Backhoe Tree Root Cutter Winter Project

[Banjo]

FWIW, the LandPride one hooks onto the link that joins the bucket to the bucket cylinder. I presume that with the bucket curled, it's sufficiently out of the way to use the ripper, and you can dig well enough with it on too. It goes on with one pin, so it would be easier to put on and off than changing a bucket (you'd like to think).

I haven't used one, so was offering this only from a "design alternative" point of view.

 

[Henro]

As another alternative...

How about a design that has something similar to a "thumb" that would swing down in front of the bucket when needed, and be quickly pinned back up against the stick when not needed?

I see a fuzzy picture in my mind of how something like this could be done, while still allowing for worst case movement of the bucket without damage resulting...

Just food for thought... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[GoodGuy]

Andrew...
I'm really liking this idea.....
Called AgWay in Ontario today & they quoted me $450 plus shipping for theirs. I like building my own stuff but I'm also a realist, if I can't get good scrap cheap many times it just as cheap to buy although not as much fun. I'm gonna investigate the landpride design further. Thanks..

 

[GoodGuy]

Henro..
Did you see my post with the tooth on the bucket idea, I asked what you thought of that ?? Also there was a suggestion about replacing the thumb arm with the cutter so I'd like your thiughts there as well. Love to hear what you think, Bud

 

[Henro]

GoodGuy,

Yes, I guess I did see that post and you know what they say, the mind is the second thing that goes... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Myself, I don't think I would want to have anything that went out longer than the teeth of my bucket, when the bucket is postioned so the teeth are in line with the axis of the stick, if that makes any sense.

The reason being that leverage would be lost. Now maybe there could be some gain in leverage if the end of the knife was stuck in the ground. Have not thought about that. But when it was in free space and just acting against the root, I think a long knife would be a losing propostion.

I keep coming back to something that would be easily pinned to the bucket and extend the length of the bucket, stopping at the end of the bucket, in front of the teeth, and done in a way that it could be sort of latched over the outside bucket teeth for stability (essentially a 3-point mount).

If only used in a manner that would cause the cutter to be pushed against the bucket, then it probalby could be held in place by a spring or something that wrapped around under the bucket on the outside...or maybe just somehow pinned in place by one more pin of some kind.

Just thinking out loud. My gut is telling me that some sort of simple, and effective solution is there.

I am not sure that using a "thumb like" device is the solution now, after reading a thread where the poster's (Sorry, I can see the pictures in my mind, but the name has vanished /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif) thumb pivot point was bent with use, and it was 3/4 inch steel.

Anyway, I think there is promise in your idea so don't write it off to quickly...I know I have wished for something to cut roots better than my 9" bucket. But to be useful to me personally it would have to go on and off quickly. I doubt that having a couple holes in the bucket side would hurt bucket performance too much.

I have a picture in my mind of something that slips over the bucket teeth, then rotates so that mounting tabs could be pinned to the bucket sides...the picture is a little blurry though... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[GoodGuy]

Thanks Bud !!!
I always appreciate your thoughts

 

[JohninCT]

I too have struggled with ripping roots with my backhoe bucket. I considered trying to fabricate a ripper tooth, but since Struck Corp makes one for my Magnatrac tractor I figured it would be easier for me to just buy the one that they make. We got some good weather today so I had a chance to put it together and mount it on the backhoe. Attached are a few pix. I didn't get a chance to play with it yet, but I'll report on how it works after I get to use it some.

Here's the bucket coming off. Its not too heavy (I can pick it up). A couple of minutes.

John

 

[JohninCT]

Here's a pic of the ripper tooth. You can see that it is basically a holder that mounts on the backhoe and a bolt on tooth. Actually it comes with two teeth one is a serrated slicer type of plow tooth and the other is a curved plow ripper. I've selected the serrated blade for my first tests of the new "weapon" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

John

 

[JohninCT]

Here is a pic of the ripper tooth going on the backhoe. Its lighter than the bucket so its pretty easy to get it up and pinned on. Again only took a couple of minutes.

Ready for action /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Zork]

Eric, my dad built one of those in the mid/ early 70's and it worked ok but would have been better with another set of bars to actually cut the root like a scissor. Worked best on taller trees with more leverage to topple over once the root base was cut. I agree with some of the others about having to remove the soil or at least, loosen it up. I have a tendancy to just loosen the soil with the back hoe to limit clean up but in a majority of cases the dirt had to be removed. Best bet is to get it with a full tree so that the trunk can be used like a large wrench. Be careful, have fun. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif