Boom float

[Ralyjohn]

Anyone figured out how to float the boom on the BX23S BT603 backhoe? My '06 had it but my '17 does not. Don't know why Kubota took it away.

 

[Henro]

First time I’ve heard mention of float on a backhoe boom… what exactly are you referring to that you’re calling float? Also curious as to what you would use float for on the backhoe.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

My Massey Ferguson came with it ... Never saw a use for it, tried it a few times when I 1st got it, but never now ... Supposed to be good for scraping the bottom of a ditch. ..

 

[oldnslo]

Anyone figured out how to float the boom on the BX23S BT603 backhoe? My '06 had it but my '17 does not. Don't know why Kubota took it away.

You can add solenoid operated valves to create float but it could be messy getting the plumbing and valves installed on that small hoe.

You would need to connect both ends of the boom cylinder to tank when float is required and block those connections when in normal work mode.

 

[Ralyjohn]

My Massey Ferguson came with it ... Never saw a use for it, tried it a few times when I 1st got it, but never now ... Supposed to be good for scraping the bottom of a ditch. ..

That's exactly it, You curl the dipper in and adjust the depth by curling the bucket, also would like to use it for scarifying ice on my driveway, put the teeth down on the bucket and drag it along.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

This is the Massey Ferguson way ...

 

[Ralyjohn]

This is the Massey Ferguson way ...

That was the way my old Kubota worked to float the boom, but not the new one.

 

[Henro]

That's exactly it, You curl the dipper in and adjust the depth by curling the bucket, also would like to use it for scarifying ice on my driveway, put the teeth down on the bucket and drag it along.

Sounds like a recipe for a bent dipper stick cylinder rod if you happen to catch the bucket on something solid when you’re dragging it with your tractor, if the dipper stick cylinder is extended much…just like loader bucket cylinders can be bent by back dragging with the bucket curled down significantly, again if you catch the bucket lip/toothbar on something solid.

 

[rScotty]

Sounds like a recipe for a bent dipper stick cylinder rod if you happen to catch the bucket on something solid when you’re dragging it with your tractor, if the dipper stick cylinder is extended much…just like loader bucket cylinders can be bent by back dragging with the bucket curled down significantly, again if you catch the bucket lip/toothbar on something solid.

I thought the same thing, but then realized that if the dipper stick cylinder
has 'float" - something I've never seen on any other backhoe - then the operator can drag ithe bucket by raising the boom cylinder with the tractor stationary.

BTW, I enjoyed that video of the Massey in mess. #7, but it sure didn't give me much confidence in the operator. What did you think?

 

[Ralyjohn]

The boom has float, not the dipper stick.

 

[rScotty]

The boom has float, not the dipper stick.

That wouldn't work as well. Maybe it also explains what's happening in that video - and why the float is an uncommon option.

 

[Carl_NH]

I can see it working OK like float on the FEL it has it's place. But I can dig up sod, or smooth out an area with the BH by feathering the boom, bucket and stick.

You don't know what your missing until you don't have it I suppose.