Making a banana style trenching bucket.

[Gofast]

I am going to make a banana style trenching bucket for my MF GC 1710. It will be 4 ｾ ".
This is as wide as the QC is that will save me making attachment brackets as a separate piece.
I am going to put one backhoe bucket tooth on it I have a 156L to go on it.

I will use it to but in 4 gutter pipes later this summer.

I know there are some designs out there already. Does any know how tall the sides are?

 

[BFreaky]

I made few of those. Tooth is not a good idea, it will cause dirt to accumulate in the bucket. Works much better without a tooth. I just put a Hardox cutting edge on it. Size depends on the size of our backhoe and required digging depth

 

[Gofast]

These are the styles I have seen so far.
1.

2.

3.


This one the guy really liked it what it could do with a tooth.
4.


I have been thinking about making one like picture 1 and with a tooth like 4.

 

[Stimw]

I made a cardboard template of the side of my 16" bucket and marked and cut it out.
Added 6" width and fabricated mounting flanges.
Have dug 2 drainfields, many water and electric runs.
If it is too narrow the dirt might get stuck.

 

[Gofast]

I will start my bucket tonight.
I could do what you did I just made my 16" bucket the same way you did yours.

Now I have to decide 6" would work fine for digging gutter rain water trenches.
I do have a concern of small bucket getting packed with dirt.

A smaller banana bucket would do good but what one would be more useful later.
I have enough steel to make it either way. I can do a better job making it the same style as my original bucket.

The banana style the sides will be out of 3 pieces 3/8 welded together because I don't have one big sheet.

Any opinions on what style to make and are welcome.

 

[Stimw]

I used 1/4" steel for mine and it is plenty strong enough.
I have dug stumps with it and hook roots then curl the bucket and cut or break them.

 

[ning]

It would be really neat to see if you could build in something that attaches like a hydraulic thumb which when actuated would forcible eject material from the banana bucket. I'm thinking a piece of spring steel to scrape it out, with a small hydraulic cylinder to actuate it; hopefully you don't need it every scoop.

 

[ericm979]

What's the advantage of the banana style vs the more typical bucket shape?

 

[downsizingnow48]

The problem of sticky dirt staying in is real. Back in Virginia I used to see narrow buckets with one or both modifications - large holes drilled in the back to let air in and break the suction, also, a length of chain welded from bucket lip to bottom of stick that would flip dirt out when the bucket was emptied.

 

[Gofast]

What's the advantage of the banana style vs the more typical bucket shape?

A standard style bucket just very small bucket can have dirt sticking issues. We have red clay depending on how damp the soil is it could be really bad sticking.

Banana style have very short sides and is designed to keep the dirt from sticking in the bucket.
The banana bucket disadvantage is the is like digging with a spoon you don't get much dirt with each scoop.
I would think it would be good for cleaning dirt off stumps.