Backhoe BX22 Backhoe question

Anonymous Poster · Apr 14, 2003

I looked at a BX22 on saturday and got to play around on it for a while. The one thing I question is the strength of the backhoe. While I was digging holes it did not have much force going into the ground, the bucket curl was good. Another thing, after I had the holes dug I went to push the dirt back into the hole with the side of the bucket and it would not budge, even about 1" of dirt. Is this normal? Other than that, boy was it fun.

chrisjbell · Apr 14, 2003

push the dirt back into the hole with the side of the bucket and it would not budge 

That doesn't sound right to me. I have a Woods backhoe and I can pick the tractor up with the bucket and move it around (the tractor, that is - the bucket stays on the ground if I have that much downforce going). But without putting a lot of force down the bucket will move loose dirt side to side with ease.

They sure are fun, eh? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

techman · Apr 14, 2003

scottb:

As to your first question, most backhoes do not have a great deal of force for plunging straight down. To break up a hard bit of dirt, either pulling towards you or curling the bucket gives you a much greater force. I have found the BX22 has more than enough power for its size. One thing is that you need to do is set the throttle to 1/3 to 1/2 to get speed and full power. I have not yet had a job I couldn't do with the BH.

Your second comment raises even more concern. I have many times swung the bucket along the ground to fill holes, etc. There is a lot of force there. I can easily push a pile of dirt that is higher than the bucket. I also use this method to dig "sideways" to level out ground. I did a walkway for the wife. We had large slate stones as treads. To prepare the ground, I used the side of the bucket to scrape a level area. No problem cutting through the sod and dirt going sideways.

Sounds like something was not quite right on the unit you tried. I would go back to the dealer and ask what gives, of find another dealer for a test drive.

paul

Anonymous Poster · Apr 14, 2003

How high was or should I say, how low was your throttle at?

Blake
WA

Anonymous Poster · Apr 14, 2003

As far as moving material with the side of the backhoe bucket, the owners manual for the 4690 backhoe is explicit, and says not to do this. Also, a friend who was a heavy equipment operator for about 15 years, and who now makes a good supplemental income weld repairing big excating machinery told me backfilling with the side of a backhoe is a no no. You will prematurely wear and/or break the machine. Excavators can get away with it, but not the baby backhoes made by Kubota.

Just my $0.02. I'd rather scoop with the backhoe to backfill or use the FEL and save the wear and tear on the machine. I plan to have it for the next 50 years or so till I'm a grumpy old man.

techman · Apr 14, 2003

accipiter12:

I usually set the throttle to between 1/3 and 1/2 open when using the BH.

paul

Steven · Apr 14, 2003

there is a little bit of a learning curve with a backhoe. it will not just plunge the bucket into the ground and then you curl bucket and scoop the dirt out, you will find with practice that this is a combination of both bucket curl and down pressure at the same time with a little bit of pulling the dipperstick in toward the back of tractor. it is not done with single motions of the joysticks but with multiple simultaneous movements.

I do not use back hoe bucket to push dirt back in unless there is no other way. and I usually will dig the piles and dump it into the holes and then push whats left into hole with bucket.

I have no problems with side motions of hoe, the rpms must have been set low by dealer for you to try backhoe. higher rpms means faster movements and they probably run lower rpms for demo for safety reasons.

Anonymous Poster · Apr 14, 2003

Thanks everyone, I'll go back and try again.

Rick Jay · Apr 14, 2003

loughman,

( As far as moving material with the side of the backhoe bucket, the owners manual for the 4690 backhoe is explicit, and says not to do this )

I'm looking through my manual for my Woods B7500, and I don't see where it says not to do this. Perhaps with the sub-frame mounting, it isn't a problem. It does say not to use the backhoe as a crane.

I also quickly scanned through my "Operating Techniques for the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe" by Gary J. Ober (it's a great book by the way!) and didn't see where it addresses this issue at all.

I've done it for most holes I've dug and can't see why it would harm the backhoe, as long as it's moving loose fill and done carefully.

~Rick

kcook · Apr 14, 2003

Even in larger case models, they can only lift 3 to 6 thousand pounds.

KC

Rick Jay · Apr 14, 2003

Well, the warning wasn't so much as in regards to the weight that can be lifted. Rather, they made specific reference to the fact that the backhoe is hydraulically operated, and that a loss of pressue due to a ruptured line would cause the load to drop immediately without warning.

