Is the backhoe loader a thing of the past?

[V8Druid]

Alot also depends on floor your putting pressure on.

I remember one day, bit of a slope, it felt like it needed abit more leg down. Pushed legs and nothing happened. It was that soft I'd already pushed them all the way down.

been there

 

[hiluxman]

Bit like the 3cx with front quick hitch, take the bucket off and the front end pretty much floated around everywhere!

Never had a go on one with detachable front bucket...but I can imagine exactly that.

The d series had an extra weight on front. I don't remember it making any difference but I've slept several years since then. The e series definitely felt more planted than the d. But I think they were around 900kg heavier

 

[hiluxman]

been there

Someone asked me the other week what my favourite machine to drive was, definitely the backhoe.

I do miss the days when it was my day to day work but I've gone with the flow and it was parked up for too often in the end.

My next favourite would probably be a tracked loading shovel. However I only had odd play here and there on a 953 and 963.

 

[DaveDCB]

Had a 432E on demo for a week, was a slow heavy fuel hungry beast! it had the external extra dig which made the back end stupidly heavy! You could feel everything flexing on the machine, don’t think CAT kept that feature for very long before reverting back to an internal extradig again!

 

[hiluxman]

Had a 432E on demo for a week, was a slow heavy fuel hungry beast! it had the external extra dig which made the back end stupidly heavy! You could feel everything flexing on the machine, don’t think CAT kept that feature for very long before reverting back to an internal extradig again!

I'll not lie, it was a feature I liked. Never had any issues with it either. It had some new ware strips around 5k hours, that's all.

They ran a good few years with the outer slider, according to finning they only stopped selling it here because the UK didn't like it but stayed in the USA and many other countries.

I'd pick an outer slider over an inner everytime given the choice

 

[goldeneagle]

The other day I was trying to take from a ditch on one side of a track and place on the other. So from 90 degrees on the right to 90 degrees on the left. It just kept trying to tip the machine over. I swear my three tonner would have had no problem.

The front bucket doesn’t seem to hold any more than my Multione- the front edge is so short. It’s standard, wear edge all intact.

I have the predecessor to yours the NH95, pretty much the same but stick controls and smaller engine. Needs a bit of work on it bought for clearing house site and mostly sits in shed. Once get sorted with a few machine tools will sort it out but never enough time.

Agree with the thing wanting to tip over when shunting from one side to the other. Only real solution is to put carriage in middle so its more equally balanced but you will loose reach/dump area. Never had same problem with 3cx but NH has longer reach.

The front bucket is more for shunting small loads and levelling stuff out rather than material transfer, any big loads of stuff i use tele handler and 2m3 bucket.

Here is her working today shifting stone from middle dump area to sides for floor base. Like every machine its finding its limitations and working round them to get maximum output. Positioning of machine is critical to getting best out them but is frustrating having to shunt it, hence why refuse to clean ditches with it and hire in 8 toner The handiness of being able to do quick jobs without organising transport makes BHL invaluable just a shame the price of everything nowadays makes them more hard to justify.

 

[Bri963]

X several on not lifting the wheels clear. If you keep some weight on the wheels you decrease the ground pressure, (works for me, unless soil behaves differently in other parts of the country). If you keep the kingpost towards (not completely, about 2/3rds of the way) the side you’re digging as you load up more when you’re digging than dumping. If all else fails don’t load the bucket right up. Try to keep the brakes locked together as the minute you get one side worn more than the other, it gets really exciting if you need to stop quick on a wet road.

It’ll be a while before you’ll be able to dig off the wheels without getting pissed off and blaming the machine, so don’t run etc., and keep your tyre pressures right.

 

[Bri963]

I'll not lie, it was a feature I liked. Never had any issues with it either. It had some new ware strips around 5k hours, that's all.

They ran a good few years with the outer slider, according to finning they only stopped selling it here because the UK didn't like it but stayed in the USA and many other countries.

