Backhoe Bucket Size

[Carl Bert]

It's all about bucket pressure and the type of soil you are digging up. I have a B26 with a 12" bucket. I went with the 12" due to the hard rocky soil in my area, and I am glad I did. There are times of course, when I am digging in much softer soil, and wish I had gone with a 16" but I can't see the machine handling any larger than that. Keep in mind that the B26 has about 1000 pounds more bucket pressure then what your looking at.

I have the QA backhoe bucket, so it would be nice to have a second bucket. I believe Kubota wants about $700 for the larger bucket. Kind of hard to swallow for the amount of time I actually use it, but like I said, it would be nice. Good luck

 

[tbearnla]

Carl
I think he will be getting the BH77 cause if I remember right the BH76 has been discontinued, and if that is the case the b26 has 4000# breakout force and the BH77 has 3400# so around 600# difference. Not trying to be a smart ***** just noting the facts LOL!:laughing:

 

[Carl Bert]

Carl
I think he will be getting the BH77 cause if I remember right the BH76 has been discontinued, and if that is the case the b26 has 4000# breakout force and the BH77 has 3400# so around 600# difference. Not trying to be a smart ***** just noting the facts LOL!:laughing:

Actually the B26 has 4211, but who's counting. Lol

 

[lhansman]

I too have a B26 with 12", 18" and 24" buckets. I started with a B21 and it's 10" and 16" bucket. The narrow bucket as pointed out is what you want for digging around stumps definitely. It is also handy if you are doing a shallow utility type trench.

However, if you really want to dig, you will be very frustrated with having just a 12" or 16". Keep in mind that with a 24" you are not just moving 8" more dirt than a 16" - there is a significant difference in the heaped capacity of a 24" vs a 16" bucket. I have found the 24" bucket so much faster that it was well worth the ~$1,200 cost. The 18" came with the B26 and I only use it in a situation where I can't use the 24". The 24" not only helps with digging volume but you can pull a lot more dirt back into a trench or hole with it than the smaller ones too. I live in very rocky country and I find it a lot easier to pick up rocks and get them out of the hole with a 24" vs a 16" or 12". I added the hydraulic thumb last year which probably removes some of the advantage the 24" had with rocks though.

If you are in clay soil, the clay will definitely get packed into and be hard to remove from a smaller bucket. Personally I think you are better off with two buckets but it depends how much of your time is worth about $1,000. If the dealer is throwing one bucket in get the largest one you can as the smaller ones are cheaper. As I recall the B26 24" is around $1,200 but the 12" is only around $800. I am in Canada so your pricing could be different although our $ is now around par.

 

[GWTodd]

I too have a B26 with 12", 18" and 24" buckets. I started with a B21 and it's 10" and 16" bucket. The narrow bucket as pointed out is what you want for digging around stumps definitely. It is also handy if you are doing a shallow utility type trench.

However, if you really want to dig, you will be very frustrated with having just a 12" or 16". Keep in mind that with a 24" you are not just moving 8" more dirt than a 16" - there is a significant difference in the heaped capacity of a 24" vs a 16" bucket. I have found the 24" bucket so much faster that it was well worth the ~$1,200 cost. The 18" came with the B26 and I only use it in a situation where I can't use the 24". The 24" not only helps with digging volume but you can pull a lot more dirt back into a trench or hole with it than the smaller ones too. I live in very rocky country and I find it a lot easier to pick up rocks and get them out of the hole with a 24" vs a 16" or 12". I added the hydraulic thumb last year which probably removes some of the advantage the 24" had with rocks though.

If you are in clay soil, the clay will definitely get packed into and be hard to remove from a smaller bucket. Personally I think you are better off with two buckets but it depends how much of your time is worth about $1,000. If the dealer is throwing one bucket in get the largest one you can as the smaller ones are cheaper. As I recall the B26 24" is around $1,200 but the 12" is only around $800. I am in Canada so your pricing could be different although our $ is now around par.

Thanks very much for the info

 

[Carl Bert]

I too have a B26 with 12", 18" and 24" buckets. I started with a B21 and it's 10" and 16" bucket. The narrow bucket as pointed out is what you want for digging around stumps definitely. It is also handy if you are doing a shallow utility type trench.

However, if you really want to dig, you will be very frustrated with having just a 12" or 16". Keep in mind that with a 24" you are not just moving 8" more dirt than a 16" - there is a significant difference in the heaped capacity of a 24" vs a 16" bucket. I have found the 24" bucket so much faster that it was well worth the ~$1,200 cost. The 18" came with the B26 and I only use it in a situation where I can't use the 24". The 24" not only helps with digging volume but you can pull a lot more dirt back into a trench or hole with it than the smaller ones too. I live in very rocky country and I find it a lot easier to pick up rocks and get them out of the hole with a 24" vs a 16" or 12". I added the hydraulic thumb last year which probably removes some of the advantage the 24" had with rocks though.

If you are in clay soil, the clay will definitely get packed into and be hard to remove from a smaller bucket. Personally I think you are better off with two buckets but it depends how much of your time is worth about $1,000. If the dealer is throwing one bucket in get the largest one you can as the smaller ones are cheaper. As I recall the B26 24" is around $1,200 but the 12" is only around $800. I am in Canada so your pricing could be different although our $ is now around par.

There is no way I would be able to do any digging around here with a 24" bucket. That is, on my B26 I mean. I just get by with the 12". I guess all soil is different, and I'm no expert by any means, but I do know a B26 with a 24" bucket would be next to useless around here.

I bought my machine new a year ago, and actually sent it back to the dealer to check the bucket pressure a few weeks after it arrived, because of the digging problems I was having. I live in ROCKLAND county, and believe me, the name is well suited.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Carl I use a 18" all the time and use a smooth 29" bucket for digging when its soft in the spring or diging large holes. I have a 12" but its a pain in the clay. Gues that's why they make a large diffence in size buckets everyone soils differant.

 

[UWAdventurer]

How do you actually measure bucket size? Inside/outside? From side to side I assume. I have 3 buckets that came with my backhoe and not exactly sure what size they are.

Thanks all.

 

[JerryK]

How do you actually measure bucket size? Inside/outside? From side to side I assume. I have 3 buckets that came with my backhoe and not exactly sure what size they are.

Thanks all.

Mine is built by BradCo and is an 18" bucket. It is 18" outside down by the teeth, and tapers down a little by the pins. So, I would say 'outside', or how wide a trench it would dig...

 

[seriousfreedom]

I have the 12 inch bucket with the mechanical thumb on my B76 I have dug out 18 stumps, put in 2 leech fields, and one French drain. For the normal landscape work it's been a wonderful tool

The 12 inch bucket also worked out great for the backhoe dolly I made out of moving dollies and angle iron. It fits right in there. Not the determining factor but it was very cool when it fit

I think no matter what you do get the mechanical thumb. That thing is worth it's weight in gold whe you get to picking up stumps and cleaning up the aftermath

this really dont have anything to do with the thread but i was just wondering what a french drain was??