Page 1 of 17

Using Backhoe Bucket

Use type of digging which is best suited

for your specific job.

Crowd Digging:

For most general excavating, leveling

material, and digging trenches. Crowd

digging utilizes the crowd cylinder (A)

for majority of movement.

1. Position dipperstick in vertical

position and then move away from

machine approximately 0.61 m (2 ft).

2. Retract dipperstick and curl bucket

simultaneously to make first cut. First

cut should be approximately 1.2 m (4 ft)

long and 75-100 mm (3-4 in.) deep.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for remaining

cuts and increase depth to 100-150 mm

(4-6 in.) deep.

Bucket Digging:

For power digging or working in a small

area. Use bucket cylinder (B) for

digging.

1. Lower extended bucket to digging

area and lower boom to force bucket

into ground.

2. While retracting the dipperstick, curl

(retract) bucket until it is full.

If bucket stalls, raise the boom slightly

and continue to curl bucket.

If dipperstick stalls, roll back bucket to

break out.

Crowd Digging

Bucket Digging

BASIC OPERATIO� MA�UAL

FOR

BACKHOE LOADER

Page 2 of 17

Positioning Spoil Piles

To prevent cave-ins, place spoil pile at

least 1 m (3 ft) away from edge of

excavation. Deeper excavations require

larger area for spoil pile due to

increased pile size. Place spoil piles in

convenient locations for easier truck

loading or backfilling.

On slopes, place piles on the upper side

for improved machine stability and

easier backfilling.

Leveling Machine

Operate machine on firm, level ground

when operating backhoe.

1. Level work area as necessary.

IMPORTANT: To avoid injury from

tipping or unexpected machine

movement do not dig under stabilizers.

NOTE: When stabilizers are lowered to

level machine, they may not be

extended the same length due to

variations in ground.

2. Lower stabilizers to level machine

and provide side-to-side stability. Take

load off rear tires with minimum

clearance between tires and ground.

3. With front bucket in dig position,

lower until weight of machine is off

front tires. Add material in bucket for

additional counterweight.

Position loader bucket in fully dumped

position when ground surface is icy,

wet, or rocky.

Page 3 of 17

Using Loader Bucket

NOTE: Bucket and boom can be

positioned while machine is on-the-go.

1. Place bucket in dig position on

ground.

2. Move gear shift lever to appropriate

gear to dig. First or second gear is

recommended.

3. Move forward into the material.

4. Raise and curl bucket to hold load.

Excavating With Front Bucket

NOTE: Buckets with teeth are

recommended for excavating.

Position bucket at a slightly downward

angle on ground and drive forward to

scoop ground and curl bucket at end of

excavating area.

If digging in tightly packed, hard or

dense ground, use a gentle up-and-down

motion to break up ground.

Page 4 of 17

Dozing and Plowing

DOZING: With bucket parallel to

ground, remove as little dirt as possible

from top surface. Let dirt spill from

partially dumped bucket to fill in low

spots.

PLOWING: Place boom in float

position and bucket in dig position to

prevent gouging surface (e.g.-cleaning

concrete and snow removal). Also use

float position to avoid mixing surface

and stockpile material.

Backdragging

Leveling and grading can be done by

backdragging with front loader bucket in

reverse. Place front loader boom in float

position when backdragging so bucket

will follow contour of ground.

Page 5 of 17

Excavating Banks or Stockpiles

CAUTION: To prevent possible

injury from falling material, remove

overhangs from top of bank or stockpile

before starting excavation.

Remove overhang with backhoe or

loader before starting to dig at the base

of a bank or stockpile.

Using backhoe or loader, reduce

required breakout force required when

digging into hard, dense, or tightly-

packed material by working from top of

bank or stockpile to bottom.

Under normal conditions, start to

excavate bank or stockpile from bottom,

working up the side. Work face of bank

or stockpile evenly to prevent

outcroppings and overhangs.

Excavate bank or stockpile with

machine at a 90° angle to digging

surface.

1. Position bucket on the ground in dig

position.

NOTE: Use differential lock as

necessary.

2. Place gear shift lever in first or

second gear depending on ground

conditions.

3. Move forward into the bank or

stockpile.

4. Raise and curl bucket as it fills.

Remove Overhang

Hard Material Start Point

Normal Excavating Position

Page 6 of 17

Backfilling

CAUTION: To avoid injury due to

an overturn when backfilling, DO NOT

position machine at an angle to

excavation. To ensure best possible

traction and stability, approach

excavation straight on.

IMPORTANT: To prevent machine

damage, DO NOT use loader bucket in

dump position or side of bucket to

backfill.

