L39 for Pool Digging?
- Thread starter cddva
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You should be able to.
If the pool is going N-S on the long axis, dig the north wall from the west side, then finish it from the east side. Move the tractor to face south and dig the east wall. Index the tractor to the west and dig until you get to the west wall. Move the tractor farther south and repeat until finished.
You will have to take care of 75-150 yard of dirt depending on the depth you are going. (4-8' deep) Plan on having to use the FEL to move the spoils a couple times on each sideways pass. Better is to direct load a dump trailer or truck to haul off the spoils. Learn how to dig a smooth flat bottom or else have a strong back for a lot of hand finishing.
jb
If the pool is going N-S on the long axis, dig the north wall from the west side, then finish it from the east side. Move the tractor to face south and dig the east wall. Index the tractor to the west and dig until you get to the west wall. Move the tractor farther south and repeat until finished.
You will have to take care of 75-150 yard of dirt depending on the depth you are going. (4-8' deep) Plan on having to use the FEL to move the spoils a couple times on each sideways pass. Better is to direct load a dump trailer or truck to haul off the spoils. Learn how to dig a smooth flat bottom or else have a strong back for a lot of hand finishing.
jb
mike69440
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cddva said:Has anyone used an L39 (backhoe) to dig pools? I'm trying to ascertain if it could effectively dig a liner type pool about 16'x32'. What are your thoughts (that you can voice in public space anyway)?
Big hole!
I buried an old truck once.
As a project for youself or as an occasional side job an L39 could do this but not commercially. An excavator is what a pro who wants a decent paycheck would use.
machmeter62
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I have built two swimming pools that I sub contracted out; the second one I considered digging with my Kubota L-35. As one poster mentioned, a lot of hard hand labor in shaping maybe involved, which scared me away. The guys that dig with excavators for swimming pools are artists. It took them less than a half of days labor to dig a 24'x40'x9' pool and was ready for the rebar! This was a "mountain lake design" also. Another factor is working close to the banks edge, which could give way swallowing your new L-39, depending on soil type? As you try to dig from inside the hole, you will be challenged with traction trying to back out, even in 4wd. Unless things have changed price-wise in the past decade greatly; I would get some bids on the digout first, then see if it's worth doing it yourself. There is a mountain of dirt to be removed, and very time consuming with your L-39, but not impossible. The digging was the least expensive part! Even 100 yards will be 200+ trips. Good luck on your decision!
Timber
Veteran Member
Well the only thing I have to say is you will be fie till you hit a rock that is too big to lift with your tractor. I know there were some that came out of my pool I couldn't even roll
