L35 Jerky boom and numerous other newbie questions

[Telstar2112]

I am getting better. The boom swing seems to have some play in it which highlights any sudden moves. Tractor ,in theory, has only 500 hours so I am not sure how much play there should be.
Some of these big rocks all jammed into this sticky clay are sure teaching me a lot of finesse!

More newbie questions:
If your out in the woods and a hydraulic line were to break, are you dead in the water? Or can you still drive the tractor assuming no implements were dragging?

Any negatives to putting the fluid in the rear wheels?

Any issues digging a 4-5 foot deep swimming hole in a stream running through my property? Operating the backhoe completely submerged? Any tips, I imagine it should be gradual so as to not collapse. Is this something people do?

 

[rmorey]

The water wont hurt the hoe, but you may run foul of the natural resources folks if they get wind of you digging in a stream. Find out what is allowed in your area vis-a-vis the rules for streams.

 

[Carl_NH]

On the Hyd lines, if one breaks unless its the boom or bucket lift cylinders (or feed lines) you can "go home" as once you stop sending fluid to the cylinder the leaks stop except for some drips usually.

The chance of a line breaking due to age is very low, but higher chance of damage is hitting something and breaking a line.

Putting fluid in the rear wheels is not cheap, but will give you better stability.

Digging in a stream - no problem for the machine, but I would just make sure you have good soil for the stabilizers. Also, this will likely fill back in quickly unless you make some waterfall of rocks on the upstream side. Digging in a stream is tough as you cant see what your doing when the water is murky.

 

[Port]

In reference to Digging in a creek or stream. The trout fishermen on the beaverkill will have an eco hunt you down. You cant legally dig in any NY waters without a dec permit. If you file for a permit, you need to tell them it's to move a gravel bank a spring flood created or bridge work, not a swimming hole. Do your work late in the day use some hay bales to keep the plume down, or do as stated above build a waterfall. Fun to do, nobody bothers you, after a couple of good rains it'll dig to bedrock.

 

[Kickstand]

Regarding feeling "tippy", you probably already know this but I routinely use the backhoe boom as a counterweight, sometimes fully extending it low to the ground to the uphill side when traveling on a side slope. I'll also extend the downhill stabilizer close to the ground in case it tips. And that's the one time I wear the seat belt too...

God luck!

 

[Telstar2112]

To build the waterfall I'm guessing you would need to put some very large rocks across the stream otherwise they would just wash away. Do you know if anyone ever walk the streems tlooking for any signs of tractor work? We used to make dams by hand as kids but sure would be easier with the machine. At most we got it 3 feet deep in one little spot.

The stream is actually a bit of a wreck after that last major flood, seems weird they worry so much about little inconsequential things like this but I guess they need to.

I was thinking about that with the backhoe to the high side, just wasn't sure about it. I'll look into the fluid.
Thanks