Backhoe bucket size

[To20Chris]

John - I think you've got more practice with stumps than me, but so far the only problem I have with stumps is the roots. Sometimes the BH simply does not have enough power to break them, sometimes it just rips them all apart! It all depends on the tree and the angle you can get I guess. I'll be interested to see which bucket you like best for stumps - I'm almost to the point where I'd like some kind of single vertical blade! Just reach down and cut up all the roots! Anyway, if I were going to dig up any large area I guess I'd want a bigger bucket, but for trenching and stumps the 12" is fine. And as you pointed out, you can get another.

Oh yeah - if the bucket gets keeps clogging with dirt, spray it with silicone lube (always worked on my shovel!).

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sometimes the BH simply does not have enough power to break them, sometimes it just rips them all apart! )</font>
Chris, think about how the roots grow. the start at the trunk of the tree and grow outward, and Pines also have a deep tap root that usually grows pretty much straight down. The backhoe is GOING to rip the roots because you're digging them either close to the trunk or near the middle and the other end is pulling against you. To dig them better, dig further out where the ends won't be so far away. I start at a 90 degree angle to the stump, start digging further away from the stump breaking the roots as I continually dig closer in to the trunk. So this on each side and then move the tractor to do the same with the other two sides. I think you'll find it much easier starting further away from the stump. I hope this helps, John

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I know I'm resurecting an old thread, but I wanted to update it with results. I chose a 13" bucket over the smaller one. After a summer of backhoe work I'm very glad I did. I don't know what I was thinking even considering the 9" one. There was no situation where I wished I had a smaller one. As it turns out, there was no situation where I wished I had a larger one either, but I'm not moving a lot of dirt.

I pulled stumps and bushes and also used the backhoe as a tiller, that is, digging up a 10X20' area that was very hard packed -- rock solid -- and mixing in some lighter dirt so I could transplant bushes there that I wanted to keep.

I had thought that the 9" would work better for digging electrical trenches etc., but in fact it's easy to dig with the 12" and filling the trench back in is easy, so I didn't miss the small size at all.

For a JD4110 (46 BH) size backhoe, I've concluded that the 13" buckets are a good size for non-construction work. If I was moving a lot of dirt, digging foundations or cleaning out creeks or ponds, that might be different, but for regular home use, the 13" works great.

Thanks everyone for putting me straight back when I was buying. You all helped me make the right choice.

Cliff