Backhoe B3200 w/ BH77 ideal weight for excavation

[snout]

Howdy y'all.

I'm currently running a B3200 w/ a BH77 hoe / 12" bucket.
Soil conditions here are somewhere on the order of caliche and claypan.

If I take my time and do a lot of light scratching and flaking of the soil around 1-2" at a time, I can usually get about 30" deep before I'm just dragging my tractor around. Around 24-30", even light scratching is just pulling the whole rig towards my hole. I'm trying to figure out if I am missing something with technique or just hitting a wall on what I can excavate with this setup. I would think I should be able to work down to about 48" before I get into diminished returns territory, based on the dimensions of the backhoe.

Current setup:
- R4 tires, no fluid
- No wheel weights
- Stabilizers with no pads
- Adding weight to the FEL does not seem to make much of a difference
- 12" Bucket with with 3 teeth. I give them a chisel profile w/ a grinder.

Any thoughts on if adding weight would help or are my expectations too high for this setup?

 

[4570Man]

Some angle iron or similar on the stabilizers will make a big difference.

 

[DIYOrangeDave]

The curl of the bucket will have the most power so use that mostly for breaking the ground rather than the boom. Sounds like your clay is fairly dry so picking away is your best approach.

 

[Mat4644]

Lock in FWD, lock brakes as this will lock front also, flip loader bucket over and apply pressure but don't raise front wheels. Shave the ground and use bucket curl. It's all technique.

 

[Tomtint]

I have a L3700 with the BH77...basically the same as your machine...The hoe will drag my tractor all over the place. I don't believe it has front brakes so locking them makes no difference as the rears are always in the air when using the hoe.

 

[Smokeydog]

The B26 came with rubber pads on the outriggers. Surprised the better they grip in dirt and mud. The extra couple of inches lift help too. Rear tires loaded. Had a B20 without rubber pads to compare.
Also turn the FEL bucket down to engage the cutting edge to reduce being pulled back when you can. It will dig in. Have to lift the front tires before lifting the outriggers.
Technique with the backhoe bucket digging up to loosen soil instead of pushing down.

 

[Mat4644]

I have a L3700 with the BH77...basically the same as your machine...The hoe will drag my tractor all over the place. I don't believe it has front brakes so locking them makes no difference as the rears are always in the air when using the hoe.

If it's four wheel drive and it's engaged locking brakes affects all.

 

[Tomtint]

If it's four wheel drive and it's engaged locking brakes affects all.

I will have to test that theory.Thanks

 

[diesel85]

It's all technique -- use the bucket curl not boom to dig. Remember, it's still a tractor, not an full fledged excavator.

I used a Komatsu PC400LC-8 last year to do some digging, and man that thing is no joke. I think it's got over 300 hp, but it's breakout force is insane. It can dig, and dig... and dig. But even using that machine wrong -- using the boom, it can move a huge machine like that anchored down. I know it's bad, but I do use the boom to push me around a few feet here and there as I've trenched... laziness.

 

[Mat4644]

I will have to test that theory.Thanks

I think on the small Kubotas they use open differentials for the front so you will have 50% braking on the fronts since the drive is directly linked to the locked rear. If it is limited slip possibly more. Greatest holding power is the front bucket flipped over and edge planted along with the outriggers.