Backhoe Small Backhoe...Feet per Hour???

Henro · Oct 18, 2004

Murph,

Now I am really curious. I guess I should draw a line on the ground and start a stop watch...

Excavators are made to excavate...but I would have expected that I could do about half as well as what your excavator does...maybe I actually can... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

But being the guy I am...I probably won't worry too much about making an exact time measurement... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

When I think about it and remember the past...my little backhoe is so much faster than the pick and shovel I used to use that I really don't care exactly how long it takes...i'm at lest a hundred time faster now... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Still curious in hearing others experience though...keep them coming!

theonlybull · Oct 18, 2004

couple years ago, i ran a new water line for my grandfather. 410', crossed 2 ditches, a 40' wide driveway, and had to hook into the house, and a rocked up dug well. that took about 4 hours, with a '70 580 case tlb.
course, that was mid aug. dry, with a 24" bucket. the 40' driveway took over an hour, it was so compacted from 60 years of heavey traffic....

MossRoad · Oct 18, 2004

Don't know about a back hoe, but I can dig out my septic tank lids in about 10 minutes with a shovel. The hole is about 3 feet wide, 6 feet long and 2 feet deep. That's 36 cubic feet in 10 minutes, or 216 qubic feet per hour.

Your 4' deep trench by 20 feet long is only 104 cubic feet per hour. Shades of John Henry, here. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

(I suppose I should mention that our septic tanks lids are covered with sand and I am about ready to faint after that 10 minutes /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)

rdln · Oct 18, 2004

I dug the electric and water to the barn 48-60in with 9in bucket 275ft in about 12hrs total so I would say that you couldnt be going a 'hole' lot faster. If it helps break out the shovel for about 2 minutes to regain your appreciation of the tractor.

pifan · Oct 18, 2004

i recently dug a trench 18 inches deep 50 ft long with a shovel it took me three hours i wish i had a trailer to haul my backhoe it probablu would have took me longer with that i havent used it much so i am not that good on it but it would have been alot more fun and i also would havehad to fix a septic pipe and a gas line

GregJ · Oct 18, 2004

Henro,
Like you, I really haven't taken a stop watch, but I have a rough idea on a few projects. The ditches I have dug have been closer to 3ft and our soil is mostly sandy and very few rocks. I recently ran a ditch for irrigation and power and my estimate on that project was around 50' per hour, on the straight part of the run. I also ran power and water at a neighbors place, slightly less than 3', mostly hard clay and 150' took around 3 hours.

When I bought my place (27 years ago), I had a friend ditch a new water line for me with a full sized BH. He does this for a living. He dug 900 feet of ditch, while we were laying the pipe behind him and then he back filled... In 8 hours total. He is good.

So, I think that the machine makes a difference. The soil makes a difference. Skill can make a difference. And in my case, being slightly "hyperactive" , makes a difference /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

This post almost sounds like it could result in some type of challenge. If I could just get my wife to let me dig some more ditches in the back yard, I'd love to compete in this one. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Greg

ronjhall · Oct 19, 2004

Bill
I can see all your pictures. It's about 12 hours later. Maybe you can see them now.
I have several backhoe projects to do next spring. I'll be interested in what kind of time you come up with.
I'm not planning on making any Oops though, so my time should be a little better. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dummy · Oct 19, 2004

Excavators are made to excavate...but I would have expected that I could do about half as well as what your excavator does...maybe I actually can...
 The largest difference, IMO, is in moving the machine along the trench. With an excavator or full size TLB it doesn't take nearly as long because you don't have to "switch seats".

my little backhoe is so much faster than the pick and shovel I used to use Ain't modern machinery great?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Oct 19, 2004

( Pineridge...I still can't see the first one... )

Those red Xs are a real puzzle to me, too. Yesterday, I got the red X like you on the first picture you posted, but this morning I get the picture instead of the red X. There's gotta be a reason. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Boondox · Oct 19, 2004

Henro -- Backhoes are remarkably efficient once they're in position; it's the moving part I find that takes all the time. So when I have a long trench I park my wife (and her knitting) in the driver's seat, with me manning the hoe. I dig till I can't dig anymore, raise the outriggers and holler for her to move forward. She moves, drops the bucket, sets the brakes, and I start digging again. Unless she gets her yarn tangled in the controls this method works really well for her...though it usually costs me a bottle of champagne at the end of the day!

Pete