DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket mounted on Cat 308 excavator with hi-rail gear, on-track maintenance operation

Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket for Ballast, Ties & Rail

2.5x the productivity of a standard cribbing bucket — without swapping attachments.

The DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket replaces three attachments with one. Crib ballast, pull and insert ties, and move rail up to 39 feet — without changing tools. In the right conditions, crews replace up to 250 ties per day, especially when working from hi-railed positions. Compatible with Cat, John Deere, Case, and other common backhoe loaders and hydraulic excavators.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Fits: Backhoe + Hydraulic Excavators
  • Rotation: 360 degree rotation or made to fit tiltrotator
  • Hydraulics: Requires 1 auxiliary circuit with two-way valve

APPLICATIONS

  • Crib ballast directly from hi-rail positions with the Rail Rider Hi-Rail System.
  • Insert and change railroad ties with speed and control.
  • Move and reposition rail pieces up to 39 feet.
  • Track rehabilitation and spot maintenance.

DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket cribbing ballast between railroad ties from hi-rail excavator position

CRIB BALLAST

DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket repositioning steel rail section during track maintenance operation

MOVE RAIL

DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket inserting a new railroad tie during track rehabilitation

CHANGE TIES

KEY FEATURES

  • Built with AR400 abrasion-resistant steel for long service life in harsh ballast conditions
  • 20 tons of digging force per bucket
  • HD cylinders with load checks on all models
  • Bolt-on tie tongs and cutting edges — replaceable in the field
  • 360-degree continuous rotation — reposition without moving the machine
DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket used by Western Railroad Builders during emergency track repair after Colorado wildfire, railroad tie replacement on shortline

REPAIRING RAIL TRACKS AFTER A WILDFIRE

After a Colorado wildfire destroyed 10 miles of tracks, Western Railroad Builders replaced hundreds of ties each day with a DymaxRail Clam Cribbing Bucket and Backhoe Hi-Rail Attachment.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model
Description
Weight (lbs)
DX-BK-CLAM-10inx360-BL-10

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x 360 degrees rotation-Backhoe Loader-Class 10

STANDARD FEATURES: 

– 10 inch wide clam buckets 

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinders with load checks 

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– 360 degree rotation 

– Top adapter and pins

– 12V electro valve kit with harness / switch kit

Weight: 1150 lbs

DX-BK-CLAM-10inx360-HX-8T

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x 360 degrees rotation-Hydraulic Excavator-8 Ton

STANDARD FEATURES: 

– 10 inch wide clam buckets 

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinder with load check

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– 360 degree rotation 

– Top adapter and pins

Weight: 1150 lbs

DX-BK-CLAM-10inx360-HX-12T

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x 360 degrees rotation-Hydraulic Excavator-12 Ton

STANDARD FEATURES: 

– 10 inch wide clam buckets

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinders with load checks 

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– 360 degree rotation 

– Top adapter and pins

Weight: 1400 lbs

DX-BK-CLAM-10inx360-HX-20T

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x 360 degrees rotation-Hydraulic Excavator-20 Ton

STANDARD FEATURES: 

– 10 inch wide clam buckets 

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinders with load checks 

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– 360 degree rotation 

– Top adapter and pins

Weight: 2100 lbs

For 360 rotating models only: If your machine is equipped with 2 auxiliary circuits and you do not require the electro-valve, please contact DymaxRail Sales.

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Model
Description
Weight (lbs)
DX-BK-CLAM-10inxTRQ-BL-10

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x Tiltrotator coupler hookup-Backhoe Loader-Class 10

STANDARD FEATURES:

– 10 inch wide clam buckets 

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinders with load checks 

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– Top adapter and pins

Weight: 740 lbs

DX-BK-CLAM-10inxTRQ-HX-8T

STANDARD FEATURES:

– 10 inch wide clam buckets 

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinders with load checks 

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– Top adapter and pins

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x Tiltrotator coupler hookup-Hydraulic Excavator-8 Ton

Weight: 740 lbs

DX-BK-CLAM-10inxTRQ-HX-12T

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x Tiltrotator coupler hookup-Hydraulic Excavator-12 Ton

