Couple of questions for expierenced trackhoe operators

Chuck K. · Sep 10, 2007

The pond project has come to a complete stop due to the rain and mud. Would a ~30,000 pound track hoe be good means to continue digging? My thought is I could a least get the pond dug now and spread the dirt later if/when it dries out.

About how long would it take to dig a 100'x90'x10'deep pond, I realize this could vary quite a bit with soil conditions etc.

The rental place tells me its very simple to run comparing to an jumbo version of my little BH75, any thought on this or would I be better off paying an expierenced operator who could get the job done quicker?

What is some of the going rates to rent a machine like this? I dont have the details of HP or bucket size yet just trying to get a general idea.

I attached a few photos to give a general idea what I am dealing with...

Thanks for any input, Chuck.

art · Sep 10, 2007

It's so hard to tell how much you have done with the water. It's also hard to tell without knowing the soil. The rental place is right as it's just a larger machine. I'd say if all goes right it should be done in a day but it would be nice to have a dozer to move the soil away while digging and have it over with. Save the finish work for your tractor.

Dirthog · Sep 11, 2007

the other thing is if you rent a machine and get it stuck you are responsable for getting it out (ie. bigger machine harder more expensive) if you hire it done it up to the operator also a good operator will know where he can and cannot go.

FL4400 · Sep 13, 2007

Your looking at close to 3400 cubic yards of dirt give or take, with a 30,000 pound machine you might get a 2 yard bucket I doubt you will get it dug in a day. Your worst part will be you can dig the hole faster than you can get the dirt out of your way. Even if you had dump trucks moving the dirt for you it would still take over 180 loads to move it.

srsu99 · Sep 13, 2007

Well at least you know it catches water. I have a Cat performance manual I can look up how many yards an hour you can move with the machine if you can give me bucket size. Boom and stick lenght would be good to know or just overal reach of machine. I have a 200 Lc John Deere excavator. It has a 42" wide bucket and heaped capacity is 1.25 yards. Sounds small but I can load a 14 yard dump truck out of the bank in 4 minutes. That includes making the top of the load look pretty, for all the DOT men looking at that!

srsu99 · Sep 13, 2007

A typical bucket on a 30 k machine is .68yard takes 20 seconds to dig turn and dump. Multiply .68yard x 3 = 2.04yards per minute. Multiply time 54 minutes as this is 90% effeciency level and you get 110 yards per hr. Someone mentioned your move is about 3400 yards. I dont know if they figured bank yards or loose yards but if it is bank yard then it would take you 30 hours so better rent the thing for a week. This is also figureing that your bucket stays perfectly clean. A little extra dirt stuck in there will lessen your capacity and it will take longer. Hope this is in someway helpfull. Also you will have to hire a dozer to shape what you dig up otherwise you'll never be able to mow it!

Chuck K. · Sep 14, 2007

Thanks for all the help folks.. We just missed hurrican Humberto, but still got more rain that I did not need.

My thoughts where to rent the machine for 2-3 days while I am digging wth the trackhoe my brother in law would be on the TD-10 spreading the dirt and pushing it to the front of the property for a house pad.

I am quickly learing that SE Tx. gumbo has a small "window" in which the soil can be worked.. Too dry and its like pushing hardend contrete, too wet and the stuff will stick to anything, dozer blade, tracks and rollers it can be a royal PITA..

Until it dries out all I can do is wait

bindian · Sep 15, 2007

Chuck K. said:
I am quickly learing that SE Tx. gumbo has a small "window" in which the soil can be worked.. Too dry and its like pushing hardend contrete, too wet and the stuff will stick to anything, dozer blade, tracks and rollers it can be a royal PITA..

Until it dries out all I can do is wait

Chuck,
You want the gumbo just a little moist. That works best for me.

Just enough for a handful to roll up in and a ball and not break apart when dropped.
I just about have all the stumps out of the way for my pond.

Can't wait until I start digging.
hugs, Brandi