Backhoe Backhoe -- rock picking techniques?

[Jay4200]

I have a rotten time picking up rocks on occasion with my Woods 9000 w/ 16" bucket. Sometimes they come up like nothing, other times they just slide in until I have to back up again and again. The problem usually comes when the rock is flatish and bigger than my 'hoe bucket, say 2ft or better in diameter. I try to slide the bucket under the rock, stand it up on edge, then scoop under it and pick it up on top of the bucket. If I have something to push against, it's usually no problem, but if not, the rock slides toward me when I'm trying to scoop under it.

I know, if I had a thumb on my 'hoe, this would be trivial, but I don't.

Any suggestions for rock-picking-up techniques?

JayC

 

[RobS]

Go with the trivial solution (thumb) if you have a lot of rocks to pick. Anything less will just be frustrating. If you don't have many, I suppose you could resort to driving a stake beside each rock to work against, or some sort of bumper at the back of the tractor? Maybe a bumper of some sort on the backhoe stick itself... oh wait, that's a thumb...

 

[davidseaquist]

A few of our members made attachments for picking up rocks one was a large set of logging tongs with angle iron on the end instead of the points. to pick and place rocks. David

 

[davidseaquist]

If you look up an old post called " rock Jaws" under attachments you will get a lot of ideas for picking up and placing rocks. Hear is a picture of one built by a member. David

 

[pat32rf]

A thumb that you can bolt on is probably going to be your simplist way. I know the size of the rocks that I meet with my little 12" bucket and a bigger bucket just means bigger rocks. I do find that if the rock is still embedded a bit in the dirt(or down in a hole) it seems to be easier to scoop. Failing that I shove them aside and get them with my rock forks on the FEL later on....

 

[john_bud]

Bigger bucket?

 

[Jay4200]

If you look up an old post called " rock Jaws" under attachments you will get a lot of ideas for picking up and placing rocks. Hear is a picture of one built by a member.

That's interesting.

Yea, picking rocks is no "once in a while" thing. You can't stick a shovel into the ground without hitting a rock of some sort or another. Don't call it the "Granite State" for nothing. Digging rocks up is easy, it's picking them up once they are laying on the ground surface is the hard part - nothing to push against. I did a bunch of rock moving yesterday, the ones that cause the most grief are the ones that are around 1 1/2 times the bucket depth or bigger. They just want to roll or slide off the front of the bucket instead of laying back in it when I curl the bucket, even if I can get them all the way back to the dipper edge.

Considering how much I do this, I really should invest in a thumb, and probably will eventually.

JayC

 

[Dmace]

I have moved more rocks than most quarries and my technique is to dig deep right behind the rock. I come in with the bucket pointed down at a good 45 degree angle and as I curl the bucket I push the boom down to keep the bucket as far under the rock as possible.

I also run at a higher rpm like 2500, so it curls faster and I can quickly scoop it up. Also on the larger ones, I put the loader up to it and wrap a chain around it, if I can't pick it up I can usually drag it.

Big Rock Pic

 

[ChuckinNH]

From another Granite Stater........ I've chased my share of rocks around my yard, and around holes that I dug to get them out. That all provided good entertainment for the neighbors, and on one occassion actually had them bringing out the lawn chairs. In the end, I found that for me, rock moving was going to have to involve getting out of the seat. I had a chain hook welded on the back of my backhoe bucket, and one in line with the hydraulic cylinder on my BX22 loader bucket. I found that if I could just get the lip, or teeth of either bucket under the rock, and hook a chain around it, that it would stay in place when I curled the bucket, and slide/roll in. Then I could snug the chain if necessary, and move it to the trophy pile... or a suitable resting place. I think that a toothbar on the loader bucket would probably also help a great deal.

 

[shvl73]

I've pinched them against the boom. I really should fab a thumb.

 

[3RRL]

I've pinched them against the boom too.



It is hard to get it just right and keep from sliding/rolling out of position, but it can be done. Now I have a thumb and it makes it a lot easier. Although I don't think ones this big would fit anymore.

 

[Jay4200]

I've pinched them against the boom too.
It is hard to get it just right and keep from sliding/rolling out of position, but it can be done. Now I have a thumb and it makes it a lot easier. Although I don't think ones this big would fit anymore.

Nice rock. I routinely do the same too, provided I can get the thing up into the bucket. Your picture is a good example of the kind problem rock that I'm talking about, albiet pretty danged big! I've many times lifted the front of my tractor while pulling the dipper and boom in tight, and once got stuck in a wheelie, sitting on my subframe mount even with the 'hoe pulled all the way in.

I've pulled big rocks out of holes and from the top of steep slopes easily, but flat ground is a different story. So, I'll bite, how'd you get that one tipped up onto the bucket w/o rolling forward and off?

JayC

 

[john_bud]

I've pinched them against the boom too.



It is hard to get it just right and keep from sliding/rolling out of position, but it can be done. Now I have a thumb and it makes it a lot easier. Although I don't think ones this big would fit anymore.

Jeepers, Rob!

Good thing that hoe is on a stout tractor or you would have trouble driving around with that rock on the back!

How big was it anyways?

jb

 

[pat32rf]

Why do I always forget to load my FEL with ballast until AFTER I have finally pinched those big suckers with my hoe......

 

[Casco1]

Considering how much I do this, I really should invest in a thumb, and probably will eventually.

JayC

JayC. If you're interested in taking a close look at my thumb, I'm not far from you, about 10 Minutes from Sam's Club south on 3A. PM me I'll give you directions. My machine will be here for at least another week before it goes north.

 

[bncsauve]

Another trick is to dangle a chain from hooks on either side of your fel bucket. The chain makes a loop that touches the ground. Approach the rock with the fel dumped so you can lower the chain loop behind the rock. Curl and lower your fel at the sametime and the chain will pull the rock into the bucket. Works great, takes a little practice adjusting the chain and working the controls. I wonder if a chain could be attached to a backhoe bucket to do the same thing?

 

[6sunset6]

I probably moved 500 stumps with a chain hanging from two hooks on the FEL. That's an intersesting thought about doing it on a hoe bucket. The pivot points are different and hooks might get in the way of other bucket work but it's worth a little more thought.

 

[ChuckinNH]

The single hook on my backhoe bucket was welded on the back side of the bucket up near the linkage, and was never in the way. I never tried looping a chain from it though, and wish I had.

 

[Casco1]

I probably moved 500 stumps with a chain hanging from two hooks on the FEL. That's an intersesting thought about doing it on a hoe bucket. The pivot points are different and hooks might get in the way of other bucket work but it's worth a little more thought.

I've found my BH hooks as handy as my FEL hooks. The double hooks let me adjust loop length, sometimes that's a big help.

 

[tractorjared]

I had an M4900 with a Woods 9000 hoe. I hear you on chasing rocks and stumps around. I found skidding tongs and a chain hoked to the FEL worked good for stumps. Make sure you have good place to hook on. I bent the middle of the top edge on my bucket up a little. Should have beefed it up or put two hooks better spaced apart in retrospect. As far as rocks go, I got tired of chasing them around (especially with the limited reach) and bought a cheap thumb on ebay. Wouldn't recommend the one I bought. I bent it during the virgin run on a piece of cord wood. Woods makes one for that model, it's like $850 I think and requires some welding. Maybe there are better ones on ebay, but I learned my lesson. I'll trust my dealer next time.