Any tricks to ditch digging?

[chuck99z28]

I have a BX23s and I dug a 20 ft trench for some drain pipe, and am now looking at doing 200 ft for irrigation pipe. Is there a trick to moving the tractor forward without having to get off and turn the seat forward?

I tried raising the FEL and I can lift the rear wheels and stabilizers.

Do you have to take the brakes off too? Does this even work on such a small tractor? Or does it hurt anything to do it?

 

[mikester]

The trick is to keep saying to yourself “man Im glad I dont have to dig this trench by hand”. After your knees give out the trick is convincing the wife you need a bigger TLB with a swivel seat and creeper function.

 

[bikerdib]

The normal method is; drive the tractor into position in line with the needed trench and make sure the front wheels are straight (do not lock the brakes), place the transmission in neutral, lower the FEL, lower the stabilizers and dig as far as you can reach. Then to move, reach around and raise the FEL, raise the stabilizers, and use the BH to push the tractor forward. You don't have to raise the rear wheels off the ground since the tractor is in neutral. Once into the new position, lower the FEL, lower your stabilizers and continue digging.

 

[chuck99z28]

The trick is to keep saying to yourself “man Im glad I dont have to dig this trench by hand”. After your knees give out the trick is convincing the wife you need a bigger TLB with a swivel seat and creeper function.

Yes, that's exactly what I've been doing so far.

 

[chuck99z28]

The normal method is; drive the tractor into position in line with the needed trench and make sure the front wheels are straight (do not lock the brakes), place the transmission in neutral, lower the FEL, lower the stabilizers and dig as far as you can reach. Then to move, reach around and raise the FEL, raise the stabilizers, and use the BH to push the tractor forward. You don't have to raise the rear wheels off the ground since the tractor is in neutral. Once into the new position, lower the FEL, lower your stabilizers and continue digging.

brilliant, thanks

 

[dirtydeed]

Do as biker said.

One more trick you can use. A bit of stick (or if your arms are long enough) you can leave the machine in gear and simply press the go pedal by hand (or stick) and steer as well all while remaining in the backhoe seat position. It's useful for when your digging around a curve.

Trust me, I've done it many times on the BX when I had it.

PS. Be careful using either method on slopes....Your hoe/loader can be used for brakes.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re dd's post
I think on my BX23S the engine dies as it 'knows' you're in 'backhoe' mode and not 'driver' mode.
I'll check later this week..good excuse for some 'seat time' !

 

[PA452]

re dd's post
I think on my BX23S the engine dies as it 'knows' you're in 'backhoe' mode and not 'driver' mode.
I'll check later this week..good excuse for some 'seat time' !

It doesn't know you're in "backhoe mode", but if you push too hard and reaching down around to that pedal, you're just taking too much weight off the seat and triggers the dead man switch.

 

[BravoXray]

I have always done as Bikerdib suggests. I stop with my boom all the way up, my dipper all the way in, and my bucket teeth pointed straight down. I twist my body left, my left hand lifts the FEL up a bit, while my right hand toggles both stabilizers up about half way. Next I rotate my body back straight, and drop the teeth straight down into my trench, and by extending the dipper and boom get myself pushed back to where I want to be. Then, leaving the bucket down in the trench, I twist my body to the left, drop the FEL, and the stabilizers, and right back to digging. Practice a bit and it becomes second nature, I don’t even think about it any more. Machine is in neutral, so nothing in the HST can be damaged.

Jerry

 

[sdk1968]

The normal method is; drive the tractor into position in line with the needed trench and make sure the front wheels are straight (do not lock the brakes), place the transmission in neutral, lower the FEL, lower the stabilizers and dig as far as you can reach. Then to move, reach around and raise the FEL, raise the stabilizers, and use the BH to push the tractor forward. You don't have to raise the rear wheels off the ground since the tractor is in neutral. Once into the new position, lower the FEL, lower your stabilizers and continue digging.

well written & easy to follow.

this is how ive always done it on small tractors with hoe's.

 

[D2Cat]

You ask for any tricks to ditch digging. One learns it pretty quick, but think about where you put the spoils so you can get to them the easiest when placing them back in the ditch, and not in your way as you go. Often times the answer to these questions depends on where you start your digging.

 

[PA452]

You ask for any tricks to ditch digging. One learns it pretty quick, but think about where you put the spoils so you can get to them the easiest when placing them back in the ditch, and not it your way as you go. Often times the answer to these questions depends on where you start your digging.

On that note another tip, if possible as you dig, segregate the topsoil from the dirt below so you can try to put the topsoil back on top and not down in the hole. Not always possible, depends on the circumstances.

 

[D2Cat]

PA452, right on. And if you're removing sod take off a few inches of soil with it and put it out of the way to have it to lay back on top.

 

[bikerdib]

Last 3 posts are great tips on dirt managment.

 

[beex]

This thread makes me want to get a BH.


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[bucktail]

This thread makes me want to get a BH.


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Need a ditch?

 

[Fordtech86]

This thread makes me want to get a BH.


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When I was reading through the manual for the BH I recently bought it had directions on how to dig a grave . I quickly hid the manual because if my wife ever finds the bill and the manual then I know where I’ll be sleeping lol.

 

[beex]

Need a ditch?

No. Just want to dig one. looks like fun.


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