Backhoe backhoe bucket size kubota?

[nikos]

I've ordered a new backhoe for my Kubota tractor L4240 and I was wondering which bucket size is more versatile. I only want to buy one bucket. I'm in dubio between the 18 or 20 inches one.

 

[art]

A concern would be what type of soil you will be working with. I'm not familiar with the 21" but on that size a 18" works very well and what I normally recommend in our area for that size machine.

 

[Lil_FarmerJim]

Those 2 are so close together in size, I'm not sure it would really matter a whole what size.

But generally I would say if your doing a lot of trench work then go with the size that meets the need for the width of the trench. If its excavation and landscaping then the wider I find to be better, more bulk material can be moved.


All comes down to what you plan on doing with it.

 

[swampvol]

I have both the 12" and 16" buckets, but the 16" is the one that stays attached the most. Even when trenching, unless I'm in a tight area and worried about back-fill, I just keep the 16" on.

 

[radioman]

the 20 inch is more neater for ditch work, landscape stuff and in sandy like soils. The 18 inch would be better in clay/rocky soils for power needed to dig. Just my take on this.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

Rather than post a new thread on bucket size I dug this one up. I think I'll go with the 24" bucket that is coming with my BH. I can take it or a 16". Like its been said in this thread, bigger bucket, more material can be moved.

So my next question is to go toothless or not? The 24" bucket comes with 4 teeth. Should I just cut them off and make a bolt-on tooth bar to swap with a wear bar? Any opinions on that?

 

[charlz]

So my next question is to go toothless or not? The 24" bucket comes with 4 teeth. Should I just cut them off and make a bolt-on tooth bar to swap with a wear bar? Any opinions on that?

I'd check to see if the teeth are not bolt-on already. Not having teeth gives you a smoother bottom on trenches but doesn't dig as well. The wider the bucket the less pressure per inch you have along the cutting edge as well.

 

[newbury]

Teeth also seemed to help in snagging and cutting roots.
You also need a thumb.

Try taping up/ immobillizing the thumbs on your hands (hopefully you do have thumbs, if not I apologize) and working around the house for a day. They make a big difference.

 

[tessiers]

I have an 18" digging bucket on a 7 1/2 foot JD which is real nice for general digging and trenching but I also have a 32" grading bucket (no teeth) which is awsome for smoothing and grading. I use the grading bucket more than the digging bucket but that depends on your application. I also have a thumb which I find next to useless, it is manual and never in the right position and I would not waste my money if I were doing it again, a hydraulic I may try but that would depend on the price.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

The teeth are welded to the bucket. I probaly will cut them off and make a toothbar with it for bolt-on purposes.

I still have two thumbs. Almost lost one two years ago to a 4" grinder with a carbide blade on it. You can see in the xray where the carbide tip made a nice kerf cut through the top portion of my right thumb.

Hey newbury, no apology required except for the fact you expect me to work around the house

I thought about a thumb but didn't put a whole lot of emphasis to it. I mind was elsewhere thinking about a light duty root rake with grapple. Maybe a thumb could do the job almost as well.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Doesn't matter sizes are too close.

Now if you are asking 12" and 24" then you have a question, but not 18" and 20" that's only one inch on both side of the bucket or insignificant when it comes to dirt.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I have 3 buckets for mine & don't know what I would do with out any one. I have a 12" & 18" trenching bucket and a 30" smooth bucket for clean up and grading which I built my self. You will regreat taking the teeth off your bucket when you get in hard or frozen ground. If anything I would do with out a smooth bucket before I would give up a tooth bucket

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

Cat_Driver, I had revived this thread inquirying about the difference between a 16 and 24", see here backhoe bucket size kubota? - TractorByNet.com What do you think?

powerstroke444e, I would not be loosing the teeth entirely. I would cut them off and make a tooth bar for the BH bucket. It would be just as effective. What do you think? That way I can take the tooth bar off for when I want to use the 24" bucket for smoothing.

 

[MarkV]

I guess it all depends on how you will be using the backhoe and what your soil conditions are. If I were digging stumps, rocks and heavy clay I would look for an 18" bucket and definitely would want the teeth. I guess a toothless bucket would be good for trenching but I don't seem to have problems digging trenches with a toothed bucket. The idea of a tooth bar for a backhoe bucket is interesting. Backhoes will produce large point loads on a single tooth at times, like digging a stump, and I wonder how a tooth bar will hold up?

MarkV

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

Backhoes will produce large point loads on a single tooth at times, like digging a stump, and I wonder how a tooth bar will hold up?
MarkV

That should of been the question I asked at first. This brings into question the grade of steel bolt to use as well as type of bolt/nut and which way is best to install the nut and bolt. Then its questions like, use a lock washer or loc-tite? All questions a newbie would ask.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

Just thinking about stump pulling and root digging with the BH. Is there an attachment made for BH's that are like a single hook? Something like that used on a 3pt to break up soil.

 

[GE222]

I suggest leaving the teeth on the bucket. For fine grading or leveling, an attachment can be made to cover the teeth, which can also be wider than the bucket. Several companies make them, but should be easy to fab one up.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

Now this is what I like about forums. Great ideas. GE222 makes a great suggestion and its one I'll go with. Thanks bud.