Backhoe Backhoe learning curve

Anonymous Poster · Oct 25, 2001

New Kelley B750 3pt. hoes w/15" buckets $3750.00 for a freight quote email your zip code to agwholesaler@hotmail.com

hayden · Oct 25, 2001

Pete,

Bring me another bag of coffee and I'll tell you exactly what you want to hear. You can even try my backhoe to set the final hook so you buy one!

But back on a serious note.....

As for trenchers, I rented a walk behind for running an electric line and and would not recommend assuming your soil is as rock-laden as ours. The grapefruit sized rocks are fine, but when they approach the size of a dog the rock will win. Also, I couldn't get any deeper than 18-24 inches. 4 feet would have been out of the question. Maybe a bigger unit would work better, but the really big rocks will still be a problem.

I dug my water line with a 16" bucket and kind of liked the size since I could walk down the trench to roll out the pipe. I don't think the larger width slows the digging, but it does make a bigger scar.

It's not hard to learn either. A bit clumsey at first, and the advise to run slow while you're learning is well worth taking.

PaulT · Oct 25, 2001

I bet you're right about the speed of a 12" bucket vs a 16" bucket. I bought my 12" specifically for digging drainage trenches, because a 12" ditch uses 25% less gravel backfill than a 16" ditch. Purely economical. Pete , if you're going to dig big holes and if you will usually backfill with the dirt you removed, go with the 16" bucket. But if you think you will do a lot of trenching and refill with gravel(or sand - like a propane pipeline) I'd go with 12" to cut backfill cost.

PaulT

dmccarty · Oct 26, 2001

Since everyone is talking about bucket size and how important size can be, /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif, I'll add my two cents.

When the power company contractors came out to dig the trench to put in the conduit for my neighbors they had a backhoe and not a trencher. I asked the power company and they said they used backhoes not trenchers. I was not smart enough to ask why. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Code required them to dig either 36 or 48 inches. I forgot which. They used and old Ford 555 back hoe with a very LONG 12 inch bucket. Not a short bucket but one that must have been designed for digging deep thin trenches. My area has lots of rock and they brought up quite a bit. And they were diggin on the side of a many made road bed. Even then they were getting some big rocks.

SOOOO, if you where going to be doing a lot of trenching a 12inch bucket might be worth a thought. I compromised and got a 18 inch bucket. Seems just the right size.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Later...
Dan McCarty

JiminMI · Oct 26, 2001

I vote for getting the backhoe and keeping it. It is cheaper to rent stuff but I like collecting attachments. A buddy suggested that I practice with mine by picking up "Dixie Cups" in the backyard. I got so that I could pick them up and pile them in a wheelbarrow. Then on to my first ditch!!! It went without a problem and I have since dug a number of 200 ft diches 48 inches deep and was really proud of them.
Great way tp practice was the paper cups....

JiminMI

Anonymous Poster · Nov 4, 2001

Rent a trincher, and use a roll of quest pipe, less joints to glue.

Hightech · Mar 25, 2002

Re: Woods 9000 Hoe

Does anyone have a pic of a Woods 9000 with Subframe? (not mounted to tractor) If so, could you post it?
Thanks

Anonymous Poster · Mar 25, 2002

HO-Ho-ho. I was releived to find another that saw the trencher better than the bhoe. I've layed in a number and unless big rocks are the problem the trencher is the answer. When the soil is rocky bed pipe in sand or it can be sleeved in an up size of pipe. Thats my 2 cents.