Backhoe Useing backhoe on a steep hill

   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #1  

masscity

Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Messages
651
Location
NW UP of Michigan
Tractor
L3540HSTC-3 B7100DT Ferguson TO-35
I have a L3540HSTC-3 and I might have to operate the backhoe on a steep hill, maybe 40 degrees with the backhoe on the uphill side. Will the engine still get oiled properly?

I don't want to hurt my baby.
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #2  
40 degrees is going to be hard to keep it from sliding down the hill. You can minimize the angle by rolling the FEL bucket full down and then jacking up the front of the tractor as high as it will raise. Watch your oil pressure, as long as you have good oil pressure it will get lubrication.
Have you actually measured the angle, 40 degrees is quite steep. Don't get sideways on that hill what ever you do as it is near roll over steepness.
I don't think my B26 would back up a 40 degree slope nor hold on the slope with the outriggers. I dug in a sprinkler ditch once on a side slope or 20 degrees and it kept sliding down hill. Down hill stabilizer was all the way down just to level the tractor and everytime I raised it, the tractor slide about 6" downhill.
BE CAREFUL IF YOU TRY THE 40 DEGREE.
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #3  
I think I remember reading a thread a few years back that a regular tractor with BH attachment did not have the proper oil pump (or hydro pump) for extended use on a slope. The thread was talking about using a backhoe as an attachment and not a true TLB (B26, L 35,L39, etc).

Of course I could be mistaken...
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill
  • Thread Starter
#4  
I didn't measure the grade, but it's real steep. You're right I might not get up there anyways, its been snowing and it's wet and slippery.

I still would like to know what the steepest grade that I can be at and get good oil pressure and feel comfortable that I won't hurt my engine.

If I ask the dealer who should I talk to the owner or the mechanics?
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #5  
Owning a BX-25, I wondered too about this issue of oil pressure on a hill. My feeling was, if the oil pressure was too low, wouldn't the red warning light appear on the dash?
 

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   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #6  
I do it all the time with my little one I maintain atv trails up here in the mountains of western maine at times even with ags 4wd and diff lock I still have to use the hoe to pull myself up 1500 hours still running like too
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #7  
40 degrees is going to be hard to keep it from sliding down the hill. You can minimize the angle by rolling the FEL bucket full down and then jacking up the front of the tractor as high as it will raise. Watch your oil pressure, as long as you have good oil pressure it will get lubrication.
Have you actually measured the angle, 40 degrees is quite steep. Don't get sideways on that hill what ever you do as it is near roll over steepness.
I don't think my B26 would back up a 40 degree slope nor hold on the slope with the outriggers. I dug in a sprinkler ditch once on a side slope or 20 degrees and it kept sliding down hill. Down hill stabilizer was all the way down just to level the tractor and everytime I raised it, the tractor slide about 6" downhill.
BE CAREFUL IF YOU TRY THE 40 DEGREE.
Maintaining steep trails is a constant battle to keep the water shedding and not running down it
I've modified my down riggers 3 times original size ind cleats in bottom to hold me I also dig the front loader in to hold me when I lift down riggers I've rigged up a rod to treddle peddle so I don't have to reverse my seat to move coming down after fixin a slope I keep the loader on the ground and smooth as I go also acts as braking
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #8  
I do it all the time with my little one I maintain atv trails up here in the mountains of western maine at times even with ags 4wd and diff lock I still have to use the hoe to pull myself up 1500 hours still running like too

Guess I should add I've modifyied my bx to handle steep terrain tripled the stabilizer size rods on the bottom to dig in
Use my tooth bar on the loader to hold me made a linkage to the treddle to control it from the hoe for goodness sakes be careful straight up straight down not for weak at heart at times
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #9  
The issue was on the small Grand L series tractors L3130 L3430 etc that when using a backhoe for extended periods of time where the nose of the tractor was going downhill that the hydraulic pump drive gear and bearing would be starved of splash lubrication oil and seize the drive and sometimes a sheared shaft would result. The fix was a new oil filter holder and pump holders with a tap for a pressure line going between the two with a calibrated orifice to provide lubrication and to keep this from happening.

Since my tractor came new without this kit and Kubota was only fixing upon failure I had to buy the kit and put on myself since I did not want to suffer from this failure and have an unmovable tractor (hydraulic pump feeds GST clutches). This is one of those times when I have to say KUBOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS.

David Kb7uns
 
   / Useing backhoe on a steep hill #10  
careful. create terraces and keep machine level is easy and safe. Take material from upslope and deposit downslope to create the terrace to keep machine flat.
terrace.jpg

if not possible be extremely careful. Swing loads to uphill side only. If you do swing downhill be extremely careful as bad stuff happens quickly when dumping downhill.

good luck and post some pic's of the project

I too like you would worry about oil. 40 degrees is an awful lot of slope

cheers
 

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