Reversed bucket on a excavator???

[bcollida]

The other day I saw a very large trackhoe/excavator with the bucket attached "backwards" open end of the bucket facing away from operator. I was curious about why an operator would do this. This was a really huge bucket ( the kind a man could stand in) The equipment was working in a really tight area. It actually looked too big for the project.

 

[Tazza]

Yep, used to get up close and personal with walls, i have seen it once before. Especially in tight areas, i can't remember where i saw the video now though...

 

[TriHonu]

Yep, used to get up close and personal with walls, i have seen it once before. Especially in tight areas, i can't remember where i saw the video now though...

If the bucket was big enough to stand in you probably saw a mining shovel or a larger version of this:

or it might be...

From a quick glance they may appear to be the same type of equipment. If you look closer at the booms you will see the hydraulics on the shovel are mostly below the boom away from the material you are working on. On an excavator you will notice the hydraulics are above the boom again away from the material when the bucket is mounted normally. The buckets are also different. The shovel buckets are normally hinged at the top to allow the bucket to dump out the bottom.
There are numerous reasons to reverse the bucket on an excavator. That is if you have a quick attach system that will allow it.
a. The first is the ability to dig under something from the machine side. This can be anything from digging under a foundation to digging under existing sewer and water lines.

b. Backfilling can be done very efficiently with the bucket reversed.

c. Ditch cleaning when the material is not going to be trucked away can also be very efficient since you are digging away from the road and can keep the shoulder both clean and smooth.

 

[bcollida]

If the bucket was big enough to stand in you probably saw a mining shovel or a larger version of this:

or it might be...

From a quick glance they may appear to be the same type of equipment. If you look closer at the booms you will see the hydraulics on the shovel are mostly below the boom away from the material you are working on. On an excavator you will notice the hydraulics are above the boom again away from the material when the bucket is mounted normally. The buckets are also different. The shovel buckets are normally hinged at the top to allow the bucket to dump out the bottom.
There are numerous reasons to reverse the bucket on an excavator. That is if you have a quick attach system that will allow it.
a. The first is the ability to dig under something from the machine side. This can be anything from digging under a foundation to digging under existing sewer and water lines.

b. Backfilling can be done very efficiently with the bucket reversed.

c. Ditch cleaning when the material is not going to be trucked away can also be very efficient since you are digging away from the road and can keep the shoulder both clean and smooth.

thanks for the info. The equipment I saw looked like the case equipment above. It seems like a lot a trouble to unhook, turn the "heavy bucket around" and then hook the bucket back up for a few scoops. I dread changing the bucket on my little 709 backhoe attachement. There is always one issue or another that causes me to waste more time than it was worth. I guess there is value to it when you are working with bigger equipment.

 

[TriHonu]

thanks for the info. The equipment I saw looked like the case equipment above. It seems like a lot a trouble to unhook, turn the "heavy bucket around" and then hook the bucket back up for a few scoops. I dread changing the bucket on my little 709 backhoe attachement. There is always one issue or another that causes me to waste more time than it was worth. I guess there is value to it when you are working with bigger equipment.

Many of the bucket quick couplers on the excavators are hydraulically locked and unlocked. You can drop a bucket, spin it with the stick and re-hook without leaving the cab.
Others you have to get out of the cab to unlock and re-lock but the bucket can still be dropped and remounted in a couple minutes.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Many of the bucket quick couplers on the excavators are hydraulically locked and unlocked. You can drop a bucket, spin it with the stick and re-hook without leaving the cab.
Others you have to get out of the cab to unlock and re-lock but the bucket can still be dropped and remounted in a couple minutes.

The only drawback I see is the breakout forces would not be too good as the bucket cylinder would be pulling. The shovel type excavators have the cylinders below the boom so they are pushing during the high load part of the digging cycle, a cylinder will never pull as much as it can push.
Ken

 

[Jeffscarstrucks]

The only drawback I see is the breakout forces would not be too good as the bucket cylinder would be pulling. The shovel type excavators have the cylinders below the boom so they are pushing during the high load part of the digging cycle, a cylinder will never pull as much as it can push.
Ken

I have seen that configuration used to place rip-rap along the bank of the Mississippi river along the river road north of Alton IL. They would unload from a pile dumped by a tandem or semi and place rock in the bank area with a standard excavator/bucket machine and then place the rock in the river with a reverse bucket machine. The river is at the senic roads edge so it is an ongoing operation. Kind of cool to see but I'm not sure I could think backwards with the bucket! JEFF

 

[bcollida]

I have seen that configuration used to place rip-rap along the bank of the Mississippi river along the river road north of Alton IL. They would unload from a pile dumped by a tandem or semi and place rock in the bank area with a standard excavator/bucket machine and then place the rock in the river with a reverse bucket machine. The river is at the senic roads edge so it is an ongoing operation. Kind of cool to see but I'm not sure I could think backwards with the bucket! JEFF

Hey Jeffscarstrucks small world. I am also in the St. Louis area. Sort of west in Wildwood. I'll take a ride up the river on my harley in the next week or so and check it out.

 

[Jeffscarstrucks]

Hey Jeffscarstrucks small world. I am also in the St. Louis area. Sort of west in Wildwood. I'll take a ride up the river on my harley in the next week or so and check it out.

I always wished that this forum had a loctaion tag with in the name area. I am actually in Fairview Hgts IL. We run up there in the Jeep once in a while for lunch and a drink or two, it is a great place for a bike ride this time of year! Loading Dock or Fast Eddies is always good... On topic for this thread,I did see a mini excavator on a trailer with the bucket reversed but I don't know what the application was. JEFF

 

[OldMachinist]

I always wished that this forum had a loctaion tag with in the name area. I am actually in Fairview Hgts IL. We run up there in the Jeep once in a while for lunch and a drink or two, it is a great place for a bike ride this time of year! Loading Dock or Fast Eddies is always good... On topic for this thread,I did see a mini excavator on a trailer with the bucket reversed but I don't know what the application was. JEFF

Jeff I agree that a location line should be added to the author section on posts but you can always add it to your signature line. I see your location says Millstadt IL a friend a mine and his wife own Ott's tavern in Millsadt. Have you been there?

 

[OldMachinist]

Jeff I agree that a location line should be added to the author section on posts but you can always add it to your signature line. I see your location says Millstadt IL a friend a mine and his wife own Ott's tavern in Millsadt. Have you been there?

I don't know what changed the font size on my last part of that post. I wish we could edit our own posts.

 

[Jeffscarstrucks]

I don't know what changed the font size on my last part of that post. I wish we could edit our own posts.

Old M, It is a small world indeed, My wife and I have been going to Otts for some 28+ years for fish. We went there on dates even before that at about 18 years old. I own some property outside of Millstadt where I am redoing an old house but I don't live there yet, Mostly I go there to run machines and escape... Let me know if you are ever in the area and I'll buy you a cold beverage at your buddy's place, JEFF