powerstroke444e
Veteran Member
One bucket 18. But you will find lots of uses for a larger smooth bucket if you get one. go with qa for the backhoe buckets so you can expand. I have 3 on b26 12, 18, 30 smooth.
Optimal Backhoe Bucket?
- Thread starter avc8130
- Start date
- Views: 10590
Tompet
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2004
- Messages
- 765
- Location
- Ohio
- Tractor
- Ferguson TO 20, Kubota B3300, BH77, Massey Ferguson 1540
I'm have same decision of 12" or 16" on a new BH77.
The 12" is across the teeth while the interior of the bucket itself is 10.5". I had the 12" and for the most part worked well but am considering 16" this time. One concern is if the 16" over time would put more stress wear on the BH, pins, etc. and how it would work vs the 12" around small stumps. Soon as the clay is damp there is some "clean out" that occurs but usually not too bad.
12" is a little tight to work in trench. I don't know yet. Rather only have one bucket for now.
The 12" is across the teeth while the interior of the bucket itself is 10.5". I had the 12" and for the most part worked well but am considering 16" this time. One concern is if the 16" over time would put more stress wear on the BH, pins, etc. and how it would work vs the 12" around small stumps. Soon as the clay is damp there is some "clean out" that occurs but usually not too bad.
12" is a little tight to work in trench. I don't know yet. Rather only have one bucket for now.
CurlyDave
Elite Member
I know that when I put a hydraulic thumb on mine I needed a minimum 16" bucket for it to work.
doelake
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2011
- Messages
- 120
- Tractor
- kubota m59 2010
The L39 has an extremely powerful backhoe, you will find using a smaller bucket frustrating in the length of time spent digging...don't choose anything smaller than 18"...I use my 30" exclusively and find when picking up large boulders that a bigger bucket provides more stability with or without the hydraulic thumb...my M59 has one, my L39 didn't...if the buckets are quick attach it takes only minutes to swap, even pin-on can be swapped in a reasonable amount of time. Once you start using your hoe, you will understand the extended versatility of multiple buckets:thumbsup:
I agree with Doelake. When I purchased my 2003 B21 it came with a 16" bucket and I assumed that was the largest available. After about 200 hours I found out there was a 24" bucket and what a huge boost in productivity that was. The increase in volume is much more than just the increased width - your heaped capacity goes way up. If you are only doing trenchs, the 18" may be fine but if like me you dig around foundations and sometimes dig out larger areas, the 24" will be money well spent in the time you will save. It is definitely much easier to deal with rocks with a larger bucket as pointed out.
After purchasing the 24" bucket I don't think I ever used the 16" again because I had a 10" with the B21 for shallow, narrow trenching. As others have stated and I can confirm in clay soil it can take some shaking to empty a narrow bucket. However a narrow bucket is very handy when trying to dig around tree roots in order to remove a stump.
I traded the B21 at 1,800 hours for a slightly used (180 hours) B26 and had to take it with the Quick Attach 18" bucket. I knew I would need the narrowest bucket and so purchased the 12" QA but baulked at spending ~1,300 for another 24" bucket. That was when I discovered that you can by the QA plates from Kubota for about $165. I purchased a set, cut the B21 ears off the 24" bucket and welded the QA plates on and had a 24" bucket for my B26. In two years I have not used the 18" bucket - the 24" and 12" provide the flexibility I require.
This year I plan to add a 24" or 30" ditching (no teeth) bucket to my collection. Is anyone interested in a slightly used 18" QA bucket for a B26?
After purchasing the 24" bucket I don't think I ever used the 16" again because I had a 10" with the B21 for shallow, narrow trenching. As others have stated and I can confirm in clay soil it can take some shaking to empty a narrow bucket. However a narrow bucket is very handy when trying to dig around tree roots in order to remove a stump.
I traded the B21 at 1,800 hours for a slightly used (180 hours) B26 and had to take it with the Quick Attach 18" bucket. I knew I would need the narrowest bucket and so purchased the 12" QA but baulked at spending ~1,300 for another 24" bucket. That was when I discovered that you can by the QA plates from Kubota for about $165. I purchased a set, cut the B21 ears off the 24" bucket and welded the QA plates on and had a 24" bucket for my B26. In two years I have not used the 18" bucket - the 24" and 12" provide the flexibility I require.
This year I plan to add a 24" or 30" ditching (no teeth) bucket to my collection. Is anyone interested in a slightly used 18" QA bucket for a B26?
doelake
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2011
- Messages
- 120
- Tractor
- kubota m59 2010
Words of wisdom, lhansman
Another option is to buy bolt-on, or weld, flat steel to the toothed bucket to create a flat edge for smoothing grade work if you are on a budget and can't afford the added cost of purchasing multiple buckets
Another option is to buy bolt-on, or weld, flat steel to the toothed bucket to create a flat edge for smoothing grade work if you are on a budget and can't afford the added cost of purchasing multiple buckets
missingstexas
Silver Member
I have a 12" on my B26 it came with a 24" new, but the fella I bought it from cut that one down to a 7" for trenching... And +1 on the 12" gets full of clay from me Learned that quickly here in south LA. I have the 24" on my list of one days...
Learned that quickly here in south LA. I have the 24" on my list of one days...JimP
Silver Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2004
- Messages
- 237
- Location
- southern New England
- Tractor
- Kubota L5460HSTC; Volvo ECR88 excavator; Dresser TD9H dozer; Bandit RM990 chipper (sold)
I can second the other replies, go bigger than 12 inches. I had a Woods 6500 backhoe which was considerably smaller than the backhoe you are considering. It came with an 18 inch bucket. The additional width is no handicap when trenching. The additional width is a big time saver if you are digging a hole or other big area. The digging power was limited by the backhoe, bucket size didn't seem to affect digging power in most practical situations.
