Dirt Moving First Pond

[Islandfarmer]

Just thought I would post some pics of my new pond. Second big project (first was a drainage ditch) and 1st pond with new Bx 25. It has not been easy due to the wet sandy clay that filled the bucket with gumbo. It does not look like much but it has been a big learning curve. Lots of time was spent moving material away from the hole. It may not look like it but it's about 2 ft - 3 ft deep. I will be putting a jet pump in with a pressure tank next to the pond. Need one spot that will be deep enough to have the foot valve in a plastic tank wrapped in landscape fabric. Had to quit this afternoon due to a loose hydraulic line on the backhoe. The machine has worked very well. Very fuel efficient. Still trying to get used to feeling like it's going over. I'm sure it's fairly stable but every once in a while the real wheel will go into some soft wet dirt and it wake one up. Question of the day; is better to try and jump off or ride it over if it does roll. I have not been wearing the seat belt and have been betting on going over the top side. It's probably better to buckle up and ride it over. Not that I'm a dare devil and pushing it to the limit but it's all part of the learning curve.

 

[jaybird38]

looks good. cant wait to see the end result. dammm i need a backhoe

 

[irwin]

Question of the day; is better to try and jump off or ride it over if it does roll. I have not been wearing the seat belt and have been betting on going over the top side. It's probably better to buckle up and ride it over. Not that I'm a dare devil and pushing it to the limit but it's all part of the learning curve.

Rolling over into a pond full of water belted in you could drown.. unbelted you could get pinned under the ROPS at the bottom of your starter pond, and drown.. best to make sure it doesn't happen.

I think I'd be renting a big ole excavator to finish up the digging of your pond. Think of the fun you can have in a week with a 20k ex.

 

[BeezFun]

Looks like somebody made a really big pond across the street, maybe the guy who dug that will help you. I admire your grit, looks like a pretty tough slog. I'm with the other poster who suggested renting a big machine for a day.

 

[BigD23]

Thanks for taking the time to take/share the pics...Love using my BH too.

Don

 

[johnrex62]

Looks like that stabilizer pad is sinking awfully deep into the bank there. Might I suggest some sheets of 3/4 plywood to spread the weight out and reduce the tendency to collapse the edge?

 

[apease]

I wonder if you could just back down the slope into the pond to keep the BX level side to side. You'd wind up doing a lot of repositioning, but at least it would be safer. Another thought would be to get a trash pump that could pump most of the water away until the pond is done. That would make it a lot easier to scoop out a productive scoop of dirt rather than a sloshing backhoe bucket of mud and pond water.
Looks like a beautiful property, right on the water, wow!

 

[radioman]

I personally will not wear a seatbelt when operating a backhoe. Its too dangerous in IMHO. I'd rather be able to jump off or be able to move in better position as it rolls over so I can shut off the engine. Shutting down the engine is the number 2 priority after being safe.

When digging that close in water, you might want to be 60-80 degrees to the bank so you can dump the dirt but still be able to slam down the BH if you start tipping in to the water. You'd be able to crab your way out with FEL and BH if you ever slid in. When you are pararell to the bank, its just an open invitation to a rollover. Then you would have hard time crabbing out.

Just like the other poster said, use a trash pump if you can get it to your island to make digging easier.

Great pics, thanks for sharing that with us, it soundws liek you are having fun!

 

[KB9UDE]

Looking good

 

[ChuckinNH]

My neighbor has a small pond that had pretty much filled in over the years. He got the guy down the road to bring his big CAT excavator up to clean it out, and reshape it. He cleaned it down to ledge (10-18'), and the pond is about two excavators wide, and three long.... (yea, I know). He worked 10 hours even, and charged my neighbor $500! I couldn't believe the dirt he moved in that time, and it was sure something to watch him work that excavator down the nearly vertical side of the pond so he could clean out the other side better. The guy had quoted the job at $500, and he went a lot deeper than he thought he was going to have to, but I had to admire him sticking to his word. Construction around here is picking up a bit, but is still slow, so I guess it was better than having that big CAT sitting, but not much!

 

[DiezNutz]

The perseverance of the typical BX2x owner never ceases to amaze me.

 

[TripleR]

I don't have that kind of patience or perseverance, I would have rented something bigger long ago.

 

[Islandfarmer]

Thanks for the tips. Going to put in a pump system this week and drive the water up to a dry area.

 

[zman007007]

To everyone that says rent something bigger, not everyone has the money to rent something bigger. Besides that, it gives me pride in being able to accomplish, what I need to do with what I have. zman

 

[ChuckinNH]

It is nice to work with what you have! I did a lot of things with my BX that would have been better, perhaps done with larger equipment, but I was constantly amazed with what I could accomplish, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I only pointed out my neighbor's situation because I was also amazed that he could even get equipment that size here for that much money. To rent a regular TLB around here would cost more than that for two days plus a healthy delivery fee. With patience, and a plan, one can really do some impressive work with tractors like the BX. Thanks for sharing your project with us!






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[EddieWalker]

Looks like fun. Just keep on plugging away and it's just a matter of time until you have exactly what you want. Don't rush, dont feel like you have to get it done by any date and never work behond what you are comfortable with.

You are living the old saying, it's easy to dig a hole, but the real work is in getting rid of the dirt!!!!!!!

Congrats on your achievement and please keep us updated on your progress.

Eddie

 

[TripleR]

To everyone that says rent something bigger, not everyone has the money to rent something bigger. Besides that, it gives me pride in being able to accomplish, what I need to do with what I have. zman

I was speaking only for myself, not making a recommendation for anyone else. As to cost, I have spent less on renting equipment than the cost of a backhoe.

I also understand the pride of accomplishing something on my own; my choices are just different than others and was certainly not a slam on anyone.

 

[20 20]

Looks good
How deep is it? Is there going to be a lot of run off going into it? If so you'll want to stop the dirt from filling it back in, untill you can get some grass or whatever around it. Is it deep enough to keep water weeds from taking over{cattails etc}? Are there any springs feeding into it?

Looks like you're having fun and getting some dirty seat time

 

[radioman]

20 20, I betcha its anywhere from 4-6 1/2 ft deep with average depth of 5ft. That is pretty much the limits of BX BH reach.

islander, what are you planning on doing with the pond ? have fish? place for fresh water to go? You said you plan to put in a jet pump next to pond. I assuming maybe a water fountain?

 

[DiezNutz]

20 20, I betcha its anywhere from 4-6 1/2 ft deep with average depth of 5ft. That is pretty much the limits of BX BH reach.

If this is as big as it's going to be, then I'd say you're right.
For a larger pond, assuming he had a way to keep the water out, it would've made more sense to dig his way into & out of it with the FEL and a TB.