Backhoe Backhoe nirvana!

Boondox · May 10, 2002

It's here! I came home from work to find Clementine with a beautiful Woods 7500 sub-frame mounted backhoe parked in the driveway. (I'll wax it tomorrow; today I wanted to try it out before dark!)

I passed on the PTO pump since the L3010 has more than enough hydraulic capacity to handle the hoe, and I already had a pair of remotes. The dealer color-coded the hoses and the remotes to avoid confusion (wrong connections will cause serious damage) and also cut a small notch in the groove the auxiliary hydraulic lever goes in. Pretty nifty idea. The other dealer suggested using a bungee cord to activate the circuit, but this works much better. To power up the hoe I just slip the lever into the notch and go to work. (Hope I explained that okay!)

There's a chance of rain tonight, so the first thing I did was to remove several yards of silt and sand from the ditch just above the culvert that passes under our road. I went slow and worked on finessing my way thru the chore. Took about twenty minutes to clear the culvert, a chore that usually takes all morning with a shovel. I now have a pile of sand about 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet tall that is sure to come in handy at the bottom of some of the trenches I have planned.

Next I began digging out a tamarack stump that has taken a liking to my finish mower. I was warned that a backhoe was not the best way to remove stumps, that basically it was a matter of trenching around the stump until it was free, and this proved to be true in this case. The stump is around 2 feet in diameter, and has very large roots radiating out from there. So far I have a hole about six feet in diameter and two feet deep, with a stubborn stump in the middle. I had to quit for the night because it was getting dark and the wind was pelting me with pine cones that were starting to draw blood. I'll finish that stump tomorrow.

This hoe is great, guys! Lots of fun and very useful to boot. I'll try to get some pics later.

Pete

Harv · May 10, 2002

Congrats on the return of your baby, Pete, and the backhoe sounds awesome (yes, I'm jealous).

But talk is cheap, fella -- we want pictures!

ronjhall · May 11, 2002

Pete
Congrat’s on getting your baby back. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 I'll wax it tomorrow; /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif
I do wax the orange  sheet metal on my 2910. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
But my Backhoe? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
I don’t think there will be time after I grease all the fittings. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
Now I see why Mark needed the rechargeable grease gun. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas · May 11, 2002

Pete your having way to much fun over there. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Indeed photo or two would be grand for its been a while.

Enjoy the weather and have pleasant weekend.

MikePA · May 11, 2002

Thomas, we need to see pics of your brand new Harley, too!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Boondox · May 11, 2002

Well, maybe I'll get around to waxing it next week sometime. I'm finding out what you mean about the time it takes to grease the beast. 16 zirc fittings every few hours! Corm had a pneumatic grease gun for his hoe, and it's looking better and better all the time.

I also had the loaded tires put in the widest setting while Clementine was in the shop. I'm sure in nasty weather I'll be covered with mud, but the extra stability is really reassuring! I'm surprised what a difference it made.

Pete

Thomas · May 11, 2002

/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Its going to take more than couple of cups to ride her home..34F here and the wind picking up.

Better half wants to wait at least until the sun warms things up. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

billfires · May 11, 2002

Pete, CONGRATS!!! I think you will find the BH the most enjoyable implement(?). It is one great stress reliever and you will find uses for it that you never would have imagined. Have fun and be safe.

Bill C

alan40 · May 11, 2002

Congrats on the backhoe Pete!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I'll have to get up there and take a look at it in action. Maybe we can get Ed, and Derek up there too!!!!! May have to offer them a cup of coffee or a cold one.
Tractor saying of the day:
When you get a new implement one can never have enough tractor people around to give advice or you never knew you had so many friends until today./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

EdKing · May 11, 2002

It is amazing how many projects I am coming up with since I got my tractor with FEL and BH. I am getting ready to put french drains in the yard to dry up some wet spots. I have piped in a section of creek to make the yard less broken up and easier to mow. I have dug several drainage ditches, and put in a few new culverts to make places more accessable. Once I get the old pond filled in behind my house, I am going to put in pipes so my downspouts from the roof go straight to the creeks. I just love my backhoe.

cowboydoc · May 11, 2002

Those backhoes are sure nice Pete. I enjoy the heck out of mine. You don't realize how much you use one until you actually have it. They are definitely worth the money in my opinion.

Boondox · May 11, 2002

I've heard the term "French Drain" several times. What exactly is it?

Pete

Boondox · May 11, 2002

Hey, that would be a blast! We always have coffee here. Besides, after we met at Friendly's that day my wife is sure there's something wrong with four guys who would drive an hour just to meet because they have tractors. It would be nice to let her see that you don't have extra limbs. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Best of all, I would have three fellows to supervise (and maybe help) as I removed and remounted the hoe for the first time. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Pete

EdKing · May 11, 2002

To my understanding (I could be wrong about the terminology) it is a ditch with a perforated pipe, gravel around the pipe, then covered with dirt to level ground. Lets the water drain below the surface, keeping the area dry on top.

Gary_in_Indiana · May 11, 2002

That's what I always thought, Ed, but with one addition. I thought the perforated pipe was then routed to a larger drain pit. The only one I ever helped install had a pit at the drain end of the pipe into which we put a large plastic garbage can with a hole in the side for the pipe to enter. Make sure the entry point fo the pipe is at least a yard above the bottom of your pit. We had large stone in the can with a few smaller holes around the sides. We put medium stone around the can, put the lid on it and filled to grade just like above the pipe. At least we called it a 'French drain,' but we could have been wrong.

hayden · May 11, 2002

I've built what Ed described and I've always refered to them as French Drains too, but I don't know why or the origin of the term. The ones I've been involved with always drain directly into a stream as opposed to a dry well, but the dry well sounds like a good idea when a stream is not available.

I suspect the French Drain name police will stay at bay regardless of how you build it.

EdKing · May 11, 2002

I thought the perforated pipe was then routed to a larger drain pit. 

As I have several creeks running through my place, it is easier just to run them to the creek.

Buck · May 11, 2002

Boondox,

Look forward to the pics! Congratulations!

Buck

Carl_NH · May 11, 2002

I suspect the French Drain name police will stay at bay

Peter, if you live close to Quebec, this might be a problem.. Since the Quebec govt want primary signs in French, and smaller in English (subtext) so to speak.

Carl

Carl_NH · May 11, 2002

Pete,

Sure glad Clementine came thru the operation OK, now just have some fun and enjoy the new attachment.

Early on my eye's were bigger than my stomach, e.g. tackling stuff, tho in time and the right approach the BH is the best tool in the barn.

Carl