I'd pick an outer slider over an inner everytime given the choice

Having operated a couple of Yank spec machines, I can see why they like them. It works better on the centre pivot machines as they‘re a lot more stable on the outriggers than ours are on the jack legs. It made sense as you could clamp onto the outer slider with the bucket for moving pipes, trees etc. Downside is when you do need to change the wear pads it’s more of a pain.

 

[DaveDCB]

My first two 3cx I was a dipper/boom abuser… but when I had a brand new one everything was kept scratch free

 

[TiltyShaun]

good practise for graduating to a duck

Duck…….I used to say something that rhythms with that when “trying” to drive mine!!

 

[Simon edwards]

The backhoe is in my opinion a unique piece of kit capable of carrying out pretty much any task to a high level of finish,the downside being it takes many hours of seat time on varied work to get to a level of competence where it becomes a real pleasure to operate.
I really cut my teeth on them in Australia over 30 years ago where it was considered after about 5 years you were getting there ,from my 30 odd years on them I tend to agree.There really is no substitute for hours and after awhile you will feel comfortable with all the leaning,tipping sensations that are inherent with them.
The difficulty nowadays is gettong the opportunity to rack up the hours,when as Doobin does,you have a fleet of kit it is often easier to jump on something more suitable for each job than rather working out a way of using the backhoe Which is when you really start to get to grips with it .I often do it myself these days but really enjoy the jobs where I just turn up with the 3cx and get on with it like we all used to when we ran one machine.
One piece of advice regarding stability is that it‘s all down to the front bucket planted firmly,one of the worst feelings is when its down on side but air under the other half,slew to that side quickly and it catches you very fast(still does now on occasion).
Stick with it and try not to give in and jump machines too often and you will soon start to feel at home and become productive just takes perseverance and a bit of desire but is ultimately a very rewarding operating experience.

 

[doobin]

Thanks guys. I think a lot of the problem is my sites tend to be on hills also so less than ideal.

Does anyone use a grab on the back actor? Seems like it would be very limited use due to lack of slew.

 

[Left hooker]

You have to get creative to get some of the angles in a wheel digger that's for sure

 

[JD450A]

I know practice and getting the hours in is key, but can anyone give me some more tips? It’s a great spec machine, with servo controls, soft ride, 40kph and a hydraulic hitch to the rear. I’ve changed all the oils and filters, it drives lovely and I don’t want to give up yet but it never seems the right tool for the job compared to my 2.7t and Multione loader.View attachment 60077

It won't get better, hang on to it this summer and I'll have it off you on November

 

[Vinpetrol]

good practise for graduating to a duck

I’ve been biting my tongue but you said it first!
Sell it and buy a small duck . It’ll complement your work really well .

 

[diggerjones]

I started on a 3cx, well a cat 428 actually. So it served me well. Took years to get competent YEARS.
I reap the rewards now. I know my machine is old but will do most tasks. Its mainly been used as fork lift on our new project.

 

[DaveDCB]

Thanks guys. I think a lot of the problem is my sites tend to be on hills also so less than ideal.

Does anyone use a grab on the back actor? Seems like it would be very limited use due to lack of slew.

I’ve seen them use the 2ft bucket grabs on them, and the odd 5cx with a grab on waste recycling sites but that’s it. Most just utilise the 4/1 as an oversize grab.

 

[Simon edwards]

Left hooker you know it’s spicy when you’re putting material under the high side and wedging your boot against the side window/console while saying a little prayer every time the jack lifts( whilst still keeping the classic ‘no worries’ facial expression) .

 

[Nick...]

Not had one for probably 10 years and not had a call for one in all that time.used to love using them,started on a case 580b then 580f then ford 555 then my avatar 590sle then a cat432e and finally another case590st.used all makes and models over the years but nothing was a patch on the 590sle.never see em about these days.no one can use them.
nick...

 

[hiluxman]

Left hooker you know it’s spicy when you’re putting material under the high side and wedging your boot against the side window/console while saying a little prayer every time the jack lifts( whilst still keeping the classic ‘no worries’ facial expression) .

The old arse muching on the seat lining that's keeping you put too.