Backhoe Design Ideas

[Iplayfarmer]

Now that summer is more or less over, I'm back to designing again. Since the last post I lost all of my files related to the backhoe. I had been working off of an SD card so that I could design on any one of three computers that I commonly use. It's just another lesson in backing up files I guess. The bright side is that I'm going back through it again and fine tuning some of the stuff that wasn't quite right the first time.

My question right now is about stabilizers. A lot of the cheap home built plans use manual stabilizers. I'm sure that the hydraulic stabilizers are nice to have, but the question is if they're worth it for this size of a backhoe. I already have most of the components, so I'm not talking about monetary costs, I'm talking about complexity and weight costs. I only have a 5 spool valve, so I'd either have to get a splitter for the fifth spool to controll the two stabilizers independently or I'll have to add another valve to the hydraulic circuit. Hydraulic stabilizers are going to weigh more too.

Thoughts?

 

[dfkrug]

I only have a 5 spool valve, so I'd either have to get a splitter for the fifth spool to controll the two stabilizers independently or I'll have to add another valve to the hydraulic circuit.

You can use one valve for both outrigger cyls, connected in parallel. I
operate mine simultaneously most of the time anyway. It puts equal
lifting force down, which is usally a good thing.

As for adding weight, that is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[MJPetersen]

The only time that I can thing when you would need different pressure to the two stabilizers is if you are digging on a side hill and need to level things up. But that would not be that frequent of occurrence. Most often they are used together.

Mike

 

[Iplayfarmer]

The only time that I can thing when you would need different pressure to the two stabilizers is if you are digging on a side hill and need to level things up. But that would not be that frequent of occurrence. Most often they are used together.

Mike

So if I was on some kind of a side hill would there be a way to do it if I had both outriggers on the same valve?

 

[MJPetersen]

So if I was on some kind of a side hill would there be a way to do it if I had both outriggers on the same valve?

Not that I can think of--both stabilizers would exert the same pressure down, but that would not "level up" the machine.

Well now you could do it this way. put the stabilizers down--swing the boom down hill--put the bucket on the ground--lift stabilizers off ground--push down with boom and pick the hoe up until it is level--then drop the stabilizers down. It is a bit of a process but you could do it.

Mike

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Not that I can think of--both stabilizers would exert the same pressure down, but that would not "level up" the machine.

Well now you could do it this way. put the stabilizers down--swing the boom down hill--put the bucket on the ground--lift stabilizers off ground--push down with boom and pick the hoe up until it is level--then drop the stabilizers down. It is a bit of a process but you could do it.

Mike

I don't mind a "bit of a process" if it's the rare occasion. I do want to make sure that I can do it, though. I'm liking your idea.

Sounds like I get the best of both worlds... Hydraulic stabilizers without the added complexity of additional hydraulic valves. I suppose worst case scenario, I add a valve later.

 

[radioman]

the stablizers helps the holding force from moving forward as well. Its ture levling off the BH is a good thing since most diggin is in uneven surfaces anyway.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Okay, here's a potentially dumb question... If I have both outriggers on the same circuit, would they not still move even with the valve closed? Without check valves, couldn't fluid flow between the cylinders such that one side could be pushed up by allowing the other side to push down.

The result here would be that with the back wheels off the ground the tractor would just sway like a see-saw.

 

[dfkrug]

If I have both outriggers on the same circuit, would they not still move even with the valve closed? Without check valves, couldn't fluid flow between the cylinders such that one side could be pushed up by allowing the other side to push down.

The result here would be that with the back wheels off the ground the tractor would just sway like a see-saw.

With both cylinders plumbed in parallel, and the valve closed, you are
correct that oil can move between the two cyls if there is a pressure
change on the outriggers. This is exactly what happens with my b/h
thumb and my 4n1, which are plumbed this way.

In your situation, if you lifted your rear wheels off the ground with the
outriggers, then lifted a big weight with the hoe turned at 180-deg, you
could cause some tilting. But you should not be lifting your wheels off
the ground anyway. That type of hoe usage is more for purpose-built
TLBs.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

With both cylinders plumbed in parallel, and the valve closed, you are
correct that oil can move between the two cyls if there is a pressure
change on the outriggers. This is exactly what happens with my b/h
thumb and my 4n1, which are plumbed this way.

In your situation, if you lifted your rear wheels off the ground with the
outriggers, then lifted a big weight with the hoe turned at 180-deg, you
could cause some tilting. But you should not be lifting your wheels off
the ground anyway. That type of hoe usage is more for purpose-built
TLBs.

But still, in that configuration, the stabilizers aren't going to really stabilize much.

Right?