Backhoe Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen

   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen
  • Thread Starter
#91  
First cut at 90 degree angle. This cut was not needed, so I did it as an experiment. Couldn't hurt the steel.
 

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   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen
  • Thread Starter
#92  
That's a good point. No way of knowing now. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen
  • Thread Starter
#93  
A little further into the cut.
 

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   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen
  • Thread Starter
#94  
Almost done.
 

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   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen
  • Thread Starter
#95  
All the way through.

You can notice in this picture, look at the upper left corner of the cut. It is rough. That is where I attempted to cut it with the sawzall. That little bit took a long time. Glad I got the band saw.
 

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   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen #96  
There is a fellow that lives near me that has a power hacksaw it has a set up to spray liquid on the blade as it cuts, they say that the blades last a long time. The metal band saw looks good I hope you don't have any more trouble out of the motor. If you do have trouble out of the motor can you replace it with a better quality motor? I must be getting absent minded what I was going to say about the power hack saw was that they told me that it was over thirty years old and still works great.
 
   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen #97  
David, I would suggest buying that insurance on any motorized machinery or high dollar item from Harbor Freight. I have replaced air compressors, and chop saws. Most of the time, I stay with the name brands. That cold cut chop saw that I use cut through a 3 in box 1/4 thick in 45 sec. I was really impressed. The ends look like polished steel.
 
   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen #98  
I have the same saw from H.F.. I have had mine for 3 years now and have cut some pretty hefty stuff. Hopefully you just got a dud and this one will last you a while.
 
   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen
  • Thread Starter
#99  
Well, I put the new saw together in about 10 minutes and started cutting. It still took a long time. After about 5 minutes, I up'd it from slow to meduim. 5 minutes later I was still only about 1/4 way through, so I up'd it to the high speed. At that speed I could actually see the blade moving through the material. When it hit the side walls, which would be when it was cutting approximately two 1/4 inch pieces at the same time, it was moving about 1/2" down a minute. That translates into an inch every two minutes, or 6-7 minutes to do the sides when allowing for the top and bottom. For some reason, the top and bottoms seemed to take a little less time than the sides. I can't figure that out as it would be cutting more steel on the flats than on the sides. Anyhow, the motor started getting warm, not hot, but warm. I could keep my skin in contact with the motor casing, but it was vey uncomfortable. I decided to stop after about 10 minutes and let it cool down for 10 minutes. Then I finished the job. Lets face it, the motor is just not up to continous operation for 20 minutes at a time. Maybe this is just really hard steel. I don't know. It didn't seem like that big of a load, so the motors shouldn't be getting that hot. It didn't seem to matter what speed I ran the saw blade at. I think this motor would burn up if left to just run with no load. Oh well. Get what you pay for. The good news is those are the largest cuts I have to make. If any of you downloaded the plans from the link I provided, the cuts I made were the 20 degree cuts in the main boom section. This, in effect, took out a wedge of steel, so that I can put the two cut faces together and weld. This will form a 40 degree bend in the boom a little more than halfway up the boom.

I will need to cut off one piece of the 4x4 tubing for the main frame and one small piece to add tp the area where the pivot brackets will attach. Then there is the section for the dipper that will be cut to length. So that is three more cuts in this 4x4 material. All other cuts will be smaller. I have to round off a few ends of the 4x4 tubing, but I will probably rough that out with my torch and touch up with the grinder.

My plan is to cut out all the pieces of the thing before I start any welding. That way, it will take up less room in my already crowded garages.

I need to get a good scribe, a center punch, a compass, a hole saw or similar device, and, believe it or not, a ball peen hammer. I don't have one.

The good news is, not counting the saw, I have spent $0.00 of my budget so far. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I will have to lay out $$ for four hydraulic cylinders, hoses, valves and connectors. I would like to get two joysticks to control the four cylinders and two seperate valves to control the outriggers. I think I have some cylinders for the outriggers already. They may work. Those were free, so I'll try to make them work.

Joysticks look to be about $250.00 each.
Cylinders go anywhere from $75.00 to $150.00 each, depending on what I get. So I'm probably looking at $1000 to $1500 for the hydraulics.

I also need to buy some tubing and rod for bushings and pins and some 3" by 1/2" X about 8' plate. I'll see what I can scrounge up for the plate, but want to go new with the pins and bushings.

If I can get away with under $2000, I'll be very happy.
 
   / Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen #100  
You might save a little money on valves by going with two 3 spool units (memory foggy, but 99% sure that's how PT has mine set up). You run rods between each joystick and two adjacent spools on each (I'm betting that is how your loader is set up; mine is) and leave handles on the ones plumbed to your outriggers.

Also PT runs 1/4 hose on the BH; I'd call that a bit small, but seems to work just fine and you do have a tighter bend radius that way.

Even if you can't get all the bargains, I'd say your budget sounds pretty realistic.
 
 
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