Device for emptying backhoe bucket

[Volp]

I have a problem with heavy clay getting stuck in my backhoe bucket.
I sometimes have to empty it manually!
Are there any solutions to this problem?
Can you put in an extra bottom in the bucket which scrapes out everything when the bucker is uncurled?
Looking forward to see your brilliant solutions to this problem!

 

[jimgerken]

I know just what you are saying! I wanted the same thing, but can't figure out how to do it without routing more hydraulic lines on the hoe frame. Maybe if we have to go to the trouble of routing the lines, the thing we add is what you described, like a false movable bucket bottom, AND it doubles as a hyd thumb.

Ideas guys?

 

[ray66v]

There were several threads that discussed this problem, I would have linked to them but could not find them right now.

There are all kinds of ideas and contraptions, I have tried most of them. None have been the holy grail.

The easiest solution is to either use a bigger bucket, or dig when the ground is dry.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I have clay dirt in my front yard also and that's why i dug a pond.

I also have a problem with the clay-dirt getting stuck in my BH bucket especially if its wet..I keep a small shovel on my tractor just for that, and i have to get off and shovel it out most of the time... I have seen people bounce their BH-arm up & down to try & get it out..But I don't think its a good thing to do all the time.

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't think a bigger bucket will solve the problem as I have a 24 inch bucket on mine and it's a real problem. Even my loader bucket will build up with clay when it's moist and I have to dig it out by hand.

With the bucket teeth pointing straight down and the boom up as high as it will go, I've found that I can sort of pop the clay out sometime by bringing the hoe stick in quckly and letting it stop abruptly. I am worried that this might cause some damage to my cylinder, but it's the only thing that I've found that even comes close to emptying the bucket.

I tried painting my bucket to make it smoother, but that didn't accomplish anything.

I've seen special buckets for digging wet clay, and they don't have any sides to them. There is just enough metal to keep the shape of the bucket, but mostly it's open.

I've also found that extremely wet clay doesn't do this, it's only the moist clay that compacts into the buckets. Really wet stuff, like digging the silt out of my pond, just falls right out.

Good luck, if you come up with something that works, is inexpensive and easy to make, patent it, you'll make a ton of money!!!

Eddie

 

[LBrown59]

There are some threads about this.
Try a search and see what comes up.

 

[Grrrr]

Just hire a mini digger when you need one.

I have this problem, but I just shake the joysticks like **** and it always comes out

Good thing I don't own the machine though

I have seen a buckets like one of those ice cream scoops, where there is like an ejector plate that pushes the clay out.

Like this

 

[ray66v]

I don't think a bigger bucket will solve the problem

Right, nothing will completely solve the problem. Especially if your at the extreme end of the scale.

Both of the excavators I know, say the smaller the bucket the more it sticks.

I can dig ground here with my 12", that will never come out of my 6". I only use my 6" in the middle of the dry season, then it works fairly well.

One thing I realized: If your going to shake the bucket to loosen the dirt, shake it opening facing upward, right when you finish curling it. This works better than anything I have tried, and seems easier on the equipment. If you shake it opening facing down, it tends to pack in even tighter.

 

[Volp]

Thanks for the input!
I have found one thread , Ejector Bucket Design which is interesting but the design is still not tested. They mention the use of chains in the bucket which I understand will cut through the clay when the bucket is uncurled. This seems to be a simple solution but I have still not found any pictures of this.

 

[Volp]

Found another thread, Backhoe bucket, there one conclusion was that nothing works when clay is stuck in the bucket! A bit disappointing. Hope that there are more positive views to be found!