Of course...we still do it, but it's a good reminder not to have anything valuable under it at anytime. Ever.

~Rick

kcook · Apr 14, 2003

It is quite interesting to look at a load chart (lifting) for a back hoe or excavator compaired to a crane.

KC

chrisjbell · Apr 15, 2003

I'd rather scoop with the backhoe to backfill or use the FEL 

My Woods hoe doesn't say not to do it, but I usually don't. It is usually much easier to use the FEL.

Anonymous Poster · Apr 15, 2003

.....( Well, the warning wasn't so much as in regards to the weight that can be lifted. Rather, they made specific reference to the fact that the backhoe is hydraulically operated, and that a loss of pressue due to a ruptured line would cause the load to drop immediately without warning.

I'm not quite sure how a line could be ruptured. Unless you are trying to move a huge pile....if that's what this is still on. On my case backhoe, we use the side to side motion all the time to even/flatten things out. I could see how it's not recommended on such a small backhoe like the BX2200 though.

Blake
WA

Rick Jay · Apr 15, 2003

Blake,

( I'm not quite sure how a line could be ruptured. )

You've got more experience on heavy equipment at your age than I'll have in my whole life, so take that into consideration as I anwer this. I was referring to using the BH as a crane for lifting. Any hydraulic hose or fitting could fail at any time. There have been posts by other TBN members attesting to this. As you age, you begin to see that "stuff happens"...for real...and when you least expect it or want it to. Often called "Murphy's Rule", and most of us here can state that Mr. Murphy tends to show up and gawd-awfullest times. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I just want others to remember to use caution around this equipment in general, and hydraulic equipment specifically.

As far as using the BH to swing dirt back into the hole, I've seen it done all the time if the loader can't get in position to do it. I just don't see why it could be a problem, unless for the 3 pt. mount backhoes it puts too much lateral stress or twisting on the 3 pt. hitch mounting. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks,

~Rick

chrisjbell · Apr 16, 2003

You've got more experience on heavy equipment at your age than I'll have in my whole life, so take that into consideration as I anwer this. I was referring to using the BH as a crane for lifting. Any hydraulic hose or fitting could fail at any time. 

You know, one thing that is different between "real" heavy equipment and the stuff we use is that the commercial stuff is maintained to a whole different level. When you are using something that weighs 40,000, 60,000lbs or more you get real serious about making sure it doesn't break, especially since you are working in a public place or for a customer. On decent sized jobsites, there is a maintenance truck out there every single day.

So my thinking is that, for example, on my tractor I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to change the hydraulic hoses. They aren't falling apart, but they sure don't look new any more. But for me, I'd just as soon not mess with it until I have to (and hope I don't get nailed in the face with a high pressure stream /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif). I'd guess the big boys replace 'em every year (or even more often) whether they need it or not.

Besides, they have health plans and such. We are just doing it on the side, so it makes sense to assume that equipment will fail. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 I just don't see why it could be a problem, unless for the 3 pt. mount backhoes it puts too much lateral stress or twisting on the 3 pt. hitch mounting. 

Yet another reason I favor the sub-frame models for these little tractors...

Anonymous Poster · Apr 16, 2003

Oh okay, that makes more sense. I thought you may have been refering to that....My boss had his backhoe do that one time I believe, he was loading his truck up with the hoe and the stupid hose broke and lost it's power INSTANTLY. He had to bring our backhoe (the one I use) to lift the hoe off of his door that he THAT ONE TIME left open for a few minutes. I've always had that fear of having the loader arm do that when I'm loading customers but nothing has happened yet. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I seem to know Mr. Murphy pretty well. He has a thing for me I think /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Always around when I DON'T need him!! Although luckily he's stayed away from me while working on the backhoes.

As for what Chris said: we don't change our hoses until they need to be (like what you said). Some look really bad, but my boss said that sometimes the worst hoses do best. He's had perfectly new ones bust on him. Go figure! LOL.

Blake
WA

Anonymous Poster · Apr 16, 2003

QUOTE: BX2200 though.
)

Yeah, that is not supposed to have 2 zeros at the end. I get mixed up. Besides the B20-21, L35, and L48, kubota gets confusing with all their numbering for their machines.

Blake
WA