I'm in the process of building a new garage. Part of the construction is digging some trenches for plumbing and electrical conduit. Here I was digging a trench for the plumbing lines from the garage to the house. Notice some of the shale I dug out of this trench. The trench was 35' long, tapered from 3' to 4'-6" deep and was hard digging the entire length. It took me 4 hours to dig it but the JD did it. Very impressive!!
FYI - Be careful when straddling a trench with these smaller tractors. I have operated many larger back hoes with wider wheel spacing. Straddling a trench with them isn't too bad. With these smaller tractors, your wheels are on the edge of the trench.
Use the bucket to hold the front end and put 2 x 12's across the trench under the front and rear tires if needed. I didn't need the 2 x 12's until I was ready to get off the trench.
You will need 3 - 6' - 2 x 12's to get the tractor off the trench.
I picked the front tires off the ground with the front bucket, turned the front wheels all the way to the left so I could eye up the track the front tire was going to follow as it crossed over the trench. I placed the one 2 by 12 at an angle that looked good for the front tire to travel on. Then lowered the front tires back down so the left one was on the ground and the right one was setting on the 2 x 12. I kept some tension on the bucket. Then I lowered the backhoe and picked the back tires off the ground, the bucket tension against the ground will keep the tractor from oscillating on the front axle pivot. I placed another 2 x 12 under the right rear tire at an angle across the trench. I place a third 2 x 12 in front of the one under the rear tire to give the tire a place to track on as I drove off the trench.
Sorry, no pictures getting off the trench. I was too busy placing 2 x 12's. I have some more trenches to dig. I will try to get some pictures of getting off the trench then.
FYI - Be careful when straddling a trench with these smaller tractors. I have operated many larger back hoes with wider wheel spacing. Straddling a trench with them isn't too bad. With these smaller tractors, your wheels are on the edge of the trench.
Use the bucket to hold the front end and put 2 x 12's across the trench under the front and rear tires if needed. I didn't need the 2 x 12's until I was ready to get off the trench.
You will need 3 - 6' - 2 x 12's to get the tractor off the trench.
I picked the front tires off the ground with the front bucket, turned the front wheels all the way to the left so I could eye up the track the front tire was going to follow as it crossed over the trench. I placed the one 2 by 12 at an angle that looked good for the front tire to travel on. Then lowered the front tires back down so the left one was on the ground and the right one was setting on the 2 x 12. I kept some tension on the bucket. Then I lowered the backhoe and picked the back tires off the ground, the bucket tension against the ground will keep the tractor from oscillating on the front axle pivot. I placed another 2 x 12 under the right rear tire at an angle across the trench. I place a third 2 x 12 in front of the one under the rear tire to give the tire a place to track on as I drove off the trench.
Sorry, no pictures getting off the trench. I was too busy placing 2 x 12's. I have some more trenches to dig. I will try to get some pictures of getting off the trench then.