Bx25 to dig out a foundation wall?

[Tjc50]

Been building and pricing my future scut purchase for my up coming projects. I know renting or paying is the best option but I have been thinking of adding a bh to my scut purchase. I do have a lot of small - medium sized stumps to remove and I have to do about 100? ft worth of trenching for drainage. I also know having a bh handy is something nobody complains about haha. Any way my big project next year is digging down 6-7ft on one of my foundation walls and both corners to that wall. I want to seal that exterior wall as it is my only problem wall to my foundation. I also have a lot of re grading to do as well. I understand the limitations on a bh this size (bx25) but I was hoping some owners could chime in. I was thinking the bh could do a big bulk of the digging and eventually i would climb down and finish by hand. Recognizing all safety issues of course. Any way does anyone have any experience digging up close to a block wall like described? During my pricing I found the 1025r with bh and similar options to be about 5,000$ price difference online what gives there? Any recommendations on a good solid 48" bb for ripping a gravel drive and regrading my slope around house is appreciated. Thankyou look forward to replies

 

[msb1766]

You should check on the specifications of the backhoe that fits your tractor to see if it will dig to the depth that you need.
I have a backhoe on a Cub/Yanmar that is comparable to your BX25 and it will dig 76.5 inches (6 feet 4.5 inches)
It is not as fast as trackhoe but will get the job done just not as fast.
I have dug up many stumps, two garage footings, electrical trenches and a 175 foot water line 4 feet deep.

 

[Dave M7040]

The depth you are talking about for a foundation seems very large. Are you certain as most locations need just 4 or 5 feet of frost cover.
Getting close to the wall to be able to dig a trench parallel to the wall is the challenge. Some larger backhoes (I have seen JCB's with this feature) have the hoe which will slide sideways on a big frame to bring it to one side or other of the tractor to allow it to dig close to walls.
A full sized Case backhoe with the extend-a-hoe feature can do a reasonable job but the trench will be wider than you really need. Any backhoe needs its stabilizers down to dig and these make the machine wide.
Some small tracked excavators can dig against a foundation as their main boom can swing at a right angle to its normal position and dig in this position and it does not need stabilizers.
You might find that getting a good operator with a tracked machine will quickly dig a narrow trench without damaging the block wall foundation. Block foundations on homes are quite fragile compared to the rebar reinforced foundations on institutional and commercial buildings.
Dave M7040

 

[boggen]

Don't hit the wall!!! don't put pressure on the wall with bucket or dipper stick or boom even trying to remove dirt... be careful of cave ins (side of trench giving away) and you and tractor go falling into house. with above said, watch out for the softit / overhang on house. when raising the hoe up. can be easy to lift roof off the house. (arghs)

assume that you will need to hand dig up against the wall nearly all the way down. to depth you want.

if you want to make hand digging easier, dig a wider trench. start out away from the wall 1 to 2 feet and dig trench along wall. and let all the hand shoveling go into the trench.

 

[Tjc50]

The more I think about it it's not that deep I would say 5-6 foot at the most. I have other projects which I know the bh would be great for. Running electric , drainage tile, pulling some rocks back to the bank of my pond etc etc. I know it would make digging along foundation easier but it does have limitations. Trying to justify the attachment purchase. To me it doesn't seem much more for the bx25 as opposed t the bx2370. The deere 1 series with similar equipment came out very high at 5,000$ more than the bota.

 

[whis]

buy the one for the tractor but you will be money ahead to rent mini x for the foundation repair because you can dig right beside the foundation

 

[Scooby074]

You got a year to dig? If so, get a BX.

Otherwise rent a proper excavator and get it done in a weekend.

 

[dragoneggs]

If you are already thinking about jobs for a BH then it's a no brainer. I had no idea how many things I would use if for until after purchase. Specifically in regard to BX BH around foundation, I did dig out about 3 ft around one side of my garage foundation to fix and reinstall some drain line. Worked perfectly. The small footprint of my BX allowed me to get into spots anything bigger couldn't. I am happy that I can maneuver it all the way around my detached garage. That was a pleasant surprise and allowed me to clean up/tear out trees, shrubs, put in drain line, gravel, etc. My :2cents:

 

[Jay4200]

I have an L-frame tractor with a 9' Woods on it. Not for nothing, but I just got a BX2200 today, and I'd NEVER put a backhoe on it. My woods throws my L4200 around like so much tissue paper. I would think a backhoe that could actually do some work would absolutely destroy any BX. If you're dead set on a BX, rent a mini excavator for a day when you have to do some digging. IMHO, of course.

 

[scoutcub]

I had to do the same, excavate along one basement wall to waterproof. BTW, I used buttonboard against the whole wall as well as sealing the crack, worked very well, at least for the last 3 years....:laughing:
I have a 32HP tractor with backhoe that I used for part of it....but a buddy came in with his offset mini-ex and completed the job, mostly due to the fact he was installing a large stamped concrete patio after sealing the wall so we just combined it. Using the small BH can be done, but as others have eluded to, will take extra time, and digging close to the wall will be a challenge with setting the stabilizers. Good advise regarding NOT hitting the wall, and starting the dig a few feet from the foundation, to let the dirt against the wall to fall in the hole, then remove that.
I also backfilled the ENTIRE wall with gravel, just to give the best protection against water penetration. The builder (schumaker) had only put gravel around the footer drain....
Sounds like you're trying to justify a BH, and certainly have the projects to warrant it.....!

