Using BH as crane

[newtarheel]

I run a Woods BH70-X backhoe on my B7800. The Woods manual specifically states that I ought not to use the implement as a crane, that is, simply to lift dead weight. Yesterday I had to remove an old post that had been post-holed down two feet in some hard red clay. I didn't have the brawn to do it so I attached a cable to the post and to my bh bucket and extracted it easily.
I know I went against the Woods wisdom. But does anybody know how much I can crane without damaging the bh?
I confess also that I have used the sideways torque of the bucket to tighten some six-foot welded-wire fencing. Would this also have brought out the Woods BH police?
I must say that I find great satisfaction in discovering new ways to use my equipment. But I sure don't want to break it.

 

[Thomas]

I am pretty sure most of us have gone past the safety zone.

In the booklet what the breaking points of the BH,also when lifting etc.. and the BH not moving that's a good sign to let off,also you may want to put some rocks or bucket full of dirt in the bucket for balance.

 

[radman1]

If I am just lifting up with the distance equal the that the of boom only, I will try to lift what ever it can. I figure that is the normal stress on the boom in most operations. I don't try to lift much with the boom and dipper fully extended due to the leverage out that far (unless I know the object is light). I don't try to lift from the side of the backhoe. That puts a lot of unusual stress on the hoe and frame.

 

[Casco1]

I have the older version of your BH. I've used it as many ways as I can think of and have never had a problem. I think the "no craning" rule is more of a disclaimer to protect the manufacturer. One of the best things I ever did is weld hooks to my BH bucket as I have much better control than with my FEL depending on the job.

 

[JerryG]

I know for me anyway, its just a lot easier to use the loader than it is to mess around with the backhoe.

 

[Volfandt]

You should be fine using a BH as small crane, within reason of course. I've used mine as a cherry picker on several occasions and with the addition of a thumb I do alot of lifting with my bX23's BH.
Kubota even specs out the lift capacities of my BX23's BH.
According to my owners manual, 500lbs is about the max it is spec'd to handle, I'd expect your bigger BH to be able to easily handle more.

 

[crazyal]

I often use my Case 580K to lift like a crane, it's bigger in size but none the less I've never had any issues. Often times while digging stumps I'll lift them out of the hole to place them off to the side. If I have the BH fully extended and off to the side I try to keep it as close to the ground as possible as I think you can tip sideways much easier. I wouldn't add weight while lifted though. When you try to pick somethign up the relief valve will not let you lift if it's too heavy. Once it's lifted you could over load it by adding weight.

 

[AMR]

I use my BH for lifting all the time. Attached is a photo of my BX23 lifting my generator out of my truck, the generator is about 400 pounds. I just bought a new brush hog and a new tiller that I had to unload the same way. The tiller made me think a little because it is over 600 pounds but I am very careful to keep the load as close to the machine as possible and I lift it only enough to get it off the bed of the truck then dive the truck out from under it and let it down. I am careful to rig the load thoughtfully and to observe the load and machine as I hoist. I don't let the load get out over the side of the machine. This is one of the primary reasons I have a BH in the first place.

 

[shvl73]

I know for me anyway, its just a lot easier to use the loader than it is to mess around with the backhoe.

I agree with JerryG, the loader is almost always on the tractor vs. the backhoe which is only sometimes mounted. With bucket hooks and a chain, post are easily lifted out of the ground.

 

[Bob_Young]

Cranes have a big counterweight that rotates with the boom and counter balances the load....the TLB counterweight is fixed.

If you lift something up straight behind the tractor, you have the full weight of the tractor and the FEL as counterbalance with a substantial moment arm (leverage). As you swing the load to the left or right, you progressively lose the counterbalance effect as the moment arm drops to near zero. At 90 degrees the weight of tractor and FEL are essentially at the pivot point so all you have left as counterbalance is one rear tractor tire.

Lifting up a load and driving out from under it seems the best way to handle the unloading task.
Bob

 

[bx23barry]

My backhoe will lift alot more than my front end loader. A dana 60 front end got the front wheels off the ground. The loader wouldn't buge it. Little tractors ain't much in the way of crains or forklifts, but I guess that is why them crains and forklifts exist.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Agree w/ Barry that the loader seems limited sometimes compared to the BH, maybe a BX thing. With a cheap thumb, yanking T posts is easy without getting off the machine. On sturborn posts, having the ability to wiggle the BH seems to help them come out easier too.

 

[escavader]

Agree w/ Barry that the loader seems limited sometimes compared to the BH, maybe a BX thing. With a cheap thumb, yanking T posts is easy without getting off the machine. On sturborn posts, having the ability to wiggle the BH seems to help them come out easier too.

HOME BREW,
You beat me to it,i was just gonna say that.Im lazy,i dont want to climb off and hook,and unhook.Wiggle it pull it out pick it up and carry it,place it in the pile.
ALAN

 

[crazyal]

First off I would never use the backhoe without the outriggers firmly planted. Counting on a flexable rubber tire filled with air (or liquid) will make things very bouncy at best and very risky for injury at worse. The backhoe has it's advantages for moving things over the loader. I set a 30' 10" I beam for my deck with my backhoe. I was easily able to move it sideways without moving the machine, impossible with the loader. However if you need to move something any amount of distance the loader is the way to go.

 

[Stef]

I do use my backhoe as a crane without any problem, and it's pretty fun too. As always, use your head and be safe.