Why no backhoe seatbelt???

Anonymous Poster · Sep 8, 2002

Hi,

I was thinking today...dangerous, I know /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif...while doing some backhoe work near my pond.

I have a Kubota B2910. Seatbelt and ROPS. But the backhoe seat does not have a seat belt. I could mess up and cause the tractor to roll over when using the backhoe, I would guess.

If the tractor did roll while I was using the backhoe, would the danger be the same as if it rolled while I was driving? No seatbelt and a ROPS is a NO NO when driving. Why is no seatbelt and a ROPS ok with the backhoe?

My Kubota is all Kubota. Kubota tractor, Kubota loader, Kubota backhoe.

Seems strange to me...

Bill in Pgh, PA

Kelvin · Sep 8, 2002

I can see one of the mini-excavator/backhoe machines with a 360 degree swing turning over with a load in the bucket or during heavy digging operations while the backhoe is turned 90 degrees to the tracks (in fact, I should replace "I can see" with "I almost saw..."). Note that the excavators do have seat belts in the only seating position available.

Isn't a tractor backhoe side-to-side-travel limited to between the support legs of the backhoe? If so, then I'd think that the tip-over chances are pretty small. I'm curious to see what the more experienced tractor-backhoe operators have to say on this one.

(Disclaimer: I have no experience using tractors with backhoes; only limited mini-excavator experience).

Kelvin

bgott · Sep 8, 2002

The ROPS might not do as good a job protecting you in the backhoe seat. In that case you would want to be able to un-[censored] the backhoe in a hurry. A seatbelt would preclude you from doing that.

Anonymous Poster · Sep 9, 2002

You got me...but being between two possible crushing hazards seems to be equally as dangerous as sitting on the tractor seat in front of them.

My guess is that at some point in the future seat belts on the back hoe will be recommended. I don't know. Just seems like the logic that applies to the tractor seat works equally well for the backhoe seat.

I won't install a seat belt myself though. Just in case I am missing something...

Bill

cowboydoc · Sep 9, 2002

There's no seatbelt because common sense should preclude any kind of an accident. You have your side supports. You should have your bucket supporting you as well. You aren't moving at all or shouldn't be. If you are going to move the backhoe you should be in the front seat. If you fall off the backhoe the controls will automatically stop, there's no pto powered equipment to chew you up. Really little danger to using one as stable as they are if you use a little common sense at all.

dmccarty · Sep 9, 2002

cowboydoc,

Hmmmm.... Common sense.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The only thing I could think of is that the ROPS wont protect
during a roll over those no seat belt. But that is a guess.

I have a couple of books on backhoe operations. One if not
both have pictures showing how to use the backhoe to lift
the rear of the TLB and then move the equipment to one
side or the other. WHY would one do this? Its allows the
backhoe to hop over a trench without running the rear
tires over the opening. It also is more productive in that
the operator can just move the TLB to a new digging position.
One can also push or dragge the TLB with the hoe as well.
This is usefull when digging a trench.

Obviously the stablizers have to be off the ground to do
any of this...

I have moved my 4700 with the 48 backhoe by pushing,
pulling as well as lifting and turning with the hoe. I do leave
the supports close to the ground just in case and I am
careful not to get the rear end to far off the ground. It
does make things go faster if one is digging up stumps that
are all through a given area.

Whether this is a standard TLB operation I don't know but
it is in one of my books for better or worse. And the JD48
will pick up the back of the 4700. Which is kinda impressive!
/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Later,
Dan McCarty

Kodiak · Sep 9, 2002

But alas wait till you are trenching across a sidehill. Then go to dump a full bucket to the downhill side. Lets just say it can give you a whole new meaning to the pucker facter.

DavidInNH · Sep 9, 2002

Oh yeah!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I recently swung a big rock at full extension to the left stop. I was on flat ground at the time and one wheel still came off the ground. I was glad that the L48 does have a seatbelt...I do lots of backhoe work where the ground isn't flat and I'm not altogether sure about the integrety of the gound that the outriggers are on. Common sense is important, but it only takes one "aw shucks" to ruin your day.

cowboydoc · Sep 9, 2002

Dan,
You can sure do all of those things but I don't think it says to do them in your jd manual! At least mine doesn't. Sure there are all kinds of things you can do with the backhoe that you can get yourself in some big trouble. Like Kodiak said digging on a sidehill. But again all of these things you really shouldn't be doing anyway. Sure we do them but it's not exactly right.

dmccarty · Sep 10, 2002

Richard,

"Sure we do them but it's not exactly right."

But that begs the question. Is it safe to move the tractor
with the backhoe like I described? I'm pretty sure that the
book I have that described these operations was a Union
text book on TLB operations. The text book certainly would
not be teaching unsafe or nonstandard practices. I would not
and do not use the method on a hilly section but if the ground
is mostly flat I have not had any problems.

Regarding JDs manuals. The worse manual I have seen from
JD is on the backhoe. They have no technique and operation
methods to speak about. The manual is really only a How To
Maintain the backhoe not an operations book.

I have operated on hills but I don't work across the grade I
worked up or down the grade. The one thing I really don't
like about the JD48 is that the stabilzers are not long enough.
I have had too many instances where I was in mud and
needed some more extension. I'm sure they stabilzers where
sized to prevent someone from overturning the tractor.
Seeing someof the real TLBs extended stabilzers left me in
awe. Theycould really jack that tractor in the air. JD let the
lawyers to near the drafting board on this one.

I'm pretty sure I have two books on TLB operations and both
described these manovers. Maybe a "professional" TLB
operatorwill speak up and provide their two cents...... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Later,
Dan