Anyone finding ground too hard

[Nick...]

Back on a barn conversion yesterday and among other things I need to dig about 200 metres of trench a metre deep.im in south norfolk on heavy clay ground and at my home we only had 182mm since jan first and reall none for around 7/8 weeks.we have about 10 inches of topsoil and then yellow clay and flints.tried to start a trench on a stubble field to put drains in and gave up after about 15 inches.machine is brand new tb216 and brand new 12 inch trenching bucket.it got so teeth where just rubbing on clay making it it shine and that was with all digger weight on blade and bucket teeth.even with massive cracks in the ground it made no difference.i reckon we will need 3/4 inches before it makes much difference.got 3 treatment plants to do on site aswell but no hope there either.this is the barn in pic.its huge at over 30 metres long
nick...

 

[V8Druid]

Back on a barn conversion yesterday and among other things I need to dig about 200 metres of trench a metre deep.im in south norfolk on heavy clay ground and at my home we only had 182mm since jan first and reall none for around 7/8 weeks.we have about 10 inches of topsoil and then yellow clay and flints.tried to start a trench on a stubble field to put drains in and gave up after about 15 inches.machine is brand new tb216 and brand new 12 inch trenching bucket.it got so teeth where just rubbing on clay making it it shine and that was with all digger weight on blade and bucket teeth.even with massive cracks in the ground it made no difference.i reckon we will need 3/4 inches before it makes much difference.got 3 treatment plants to do on site aswell but no hope there either.this is the barn in pic.its huge at over 30 metres long
nick...View attachment 38234

bigger digger required ...... tried a ripper?
lovely barn Boyo

 

[Nick...]

bigger digger required ...... tried a ripper?
lovely barn Boyo

It’s builders machine and he won’t buy a ripper.bigger machine may help but I’ve used 13 tonnes in the past that have pulled themselves across hard ground when digging is really difficult
nick...

 

[Smiffy]

We have same ground and conditions at the moment. Trying to with a 1.5t last week was a no go. A 3.5t did it eventually.
It's only the top 12-18in that's hard and once the trench got started then it wasn't to bad. A bit of an untidy trench but not impossible.

 

[doobin]

TB216 are pretty gutless anyway!

Everyone knows how dry subsoil clay goes like concrete. You need a bigger digger, it's simple.

If your builder won't just hire in a 7.5t to do the treatment plants and trenches then he's a total moron.

 

[Lancs Lad]

How 5 hours or so north makes a difference eh....
Some lads had a job getting grass in last few weeks been hardly more than a 24 hour stretch without rain of some sort.

 

[craig]

TB216 are pretty gutless anyway!

I was waiting for a comment similar to this! damm I had money on it would of been @JD450A

 

[Nick...]

I was waiting for a comment similar to this! damm I had money on it would of been @JD450A

I’d have to say I’d agree.im the only one who uses it and it’s not a patch on mr old ec18 Volvo I had.had prices for takeuchi,Volvo and yanmar but builder need to spend some of his profits before end of tax year and only the takeuchi was available without a long wait.this mac has just reached 50 hours and it seems to load the engine everytime a function is used

nick...

 

[JD450A]

I’d have to say I’d agree.im the only one who uses it and it’s not a patch on mr old ec18 Volvo I had.had prices for takeuchi,Volvo and yanmar but builder need to spend some of his profits before end of tax year and only the takeuchi was available without a long wait.this mac has just reached 50 hours and it seems to load the engine everytime a function is used

nick...

There s**t.

The 200 series Takeuchis either seem gutless or will bankrupt you via the fuel they drink.

TB 250 used around £200 for a days work last week.

 

[doobin]

There s**t.

The 200 series Takeuchis either seem gutless or will bankrupt you via the fuel they drink.

TB 250 used around £200 for a days work last week.

No way! It must have been a day on 'Devon time'- sixteen hours and the floodlights still lit!

 

[Monkeybusiness]

There s**t.

The 200 series Takeuchis either seem gutless or will bankrupt you via the fuel they drink.

TB 250 used around £200 for a days work last week.

My 260 uses bugger all fuel - I reckon the little Bobcat E27 drinks more! (The TB260 is pre DPF etc though, so that probably makes a difference).

 

[GazCro]

No way! It must have been a day on 'Devon time'- sixteen hours and the floodlights still lit!

Possibly not that long a day. My 235 had a 50 litre tank and worked hard just over 8hrs was ur lot. Worst thing was even on an easy day it would use 30 to 40 litres

 

[Russell]

I was digging the same stuff at the solar farm. My E10 really struggled but the 3t kobelco got through it .

 

[6feetdown]

Using the auger last week the 1st 400 was hard as hell

 

[JD450A]

My 260 uses bugger all fuel - I reckon the little Bobcat E27 drinks more! (The TB260 is pre DPF etc though, so that probably makes a difference).

We actually use our machines for work. Not playing pick up sticks and keeping our wallets safe.

No way! It must have been a day on 'Devon time'- sixteen hours and the floodlights still lit!

Genuinely we did around 10 hours, tank near empty..... £££ to fill.

I can make a TB175 last at least two days to £200

 

[GazCro]

We actually use our machines for work. Not playing pick up sticks and keeping our wallets safe.


Genuinely we did around 10 hours, tank near empty..... £££ to fill.

I can make a TB175 last at least two days to £200

You must have uk's dearest fuel mind cos I'm sure 250 won't be a 100 litre tank, about 70l aren't they?

 

[Smiffy]

You must have uk's dearest fuel mind cos I'm sure 250 won't be a 100 litre tank, about 70l aren't they?

Depends how much you spill on the floor filling it

 

[Shovelhands]

Depends how much you spill on the floor filling it

or how much went in the pickup while filling it.....

 

[Storrsy]

We actually use our machines for work. Not playing pick up sticks and keeping our wallets safe.


Genuinely we did around 10 hours, tank near empty..... £££ to fill.

I can make a TB175 last at least two days to £200

That's mental. £200 for 10hrs work!!!??? My TB125 mainly lightish work but digging out big rocks etc engine mid revs all day has just done 8 days using 70liters..

 

[JD450A]

You must have uk's dearest fuel mind cos I'm sure 250 won't be a 100 litre tank, about 70l aren't they?

You can fit 4x 20L Jerrys in the tank to my findings. £2/L ..... Realistically it's £2.50 a Litre time you dick around putting it in there.