Harbor Freight (HF) Trencher(Backhoe)

[johnnylight]

Wow, that's amazing. I don't think I've ever seen that statement before. It took me several years (slow learner) to learn my lesson, but other than the few name brand items they carry, I've never have even what I'd remotely consider fair results from their junk.

Dargo,

I agree with CurlyDave.
They have great deals at harborfreight

check this out:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114176-harbor-freight-tools-dont-suck.html

 

[Dargo]

Dargo,

I agree with CurlyDave.
They have great deals at harborfreight

check this out:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114176-harbor-freight-tools-dont-suck.html

I'm happy for you. Really. My dad hauls a bunch of stuff home from there and dumps it on me. Here is a thread that you may find interesting as well http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114375-hf-tools-suck.html

I do list the few things I have from there that I consider a good deal. Unfortunately, by a wide margin, most things there just get tossed into the trash because they don't work as advertised or they are just plain dangerous. But, hey, that band of guys who travel around selling cheap tools out of the back of semi trailers seem to draw a huge crowd everywhere they go. What do I know.

 

[johnnylight]

I knew you would do that with that link.-Tools that suck--you are funny
I hear ya about the truck that drives around with tools.
I bought some tools from them too and your right they are garbage throw away type never again will I buy from them..

Harbor Freight offers a extended warranty which replaces the tool with a new one and you don't have to return the old one.

my exp with them was buying the 10" wet saw for $199 which now sells for $369.
I used this saw on a few walkways and patios and it just keeps cutting with no problems.
I bought the dimond blade for $29 I did not expect it to last (work wise) so I bought 2
haven't changed blade yet.

I am one who beleves you get what you pay for.
but I figured if I get one job out of the saw I would still be ahead, so I bought it.

I ordered a wet/dry bench grinder for $56.
If it turns out that it sucks I'll let you know

Is it luck?
we will see.

 

[Dargo]

Harbor Freight offers a extended warranty which replaces the tool with a new one...

I'm hearing that Sears isn't exactly honoring that policy with their tools. Man, I hope it isn't so.

I honestly wouldn't consider the trencher thing from HF, but I honestly am going by there today. Really! I need to replace the small tool kit that I keep in my jet skis. When one of my kids flipped theirs (that's my story and I'm sticking to it ) the storage compartment came open and my little tool kit flew out. Oddly enough, it didn't float. I figure I can replace all the tools I had in there for about $10 or so. Works for me.

 

[AlanB]

Harbor Freight offers a extended warranty which replaces the tool with a new one and you don't have to return the old one.

The warranty did not work that way for mine, we had to turn in the old saw (at least we did, I doubt the wife asked about keeping it, but will next (if there is a next) time). Could just be a local store policy.

The other thing I did not understand when I bought my warranty that was a "3 year" warranty was that they will replace that one, and then your warranty was done, if you wanted the next tool to be warrantied, you had to buy another warranty. Not quite what I had expected, but probably doom on me for not reading enough.

Anyway, it has made me rethink the warranty deal. I am not buying them now.

My opinion is very different from Dargo's, as I feel that many HF tools offer a good dollar value.

There is a 30 day no question return policy, I just figure I will run the tool enough in that 30 days to see if it has any basic faults or not, then run the risk that I have to replace it if it breaks (or repair it) at my own dime.

 

[PINGG2BLUE]

I agree with John and Alan on this one. I purchased the plate compactor and the 10" wet saw and they work great. The compactor comes with a B&S engine and fires up with 1 or 2 pulls. No complaints yet.

 

[johnnylight]

The warranty did not work that way for mine, we had to turn in the old saw (at least we did, I doubt the wife asked about keeping it, but will next (if there is a next) time). Could just be a local store policy.

The other thing I did not understand when I bought my warranty that was a "3 year" warranty was that they will replace that one, and then your warranty was done, if you wanted the next tool to be warrantied, you had to buy another warranty. Not quite what I had expected, but probably doom on me for not reading enough.

Anyway, it has made me rethink the warranty deal. I am not buying them now.

My opinion is very different from Dargo's, as I feel that many HF tools offer a good dollar value.

There is a 30 day no question return policy, I just figure I will run the tool enough in that 30 days to see if it has any basic faults or not, then run the risk that I have to replace it if it breaks (or repair it) at my own dime.

Alan,

am referring to the extended warranty.
before I bought the saw I call and questioned the extended warranty did a bunch of what ifs and after your original warranty runs out the extended one kicks in. the extended warranty is the one to use --true you have to return tools within your regular warranty.
But the extended covers all. no shipping back to the harbor freight.
They told me just throw the old one out.

buy the extended warranty it works.

 

[AlanB]

Alan,

am referring to the extended warranty.
before I bought the saw I call and questioned the extended warranty did a bunch of what ifs and after your original warranty runs out the extended one kicks in. the extended warranty is the one to use --true you have to return tools within your regular warranty.
But the extended covers all. no shipping back to the harbor freight.
They told me just throw the old one out.

buy the extended warranty it works.

I was referring to the extended warranty.

The "three year" they offer you at time of sale, unless there is another warranty that I am unfamiliar with.

