Backhoe need help with Ford 713 backhoe!

bennevis · Apr 29, 2013

Thanks for the info. & kind words! I don't know how much older my hoe is than yours, but I have some male fittings that have o-rings on the ends of them. They look different than any I have ever seen. I haven't checked out the link yet, but they may be available there. (I have some pretty old hoses). Again, I could be wrong, but I think on the 713 - the back portion of the main frame is removable (it looks like it in the few pictures I have seen, but it very well may have been cut).

I can tell you for certain, after looking at your pictures - your main frame is MUCH heavier than mine. I plan on cutting off the scabbed on patches & really re-enforcing the frame inside & out. I can just tell yours is a considerable upgrade. (But, your tractor is heavier than mine as well). I built a sub-frame a year back, but I'm concerned about too much stress in just one spot on each axle. I'm figuring out a plan to spread the weight more evenly & add more support to the trumpets. I don't plan on taking the backhoe off that tractor, unless it needs repairs, so I'm going to really study a way to tie everything together as best as possible.

What model is your tractor & do you know about how much your hoe weighs? Your rear axle is a monster!

bennevis · Apr 29, 2013

Yep...it looks like they have the adapters...whew!!!

City Farmer · Apr 29, 2013

The BH weighs 2300lbs. The tractor is a Ford 4000 (4850lbs) somewhere between 1965 & 69, I haven't pinned the exact date down yet. I bought it for the loader to put on my 3000 but it runs so good I'm going to fix her up and just leave the BH on it. The BH came off a Ford 3000 (3700lbs). The BH frame gets (4) u-bolts under the trumpets and the front half of the frame gets (4) 3/4 bolts to the engine bell housing. Here's a picture of what the BH frame looks like. I tore the loader off on Saturday. I tore apart the BH combination valve yesterday, the cushioning valve was stuck in the valve body so I used some 600grit emery and polished everything up. Everything slides really nice now. The swing cylinders weren't working right, there was slack in the chain. Hopefully after cleaning/polishing it all up fixed the problem. If you tear yours apart make sure you pay attention to the in/out fittings. They have different sized holes going through them. They look like the same fitting from the top flare but there different.

bennevis · May 1, 2013

I was thinking it was a late 60's Industrial, yeah - definitely a bigger machine there (both tractor & backhoe). Mine is a 841D Powermaster - it runs really well, but the internal hydraulics were weak. I decided to do similar to you & make the loader/backhoe permanent. I'll have to take some pictures of the sub-frame. It needs some tweaking around the back axle, but it is rally solid everywhere else. I added braces & cradles under each section of the tractor for added support.
It's funny, I worked on cushioning valve this weekend too. (mine is separate flow control & cushioning valves - a little less complex than yours). I uncovered some major cracks covered up with a botched repair job & that has kept me busy every spare minute. All the transport hooks for the chains were broken, so I just used some cleats off an old grain truck - I think they will work pretty well. Keep me updated - it's fun to watch the progress! I'll add a few pictures too.

bennevis · May 5, 2013

I did get some work in on the sub-frame, it looks like it's gonna work out pretty well. The backhoe main frame needs some work, but I'm a ways from that.

bennevis · May 19, 2013

Both of the swing cylinders had bent rods... I am certain one is original, but I still don't know what the other one is from. The hydraulics man said they matched up with one another fine (except the trunions are different on the cylinders & that would need to be addressed to match the swing on the boom. He also showed me how to save the original fittings & reuse them! (That was a big relief & it isn't that hard to remove the fitting with a cut-off blade - I am using a dremel tool.

In my ford tractor manual, they recommend adding about 580 lbs to each wheel with the backhoe - I thought about filling tires with fluid, but I wondered if Weights are better & if I can find any.

I'm not using this tractor for three point or PTO, so I removed all of those components & cleaned them & put them in Rubbermaid containers. I made some cover plates for things I've removed. I was wondering if I could use the original sump as a reservoir? For that matter, could I use the sump & rear end both? I know the 8N tractors shared fluids - I don't know if that is a feasible idea. Can anyone advise me on this? here's a few new pictures (I'm using electrolysis on a number of pieces & I like the results)!