BH75 with UAT100 Thumb

[dfkrug]

If I were you I would get the tires loaded. There is enough HP on the machine IMHO so that weight is not going to be an issue. The more weight will help get the HP to the ground.

Clearly, if you are lifting the rear tires, you need more weight or ballast.
That can be achieved with tire fluid, wheel weights, or a heavy implement.
The implement could be a b/h, which will be plenty of weight to keep the
rear down when doing loader work. Adding MORE weight to a TLB will
usually not be to aid in loader work. If TRACTION is an issue, then
helping in that area will depend on tire tread type, # of driven wheels,
and weight. HP is not relevant there. HP is needed to do work, like
driving fast up a hill, which WILL suffer when you add weight. There is
no free ride.

 

[dfkrug]

In this thread, KiotiJohn quotes one backhoe manual that says
do not lift the wheels off the ground.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/55678-backhoe-trenching.html?highlight=backhoe+wheels

Bending stresses on the tractor and subframe will be greater
if the wheels are fully lifted off the ground. As I said before,
purpose-built TLBs have super-duty subframes and are often
seen with wheels in the air.

 

[DiezNutz]

What is your source for that statement? Can you cite any owner's manual for a CUT bh attachment with subframe that tells you to lift some or all wheels off the ground?

Well the stabilizers aren't there for decoration. Now as if common sense and common knowledge weren't enough, here is your reference. Page 13 of the BH80-X Operator's Manual (and I quote):

"Lower stabilizers until they carry the weight of the backhoe. If tractor is equipped with a front loader, place the bucket flat on the ground. Lower loader lift arms until weight is removed from front tractor tires. Level the machine using stabilizers and front loader before starting to dig."​

Before you think of arguing that "weight removed" doesn't mean "wheels off the ground", these tractors have a rigid (as in no) suspension... that means the only way to take the weight off the wheels is to take the wheels off the ground. I'm not sure how else one would "level the machine", either. And as we all (should) know, through a combination of settling into the dirt and leakdown, the stabilizers have to be given a "boost" occasionally...there is no way to keep the weight on the stabilizers and loaders consistently with the tires touching the ground.​

Now since you decided to make this a p-ing contest, I hope you are prepared to quote me a solid reference that says leave the wheels on the ground.​

 

[DiezNutz]

Here's a scan from the manual to go with the above post...clearly there are some tires not on the ground. Fwiw, I've tried the whole "just try to take the weight off without lifting the tires" approach and it doesn't really work...in no time at all you've sunk back onto the tires and then you're no longer stable.