Being one of the most widely used attachments, buckets need to be chosen carefully depending on your application. For instance, in trenching or deep digging tasks, if you use a standard bucket with the excavator instead of a trenching bucket, it may lead to reduced efficiency.
Choosing the right bucket is essential for meeting your daily productivity targets. The following are some valuable tips to take into consideration when picking the correct bucket attachment.
The Type of Bucket
Before choosing a bucket attachment, try and research bucket types to help you decided which one is right for your job. There are various types of buckets including:
- Heavy-duty buckets – These are great for working in different soil conditions such as gravel, clay, sand, etc.
- General-purpose buckets – These are suitable for general construction and excavation sites that handle loose clay, sand, topsoil and more.
- Grading buckets – These are often used for road construction, landscaping or utility work.
- Severe-duty buckets – Where heavy digging or other truck loading applications are required, these buckets are suited for such operations.
The Bucket Size
A smaller bucket doesn’t automatically mean a loss in productivity and vice versa. While choosing the right sized bucket, factors such as material density, truck or hauler capacity and excavator specifications play a great role. By analysing these parameters properly, you’ll be able to select the right bucket. Also, an accurate size means more work will be done in less time with lower fuel consumption.
Examine Wear Items
Every type of machinery requires regular maintenance – whether it’s an excavator or any attachment. Frequent inspections of the bucket teeth, the heel of the bucket and cutting edges for obvious wear and tear is recommended. Bucket teeth should be replaced before they wear down and the bucket adapter is exposed.
Consider Attachment Options
Most manufacturers provide an attachment quick-change mechanism for easily swapping loader buckets and other attachments for times when more than one bucket is required to complete a job. These systems can help you save a lot of time, so opt for a powered quick-attach mechanism for your loaders.
