Backhoe Operating a L39 Backhoe

Sota · May 8, 2007

I have a L39 arriving Friday and I am a novice backhoe operator. In fact, I have never completed a task with a backhoe. I really want to be a safe operator and want advice about how to work with the backhoe. Suggestions on safety, operating tips regarding this model would be greatly welcomed. The L39 appears it might be better safety wise than the 3 pt. mount I have seen on some tractors. Some of the backhoe stories I have read in the safety section, makes me realize that a backhoe can be a dangerous piece of equipment. I think a safety video with these tractors would be a great idea. I have read were people with many years of experience operating backhoes sometimes end up getting hurt. The guy who will deliver the tractor will show me the basics. I like the gst, just do not know much about the backhoe. Any guidance will be appreciated.

Best regards,

Sota

KeithInSpace · May 8, 2007

Practice and take it slow. Then practice some more. I've been around heavy equipment most of my professional career, but have never operated a backhoe (other than a 5 minute tinker here and there).

I have about 5 hours on my unit in a little more than a week. When I started, it was VERY frustrating. Couldn't seem to do anything right...pushed up when I didn't mean to, lowered the boom instead of raising, curled the bucket into the ground...turned the tractor into a bucking bronco. Not much fun.

After 5 hours I can now pluck individual sticks out of a hole using only the teeth of the bucket, grabbing no dirt in the bucket, and make a nice little pile off to the side. The wife was very impressed. I can take a really nice heaping scoop of dirt at will and extend the arm to another pile without dumping it all over the place (usually).

I still can't "drag" flat against the ground with any type of precision, but I'm sure that will come with more practice. My brother can use a single tooth of an EXCAVATOR bucket (the big boy) to push a quarter along the dirt without moving a single grain of soil. Not planning on that anytime soon, but that is what practice can do.

I'm sure I'll get shot for saying this, but with a frame mount and nobody in the vicinity, I'm not sure what you could really hurt. As long as your stabilizers are down and you are smart about the odd COG, I think a BH is about as safe as the FEL (that means don't use it to take down dead trees...you know, the obvious safety stuff).

Just don't hit any buried utilities. I can say I've hurt myself climbing into the thing than I could imagine hurting myself during observant use.

8561 · May 8, 2007

I don't know that there is a silver bullet here. The best advice is to run low rpm's when you start, it makes smooth operation a lot easier, because the backhoe is much slower. Prepare to be frustrated for the first few hours. There is no substitute for practice, but I have found that even if I don't do it for a while, I stay pretty good at it. Once you train your brain, your hands will just move where your eyes want the bucket to be, and you stop thinking about the controls at all. If I thought about it, I probably could tell you which handle in which direction performs which function, but the truth is, once you've done it and trained your mind, it's like second nature and you don't even think about it.

Sota · May 8, 2007

Thanks for the reply guys. I look forward to working with the L39. I appreciate the advice.

Best regards,

Sota

MadDogDriver · May 9, 2007

In addition to the many great tips from TBN members, I would suggest reading Operating Techniques for the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe (Gary J. Ober). It's a well written book that has been recommended for novice operators as well as professionals and is available in some public libraries, (ISBN: 0911785019), as well as e-bay and Amazon.com.

MarkV · May 9, 2007

Sota, I see you decided which tractor to get. Congratulations, you got a good one. Running the backhoe will come pretty quick with some practice. Set yourself somewhere you can’t hit anything and do some digging. We all bounce the machine around at first. I tell people to just let go of the controls if you start lifting the tractor. You will be digging stumps in no time.

MarkV

Sota · May 9, 2007

Thanks for the replies. I will see if my library has that book. I hope the L39 will serve me well.

Best regards,

Sota

MadDogDriver · May 9, 2007

Sota,

I live in a somewhat rural area (as most of us TBNers do), and my county library rarely has the selection you'd find in the BIG cities. My county librarian guided me to this website, WorldCat [OCLC] that they participate in. I used the ISBN # to ensure that I was getting the book(s) that I really wanted, but you could use just the title, or title/author as well.

WorldCat is the online catalog of the largest library network in the world.

Participating library systems are dedicated to providing access to their free resources on the Web, which is where most people now start their search for information.

Search and find a book at a participating library across the country. If you find a book you want, make request arrangements via the staff at your local library, to have it brought there for you as an Inter Library Loan request.

It may take quite awhile for the book to show up, but it DOES eventually get to you.

Have fun practicing w/ your TLB. It won't take long to really start enjoying it. OBTW: That book I referred to earlier has all sorts of tips of different uses of your TLB. GREAT Reading

crazyal · May 9, 2007

Always use your outriggers and make sure they are on solid ground. Try not to pull dirt towards you, this can cause you to pull the tractor towards what you are trying to dig, lifting works better. Try using a lower engine RPM but not so low as to dog the engine while working it. You might find it very jerky at first, that's more a feel for how hard/ fast to pull and push the levers. Some find that just tapping the levers when you only need to move a slight bit works, for my machine I can slowly move the levers and hear the sound of the hydraulic oil starting to move trough the valve. Take your time and wear eye/ head protection, things can fly. It doesn't take long to get a feel for it. Most of all have fun.

Sota · May 9, 2007

Thanks for the advice everyone. I found the book in a Library about a 100 miles from me. I am in the sticks myself.

I will see if my Library can get it for me. My L39 is supposed to be here Friday morning, therefore I should be in China by Saturday evening will all the help I am getting here! Thanks again!

Best regards,

Sota