Putting water out to the barn (finally)

[fishpick]

Wow I just did nearly the same project last weekend. I installed 3 hydrants on 1" 160psi PE pipe. One in the large barn, one for a future goat barn and one out to our orchard/garden area. Total of about 600 feet of trench. Also ran 2" electric conduit to the two barns as well.

I don't have a tractor so I rented a riding ditch witch RT40. It made quick work of the digging, took about 4 hours, but it did not dig as deep as advertised. It had a cutter for 4.5' but it left about 6" to a foot of loose dirt in the bottom. Frost line is 42" here so it was just barely deep enough, not the extra foot I thought I was going to have.

I'm curious as to how fast trenching with a backhoe is? Even if slower, it might be worth it to get a clean trench.

I was gonna start this project with a ditch witch - but after I got the hole dug by the foundation to poke through... and then figured I should use the BH on the little Kubota to get out past the deck... **** - I just kept right on going.
At this point I have dug 100' of the 200' I need to go and I'm averaging about 10' and hour.
This little BH isn't going to break and speed records - but it does get the job done and I have already paid for the tool - so might as well consider the seat time "therapy"
nice thing about a hoe is you can - as another poster mentioned - do some things with it you can't with a dedicated trencher - like dig somewhat under the barn for the hydrant that lives in there... flatten the bottom of the trench - and get a few VERY LARGE rocks out of the way that a trencher would have issues with.
The only thing with a small BH like this one that you miss that the bigger boys have is the ability to extend the dipper stick... instead you have to back up the tractor.
No matter - I'm more than 1/2 done now... I see the light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[fishpick]

Well - yesterday was a bit of a day long marathon of work on this project trying to beat the rains (funny memory - me running from the back of my truck to the trench with 2 - 5gal buckets full of pea gravel OVER and OVER and OVER... ok - it's not so funny, ouch).
Anyhow - made good progress - here's a link to another post for those interested in seeing OSHA rules being disregarded...
The trench doth grow << Chicken Thistle Farm

 

[DJ54]

Well - yesterday was a bit of a day long marathon of work on this project trying to beat the rains (funny memory - me running from the back of my truck to the trench with 2 - 5gal buckets full of pea gravel OVER and OVER and OVER... ok - it's not so funny, ouch).
Anyhow - made good progress - here's a link to another post for those interested in seeing OSHA rules being disregarded...
The trench doth grow << Chicken Thistle Farm

If you're on flat ground, you may try pushing ahead with your stick. Just, make sure you have a good "bite" on things... Just creep ahead a few feet. As deep as you are going, and the smaller hoe, you'll just have to judge how far you can go, dig a few feet, and still reach back to clean up the crumbs. But then again, not sure if it's possible to reach the bucket controls if you have separate seats to drive, and operate from.

On grades, I'll still pull ahead, using the transmission... Lock the brakes, down with the front bucket, and then the outriggers. Of course we had swivel seats on the RTH's

We had a guy on a job a few years back, that was digging a drain downhill on a like 3 1/2 to 1 slope.... using the "push ahead trick." Had the hoe up, pulled the front bucket up, then the outriggers.., and away he went..., still sitting backwards!! Bad thing is..., he froze...!! Went probably 125' total, before getting it stopped. He was going a pretty good clip..!! A wonder it didn't flip..

A good thing he did get it stopped, it was like a 25' sheer drop off into a rocky ravine. He just sat there for 10 minutes or so.. Finally got out, and was white as a ghost, and talk about beads of sweat..!! Another operator took over..

'Course it took him about 15 minutes, and a 2 lb. rubber mallet to beat that "hickey" beat back down, that Mark had left on that seat...

It's a heck of a feeling to watch something like that happen in front of you... His guardian angel was definitely riding shotgun with him that day...

 

[radioman]

dj54- good story- it does sound scary! however with the bx24 - it kinda hard to creep forward in gear, gotta do it in neutral. When I was digging 2 monster sized maple stumps that grew roots into each other- had to dig a ramp to get deeper then 6 feet, I couldnt leave it out of gear for fear of rolling back. Wish I had pictures- it on my folks camera.

fishpick- I feel for you about the rains- It did pour for a couple hours yesterday afternoon, I was at the kids football game at casey park and knew you planned to dig that weekend. It good to hear you made it out ok .

 

[DJ54]

Actually, the creeping ahead in gear was done one a regular RT backhoe, w/swivel seat, so just pickup everything, release the brake and pull ahead. Swivel back around reset, and dig... I can't even imagine climbing from one seat to another... But I'm sure beats digging by hand..

We have a local farmer that jocky's equipment, and rents a few pieces too. He bought a low hour GEHL Mini excavator that a local dealer couldn't move for a good price. He will rent it to me for a minimum of $75.00, for 4 hrs. That includes delivery and pickup + $15.00 per hour, after the 4 hr. minimum.

I can't even justify having a hoe around, for those prices. Any filling back in can be done with my Bobcat...