Optimal Backhoe Bucket?

[avc8130]

I get the opportunity to pick the bucket for my BT1000 on the L39 I am buying. What is the optimal size bucket? I am torn between a 12" and 18". I will be using the backhoe for "anything and everything" that comes up. Stumps/ditches/digging holes/loosening dirt/etc.

18" seems like a good "all around" size, but I have heard 12" might be significantly better for stumps?

If you HAD to have 1 size, what would it be?
ac

 

[devildog1]

16" works for me.
DevilDog

 

[doelake]

I recently upgraded from a L39 to M59...on the L39 I had an 18" toothed trenching bucket as well as a 30" ditching bucket...with the M59 I went to a 24" toothed trencing bucket but kept the ditching bucket. Capacity and finish work is great with a smoothed edge ditching bucket...I've stumped big trees with all the buckets, toothed buckets will break roots easier...for the greatest percentage of my work I will use the ditching bucket, and if the hydraulic thumb is available to you, it makes you unstoppable

 

[lzicc]

I had that choice between the 12" or larger and I went with a 16" bucket for mine. Depends on what you are using it for. I want to be able to dig trenches but also dig holes fairly fast. I would consider the 18".

 

[BruceWard]

12" is good for rocks and trenches. Larger is better for everything else.

 

[ejkessler]

I honestly have owned both every time I buy a tractor with a BH. 18" and the narrowest they make which is usually 10" or 12". The extra 3 to 4 hundred dollars is well worth the versatility. Trenching, stump and root pulling and difficult post hole digging are great with the narrower bucket. Everything else with the 18".

 

[Grandad4]

If you have clay soil, you'll find the smaller buckets tend to get clogged easier. When it's wet, even my 18" needs to be cleaned out pretty often. Haven't used one, but would expect a 12" would really fill up under such conditions. The 18" is a good all around size. Your L39 should have no trouble doing all your tasks with it.

 

[SixHoeBob]

18" is a good size multipurpose size. The trench is wide enough to work in without being excessive. 18" is narrow enough for digging in hard ground.
My second choice would be 24" for digging footers. The L39 is big enough to easily handle the 24". 12" buckets are frustrating because they quickly become 12" blades.

Answer; 18" then 24"

 

[Ductape]

On an L39, I'd get the 18.

 

[CurlyDave]

16" or 18" depending on which one is available.

12" will clog with clay. Take one scoop, spend 5 minutes emptying bucket with shovel.

 

[powerstroke444e]

One bucket 18. But you will find lots of uses for a larger smooth bucket if you get one. go with qa for the backhoe buckets so you can expand. I have 3 on b26 12, 18, 30 smooth.

 

[avc8130]

One bucket 18. But you will find lots of uses for a larger smooth bucket if you get one. go with qa for the backhoe buckets so you can expand. I have 3 on b26 12, 18, 30 smooth.

I have a QA. It is a long story, but I am owed the bucket for the machine so I get to choose (within reason) which single bucket I want. I am thinking 18" with teeth is where I am going.
ac

 

[Tompet]

I'm have same decision of 12" or 16" on a new BH77.
The 12" is across the teeth while the interior of the bucket itself is 10.5". I had the 12" and for the most part worked well but am considering 16" this time. One concern is if the 16" over time would put more stress wear on the BH, pins, etc. and how it would work vs the 12" around small stumps. Soon as the clay is damp there is some "clean out" that occurs but usually not too bad.

12" is a little tight to work in trench. I don't know yet. Rather only have one bucket for now.

 

[SixHoeBob]

Forget the 12" blade.

 

[CurlyDave]

I know that when I put a hydraulic thumb on mine I needed a minimum 16" bucket for it to work.

 

[doelake]

The L39 has an extremely powerful backhoe, you will find using a smaller bucket frustrating in the length of time spent digging...don't choose anything smaller than 18"...I use my 30" exclusively and find when picking up large boulders that a bigger bucket provides more stability with or without the hydraulic thumb...my M59 has one, my L39 didn't...if the buckets are quick attach it takes only minutes to swap, even pin-on can be swapped in a reasonable amount of time. Once you start using your hoe, you will understand the extended versatility of multiple buckets:thumbsup:

 

[lhansman]

I agree with Doelake. When I purchased my 2003 B21 it came with a 16" bucket and I assumed that was the largest available. After about 200 hours I found out there was a 24" bucket and what a huge boost in productivity that was. The increase in volume is much more than just the increased width - your heaped capacity goes way up. If you are only doing trenchs, the 18" may be fine but if like me you dig around foundations and sometimes dig out larger areas, the 24" will be money well spent in the time you will save. It is definitely much easier to deal with rocks with a larger bucket as pointed out.

After purchasing the 24" bucket I don't think I ever used the 16" again because I had a 10" with the B21 for shallow, narrow trenching. As others have stated and I can confirm in clay soil it can take some shaking to empty a narrow bucket. However a narrow bucket is very handy when trying to dig around tree roots in order to remove a stump.

I traded the B21 at 1,800 hours for a slightly used (180 hours) B26 and had to take it with the Quick Attach 18" bucket. I knew I would need the narrowest bucket and so purchased the 12" QA but baulked at spending ~1,300 for another 24" bucket. That was when I discovered that you can by the QA plates from Kubota for about $165. I purchased a set, cut the B21 ears off the 24" bucket and welded the QA plates on and had a 24" bucket for my B26. In two years I have not used the 18" bucket - the 24" and 12" provide the flexibility I require.

This year I plan to add a 24" or 30" ditching (no teeth) bucket to my collection. Is anyone interested in a slightly used 18" QA bucket for a B26?

 

[doelake]

Words of wisdom, lhansman Another option is to buy bolt-on, or weld, flat steel to the toothed bucket to create a flat edge for smoothing grade work if you are on a budget and can't afford the added cost of purchasing multiple buckets

 

[missingstexas]

I have a 12" on my B26 it came with a 24" new, but the fella I bought it from cut that one down to a 7" for trenching... And +1 on the 12" gets full of clay from me Learned that quickly here in south LA. I have the 24" on my list of one days...

 

[JimP]

I can second the other replies, go bigger than 12 inches. I had a Woods 6500 backhoe which was considerably smaller than the backhoe you are considering. It came with an 18 inch bucket. The additional width is no handicap when trenching. The additional width is a big time saver if you are digging a hole or other big area. The digging power was limited by the backhoe, bucket size didn't seem to affect digging power in most practical situations.