:BACK HOE QUESTION

[LBrown59]

<font color="orange">
Had any of you had any experience operating a back hoe before you got your tractor and hoe?

For you green horns like myself how long did it take you to get the hang of it? </font>

 

[Jimbrown]

I had never sat on one until I got mine. There is nothing to it just keep the rpm down when you first start to keep the hoe where it moves slow untill you get used to the sticks You will pick it up real fast. It takes a few projects befor you really learn how to dig.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For you green horns like myself how long did it take you to get the hang of it? )</font>

Depends on what you mean by "get the hang of it." I could pull out big roots and dig a hole pretty pretty after a half hour of playing around. Mostly, you just get faster at things like that with experience. Early on, you bang things around, and go the wrong way a lot.

But if I had to dig a flat bottomed trench without disturbing the soil at the bottom, I'm not sure I'd be capable of that without someone either showing me how it's done or describing how it's done in more detail. There are things the experts can do in a few minutes with a backhoe that I'm sure I can't do. Mostly situations where you can't fix it if you screw up (like not disturbing the ground, or carving arcs, or compacting backfill with the bucket).

Cliff

 

[Henro]

It takea a little while to get used to the backhoe movements, but it is not something that most people cannot learn.

Since each of us is different in our physical abilities, it is hard to take other's experiences and apply them to ourselves.

My guess would be if you buy a backhoe you will enjoy the learning process and not mind taking the time required to become proficient.

Sure beats a shovel...no matter how long it takes to get comfortable.

My advise would be not too worry too much. You WILL become a pretty good backhoe operator if you buy one and use it.

No question in my mind at all...they are such great tools that you really want to use them once you get started... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Chris527]

I purchased a Woods 7500 with my Tc 30 and after a few months of use I LOVE it. After a few boo boo's and some practice I really have the hang of it. At first I had problems with the controls, pulling when I should be pushing ,lowering when I should be raising,you get the Jist of it, after a few weeks of use it almost became natural and I dont even have to think about what lever does what. Most newbies with backhoes know what I mean. I did manage to stretch the swing lock hole a little forgetting the locking pin was in but other than that its been a great tool for my property and my neighbors property too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chris

 

[GerardC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I did manage to stretch the swing lock hole a little forgetting the locking pin was in but other than that.....

Chris )</font>

What I did was attach a piece of string to the pin and then rest the other end on the controls. Never forgot to take the pins out yet. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Gerard

 

[txdon]

LBrown59, I had no experience before I got my backhoe. It took about 20 hours (of backhoe work) before it started working right. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anybody know of a computer game that has two joysticks that operate a backhoe. I need one to keep my skills up when my backhoe is off. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[LBrown59]

<font color="crimson">I did manage to dig out 6 to 8 two to four inch trees with the hoe on my BX 23.
I guess you could call that making progress.
But I'm still sorta jerky with it. </font>

 

[rdln]

I worked for a plumber/GC for a little while and did some odds and ends with his JCB TLB with a cool side shift feature and then a JD 790 excavator for about 15min. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

But I would concur w/txdon and say that it took me 15-20 hours to become efficient with my little Woods BH.

 

[JoshJ]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Anybody know of a computer game that has two joysticks that operate a backhoe. I need one to keep my skills up when my backhoe is off. )</font>

Actually... yeah there is, for people like me who are the "I-wish-I-had-a-backhoe" type. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif check out
Howstuffworks backhoe info and simulator
they have a good write up on backhoes and a two-joystick simulator, though there are some problems with it.

 

[dmccarty]

LB,

I had never run a back hoe prior to getting mine. I brought home the manuals while I waited for the tractor to be setup and practiced operating the controls. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The wife thought I was nuts sitting on the couch with my eyes closed moving my hands in the air but it worked. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I pulled up a stump within 30 minutes of running the backhoe. Got lucky in that the stump had shallow roots. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I still went left when I meant to go right but it ain't rocket science.

The experience kicks in when you start to feather the controls. So if you need to move up and then left the newby does just that, moves up and then left. Once you get the hang of it you will move up and left at the same time sorta kinda. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You can watch someone do it but I'm not sure you can learn to do it by watching. I think one has to do to learn this one...

Just don't let anyone or anything in the operating reach of the backhoe and start working. I did get a good book off of Amazon about operating backhoes. Don't have the book handy since it is packed up in box waiting to be moved but it opened my eyes to things the backhoes can do. Some things I would not do with a 3PH hoe but its ok with a submount. You can use the hoe to move the rear of the tractor around and over trenches and such. One has to be carefull since it would be easy to overturn but it can be done. And it has its uses.

Later,
Dan

 

[RobS]

Allegedly, there are other tricks to smooth operation of a hoe. Most amatuers like me use one control/movement at a time (OK, sometimes more). When the boom is brought up all by itself it can slam pretty hard but when another circuit is in use at the same time it will serve to cushion the hydraulic blow somewhat. As I understand it, the pros will use this to their advantage by intentionally using multiple circuits/movements simultaneously.

Now don't quote me on this but I heard it somewhere (probably here on TBN).

As others have said, it doesn't take long to get used to the motions. A bit longer and you become somewhat productive. To be smooth in operation and precise in the work... that may take a lifetime at my rate /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[PineRidge]

I think running a backhoe can be compared with driving an automobile. I'm sure when you were first learning to drive you probably made a few mistakes, who didn't? And I'll bet that the longer you drove the more you learned about lots of different driving situations (dry,wet,snow conditions). I'll bet that driving more than likely is second nature to you now, that is, you do it automatically and don't even give it a second thought.

Operating a backhoe is really the same way. Operating and learning as you go. The good backhoe operators don't think about what they are doing with their hands as much as what they want to do next with the earth. It's all second nature to a good BH operator.

I would suggest that you relax and enjoy operating the equipment the rest will just come natural.

 

[txdon]

JoshJ, thanks for the free BH simulator program link. Before I go out and buy two joysticks I was wondering if anyone has used the program with two joy sticks? The movement with keyboard button control seems pretty realistic. Now I'm ready to move up to the joystick. I like the diesel motor sound also. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JoshJ]

Txdon- If you actually have a backhoe, you will be disappointed with the sim with two joysticks. I have two sticks, tho they are not identical, which is probably part of my problem. But I actually ran a JCB 214 TLB the other day (first backhoe experience /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif ) and it is a world of difference. Not only that, but your hands are in different position on a hoe than what is natural for a joystick (on top vs on side) and the computer just can't simulate the overall "feel" of it. i would say that the sim is more useful before you get experience with a hoe, it helps you learn the motions so you can go the wrong way and not hit anything important!