ForConstructionPros.com

"What can be a selling point on a machine that might have a higher breakout force based on horsepower can be negated, or made up, [based on] the bucket or bucket/coupler combination," adds Gabriel. "That would take away, or add to, a competitive advantage."

Size matters

Lift capacity of a given machine also affects the size of the bucket, says Kirk Yoresen, marketing communications manager, ESCO. Be aware that stick configurations can affect load, i.e., excavators with extended booms can carry less weight.

"You want to make sure you're not asking the bucket to do too much for the available machine power," he adds. "Performance goes down and safety can become a concern.

"If bucket capacity goes beyond the lift capacity, stability issues can come into play," Yoresen continues. "If an operator is working on a high wall loading heavy material, good stability becomes much more important for safety."

A bucket that's too large can also decrease breakout force, since the tip radius (distance from the stick pivot to the tip of the teeth) is in direct inverse proportion to the amount of force you get when you dig.