STANDARD FEATURES:

– 10 inch wide clam buckets 

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinders with load checks 

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– Top adapter and pins

Weight: 740 lbs

DX-BK-CLAM-10inxTRQ-HX-20T

Bucket-Clam-10 inches wide x Tiltrotator coupler hookup-Hydraulic Excavator-20 Ton

STANDARD FEATURES:

– 10 inch wide clam buckets 

– AR400 serrated side cutters

– HD cylinders with load checks 

– 1 set of bolt-on tie tongs 

– 1 set of bolt-on edges 

– Top adapter and pins

Weight: 740 lbs

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

HYDRAULIC REQUIREMENTS
Models with 360 rotation systems for fitting pin or wedge type coupler systems
Your machine will require the following (1x) circuits to operate the attachment. This attachment is supplied with an electro-hydraulic valve and provided with cable harness and switch kit.

CIRCUIT 1 – CLAM OPEN / CLOSE.

Type: Two-way bi-directional flow.

GPM/PSI: 10-20 @ 3,000 psi max

CIRCUIT 2 – ROTATION.

Type: Electro-hydraulic. Includes cable harness and switch kit.

NOT SUPPLIED: Jumper hose lines from attachment bulkhead to machine.

Models for fitting tiltrotator coupler systems
Your machine will require the following (1x) circuits to operate the attachment.

CIRCUIT 1 – CLAM OPEN / CLOSE.

Type: Two-way bi-directional flow.

GPM/PSI: 15-20 @ 3,000 psi max

NOT SUPPLIED: Jumper hose lines from attachment bulkhead to machine.

FAQ

What is a hydraulic clam cribbing bucket? A hydraulic clam cribbing bucket is a multi-function excavator and backhoe attachment designed for railway track maintenance. Unlike a standard cribbing bucket, it has two hydraulically operated jaws that open and close, allowing it to crib ballast, grip and extract railroad ties, insert new ties, and move rail sections — all without swapping attachments.

What’s the difference between a cribbing bucket and a hydraulic clam cribbing bucket?

A standard cribbing bucket is a single-piece attachment — it clears ballast from the crib space and can stab and drag ties using its teeth. A hydraulic clam cribbing bucket adds a second moving jaw, giving it the ability to grip, lift, and place ties precisely, move rail sections up to 39 feet, and handle materials a standard bucket can’t.

For straightforward spot maintenance and cribbing, the standard cribbing bucket is the right tool. For full tie replacement programs or track rehabilitation where tie counts are high and track windows are short, the clam is the better investment.

How many railroad ties can you replace per day with a clam cribbing bucket? In the right conditions, crews using the DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket replace up to 250 ties per day — significantly more than what’s achievable with a standard cribbing bucket or a bucket-and-thumb combination. Results depend on ballast conditions, machine size, and operator experience.

Does the hydraulic clam cribbing bucket work from a hi-rail position? Yes — and it’s one of the most productive configurations for this attachment. Paired with the Rail Rider Hi-Rail System, crews can crib ballast, pull and insert ties, and move rail directly from on-rail positions without a dedicated piece of MOW equipment.

What’s the difference between the 360-rotation models and the tiltrotator models? The 360-degree rotation models mount to standard pin or wedge-type coupler systems and include an integrated electro-hydraulic rotation system, letting the operator continuously rotate the bucket from the cab. The tiltrotator models are designed for machines already equipped with a tiltrotator coupler — the tiltrotator itself provides the rotation and positioning, so these models are lighter and require only one hydraulic circuit. If your machine runs a tiltrotator, those models are the cleaner fit. If not, the 360-rotation models give you the same flexibility without needing additional coupler hardware.

What machines does the DymaxRail Hydraulic Clam Cribbing Bucket fit? The attachment fits most backhoe loaders and hydraulic excavators from 8 to 20 ton, including Cat, John Deere, Case, and other common machine brands. Models are available for pin grab, wedge-type, and tiltrotator coupler systems. If you’re unsure which model fits your machine, contact DymaxRail and we’ll confirm the right configuration.