Backhoe Backhoe operation tips for learners.

[bx24]

I thought I would chime in even though this is an "advanced BH operation tip"

Use the BH to move the machine around to both trench and move it left and right to get better angles on things. You could lift the stabilizers, raise the FEL, turn the seat, drive the machine forward and then back, then turn the seat back and drop the stabilizers ..... or you can simply lift the FEL and point the front tires where you want to go and use the BH to push the machine around.

Once you have mastered the basic controls to where you could essentially dig in the dark, its time to grab some lunch or a cup of coffee and go what a road job or other job site where BHs are digging. You won't believe what an experienced operator can do on almost any size machine.

In time you will get better and besides watching other pros, there is no substitute for seat time.

 

[bx24]

I tried to find a couple of clips on YouTube to show you what I am talking about, this is the best I could do.

This clip takes "using the FEL and BH to move the tractor" to new heights!

YouTube - Herzog "Cartopper"

This shows you what you can do by using Premium Racing Diesel fuel ....

YouTube - Dragster backhoe at Rocky Mountain Nationals 2007

 

[Richard]

One thing that I tried (got idea off TBN)...

Fill backhoe bucket with water (I live near lake so it was easy )

With bucket full of water, NOW practice your movements. Not only will this help instill the finesse in you but will force you to be smooth & relaxed with your movements, lest you slosh your water out and need to refill it prematurely!

As you push/pull bucket towards you, it will help you coordinate the controls so the bucket is level.... don't do it right and you'll find out.

 

[denmansoft]

After about 50 hours I was feeling good enough to be productive....
Then our son's girlfriend tried it out scrapeing the top off an area and had the technique down in 10 minutes. I guess the hours on video games do prove useful...

 

[BXpanded]

My son, 19 at the time had it down in no time. Said "This is great! It's like a video game where something actually happens!"

It was pretty easy for me when I learned at 18. The old guy (probably all of 40) I asked about teaching me to run a 580 Case said, "Take it down there in the field. Pull a lever. If it doesn't do what you want it to do, turn loose of that lever and pull another one."

 

[Volfandt]

Dang, and here I thought nobody saw me

Best advice is to keep the rpm down until one feels comfortable w/the controls. Then dial it up and go for broke This usually happens well before the 50hr break in occurs......
It actually becomes pretty natural after awhile, don't over think it, just go with the flow.
Another side effect you'll notice is you'll start to hear beeping sounds anytime you find yourself around a construction site where you'll see an experienced BH operator making all his moves nice and smooth. Ofcourse the beeping sounds you're hearing are the car horns behind you, trying to get you to go through the now green intersection. Happens w/excavators too

 

[Charlesaf3]

huh. never found it hard at all, but I think that's due to growing up playing video games, as per above. Its just another joystick - and god knows I've pushed around a joystick a lot over the years.

I'll have to let my mom know how productive all that "unproductive" time was.

 

[alchemysa]

huh. never found it hard at all, but I think that's due to growing up playing video games, as per above. Its just another joystick - and god knows I've pushed around a joystick a lot over the years.

I'll have to let my mom know how productive all that "unproductive" time was.

Great...so you are getting paid to work that backhoe these days?

 

[Berniep]

I had a buddy who showed me a couple of things to start out and he said that at about 10 hours I would start getting a lot better, and sure enough he was right. Not great but I was pretty much past backhoe seizure part. If I go a long time between using it I will idle the engine down a little for a while and it comes back more quickly every time. Now if my tig welding would do the same

 

[MarkV]

When I let people try one of my backhoes the most common problem I see is the tendency to try and pull the bucket in with the teeth vertical or pointing away from the tractor. This will almost always lead to dragging the tractor or lifting the back end. Both scare new users. Get the teeth pointing toward the tractor and your digging will go much smoother.

A great exercise for developing the use of several functions at once is to extend the backhoe as far as it will reach with the bottom of the bucket parallel to the ground. Now bring the bucket back to the tractor while it remains 1” off the ground without touching. You have to work the boom, dipper and curl functions at the same time to make it work. Once you can do that you can dig clean trenches.

MarkV