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Clay.

fast_st

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
1,468
Location
Mass
Occupation
IT systems admin
wait for it to dry up like concrete? wet clay, that'll stick to Teflon.
 

zigblazer

Active Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2016
Messages
37
Location
NE MN
I was just wondering the same thing. I've dug some clay before with my neighbors miniexcavator, and remember having problems with stuff sticking in the bucket. It has a 18" bucket. I just started replacing the drain tile system on our house, and am having to dig a lot of clay. My backhoe has a 16" trenching bucket, which digs right through the clay without a problem, but the clay is stuck so hard in the bucket that I couldn't pry it out. I still have a lot of digging to do and would love some advise from some experienced operators.

I would also love a wider hoe bucket, but that ain't going to happen anytime soon.
 

Honcho

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2016
Messages
249
Location
Russia
WE make a back side of a bucket, out of chains so when you turn it out it falls in and helps to empty it. Hope you got what i mean
 

fast_st

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
1,468
Location
Mass
Occupation
IT systems admin
Yeah, or a bucket with some holes in it to break the suction, I can see where not packing it full won't get it suctioned down.
 

mowingman

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
1,228
Location
SE Ohio
Occupation
Retired
Fill a pump-up sprayer with diesel fuel and spray the inside of the bucket with the diesel until inside is completely coated.. Repeat this procedure as needed. Depending on conditions, You may only have to do it a couple of times/day, or, you may have to do it once/hour.
 

Honcho

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2016
Messages
249
Location
Russia
I usually dig with arm, and avoid to twist bucket, it is like scrapping, then clay comes in in small pieces not in a single solid piece.
 

zigblazer

Active Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2016
Messages
37
Location
NE MN
It got too packed today to get anything done. So I spent half an hour prying and hacking away at the bucket of clay. Then another half an hour pressure washing the rest out. This clay is pressure washer resistant. I had to work my way under it and get it off in chunks. I'll be trying to put together something to force it out, and hope it works.
 

Billrog

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Messages
722
Location
Armstrong, British Columbia
Occupation
band mill , backhoe and dump truck
I often end up working in wet sticky clay doing water leaks when the bucket gets jammed up with it I don't try and chisel it out I take a tiger torch to the bucket and heat it up the clay shrinks and falls out.
 

jimg984

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
606
Location
ronda north carolina
chains as suggested in other reply post,,, weld chains near the teeth leave chains long enough to fit inside of bucket, then weld cross bar above the swivel joints on stick and weld other end of chains to this, weld heavy expanded metal welded to chains to fit in bucket, in digging mode chains and metal will push to back of bucket when dumping chains will tighten as the bucket is opened up use at least 2 chains maybe 3 according to with of bucket may have to play with design to make work GL
 

zigblazer

Active Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2016
Messages
37
Location
NE MN
I put a hinged plate in, attached to the boom with a chain. It sort of worked. If I was careful not to get anything behind it, it worked. But the clay got too sticky. So sticky it stuck in the dump bed of my truck. Almost picked the front wheels off the ground. Diesel spray helped for the first two buckets. The only thing that was helpful, ironically, was more water.

I gave up when if got fully packed, and I had to use the backhoe to unload the truck. I'll clean it out in the morning and try a different approach.
 

Andy01

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2015
Messages
72
Location
ONTARIO
Here is a pic of a 12" bucket I altered for digging in clay. I just installed it today. If it doesn't help the clay to fall out it should be easier to clean it out. My theory is there is less surface for it to stick to. I may not get a chance to try it for a while then I will post results.BUCKET.jpg
 

zigblazer

Active Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2016
Messages
37
Location
NE MN
I found something that worked. Water, and lots of it. It didn't stop it from sticking completely, but sure made a big difference. The trench I've been working on has been slowly filling with water. If I spread it around and got the bucket good and wet before every scoop, most of the clay would not stick. Today it was misting out all day. Not enough to accumulate, or even run down the gutters, but enough to keep everything wet. I had to stop using the dump truck, because it just slid and sank with a load. The loader was useless with the old 2wd case, and the mini-excavator couldn't even make a dent in the clay. So I used the backhoe to dig out the clay and create a big old pile of clay, but I couldn't get straight on to get the trench cleaned out. So the excavator was used to finish clearing out the loose stuff.
 

d4c24a

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Messages
753
Location
ENGLAND U.K
clay buckets

some from the UK i have a 12" and 18" easy to use , no sticking at all :)
 

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zigblazer

Active Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2016
Messages
37
Location
NE MN
Those buckets look great. Especially that last one. I wish I had one like that. Apparently I have a lot of clay on my property.
 

clintm

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
974
Location
charlotte nc
Occupation
trucking,concrete recycling,grading, demolition
you might get lucky and find an old rail road cribbing bucket they are almost the same shape maybe just a little bit longer.
 

Andy01

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2015
Messages
72
Location
ONTARIO
Tried out my modified trenching bucket on Sunday. Had no problems keeping it cleaned out, however the clay was dry and temperature below freezing.
 
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