Woods BH85 Operator's Manual page 16

Starting Excavation
To start the excavation, position backhoe as shown in
Figure 7 for maximum breakout force.
Figure 7. Starting Position
Actuate the dipper cylinder to start digging. Approxi-
mately halfway through digging cycle, start bucket curl
while continuing crowding dipper in. Should bucket
stall, raise boom slightly.
Do not use down pressure on the boom when starting
to dig, as this will lift the machine and move it out of
alignment with the work.
Filling Bucket
Control bucket attitude throughout digging cycle to
keep teeth parallel to bottom of excavation. This will
provide best penetration angle and minimize dragging
and scraping bucket through the ground.
Penetration depth is determined by soil condition and
type.
Only use dipper and bucket during the digging cycle.
As the dipper moves the bucket through the soil, curl
bucket to maintain proper bucket position.
At the end of the pass, or when bucket is full, curl
bucket completely, lift bucket from excavation and
swing boom to dump site.
To obtain a cleaner trench and avoid material buildup
directly in front of backhoe, extend dipper and curl
bucket completely while starting to lift it out of the exca-
vation. This will allow excess material to fall back into
the excavation. See Figure 8.
Figure 8. Fill Bucket
16 Operation
Dump and Return Cycle
Keep the swing-dump-return cycle as brief as possible.
Keep dipper moving outward and start boom swing as
soon as the bucket clears the excavation. Continue
extending dipper and, as you approach the spoil pile,
start to dump bucket.
When bucket is empty, dipper and bucket are in posi-
tion to resume digging upon return to the excavation.
Move slowly when loading materials into trailer or truck.
Trenching
Trenching is the most basic backhoe digging operation.
Other operations are variations of this basic function.
To maintain a level trench bottom, set bucket at proper
approach angle and while crowding dipper-stick in,
continually move bucket curl lever to maintain correct
cutting angle. At the same time, place boom control in
the full forward (float) position and keep the bucket in
the same plane. See Figure 9.
Figure 9. Trenching
NOTE: When handle is placed in the float position,
pressure on both sides of boom cylinder is released.
Digging near center of swing so material may be
dumped on either side will produce good results. Never
dig near stabilizers.
Continue the trench by moving machine along trench
centerline away from existing excavation. Move
machine approximately one-half the effective backhoe
reach. Moving too far will require excessive down pres-
sure for digging and hand clean-up of trench bottom.
Side Slope Trenching
 Be careful when swinging loaded bucket on hill-
side. Always dump spoil on uphill side of backhoe
to minimize possibility of upset.
When operating on a side slope, the backhoe must be
positioned using one of these two methods as shown in
Figure 10 or Figure 11.
ARNING
MAN1272 (10/22/2019)