Use bucket side or loader in dump

position only if finish grading with front

boom in float position.

Backfilling Next To a Building:

NOTE: If operating in an area with

limited work space, use backhoe bucket

instead of loader for easier

maneuvering.

Extra dirt can be backfilled around

foundations to allow for settling.

When backfilling next to a building,

push load as close as possible with

loader bucket, then backdrag to pull

excess material away.

Backfilling An Excavation:

As an excavation is filled nearly to

grade, begin to compact material by

slowly moving front wheels onto fill

material while gradually emptying

loader bucket. Front wheels will

compact loose soil which will support

machine as it moves further onto filled

area.

TX,35,BG254 -19-29AUG97-1/2

Page 7 of 17

NOTE: To level surface and fill tracks

as grade is reached, backdrag when

backing out over filled area. (See

Backdragging in this chapter for

backdragging procedure.)

Backfilling Large Areas:

To bring a large area up to grade, while

being able to drive in, spread material in

thin layers over entire area. Operate at

nearly full engine speed while in first

gear and dump material on-the-go.

Reverse direction just prior to emptying

bucket. Tractor will compact fill

material as it moves back and forth.

Page 8 of 17

Truck Loading

Level and smooth loading area before

loading trucks to increase machine

stability.

Retract and lock backhoe and

dipperstick. Install swing lock pin.

Ensure working area is clear of all

persons, including truck driver, before

loading truck.

Park truck close to stockpile to reduce

backhoe travel time.

If possible, load truck on driver's side

for easy communication with driver.

If possible, park truck so wind will be at

your back to keep dust of the dumped

load out of your eyes and away from

engine air cleaner.

Follow a "V" path between truck and

stockpile.

Raise loader while moving toward truck

and lower while moving away from

truck to save time.

Load truck box from center front to

center rear.

Dump load into truck at a steady pace

(rather than abruptly) to minimize stress

on truck.

If loading large rock, first place a load

of smaller rock into truck to cushion

impact of large.

If loading with backhoe bucket, do not

swing bucket over truck cab.

"V" Path

Page 9 of 17

Benching

CAUTION: Prevent possible

injury from a collapsing soil bank. DO

NOT undercut soil bank with bucket.

NOTE: Start benching on a level

surface. If necessary, use backhoe

bucket to create a level starting point to

bench.

1. With bucket positioned at a slightly

downward angle, move gear shift to

first gear, lower bucket into ground and

drive forward.

2. Create a windrow of spoil material to

build the bench.

TX,35,BD2121 -19-07OCT96-1/3

CAUTION: Prevent possible

injury from rollover. DO NOT drop

leading front tire past windrow edge.

DO NOT work parallel to road edge to

compact spoil.

NOTE: Keep material in bucket while

moving forward to fill low spots on

bench.

3. Push windrow at 45-90° angle to

road edge to extend bench.

4. Compact windrow spoil with leading

front tire ONLY.

TX,35,BD2121 -19-07OCT96-2/3

Page 10 of 17

5. Make a final grading pass to

straighten uphill bank and level bench.

Page 11 of 17

Lifting

CAUTION: Never move the load

suddenly. Never move load over person's

head. Do not allow any persons near the

load. Keep all persons away from raised

load until blocks are supporting it or load is

sitting on the ground.

Make sure chain/sling is in good condition

and is rated for load you are lifting.

1. For maximum lifting capability, attach

chain/sling to buckets at positions shown.

Refer to Specifications chapter for

capacities of backhoe.

2. Attach a hand line to load for stability.

Use long enough line to ensure that person

holding it is a safe distance from load.

3. Before lifting, perform following test of

load stability:

NOTE: If using backhoe to lift, raise rear

tires off ground 50 mm (2 in.) and ensure

machine is level. If ground is soft, place

boards or other wide support under

stabilizer feet to increase stability.

a. Park machine close to load.

b. Attach load to chain/sling.

c. Raise load 50 mm (2 in.) above ground.

d. If using backhoe, swing load all the way

to one side.

e. While keeping load close to the ground,

extend it away from machine.

If there is any indication of reduced

stability of your machine, lower load to the

ground and make necessary adjustments so

machine can successfully perform test. Do

not lift load until machine can perform test

at acceptable level.

Page 12 of 17

Universal

Bucket

Couplers

and Bucket

Options

NOTE: In

addition to

the Universal

coupler

shown here,

other

couplers are

available

through your

authorized

dealer for a

specific

machine

manufacturer;

such as

CASE and

FORD NEW

HOLLAND.