 

[johnnylight]

oops sorry about that,
I bought mine online.
like you said maybe it's a store policy.
There prices can make one crazzy different prices online, catalog, and in store

 

[JSW]

I've had this trencher for about 3 yrs now. The only problem I've had has been with bucket, it cracked at the top after digging a huge oak stump. HF sent me a new one but I just welded the old one and have had no more problems the new bucket is in the shed. I've dug out my pond dug 4 big oak stumps with no problems. I paid $3060 delivered to the house. When it arrived I found a seal kit to do all the cylinders but I haven't had to use them. The paint job isn't the best and has chipped off in places. Cylinders are the screw together type so repairs shouldn't be a problem. So far I've been real happy with trencher. It doesn't dig straight down very good but it is powerful. Hope this helps.

James

 

[BugStalk]

I've had this trencher for about 3 yrs now. The only problem I've had has been with bucket,James

First, I'd like to THANK James for his comment. First one that actually addressed the question of whether the HF Backhoe is worthy of a purchase. The rest of the tyrade was people praising or complaining about other non-related HF products.

That said - I too have had mixed luck with Harbor Freight, which is why I went looking for a review on this one. Mostly - their steel sucks, which I've seen is the case with almost any chinese steel. I don't think they've quite figured out metalurgy yet. I often said that if the Chinese made their battleships out of the same steel they make their tools, I could sink the entire chinese fleet with one American made ball peen hammer. There is also a "precision" problem in some of their products. If you know how to properly handle tools, you can overcome that with proper care, but when a pot-metal C clamp breaks in half or twists, there's not much you can do about bad steel.

That said, I just bought a 10+ acre plot and need to put in some septic, widen out a pond, etc. Looking at renting vs buying, at $5K or $10K+ I'd rent every time. But to buy a backhoe for $3K... that I could use repeatedly and even rent out in a pinch - might just do the trick.

If all I'll be doing with it is digging up one bucket of dirt at a time - the hydraulics SHOULD be enough to do the trick, and if not, I can always replace a ram with a better one. B&R Motors aren't that expensive. There is always Motion Industries or Grainger for other stuff. So the only thing I feer is breaking the steel parts. If they hold out, then the rest is common sense, and not trying to use a 5 gallon hat to hold 10 gallons of water. I am comforted by the fact they sent you a new bucket, and that the hydraulics held out.

That said, I'm now leaning toward buying one. Here goes - I'll try to keep you updated on the outcome.

 

[JSW]

No problem, hydraulics are a little slow but work pretty good. If you have anymore questions just ask.

James

 

[pwright]

James - So your last post at the 3 year mark was in 2008. Do you still have it and use it after 5 years more?

 

[agjones]

I recently bought one of these and it works fine for my needs. I routinely need a light weight digger and I have equipment that can truly place the thing almost anywhere. If I need a faster, track-based and heavier excavator...I know where to rent one.

Does anyone know the working pressure (psi) of the hydraulics on the HF Trencher? For flow, the spool valve is rated at 10.6gpm and the pump at 2.7 gpm. I'm considering repowering this with another hydraulic pump I already have...and want to make to make sure that the two systems are compatible. The other pump operates at 2500psi, 8gpm. Thanks.

 

[JSW]

Yeah still have it, don't use it as much except to clean ditches and around the pond. Pins and bushing are getting worn so that's my next project.

James

 

[jmiddleton27619]

I own a Harbor Freight Trencher and love it. HF did replace the first one I purchased but the second one has worked great since I got it in Novemebr, 2014.
However, one of the hydraulic cylinders has started slipping and will not hold the boom up. It still works when I pull the lever and dig and lift but whenever I let go of the lever controlling it, the rod in this cylinder slips out and the bucket drops.
Is this a bad cylinder or something else?
Does anyone own a H F trencher and has had this problem?

 

[dfkrug]

It still works when I pull the lever and dig and lift but whenever I let go of the
lever controlling it, the rod in this cylinder slips out and the bucket drops.

How fast does the boom drop? If you can see it move, that's too fast. Usually a valve problem.
Dirt in the valve or bad assembly/manufacturing.

Since the boom dropping is extending the cylinder, it is possible that the nut has come off
the piston or the piston seal is bad and air is entering the gland seal. If it is dropping fast
enough to see, you may be able to hear the air enter there as the boom drops with the motor off.

 

[jmiddleton27619]

Thanks. The bucket was dropping slowly but now it drops quickly. If it is a valve and not a faulty cylinder, how do I fix it? Is it a connector or in the master cylinder?

 

[dfkrug]

If it is a valve and not a faulty cylinder, how do I fix it? Is it a connector
or in the master cylinder?

There is no "master cylinder" on these things....I do not know what you mean.

The valve is the likely culprit and it can be disassembled and cleaned/inspected.
My experience with Chinese machinery is that tho the materials are OK, often
the assembly and QA are not. Taking new Chinese equipment apart and re-assembling
is often needed. I did once fix a large 5" Chinese hyd cyl that had a twisted gland
seal O-ring and the nut holding the piston to the rod was loose.

You also have THREE cyls on your boom: one for the boom itself, one for the
dipper stick, and one for the bkt.

 

[buffaloman]

I own a Harbor Freight Trencher and love it. HF did replace the first one I purchased but the second one has worked great since I got it in Novemebr, 2014.
However, one of the hydraulic cylinders has started slipping and will not hold the boom up. It still works when I pull the lever and dig and lift but whenever I let go of the lever controlling it, the rod in this cylinder slips out and the bucket drops.
Is this a bad cylinder or something else?
Does anyone own a H F trencher and has had this problem?

Would you buy it again? What do you use it for? Were you able to fix it?