Operating backhoe in tight spaces

[Komrade]

One of my first projects, I'd like to bury a rain pipe and collect rain water downhill in barrels.

I have maybe 40 feet between the house and the side of a hill. The area is only accessible from one side of the house (other side is too steep)

Is operating backhoe in a T fashion OK? (is there a better term for it)?

Basically, park tractor 90 degrees to the line of trench, dig left, dig right (90 degree angle), use backhoe to shift tractor, finish whatever couldn't reach earlier (let's say dig left). Biggest drawback seems to be that all the dirt will be downhill, but can use backhoe to scrape it backup. Also, it's less stable. But the ground I am digging is all "old" fill.

 

[rScotty]

I've used mine that way without problems. Anytime I'm digging in a less than favorable position - that is, when I'm not digging right in line with the tractor - those times I try to be at least a little careful not to overstrain things. But I've not had any problems with doing it in your "T" configuration.
Sometimes you just have to go with the slope and do what you can.
I do try not to get into a position with the radiator sloping too much downhill. Use the front bucket to raise the front end up a bit and that sure will help the cooling water and oil to circulate properly.
I'm a little more concerned with keeping the tractor as level as possible than with which way the backhoe is reaching.
Luck, rScotty

 

[boggen]

side of trenches collapse all the time, you in backhoe, side gives away = you trapped in trench.

lifting rear of tractor up with backhoe, and swinging the rear end of tractor around = hard wear and tear on the backhoe, and risk of flipping tractor over on its side.

using the swinging of backhoe (left to right) to bring dirt back onto a trench to fill it back up, (leaving bucket on ground and sliding it hard across and into the dirt pile,) also puts a heavy strain on the backhoe.

the difference between backhoes vs excavators, excavators has so much more freedom, and abilty to deal with trenches vs backhoes.

if ya doing your T digging, watch out for your out riggers, a very good chance you can bring bucket right up into one, and do some sort of damage.

 

[Komrade]

sounds like not one of the first projects I want to do.. Thanks for the advice.

I've watched a couple of "tips" videos on youtube, and many recommended using the backhoe to move tractor around (sides and forward). I agree with the danger of flipping though, especially with someone inexperienced (like me)

 

[TomSeller]

I am not understanding how you would use the backhoe to shift the tractor when at 90 degrees to the trench. You could shift the back end but the front won't move. You can shift in line or simply drive when you are in line with the trench, but not when at 90 degrees.

 

[boggen]

I am not understanding how you would use the backhoe to shift the tractor when at 90 degrees to the trench. You could shift the back end but the front won't move. You can shift in line or simply drive when you are in line with the trench, but not when at 90 degrees.

front end can and does move, to some degree. it looses traction just like everything else and can slide around on ya. and can move enough to twist the tractor, so one of the rear wheels ends up in the trench before ya realize it. at least that is how it is with the ford 555c TLB i have.

i personally prefer keeping front wheels and rear wheels on the ground, but just barely taking a little bit of pressure off of all 4 wheels using the FEL (front end loader) and the out riggers on the back. and in that working the machine when it is not level. if hill / slope allows me to, i tend to curl the bucket down as far as i can, and then adjust it some. so the FEL bucket digs into the ground some and keeps the tractor from pulling itself backwards when using backhoe. other times it is laying FEL bucket flat on the ground. and accepting that i can pull or push the front end of the tractor some and slide front around a little bit as well. due to nothing really holding, and FEL bucket just sliding across the ground.

if you were working for a giving company and osha was involved, you may be forced to bring all 4 wheels up off the ground. so if a lever got accidentally hit or like. the tractor would not start moving on its own, while ya strapped to the backhoe seat. and no driver at the steering wheel.

 

[TomSeller]

front end can and does move, to some degree. it looses traction just like everything else and can slide around on ya. and can move enough to twist the tractor, so one of the rear wheels ends up in the trench before ya realize it. at least that is how it is with the ford 555c TLB i have.

Understand that but then it is not 90 degrees to the trench and you could only dig one side at that point. Maybe I'm mixed up on what the intent was.

 

[Komrade]

I am not understanding how you would use the backhoe to shift the tractor when at 90 degrees to the trench. You could shift the back end but the front won't move. You can shift in line or simply drive when you are in line with the trench, but not when at 90 degrees.

Yes, it's only the backend you want to move so that you could dig underneath where it previously was.

However, you will no longer be exactly perpendicular to the trench, and it's not going to work.

I tried to illustrate below (== is the (planned) trench, | is the backhoe, (T) is the tractor. The pivot point (P) would be on the other side of the trench. The forum isn't formatting by schematic right. Imagine the (T) and the backhoe exactly in the middle of the planned trench.

I think most of the time the bucket is used to shift the tractor forward to save time, or can be useful when digging a "wide" hole in a tight spot.

=====    ====
        |
        |
        |
       (T)

         
        (P)
=====    ====
           /
          /
         /
       (T)

Watch the following video, minute 9:54
Also, tips starting from 7:50 are somewhat relevant to the conversation (using angle for better stability, or better digging)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeeKFXb-pnc

 

[Grandad4]

Don't know if you have the operator's manual for the particular model of backhoe you've got, or what it would say, but the book that came with mine - a similar size backhoe - cautions against some of these repositioning actions you see used on larger, dedicated TLB machines. For example, the backhoe may be capable of lifting the back end of the tractor for repositioning, as in that video - mine certainly is - but it's going to put a lot of stress on the backhoe and the tractor. It's safer and there's less risk of harm when you raise the outriggers and bucket so you can drive the tractor to reposition.

Digging at an angle off the centerline of the tractor is OK within reason. Scooping soil, for example, shouldn't be a problem, but you wouldn't want to do battle with a large stump when digging at a sharp angle off the centerline. The closer to the centerline you can be, the more digging power you can safely use.

 

[Komrade]

Thanks. Makes sense. I will study the manual of the Woods BH9000. I found this "tip" also interesting. Same issue though (notice, op mentions "larger hoe or excavator")

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/230118-straddling-ditch-backhoe.html

when i operate a larger how or excavator i simply drive the front wheels right over the trench, keeping the loader bucket flat , and using the loader to keep the wheels out of the trench. Once i have 1 wheel on each side of the trench, i use the backhow to lift and swing the rear wheels over and straddle the open trench.
i can simply drive right over the trench and run parallel to the trench. I keep the right front and right rear on one side of the trench and the left front and left rear on the other side of the open trench and clean the entire thing where the trenches connect.

then i simply drive the front wheels out using the bucket and the rear wheels out using the backhoe.