Backhoe Newbie to backhoe

[ColorMeGreen]

I just got a backhoe for my JD4400. Did my first 40' trench 2' deep. Are there any tips/pointers for digging or trenching with a backhoe?

JS

 

[Hoeman00]

Watch out for buried utilities.
Gas lines can make a BIG BOOM

 

[Golfgar4]

Can't offer you any operational tips, but can remind you that you always need to call Diggers Hotline before you do any digging so all of the utilities are identified. Otherwise, like Hoeman00 said, it could go BOOM! Also, if you're planning on hiring out with it, you absolutely need to get contractor's liability insurance. Don't even consider using that thing off your property without insurance.

Good luck and have fun! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Steven]

I try to get the longest reach possible to save on moving the tractor as often. practice using both controls at the same time to get nice flat bottoms. the most important tip is knowing what is under the dirt you are removing utilities can be very costly to repair if dammaged.

 

[ScottAR]

This link goes to the standard manual for union operating engineers. I hear it's very good. I have yet to pick it up but it's on the want list.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.equiptrain.com/index.html/>Equipment Training manuals</A>

I have another called "Backhoe Loader Handbook" by Reinar Christian. (ISBN 0-924659-72-6) I thought it was a decent read. It does take a little imagery to translate the words to action. These are by no means a subsitute for practice, but they do offer the things an operator should be thinking about while working. I got it at Amazon.com

 

[Boondox]

Congratulations! I've said many times before that hoeing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

When getting used to my Woods 7500 subframe hoe, I ran it at lower RPMs to focus on my technique. Also, after those first few hours, I watched the town's trackhoe in operation and learned a lot about control from a master. Trenching was easy. My best practice came from digging up boulders and stumps. I can now scoop up the dog poop without damaging the lawn. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Enjoy! Pete

 

[LazyJ_Arabians]

Here is a professional hoe operator for ya. If you look closely, this guy is drinking coffee and eating a donut..

http://www.trainorders.com/stories/2002/10/21/455.php

 

[Rick Jay]

Ah.....scooping up the dog poop...another use for the backhoe. I was just using it to dig the hole to bury the poop, but I never thought about actually using it to pick up the poop.

Thanks Boodox,

~Rick

 

[ronjhall]

<font color=blue>I can now scoop up the dog poop without damaging the lawn.</font color=blue>

Pete

/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif I believe that we should be blessed with a series of pictures demonstrating your technique. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Boondox]

You'll have to wait till next year, Ron. I parked and tarped the backhoe under a tamarack tree for the winter season.

Pete

 

[Carl_NH]

Pete,

I thought you were just waiting for snow so to spot and BH those piles.. and no damage to the lawn /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Carl

 

[Boondox]

With four permanent golden retrievers and usually a couple of rescues on the premises, you really have to develop a method lest spring find your entire lawn covered with land mines as the snow retreats. So what I do is to snowshoe a path from the porch to the septic tank. The dogs much prefer the packed snow to the powder, so 99% of the time will do their thing on or near the packed snow. When spring comes me and my shovel and bucket only have to patrol a small part of the yard...and since the septic tank is at the end it all goes in there. You might say I have a 1000 gallon Doggie Doolie! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Pete

 

[ColorMeGreen]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll have to get a dog ;-) Running the engine slower really is important during this learning process. And while my place was being built I took plenty of pics so I could see just where all the lines are underground. Those have proved useful many times.
JS

 

[Carl_NH]

Pete,

Great idea about taking the path of least resistance and making it easier in the spring!

JS
Took this somewhat off course, here regarding BH operation, so just few pointers on what I have found;

- when in close quarters woods etc fold the BH close to the tractor minimizes surprises backing up
- Setup for digging about a foot short of where you want a hole since the digging action usually will take you backward
- put rocks and roots 3' or so to one side of a trench and the backfill opposite, then return and scoop the rocks into a pile

On a safety note, kids are fascinated with machines and esp BH's - make them stand at least 8' away, out of swing range and stop if they venture near. I work slow when they are watching then stop from time to time for them to "check the progress" ..

Have fun and enjoy your new green machine.

Carl

 

[ronjhall]

Pete
I have clicked on the little finger with string tied to it, in the left hand corner of your post. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

I’ll send you a reminder next year when it’s time to get the BH out of storage. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Boondox]

Looks like I finished up with the hoe just in time! Two inches of snow on the ground and still falling! Won't be long before Clementine will be wearing her ice chains...

Pete

 

[ColorMeGreen]

These things are great! The clay here is so hard that when I try to hand shovel it I can't get in an inch.... Now the only sweat I break is, well, I don't break a sweat.

I've found that 3 things improve my backhoe-ing...

1. Keep the engine slow. If I'm figuring correctly, and from what I've observed, I don't get any more power from the hydraulics, they just move faster. When my backhoe bogs down and doesn't move when under too much clay/dirt, increasing rpm hasn't produced more power to get the bucket through the stuff.

2. Just like any other hydraulic... make small control movements

3. Same advice as for newlyweds... practice, practice, practice. Well maybe that's for my fly casting, guitar, daughters' fiddling, ...