The 310G

and 310E

backhoe

buckets have

the same pin

sizes as the

D-series and

C-series

backhoe

buckets,

allowing D-

and C-series

backhoe

buckets to

pin to 310G

and 310E

linkage in the

power dig

position. This

provides 190°

bucket

rotation

without

Page 13 of 17

changing

bucket pin

location.

Bucket must

be installed

in truck load

position to

prevent rod

from hitting

grease fitting

on top of

dipperstick.

Item Measurement Specification

310G and 310E Bucket-to-

Dipperstick Pin

Diameter 44.5 mm (1.75 in.)

310G and 310E Bucket-to-

Bucket Linkage Pin

Diameter 38.1 mm (1.5 in.)

A universal coupler is available to adapt a 310G or 310E backhoe for use with

existing Deere and other types of buckets. To use coupler (A), slide front bucket pin

into pin groove (B) of coupler and attach back bucket pin through appropriate size

hole (C) in coupler, with coupler installed, the following buckets may be used:

• 310G and 310E Buckets

• 310SG, 315SG, 410G, 310SE, 315SE, and 410E Buckets

• 300D-510D Buckets

• 210C-610C Buckets

• Case C, D, K and L Series Buckets

• Caterpillar B-Series Buckets

OUO1079,0000294 -19-09OCT00-1/2

Page 14 of 17

NOTE: The E-series and C- and D-

series John Deere buckets have

different rear pin positions in the

coupler.

To attach the coupler to a bucket,

engage the hook on the coupler with

the front bucket pin. After the front

pin is in the hook, roll the bucket to

the correct rear pin position. The

coupler has three rear pin holes to

attach different buckets.

A-Caterpillar

B-Deere C- and D-Series and Case

C-Deere 310G and 310E

D-Deere 310SG, 315SG, 410G,

310SE, 315SE, and 410E

Page 15 of 17

Loading and Unloading Machine

on a Trailer

Loading the Machine on a Trailer 1. Keep trailer bed clean. Put wheel

chocks (A) against trailer wheels.

2. Use a ramp or loading dock. Ramps

must be strong enough, have a low

angle, and correct height. Load and

unload machine on a level surface.

3. Fasten seat belt before starting

engine. Allow engine to run for several

minutes.

4. Install the extendible dipperstick

locking pin, if equipped, and engage the

backhoe swing lock. (See Operating the

Machine chapter for lock operation

instructions.)

5. Drive the machine up ramps slowly

with centerline of machine over

centerline of trailer. (See Driving the

Machine chapter for driving

instructions.)

6. Lower loader bucket onto blocks or

trailer bed.

7. Lower backhoe boom until bucket

rests on trailer bed.

8. Move gearshift lever and FNR lever

to NEUTRAL.

CAUTION: Prevent possible

injury from unexpected machine

movement. Never rely on FNR lever

and gearshift lever to keep machine

from moving. Always engage park

brake to hold machine.

9. Engage the park brake.

IMPORTANT: Turbocharger, if

equipped, may be damaged if engine is

A-Wheel Chock (6 used)

Page 16 of 17

not properly shut down.

10. Run engine at 1/2 speed without

load for two minutes.

11. Move engine speed control lever to

SLOW IDLE.

12. Turn key switch to OFF and remove

key from switch.

OUO1079,00002C0 -19-24OCT00-1/3

13. Move hydraulic control levers to

release hydraulic pressure.

OUO1079,00002C0 -19-24OCT00-2/3

IMPORTANT: Prevent possible

hydraulic system damage. Fasten chains

or cables to machine at proper locations.

14. Fasten chains or cables from trailer

to frame tie-downs (A). DO NOT route

chains or cables over or against

hydraulic lines or hoses.

15. Fasten backhoe bucket to trailer

with chains or cables to prevent

movement during transport.

16. Cover engine exhaust pipe opening

with tape to keep dust and rain out of

pipe.

Unloading the Machine from the

Trailer 1. Park the trailer on a level surface.

2. Put wheel chocks against all trailer

wheels.

3. Clean the trailer bed. Remove chains

from the trailer bed. Uncover engine

exhaust pipe.

4. Use long ramps to unload the

Left Side Shown

A-Frame Tie-Down (3 used)

Page 17 of 17

machine.

5. Lock the brake pedals together with

the pedal lock device.

6. Fasten seat belt and face the front of

the machine.

7. Start the machine and run the engine

at SLOW IDLE for several minutes.

8. Raise the front bucket approximately

30 cm (1 ft). Engage the backhoe boom

lock and fully curl the backhoe bucket.

9. Disengage the park brake.

10. Shift transmission to 1st and drive

slowly off the trailer.