear actuator to secure said base plate to said linear actuator;
• re-extending said linear actuator to cause a pivoting of said bucket shell relative to said base plate into said raised open position to affect a dumping of said material from said clam shell bucket;
• retracting a second time said linear actuator to affect a pivoting of said bucket shell to said lowered bucket-forming position;
• and
• replacing said selector link into said first mode of operation to release said base plate from said linear actuator so that a subsequent extension of said linear actuator will cause a vertical movement of said loader bucket.