Backhoe Increasing 758C backhoe stabilizer lift

billfires · Jun 26, 2006

Hired to dig a 135 foot trench for underground electrical at an existing house while trying to do minimal damage to landscaping/plantings. Had to dig on a side hill where I didn't have enough stabilizer length to get tractor level. (Normally I would cut the high side and fill the low but landscaping prohibited this). Would it be possible to attatch a 10"x10" block to the street side of the pad to gain the additional lift? I thought about trying to build a small platform but worried the stabilizer would slide off. Any comments or insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bill C

jimmysisson · Jun 27, 2006

Can't see any reason it wouldn't work, as long as it is secured well. Worst might be slipping off the block. Big U-bolts or through-bolts, and preferably a hardwood block. There's a fair bit of stress on that foot when you're wrestling with a rock or some such. I've set a foot on a 6x6 before temporarily to spread the load out.
Jim

Tractorganic · Jun 27, 2006

Bill this problem fascinates me. I just put 200 hours on my 758C on my variously sloped, sloppy, rocky, log covered, gravel and dirt covered, and lawn and flower bordered grounds. When I put the stabilizers down they work down into the ground. If I set up on a flat boulder the backhoe invariably pulls the pad off the rock. If I catch a log under the pad it slides around too.
Since the tractor needs to stay level to keep the backhoe cut straight and level why not build a beefy wooden ramp for the low side with fore and aft wheel blocks attached? If you raise the low side and freeze the wheels (can't count on the E. brake) you won't have to depend on the stabilizers to hold the unit.
Additionally there are ground cover mats called TrakMats available from Forestry Suppliers, Inc. www.forestry-suppliers.com which are designed to carry heavy vehicles without breaking or folding and spread weight over wide area and are reusable. These could save your clients' lawn and make you look more professional. Don't try that with plywood!
You'll want them to send you a catalog for hours of good reading. There's more answers in there than I have questions.