First time BH use

[C6rider]

After 60 hours mostly moving snow and stone I finally got to use the BH for more than just removing rocks and small stumps. A neighbor needed a 20'L x 3'D trench to extend his septic vent. This was my first time digging in dirt and it does take some practice. CFO won't let me dig practice holes in the backyard.
Everything went ok albeit slowly but it was good practice for me. Did pick the front wheels off the ground a couple times when encountering 6 to 8" roots. We didn't cut them, just tunnelled under them.
Now I can get into the woods and put a couple culverts on the snomobile trail.

It just keeps getting better.

 

[Tractor Factor]

It just keeps getting better.

Try to keep in mind: This is work, not play...

 

[BruceWard]

I am curious, how long did it take to dig that 20' x 3' trench?

 

[Berniep]

Did pick the front wheels off the ground a couple times when encountering 6 to 8" roots. We didn't cut them, just tunnelled under them.

Yikes. Better put your stabilizers down. If you get the front very high and drop it you could break something.

 

[C6rider]

Bruce
Took me about 90 minutes. If i knew what I was doing maybe 20 minutes. Easy digging except for a few roots.

Bernie
Stabilizers were down, all 4 wheels off ground. Sliding towards trench when i hit a root.

 

[Berniep]

Ok sliding back or picking up the back end a little is normal. Levering the front end off the ground is not. I had a vision of you with the front end way up in the air waiting to come crashing down wich could only happen if the stabilizers weren't down.

 

[BXinNH]

I have been able to (accidentally) lift the front of my BX24 several times when pulling on stumps with the BH, especially using the bucket curl. I have the stabilizers down and the loader edge down with the front tires off the ground. When I feel it start to lift I just try to slowly reverse my action and lower the front end gently back to terra firma I'm still new at this but I think I'm getting better.
Matt.

 

[Berniep]

In that case I am going to say that your 24 is much more powerfull than my 23. Maybe if I extended the hoe way out and used the bucket curl I might be able to get it to raise the front a little. I might have felt the weight transfer off the front a time or two but I haven't come
anywhere near lifting the front.
But then I have felt the power was down a little anyway and just haven't gotten around to checking the pressure yet. Maybe that's what keeps me from bending cylinders because I sure don't baby it.

 

[KJM]

Hmmm. My ancient (1984 - ancient by TBN Kubota standards!) B7100 gets lifted with the curl. No problems at all. Very scary when you are straddling the trench - the bucket digs about 100mm (4") narrower than the wheels

Prior to getting the B7100, I had a local contractor dig a trench for 3phase power. I forgot about one of the water pipes I had in the ground. Curling around that one had the front end of his L series Kubota off the ground too. 1.5" Galv steel water pipe is a very effective anchor!

/Kevin

 

[Berniep]

Hmmm. My ancient (1984 - ancient by TBN Kubota standards!) B7100 gets lifted with the curl. No problems at all. Very scary when you are straddling the trench - the bucket digs about 100mm (4") narrower than the wheels

Prior to getting the B7100, I had a local contractor dig a trench for 3phase power. I forgot about one of the water pipes I had in the ground. Curling around that one had the front end of his L series Kubota off the ground too. 1.5" Galv steel water pipe is a very effective anchor!

/Kevin

I am not surprised by the bigger tractors ability to do this. It's just that mine has not exhibited the tendency. I regularly use the curl to break roots 3 or 4 feet behind the tractor and find a lot that don't go the first time and need a couple whacks with an ax. I have never felt it come off the ground. Would interesting to hear from more BX owners on this subject. Maybe mine is very weak. But then if I turn it up maybe I start breaking things.

 

[spk64]

I am not surprised by the bigger tractors ability to do this. It's just that mine has not exhibited the tendency. I regularly use the curl to break roots 3 or 4 feet behind the tractor and find a lot that don't go the first time and need a couple whacks with an ax. I have never felt it come off the ground. Would interesting to hear from more BX owners on this subject. Maybe mine is very weak. But then if I turn it up maybe I start breaking things.

My BX24 easily lifts the front end when using the BH. This can happen at any time when the bucket hits a root or other object to heavy to lift. I think both the curl and dipper stick would lift the front.

And yes stabilizers are down.

 

[BruceWard]

The backhoe on my B21 will easily pick up the front end when hooked on a root. I slid the entire tractor 2' up hill sitting on the outriggers and bucket.

 

[KJM]

I am not surprised by the bigger tractors ability to do this. It's just that mine has not exhibited the tendency. I regularly use the curl to break roots 3 or 4 feet behind the tractor and find a lot that don't go the first time and need a couple whacks with an ax. I have never felt it come off the ground. Would interesting to hear from more BX owners on this subject. Maybe mine is very weak. But then if I turn it up maybe I start breaking things.

