Wednesday, December 23, 2009

BACKHOE: Facts and Figures Backhoe

A backhoe is a machine designed for excavation. It consists of a scoop or digging bucket on an articulated arm (also known as a stick or dipper); this assembly is typically mounted on the back of a tractor or front loader, enabling the operator to do many different jobs without switching to another piece of heavy equipment. However, the backhoe is not so called because of its rear-mounted scoop; rather, it is called a backhoe because of the way it draws earth back towards itself, rather than pushing it like a bulldozer.

The backhoe arm may also be used to connect to other attachments than a scoop, using an integrated toolcarrier (IT). Such attachments include augurs for drilling, hydraulic hammers for breaking up asphalt, asphalt grinders for milling road, grapples for pulling up roots and stumps, and compactors for compressing loose road material such as gravel. All of these attachments, its compact size, and its manoeuverability on wheels make the backhoe an extremely versatile and popular piece of heavy equipment machinery.

The digging bucket of a backhoe is much narrower than the bucket on the front loader, but is able, because of its articulated arm, to dig much deeper than the front bucket. Its narrow dimensions enable it to dig trenches quickly and effectively for laying pipe or cable, and preparing areas for concrete foundations, and drainage.

The first tractor equipped with a front loader and backhoe was developed in Britain by JCB in 1953. So dominant was JCB in their market that the British still refer to the machines as "JCBs"; the term backhoe is virtually unknown there.

Major manufacturers of backhoes include: Ammann-Yanmar, Case, Caterpillar, Deere & Co., Ford Motor Company, Hitachi, JCB, Komatsu, KPX, Massey Ferguson, Takeuchi, Terex, Terramite, Volvo, and John Allen & Sons.

Because of its popularity - Caterpillar alone reports having sold over 100,000 backhoe loaders since 1985—the laws of supply and demand have kept prices for backhoes very competitive. Used backhoe loaders can run anywhere from $5000 to $30,000, depending on the equipments age, capabilities, and included attachments. Rental prices for large, wheeled backhoe loaders start from around $1400 per week, or $4200 per month.

Source : heavyequipment.com

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