Backhoe Wider BX backhoe bucket

ESM · Feb 27, 2006

I'm sure this has been discussed before but I'm not having any luck turning up anything with a search. Short of fabricating one, is there a source for a replacement backhoe bucket for the BX? Is there any chance a Woods bucket would fit? They have a 16" bucket available for the BH6000. I'm looking for something to use on foundation type work. I'm looking for something wide with a smooth cutting edge. I remember seeing posts from another TBN member who has a 24" bucket on his BX which is exactly what I'm interested in but figured I could settle for a 16 inch if the Woods unit would fit (assuming I can remove the teeth).

HomeBrew2 · Feb 27, 2006

The 24" bucket was fab'd. Larger buckets have been discussed before to no avail, to my knowledge. Though I don't remember anyone trying to use another brand bucket. Might be easier to modify another brand bucket than fab from scratch. Keep us posted.
Cheers!

jim_wilson · Mar 1, 2006

I am the guy with the 24" bucket on the BX23. The bucket was fabbed - I actually bought it off of another TBN member last summer. You can see some pictures of the bucket on my BX23 in this thread:

Shortened Long Link

do a search for BX23 backhoe bucket and you might find some more - I think I took a whole series of pics and posted them here last year.

MikePA: Please review your message before posting it. It's simple not to create a long link that widens the entire thread. Just insert a descriptive word or two between the {url=http://whatever}<font color="red">Enter words here</font>{/url} instead of the entire URL. Replace parentheses {} with square brackets in previous example. Alternatively, if you use the Instant Markup language URL link, the first prompt is for the URL. The second prompt is for a description. Do not simply paste in the URL again. Type a short description of the link.Note: Following standard Internet protocols, bolding is for emphasis and should not be confused with all capital letters, which represents shouting. Also, this instruction is done in public so that others may learn as well.

JimMorrissey · Mar 1, 2006

I hope your soils are very sandy! A BX with a 24" bucket /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Maybe it would work in some finishing situations, but my L39 has troubles sometimes with a 24 in rocky soils.

JerryG · Mar 2, 2006

When you post links, the first window that comes up is where you paste the link. The second window is where you name the link. Anything will work as long as it is shorter than the link. By doing it this way, a short link will be produced and the page won't be a doublewide.

jim_wilson · Mar 2, 2006

The bucket has no teeth so it isn't very good at digging in anything other than soil that does not have too many rocks. I have found on the BX that it works good for things like stripping off topsoil and for moving large piles of loosened soil and finishing the bottoms of hole to flatten them out. What the BX really needs is a quick attach of some form on the backhoe to make it easier to go back and forth between bucket sizes.

Sorry about the long link - I totally forgot about the URL insert feature.

ESM · Mar 2, 2006

Jim,

A bucket like yours is exactly what I'm looking for. I wouldn't try to break any ground with it or anything extreme, just use it in applications like you describe. It seems like it would also be very useful for leveling and grading. I agree a quick attach system and few different choices in bucket sizes sure would be nice. If I keep looking maybe I'll find someone who can fab one. Thanks for the link!

Eric

LBrown59 · Mar 3, 2006

I'm thinking about building a 24 to 36 inch wide blade that would clamp onto the Back Hoe bucket like clamp on pallet forks do on a loader bucket.

I'm also planning on building an adjustable tilting blade for the end loader bucket that would clamp on in the same way.

There are 2 threads on this somewhere on the board but I couldn't find them.

ESM · Mar 4, 2006

LBrown59,

That's a good idea. I might have to look into that too. I did some searching, these might be the threads you are referring to:

Backhoe blade

BH teeth plate

Here is a link that caught my attention in both threads:
hallsdirtblade

Eric

john_bud · Mar 4, 2006

Can someone please post the specs on the BX backhoe bucket?

Pin size, mounting geometery ect.

I may diddle around and see what it would take to make one up.

jb

Oh, pictures with dimensions are great...

