Backhoe Setting up TLB on wonky ground.

[ccdck20hst]

In my limited experience often I fill the front bucket with gravel or small rock as I work a home project. Then with the loaded bucket on the earth, (on dirt, sod, gravel driveway) and the front wheels fully contacting the ground, I use the backhoe with the outriggers down. I have Bigfoot pads to help the down riggers hold the tractor firmly in place. Even with these measures, the backhoe on my CK20HST is so strong it often pulls the tractor a few inches or more as I use the backhoe to dig in the ground. I think the extra weight helps stop the tractor from being pulled by the backhoe. We have clay here and the earth is very hard so the powerful backhoe gets a workout. Right or wrong, IMHO I see it as counter intuitive to raise the front wheels off the ground at all to use the backhoe at least for this tractor. Seems like this would also add more stress to the outriggers. The CK20 is a very strong and well built tractor and I doubt the front axel is going to suffer by leaving the front wheels in contact with the ground (or ledge as seems to be the situation for you) while using the backhoe. If I was on ledge I might chock the wheels in addition to setting the brake to stop the tractor from getting dragged by the backhoe. In any event it sure is fun to use this backhoe for the projects I used to do by hand with a pick and shovel!! Tractor on!

 

[Carl_NH]

I set the bucket flat or the back of the bucket (round HD bucket) on the ground barely lifting the front end. Sometimes if I am doing hard digging like a stump, I will tilt the bucket forward 10-15* or so but dont extend it.

Using outriggers then level the back of machine and dig. Most of the machines today are rugged enough to handle uneven ground without tourqing the frame.

My old L175 DT with 3PTH backhoe was a different story - the 3PT setup moved a lot and it wasnt a lot of fun digging with that 1980s vintage. The FEL though was a tough one - could lift a lot more than the tractor even with the BH on that machine was tippy with a full bucket.

 

[PatasColo]

Just wanted to give a "thanks" to all for the input. It shows that there is a range of what people do/recommend. This makes sense.

One of the best things I've learned (from this and other threads, and from working on the backhoe) is that technique makes a lot of difference in how much and what kind of stress you put on the tractor. I seem to get a lot better each time I use the backhoe a couple hours. I saw a video of one guy lifting and dropping his FEL/tractor (with a bang!) with every backhoe pull at a stump - that just looked like a BAD idea! Due to bad technique.

I've attached pics to show some of the ground I am on; solid sandstone layers that have a slight curve to them.. a mini-quarry (aka our backyard ), with differing slopes between where the back wheels sit, and where the FEL sits (and no "give" to the ground). I'm taking the top layer of dirt/loose rock off some of this ground. I also want to pry up a some thick sandstone slabs for use around the property (I figure if I can do this with a pick and bar, it should be fine to do with tractor/backhoe, and a lot easier on my body! :laughing: ).

Happy Ho'ing! :thumbsup:
-Mitch

 

[tlbuser]

This may help, https://equiptrain.com/TLB_Book_Preview.pdf

 

[swick1]

I've got that book. Its really good but go to youtube and watch letsdig18's videos instead to see the techniques in action and save some money.

 

[ricklman]

" I seem to get a lot better each time I use the backhoe a couple hours."

That is the best advice any of us can give you. I've been operating backhoes for a lot of years and have always opened my FEL bucket all the way so I would have both top and bottom edges on the ground. It has just felt right and I've had great success with that approach.

If you set up on a dig, drop your outriggers and front bucket and get the "That's Weird" feeling, reposition and try again. I think you know what I mean.

I can relate to your landscape http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/243592-shes-finally-here.html and my main thought is to not get sideways with the mountain :laughing:

 

[boggen]

it all depends on the situation. if i need to back down a hill. to say deal with a culvert. i will fully curl the FEL bucket so it is upside down. so when i do use backhoe, the tractor does not slide down the hill. due to front bucket digging in some.

other times. i may tilt bucket slight downward. so i do not push the tractor forward with the backhoe.

some times, i will put front blade almost vertical. so instead of digging in. the blade kind skips on the ground. (perhaps hard dry dirt, that bucket itself can not dig in)

some times, curl bucket fully up. so round bottom of bucket hits ground. so i do not tear up any yard. via the front bucket.

for most part i prefer to take a little pressure off the front tires, but still keep the front tires partially touching ground. due to tilt of the front axle. i see no point and at times trying to raise both front wheels off ground would be dangerous. changes center of gravity of tractor enough. that i just do not like.

when putting out the outriggers, i try to shoot for level. but, pending on conditions and what i need to do. i will live with un-even, trench bottom, and just take a little pressure off the rear tires with the out riggers. to help keep the rear end from sliding back and forth.

==================
my body can not handle constant jarring. and will slow things down most of the times. but the rare few times that come up. i will go full throttle, and yank and pound. i have enough problems staying up on regular maintenance, i do not need to add to the list of tearing stuff up.

folks have bent there FEL frame. but i would rather bend frame, than risk saftey. i have used FEL multi times. running on one side only, back dragging to front dragging and multi different angles of the bucket. to deal with grading out dirt and gravel driveway / road here on the farm.

and same thing when using backhoe, the FEL bucket some times is not touch on one side.

something to think about, having FEL bucket touch ground. helps extend weight out in front of the tractor. to help counter balance the backhoe on back of the tractor. so the entire tractor does not do a wheely and flip over backwards. have lifted front of tractor up into the air before. though it was much easier, when i did not know any better and made sure both front tires were off the ground and really raised up into the air. while using the backhoe.

====================
i think OSHO might have a requirement that requires rear tires for 2wd tractors, and for 4wd tractors all 4 tires, to get wheels up off ground. so tractor can not physically drive off, and there be no one at the wheel to stop the tractor.

heck i am guilty, of run away tractor. granted i was trying to get off the tractor when it started moving but *shrugs* all i took was woops hit of the wrong lever and away she goes. perhaps that is reason why some folks slight angle front bucket downwards. so tractor digs into dirt vs possibly driving away.

===============
besides physical seat time. were experience goes a long ways. another part is realizing what might or could go wrong. and making sure you are aware of possible uth ohs...

 

[schmism]

Ive operated my hoe in all sorts of odd ground and locations.

As a rule of thumb i try to set my bucket flat on the ground, put a little down force on it so that it has good contact with the ground but not so much as to raise the front end any.

Rear stablizers are set to stabilize the rear. I may correct some off angle with it but generally not all of it as im wanting to avoid undo strain on the frame.

as a rule of thumb for me.
Id rather be digging directly behind me, with the tractor parked on uneven terrain than to have the tractor parked on even terrain and be digging at some extreme side angle. So i generally repostion/postion the tractor more so that im digging directly behind me as much as possible and dont worry about the terrain under me nearly as much.