As a new tractor owner and user, this was a good teaching moment. Great stuff! Will definitely remember cause I don’t want to break my tractor as I am about to start some big projects. Thanks!

Honestly I’ve not seen anyone bend the bucket cylinders on a farm-grade Deere, Kubota, or similar quality just with back dragging. I also have a family member that has a 50hp Kubota L series with a fairly large backhoe on it and he digs hard rocky ground routinely, and has probably 750 - 1000 hours on the backhoe operation of the tractor. Right or wrong, he routinely digs with the bucket curled out. He’s dragged some pretty large boulders (2-3000 lbs) out of trenches and foundations that he digs so it’s not like he’s digging sand with it.

Just watched with my three-year-old, and wanted to say well-done, engaging, and informative video. Thanks.

Learning something new every day! Thanks for posting this bro!

You make valid points about potential damage to the cylinders, however the main reason case came up with that design is because you get more breakout force with your bucket when using the extending cylinder than you do on a retracting cylinder due to the lost volume and surface area from the cylinder rod. The Case 480 series machines had a setup more like the John Deere without the "Linkage" and several other backhoe manufactures use the typical "Extend cylinder" for bucket curl. The biggest difference is that the backhoes are just plain build stronger to handle these loads vs a farm tractor.

Pretty good video but you might want to make a correction on how a double action hydraulic cylinder works.

When I was an apprentice back at 'Diesel fitter' school, they went to great lengths explaining to us about all the different 'pressure relief valves' that are in most loader / excavator hydraulic circuits specifically designed to protect cylinders and hoses from this kind of overload. There is the main one on the pump circuit which is usually the first to dump at the end of the cylinder stroke or when lifting too much. Then there are ones on each circuit to (as I said before) protect the closed, or locked, circuit. These are set very high and you have to be doing something very extreme to make them blow off...........Like back-blading and hitting a stump / rock, for example. That said, I'm sure not every machine has these fitted, so best to play it safe!! Great video, by the way!!

When I'm riding my backhoe in the city and or on the highway, I position the front shell down. So, if I hit a person, or vehicle, they will suffer less damage. Congratulations on the video and may God bless your work. Hug.

Excellent video. I was not aware of the difference. Thank you.

Wow Indy Andy I never thought about that. Hydraulic mechanisms helped to build so many things we enjoy today. Going to watch some more of your vids now.

I was looking at a Kubota MX5400 for use around my farm, when a ham radio friend told me to find a decent, used, Deere 310L backhoe. I listened to his advice, and am thrilled that I did.

I've had a tractor for 20 years. You just learned me something I didn't know. Thanks

Great point, I never even considered this difference between my old Massey tractor with loader, and my newly purchased JD 410D backhoe, Thanks!

This is great information. I am a noob when it come to tractors. I’m I’m hoping to restore my case in the spring so I always enjoy this content teaches teaches me a lot

Technically, the cylinders are full of hydraulic fluid whether extended or retracted. Although I get the point you were trying to make. Good to know.

Most people do not ever have a job running a real piece of equipment, great job showing the difference in the equipment. Also on the larger John Deere Farm tractors they have a float valve for the bucket when you back blade, this keep them from jamming the cylinders back when you hit anything. Great instructional video.

What a great explanation. Well done well presented.

Unless you’re really doing something stupid, you shouldn’t have any issues busting your tractor loader cylinders in that position. The real issue is having the bucket curled all the way in the dump position, such that the open part of the bucket is flat on the ground and your cylinders are at maximum extension. In the loader position you showed in the video, the buck should easily ride over any obstacle you run over backwards.

I picked up a kubota L2501 yesterday and it's supposed to have a "float" feature where the bucket can go over objects and allow the cylinders to move freely, I'm assuming it's to avoid this issue. This is a good video which defines the difference between machines and a good example of what they are meant to do. I've never thought about that issue, until I saw this

Excellent reason to utilize the float position when back blading