BH92 operating tips for a novice (or any backhoe)

[L5460]

I dropped off my L5460 to have the BH92 fitted, my tires are also getting loaded.

I've searched on here for an in depth (pun intended) thread on backhoe operating tips, primarily safety, prevention of damage and efficiency. If there is something I didn't find, I'd appreciate a link. My FEL had some handy information regarding operation, I'm hoping the BH92 manual does as well, but nothing beats first hand info.

I've got a 16" bucket and a 30" bucket and I'm planning on attacking my yard with a vengeance on Saturday and Sunday. I'm thinking the 30" bucket will be too much for packed ground, but might be nice for leveling looser material amongst trees and buildings. I plan on exploring some limits, carefully.

I saw a youtube video where the guy said the best way to practice digging a hole is to not dig a hole. Practice drawing the bucket towards you and skimming the ground and learning the controls. This will be my first drill.

So if you have experience with a BH92, or any BH for that matter, I think a consolidated thread on operating tips would be handy.

Thanks in advance!!

Steve

 

[Tooljunkie]

All i have to say is good luck. Practice.
There are two types of control setups, backhoe and excavator. The excavator type is more popular and function seems more natural.its a matter of flipping a lever or control from one style or the other. (On some machines)

Start off slow,reduced rpm's so you can get used to the functions. The power is still there, just slower.

The whole thing boils down to either you get it or you don't. So practice your skimming skills first, if you can master it then the rest is a peach! Doesent matter how big a mess you make, as long as you can cover it up and make it look like something.

I cant stress enough MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO BURIED CABLES OR WATER/GAS OR PHONE LINES. it could get ugly really quick. And very expensive.

 

[85Hokie]

"I saw a youtube video where the guy said the best way to practice digging a hole is to not dig a hole. Practice drawing the bucket towards you and skimming the ground and learning the controls. This will be my first drill. "

excellent advice!

After a while - the hands will automatically go to the right place - but the brain might not remember where is where. If you ask me to curl the bucket, my hands do it , but my brain has to think about it if that makes sense, it will become second nature after a while.

Reason I mention that - every now and again - you'll get to doing something and oooppps.... the whole machine has risen up off the ground! And in a panic - you make it worse. Point being, understand where to release the controls to get back to a safe place.

Another thing too, DONT jack the rear tires up high off the ground, that places a lot of pressure on the outriggers - and takes away from depth of ditch too. Leave the rears on the ground with a good bit of upward force coming from the outriggers.

Most of digging requires two movements at the same time, sometimes the machine will only allow one movement at a time, work the controls until you can get both (several) movements at the SAME time. Like you mentioned - place the teeth as far out as possible, pointing back to you on the ground, now try to slide the teeth forward to you, without digging or lifting the teeth off the ground. IT will require- boom, stick and bucket movements at the same time.

Lastly - watch the swing function, it can swing reaaaalllly quick! DONT allow anyone left or right of the swing - and if in tight quarters, back off the throttle a bit!!!

 

[CountryBumkin]

Also, you should use the front bucket to stabilize the front end. be sure it is down.

Put the bucket fully down and use the bucket to lift the front end/tires a little (not necessarily off the ground but enough to know that there is significant weight on the bucket).

Some like to curl the bucket down and dig the bucket's cutting edge into the ground some so the tractor won't be pushed or pulled as much from the backhoe digging.

 

[D2Cat]

I remember an old time operator told me years ago, "It's just like when you were a kid and playing the the sand. Reach out, stick your fingers in the sand, push down, pull back."

It really is about that simple with a little confidence/practice.

Go to YouTube and spend some time watching good operators (you'll know by their description). Once your mind knows what you NEED to do, it will be easier to identify your miss-steps.

Remember, we have been told forever, "Practice make perfect." That is not necessarily true. Practice makes permanent. Do it right, practice it correctly and you will become nearly perfect!

That's why a good coach is so valuable.

 

[L5460]

This is excellent info, thank you so much!

On the buried stuff, It was pretty much a blank property with overhead lines that I had put underground. All of the buried infrastructure was done this year by contractors I hired so I know where everything is and won't be digging there. The only exception is if I can pull this off, I have to trench for a water line tie in, but the plumber that installed the original lines will be there telling me where to dig.

 

[Lil Foot]

I agree that the "skimming drill" is excellent training.
When it comes to putting down the outriggers & FEL bucket, I follow the wisdom of the best backhoe operator I've ever seen:
"The purpose is not to raise the wheels off the ground- the purpose is to spread the load across the most surface area- get as much of the tractor in contact with the ground as you can, both for stabilization, and to anchor the tractor against digging forces." This is the main reason I made larger pads for my outriggers- & it made a huge difference. Of course, there will be times you will need to lift some wheels of the ground, such as digging on a side slope, but I try to keep that sort of thing at a minimum.

 

[G.rid]

Once you get the basics down and want to get a little better. Find a small water/ mud hole to dig in. You will be FORCED to become smoother with the controls. Ask me how I know!

I was trying to dig out a boulder late in the afternoon. When I came back the next day, the 6 foot deep hole was 5 feet deep of water. Needless to say, I learned to set down the slop, not just dump the bucket.

 

[Bulldog]

You want some practice and not do damage try this. Fully extend the arm and have your bucket flat about 6 inches off the ground. bring the bucket toward you and try to keep it flat and maintain 6 inches. You can go both directions and this will teach you to feather the controls and learn to use multiple functions at the same time.

once you get the feel for the machine remember this. Let it do the work. I don't care how hard you pull on a control it will only do what it's designed for. I have seen people over the years try to push a pedal thru the floor trying the get more out of it or pull a lever as hard as they could. All it does it wear you out and accomplish nothing.

Smooth and steady will get more done and do it safely every time.

 

[MattN03]

I've put about 12-15 hours on my new to me B3200 & BH76. I've never ran backhoe, so YouTube and the web has guided me lol. Easy on the throttle (1500 RPM or so), be out in the open with nothing around, above, or below you and just start practicing. I basically played for the first several hours trying to get a feel for it. After that, I started p practicing more control. I'm getting better, but I have a long ways to go before I'd want try anything tedious. I've been using mine to dig up stumps, so I've not been to worried about a constant depth or a perfectly straight ditch. Start out easy and build on your skills from there.

 

[L5460]

Thank you for all the tips!!! Myself and the tractor/BH survived the weekend, it's back at the dealer to get the hydraulic thumb installed, they never had time to get it on before I picked it up.

I started off with some motion practice without digging, everything at 1500 RPM. I then dug a hole 8 feet deep, then filled it in

Took a day off to do some other chores, then spent Monday excavating about 8" down in a 12'x12' area that has some concrete piles in it. I then used the loader to back fill with gravel, and the backhoe to level, finished with a rake. After that, I started to rip out some lilacs and determined I need a grapple now. Oddly enough, the dealer said the third function kit wasn't available till February, which sounds like a long delay for a seemingly simple kit.