KWentling · Mar 12, 2006

I envy you guys that have soil where you could actually use a bigger bucket than the 12". I fabed my own bucket, but I went the other way, due to HARD Wyoming clay. I got my BX22 with the 12". Quickly found that most places about 18" was as deep as I could dig. I made mine 9" wide. Still is slow going in places. Really a pretty easy project. I just copied the 12" using scrap materials I allready had. The only thing I bought was 3 teeth. Looks identical except for the width.
Kim

HomeBrew2 · Mar 12, 2006

Excellent! It would be great to have a pic or 2 and tips, notes, dimensions if you have them. Being a true amateur, it looks like a pile of work, bigger or smaller, but any knowledge to expidite the process would be a big help.
Cheers!

jim_wilson · Mar 14, 2006

If you have a BX22/23/24 already I think it would be pretty easy to fab a bucket to go on it. Just make the new bucket the same dimensions as the existing bucket - but wider. The 24" bucket that I bought came with a cutting edge welded on - after using the bucket pretty extensively that edge is starting to show some wear. There are some specific steel alloys that are used for cutting edges on buckets and I believe you can buy premade cutting edges in this alloy - I believe the alloy I have seen used is called AR-400.

When I first got the bucket I had thought I might add teeth to it - after using it for a while I thought better of that idea - teeth on a 24" bucket on a BX is too much - sooner or later something is going to get twisted or broken.

KWentling · Mar 17, 2006

Steve; If you have a factory bucket, you have the pattern you need. To start, I took a piece of cardboard and laid it against the mounting bracket and trimed it to fit the top of the bucket and then traced it out complete with the hole locations. That way you have the geometry right. I work in a machine/weld shop so I cheated and used a pantograph to cut the brackets out. I also turned out some bosses to weld on for the pins. I used 1" bolts and stacks of washers to space them out and hold them in alignment while they were welded on. The biggest challenge was bending the back of the bucket. It wasn't that bad on my 9" bucket but it will get tougher the wider it is. I just welded, bent, welded, bent, and followed the side plates. I just used mild steel plate for the cutting edge. Using AR or Hardox would be good but probably not necessary unless you plan on a lot of digging in abrasive materials. If you use bolt on teeth, you will have holes to drill holes so keep that in mind when choosing material. You could also run some hardfacing on the edge of mild steel to make it last.

Kim

HomeBrew2 · Mar 17, 2006

Thanks, Kim, That does give me a good idea of the process. I just couldn't figure out how the bucket curve was done without a pretty beefy brake.
Cheers!

snal · Mar 17, 2006

I roll 3/16 plate for a local welding company all the time, he builds, or rebuilds buckets. Kinda easy when I have the right machinery. I also cut out the sideplates.
Some shapes get funky, and it's easier for me to fab in my press brake.
Hey...maybe I could save some drops for smaller buckets if there's a need here in TBN.

Larry

Lockport · Mar 27, 2006

Kim,
I live in Manitoba, Canada and we have clay loam about 18"-24" down everywhere. I am going to purchase the Woods BH6000 this spring and was leaning towards an 8" and 16" bucket but am concerned if the 16" can perform. You seem to imply even the 12" may not be very productive in clay soils. From your comments I think I would rule out the 16", but how much trouble exactly was it with a 12?

Steve

KWentling · Mar 30, 2006

Steve; We are in a pretty bad drought situation here and have been since about the time I got the BX. If there was moisture in the clay, I think I could dig it OK with the 12" bucket. When the clay is dry like it has been, it's unbelievably hard. You can forget about digging it with a shovel. It's get out the pick time. I find I don't have that much use for a wider bucket anyway. Mostly I've used mine for footings and utility trenches, and the 9" works great. I think I've only had the 12" on once since I made the 9".
To more specifically answer you're question, at about 18" deep with the 12" it would be so hard that you flat could not go any deeper with it. I'd stick with the narrow bucket if I were you, and if it performs good with it and you find a need for a wider one, get it then.

Kim

Kim