 

[check]

I love the BH on my BX 25, but I don't think I would use it to excavate right next to a foundation wall at that depth.

I would rent a mini excavator, because it would be so much faster. The BX 25 backhoe would do the job of course but it would take a lot longer, and there is the problem of room for the stabilizers.

Also, check out the swing angles on the BX 25 excavator. They are not very high, whereas a mini excavator can rotate 360°. Do you have lots of room next to the house for your castings? Also it depends on the soil. If you have lots of rocks in the soil you are going to have problems with your BX 25. If not, the backhoe on the BX 25 is plenty powerful enough.

That said, I could not imagine getting a BX 25 without a backhoe. It has been so useful to me in so many different situations, I could not live without it. I just got the "Ripper Tooth" attachment for the backhoe, from Bro-Tek. Have not had a chance to use it yet, but it looks deadly, and I definitely needed for taking out stumps. Otherwise, stumps can take for ever to dig out just using the normal backhoe bucket on the BX 25.

Good luck with your purchase!

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I have an L-frame tractor with a 9' Woods on it. Not for nothing, but I just got a BX2200 today, and I'd NEVER put a backhoe on it. My woods throws my L4200 around like so much tissue paper. I would think a backhoe that could actually do some work would absolutely destroy any BX. If you're dead set on a BX, rent a mini excavator for a day when you have to do some digging. IMHO, of course.

The backhoe on the BX25 is sized to match the tractor. The BX25 is built plenty strong to handle the stresses put on it by the backhoe.

The BX25 has its limitations due to its size, but I wouldn't worry about damaging the tractor frame by using the backhoe as it is designed to be used. Anything can be abused and torn up, so I'm talking about proper use.

 

[bumperm]

I have an L-frame tractor with a 9' Woods on it. Not for nothing, but I just got a BX2200 today, and I'd NEVER put a backhoe on it. My woods throws my L4200 around like so much tissue paper. I would think a backhoe that could actually do some work would absolutely destroy any BX.

Sorry, but that doesn't make much sense to me . . . sort of like saying a big diesel pickup truck can throw around a compact car, so don't install a tow hitch on the car to tow a small trailer that's within its GCWR.

Have you ever seen, read, or even heard about a BX series tractor being destroyed by working with it's frame mount backhoe??

I've owned two BX series tractors, still have a BX24. It's a solid little TLB, handily able to do a rather astonishing amount of work for its size, and do so while getting into places a bigger hoe could never fit. It get's the job done, just slower than the bigger TLB.

bumper

 

[Egon]

You might be able to get an extender for the dipper. (Make for clumsy working condition)


Also consider making a step trench.

Tractors small enough to get close to the walls.

 

[dragoneggs]

You might be able to get an extender for the dipper. (Make for clumsy working condition)


Also consider making a step trench.

Tractors small enough to get close to the walls.

Step trench? Could you please explain?

 

[dragoneggs]

I love the BH on my BX 25, but I don't think I would use it to excavate right next to a foundation wall at that depth.

I would rent a mini excavator, because it would be so much faster. The BX 25 backhoe would do the job of course but it would take a lot longer, and there is the problem of room for the stabilizers.

Also, check out the swing angles on the BX 25 excavator. They are not very high, whereas a mini excavator can rotate 360°. Do you have lots of room next to the house for your castings? Also it depends on the soil. If you have lots of rocks in the soil you are going to have problems with your BX 25. If not, the backhoe on the BX 25 is plenty powerful enough.

That said, I could not imagine getting a BX 25 without a backhoe. It has been so useful to me in so many different situations, I could not live without it. I just got the "Ripper Tooth" attachment for the backhoe, from Bro-Tek. Have not had a chance to use it yet, but it looks deadly, and I definitely needed for taking out stumps. Otherwise, stumps can take for ever to dig out just using the normal backhoe bucket on the BX 25.

Good luck with your purchase!

All good points! I haven't gone to the max depth yet and I agree that footing is an issue for trenches near walls. That said, the BH has been an awesome tool for me on my BX.

 

[Egon]

Step trench? Could you please explain?

Dig a trench the full width of the tractor. Then drive into the trench and make the final cut to the level you need

 

[dragoneggs]

Dig a trench the full width of the tractor. Then drive into the trench and make the final cut to the level you need

Okay that is what I was imagining but wanting to make sure there wasn't a slick trick I was missing... thanks Egon.

 

[boggen]

Dig a trench the full width of the tractor. Then drive into the trench and make the final cut to the level you need

that sounds like more work than just getting in there and manual digging it out. then again i think neighbor ended up doing this.

was thinking more along the lines of...

house---1 to 2 feet (not dug)---trench with tractor 1 to 2 feet

house ---- manual dig letting dirt slide into --> trench tractor made -> tractor digs stuff out from the outer trench

 

[check]

Okay that is what I was imagining but wanting to make sure there wasn't a slick trick I was missing... thanks Egon.

Well, if you have the room at the side of the house you can certainly do that, but if you have that much room then you can just dig a wide trench with the BX25 BH, and just stay away from the wall with your stabilizers. As Poopdeck Pappy said (how did he get that handle, anyway?), the BX25 BH can certainly handle the job, keeping in mind that it's maximum digging depth is 6'2", and that would only be if you were right next to the trench. Is the ground beside the house hard, or soft?

Regardless of how you do the trench, I would strongly recommend the BX25 BH, for all the other uses you will have for it.