Filling the Bucket, Dumping the Bucket | Bush Hog 865H, 965H, 665H

General Operations

FILLING THE BUCKET

Control the bucket attitude throughout the digging cycle to keep teeth at the proper angle for best penetration. This will minimize dragging and scraping the bucket through the ground.

When digging in hard-packed soil, bucket penetration can be increased by applying down pressure with the boom while crowding in and curling the bucket. If the crowd action “stalls” it may be necessary to apply lift occasionally during the digging cycle to correct the bucket depth.

To obtain a cleaner trench and avoid the buildup of materi- al directly in front of the backhoe, crowd out and complete- ly curl the bucket while starting to lift it from the excavation. In this way, excess material will fall back into the excavation.

DUMPING THE BUCKET

To dump the bucket at the end of the digging cycle, lift the bucket clear of the trench while crowding it out and swing- ing it to the spoil pile.

As the pile is approached, dump the bucket. When the bucket is empty, the dipperstick and bucket are in position to resume digging upon return to the trench.

IMPORTANT: Avoid constant jarring or hammering-type contact between the spoil pile and the loaded bucket, as this may cause premature wear to the backhoe pins and bush- ings.

TRENCHING BETWEEN A BUILDING AND OPEN EXCAVATIONS

Start the trench at the building. Trench out halfway to the excavation. Then start trenching from the excavation to the first trench. Dig toward the first trench until there is just enough room to move the unit out between the two tren- ches.

Position the unit so the backhoe swing post is over the cen- terline of the trench connection. Dig with the backhoe at extreme swing positions, and in as close to the stabilizers as possible. Pile the spoil on the opposite side of the tren- ches.

Position the unit forward with the lift and crowd levers so the two trenches can be connected. Pile the spoil on the opposite side of the trench.