Backhoe Learning to use backhoe

[jnjpream]

Having used multiple trenchers, backhoes, and excavators (of various sizes), I'd suggest one of two pieces of equipment.. A ride-on trencher with a backhoe (chain on one side, backhoe on the other). Or a mini-excavator 10000# or so.

The trencher will dig your trench faster than an excavator and leave you with a cleaner trench, and if you can find one with a hoe you can use it to scrape the ground away slowly where you think the water line is. If you get just a trencher you're asking for trouble around the water line, because everything happens fast with a trencher such that you can wrap the water line around the chain before you can even think to reach for the engagement lever.

The mini excavator would be my second choice. The bottom (and sides) of the trench may be a bit rough, but nothing a little back-fill won't fix though. And it will take a bit longer than the trencher.

One thing that has me worried about your project is that you stated you hit bedrock around the work area.. If you hit any when digging you can expect to take a good sized time hit no matter what you decide to use..

 

[LBrown59]

Just worry about opening the trenches with the rental equipment. A loader works great to backfill...
Tom

Why would diging the trenches be any problem ?

 

[pitt_md]

Thanks to all for your input. After talking to a lot of different people about this reletively simple job i went back to my tractor dealer that I was going to rent the TLB from. I brought up the idea of using an excavator instead and they said it was a good idea. They asked me if I have ever used one and I told them no. They tossed me the keys and said Mike (mechanic) will get you started and you can get the feel of it out back on their practice dirt pile.
I played with it for over an hour and its quite the machine. Cost is $275 per day plus $79/hour dilivery (max of 2 hours). They will drop it off Friday afternoon and pick it up monday and just charge me for one day if I keep it under 8 hours of use. The unit is a Yanmar but I can't think of the model number off hand. It has a thumb, front blade, and is on tracks. I found out right away that you need to be careful when you piviot 90 degrees with a big rock in its claws . I hope I am there when they drop it off. The thing moves so slow I will burn up time getting it out to the field where I need it.


I will take pictures but getting them from my camera to the computer will be a challange due to the 'Vista' operating system.

 

[harpoonalt]

Good choice! You'll have a lot of fun!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Why would diging the trenches be any problem ?

I think the spirit of that post was "don't worry about backfilling". In other words, only use the rented equipment to dig the trench. Backfill with an owned loader tractor.

 

[Mrb94]

Pitt,

Glad to hear that you decided to go the min-excavator route versus a TLB. I learned from experience that I was able to do a trench more than twice as fast with the excavator. I also learned that no matter what the weather man said, everytime I opened up the earth, it would rain and then I had mud - so a tracked excavator will be much better for that.

When you dig - make sure that the front blade is down - that should help out the stability issue. Also, as other have said - don't try to "hog" out the whole thing at once. Dig down in steps. With only 2 joysticks to use, it won't take long at all to master how to run the thing! Lastly, there is typically a button on these to switch over to a transport speed, so that you won't need to crawl (parden the pun) to where you are digging.

Good luck!

 

[pitt_md]

thanks for the tip on the button for transport speed!
Oh I found out about having the front blade down in short order.
Darn things can be tippy!

 

[LBrown59]

I think the spirit of that post was "don't worry about backfilling". In other words, only use the rented equipment to dig the trench. Backfill with an owned loader tractor.

I thot so but weren't sure.

 

[tommcintire]

I thot so but weren't sure.

Yes, that indeed was the spirit of my comment. The excavator/backhoe will work for the trench, and a loader bucket will do the job backfilling...

 

[powerstroke444e]

My guys do a great job of doing things for about the same as it would cost most to rent the machines. How do we do it? Well if we do 3 in one day and own the machine it don't take long to make money. The first one pays for the fuel, insurance and labor after that I just hope to pay for the breakdowns.

Have fun with a excavator they are fun to use but take your time and don't get to close to the utilities as it's easier to had dig a little more than fix a big mess.