Clay sticking to bucket

[Industrial Toys]

Look on the bright side. At least it's not a quoted job for a customer.

 

[H8Monday]

It sticks when it's at just the right moisture level. Super dry and it falls out, super wet and it falls out. I have a 24 inch bucket and I've tried everything ever posts on the internet. Nothing works. Lubricating the bucket only lasts a few cycles, then its sticking again. You would almost have to lubricate it after you dump it every time. I tried special paint that was guaranteed to stop anything from sticking to it, which worked until it wore off after half a dozen loads that cost $100 a gallon. I tried only filling my bucket half way and digging shallower cuts, but that just slowed down how fast I could dig, and still stuck to the bucket.

Run a hose in the ditch and keep it super wet, or dig out the bucket every five cycles before it compacts too tight to get it out easily.

Thanks Eddie, I'll try that.

 

[mercdv]

Not sure how deep or wide you have to go but you can speed up the first 12-18 inches by using middle buster (around $180) or subsoiler if it is a narrow trench. I live in a clay rich environment and when doing irrigation I just used a middle buster and finished it off with the backhoe. On a 300' trench it does save some time especially if you are digging a narrow shallow trench. It only saves a little time if you are digging a narrow deep trench. Just throwing this out there because you didn't say how deep or how wide it needs to be. I personally try to use anything that I can before going to the narrow backhoe bucket when the clay is damp. Keeping the clay wet does help some but it makes a **** of a mess so I try to avoid it.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I have seen the chain method that requires some fabrication and if you are using a small machine is probably not that effective. The most effective is probably to take smaller bites, skim a few inches off at a time and don't try and remove heaping buckets.

What’s the chain method ?

 

[AWSubie]

Chain method View attachment selfcleaningbackhoebucket.pdf

 

[Billrog]

Chain method is good in theory but a pain to get clay out of the bucket with a chain in the road. Best method is just don't jam the bucket full just fill the front 1/3 of the bucket or weight till the clay dries out a bit.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I live in the land of sticky red clay here. Like wet soap when wet; like cement when dry.

There seems to be an ideal moisture content where the clay is still moist enough to work with, but dry enough to handle without sticking. After a rain, when my foot doesn't slip going up a steep hill, but I can still crunch it easily with my boot-heel, is about right. That lasts about 2 days.

 

[DJ54]

Best bet is to just shave the face of the cut filling the bucket, not cram it into the cut, packing it in the bucket. Doesn't matter if it's a 12" bucket, or, a 42", it will still pack in there. It may seem like it takes longer, but really doesn't when you consider hammering that bucket to get it empty. Lots easier on the machine too.

You haven't seen sticky, until you get into a combination of yellow clay, with some fire clay they make pottery out of, jumbled together.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Chain method View attachment 552569

Thank you

 

[Egon]

"The Chain Method"

Another way to get a bigger ball of clay held in the bucket by chains!

Come sticky clay time my optimism for handling is not very optimistic!