Making a banana style trenching bucket.

[Gofast]

I got sidetracked and welded a bucket hook on my OEM bucket.



Then I built a backhoe lift attachment. This was made with 1/2" plate and top attachment was 3/8"

If I did not have a QC I would not make something like this. It is so quick change it out I think it will come in handily for some jobs.
I need to finish painting it and cover up my welding.

 

[TractorGuy]

When the clay gets wet I have trouble getting it to shake out of my 2 foot bucket. I can see it getting impacted in a 6" to the point you would make one swipe and have to physically remove the dirt. I have often had to wash my buckets and stabilizer feet out with a water hose and it takes a while to loosen the stuff up to get it out.

Style 3 may have some merit in regards to dirt sticking but it could cause it. Would be nice if you had real world results from the different styles in clay since that is where you may use it.

 

[Gofast]

I would love the hear from other that have used the banana style buckets. I like to hear how they like them and how they worked. Bxpanded sells one I think some people on here have them. Anyone's opinion that has used this style bucket would be helpful.

I really just use my tractor around my property. If it is really wet I just don't dig. Our red clay is usually a little damp to dry but I never dig in wet clay.

 

[Gofast]

I made a cardboard template of the side of my 16" bucket and marked and cut it out.
Added 6" width and fabricated mounting flanges.
Have dug 2 drainfields, many water and electric runs.
If it is too narrow the dirt might get stuck.

I changed the bucket style I making. I am making a bucket similar to your 6" bucket. It is long and only 6" wide.
I am making it longer because it really only digs the length of the bucket and a little more.
The backhoe is wider than the bucket where the thumb connects.

I made few of those. Tooth is not a good idea, it will cause dirt to accumulate in the bucket. Works much better without a tooth. I just put a Hardox cutting edge on it. Size depends on the size of our backhoe and required digging depth

I thinking about making a Bxpanded style teeth for this bucket but weld them on. Taking BFreaky advice.



I painted my lifting attachment. This one is finished.

 

[ning]

What's the advantage of the banana style vs the more typical bucket shape?

I think it's a long narrow bucket which is intended primarily for trenching; it's longer to reach further into the ground without the pins etc hitting the sides of the trench.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I have the BXpanded banana style bucket. It works fine for trenching in dry dirt. But mostly I use it for gardening, it is excellent for putting in trees and bushes without making a big hole.

 

[Gofast]

@downsizingnow48 Thanks posting your experience with BXpanded bucket.

I made some progress.



I just need to put in the bottom some Bxpanded style teeth.
Then brackets for the pins.

 

[Gofast]

All I need now is the back brackets. It is finally looking like a bucket.

I broke a small ratchet strap making the curved bottom.
The larger 2" 10K pounds ratchet strap was able to do the job.

I hope it digs well.

 

[GLyford]

If you find that clay still sticks too much, there are a couple of things you can do after.

Some guys run a chain or two inside from the cutting edge to the dipper, so that when they dump the bucket the chain tightens to help pull out the clay.

The other thing is to get out the torch or plasma and make big holes in the sides to turn your bucket into a skeleton bucket, leaving the curved back and the straight side cutting edges. Sort of like a banana bucket but with an extra straight piece on each side from mount to teeth.

Just a couple of ideas to keep in your back pocket just in case.

 

[Gofast]

Thanks for the ideas.
It is killing me to be so close and not be able to finish the bucket yet. I have a big work project that is due Tuesday.
I am ready to finish it and test it out. If I can’t get some time over the weekend then it will be next week before I can finish it.