Hmmm. A B7100 is a tiny 16Hp job. Significantly less powerful than yours! As a random guess - if you can't lift the tractor by putting the bucket on the ground and curling or lowering the dipper arm then you might have a hydraulic pressure issue.

I had to fix every cylinder on my hoe when I got it and also replaced a seal or two on the valves. It was only when I put a pressure gauge on the B/H hydraulics that I discovered it was only running at 1200 PSI. A quick adjustment to the "spec" 2000PSI had it much less limp wristed! The B/H can out dig the tractor, that's for sure.

Just a thought. (A glycerine filled gauge is pretty cheap, you just "T" it into one of the circuits and hit the appropriate lever. Adjustment of pressure is trivial - undo locknut and use an Allen (hex) key. 5 Mins max.)

/Kevin

 

[Berniep]

Oh it will lift the BACK end off the ground very easily.
Are we not talking about the FRONT end, the loaded end?

 

[spk64]

Oh it will lift the BACK end off the ground very easily.
Are we not talking about the FRONT end, the loaded end?

I can lift either end using the backhoe with the stabilizers down.

My system pressure is ~1800 psi which is what I had read somewhere as the factory setting on a BX24.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I can lift either end using the backhoe with the stabilizers down.

Concur. Easy to lift front end off the ground if "reaching" with the BH boom and curling on something that won't move. After many hours on the BH, I've gotten to where I don't do this as much.

And I regularly use the BH to move my entire machine during a job. Just center the boom, lower the bucket to the ground, raise the FEL, raise the stabilizers a touch, then curl the dipperstick as necessary to move you forward, backward, left, or right. Lower the FEL and stabilizers, then continue digging.

Positive or negative, the weight of the BX is just no match for the digging power of the BH hanging off the back, be it a Kubota or Woods unit.

 

[BXinNH]

Attempting to move my BX24 as KeithinSpace described has led to a couple pucker-factor moments for me. Apparently my less-than-expert handling of the controls got the rear wheels higher off the ground than my internal tilt-o-meter was ready for. I very carefully set the rear end back down, folded the BH, turned the seat and DROVE where I was trying to go.
Matt.

 

[KJM]

Concur. Easy to lift front end off the ground if "reaching" with the BH boom and curling on something that won't move. After many hours on the BH, I've gotten to where I don't do this as much.

And I regularly use the BH to move my entire machine during a job. Just center the boom, lower the bucket to the ground, raise the FEL, raise the stabilizers a touch, then curl the dipperstick as necessary to move you forward, backward, left, or right. Lower the FEL and stabilizers, then continue digging.

Positive or negative, the weight of the BX is just no match for the digging power of the BH hanging off the back, be it a Kubota or Woods unit.

With the B7100 I don't need to lift the stabilizers! I put the bucket down, curl a bit and then push down - which lifts the stabilizers clear. So the tractor is on the loader bucket (or front wheels - it depends on the conditions) and a gentle curl will drag me along nicely. The B/H is significantly beefier than is sensible for this little tractor! At full stretch of the arm I can easily lift the rear by pushing the boom or dipper down.

For real excitement while doing this, you can always mistakenly grab the left lever - and slew rather than curl. Gets me every once in a while! Gently re-position, shutdown, go have a cup of tea and a sit-down! A real "Darwin Award" type event!

/Kevin

 

[spk64]

Attempting to move my BX24 as KeithinSpace described has led to a couple pucker-factor moments for me. Apparently my less-than-expert handling of the controls got the rear wheels higher off the ground than my internal tilt-o-meter was ready for. I very carefully set the rear end back down, folded the BH, turned the seat and DROVE where I was trying to go.
Matt.

It does take a little practice. Also depends on if you are just moving forward or trying to reposition right to left.

When just moving I have the tractor in neutral stabilizers raised just off the ground and the front bucket raised slightly. I position the bucket such that it is more of a push and not a lifting motion. When in the new position lower the front bucket making sure the backhoe bucket is not touching the ground. Then lower the stabilizers.
This is while on level ground never on an incline!

Moving left to right can be more tricky as you are actually raising the back then using the swing cylinder to pivot the back to a new location.

 

[Berniep]

I use the backhoe to move the back end sound a lot when digging out stumps and just need a little different angle at the roots. When trenching I raise the loader and stabs just off the ground and use the pedal to slowly move it. Until it's time to move it off the trench with the backhoe. Lot of pucker factor there the first time you do that.

I am going to try and round up a guage this weekend to see whst my pressure is.