360 digger advice

[Gareth Dalzell]

We normally use what we would call a "shuck bucket". Possibly also known as a ditching bucket. On this machine it would be about4-5ft wide and very shallow. It takes a big gob of material but as the bucket is so shallow it doesn't stick in it. Problem is though because of the width of the digging edge it doesn't exert much force along the leading edge (which is good because it also can't force the material into the corners of the bucket and compact it) so if the ground is very compacted you may need to loosen it first.

[APC]

See if you can get as large a water trough as you can find, or something similar, dip the bucket in it (don't pick water up with it) to keep the inside wet and the clay should come out easier. Failing that, a water filled ditch.

 

Failing having water available, use a road pin to jimmy it out.

 

My estate is mostly on clay soil and it's a right pain. It's enough to make baby jesus cry.

[APC]

We normally use what we would call a "shuck bucket". Possibly also known as a ditching bucket. On this machine it would be about4-5ft wide and very shallow. It takes a big gob of material but as the bucket is so shallow it doesn't stick in it. Problem is though because of the width of the digging edge it doesn't exert much force along the leading edge (which is good because it also can't force the material into the corners of the bucket and compact it) so if the ground is very compacted you may need to loosen it first.

 

 

Where did you get the ditching bucket from? We used to get one through Travis Perkins who subbed out the hire possibly to HSS or someone (or something like that) but someone went out of business (a subsub'??? ) and the ditching bucket ceased to be available. We are considering buying one just so we don't need to worry about hiring one in the future.

[twistedhicap]

try people like Digbits they build buckets to order etc !

[Gareth Dalzell]

Where did you get the ditching bucket from? We used to get one through Travis Perkins who subbed out the hire possibly to HSS or someone (or something like that) but someone went out of business (a subsub'??? ) and the ditching bucket ceased to be available. We are considering buying one just so we don't need to worry about hiring one in the future.

 

We got ours with our Volvo Digger from the dealer. Brian Scott Engineering also make them. I just had a look and there are three for sale on Gum tree over here starting at £100

 

They always come with machines in NI whenever you buy or hire - they are a bit hard on the pins and bushes with all the sideways forces they create

[Nick Watkins]

If the job warrants it then another way to fix this problem is to weld a section of heavy chain to the bottom of the bucket, it must have some slack in it. When the bucket fills and clags upon inverting the bucket the weight and movement of the chain pulls the clay and a quick shake and it's out.

[Acle Garden Machinery]

Try a riddle bucket, this has got holes in so when you shake to empty this will be easyer. Also try taking half scoops

[Ross Macneil]

I used to oil the bucket so it just slide's out.

[Dean Lofthouse]

Had a go with the ditching bucket today and it's better, also pulling it all together helps a lot.

 

Pushed my luck a little going ontop of the pile to get it higher, was only just over the width of the tracks on loose stuff on top

 

I got down to some proper clay, like potting clay that isn't wet and that just falls out the bucket in one huge lump.

 

I also came across a line of stones stood on end under the clay after scraping it off, I was amazed to find anything under the "potting clay" as it must be a hundreds of years when these stones were laid. I reckon they are a very old drainage channel.

 

Hard to make out in the first photo, it's between the red lines and a close up in the second. Was careful when I found it to see if there was anything else but nothing showed. Apparently there is supposed to be a roman road running up the side of my land.

[Kev Stephenson]

you digging a flight pond for next season?