Backhoe update. I'm making progress (Video included)

[peavey]

I still have a lot finish work left to do, grinding, paint, rear axle, hydraulic lines re-routing, seat post and seat, but you get the idea. The frame started out as a home made motorcycle lift I made a few years ago, which started out as a old mobile home trailer frame, I just recycled the metal, plus bought some new. I am still learning. Everytime I startit up I realize a new improvement that is needed. Give me time and it should/will work fine. Glad my project inspired someone.

 

[peavey]

The best thing about my rig is I can pull a few pins and put it back on a kubota tractor with out any problems. Got a feeling it will stay on the towable frame for a while,at least until I get all my digging projects finished, and Dad's, and my neighbors.

 

[Short Game]

I can't wait to say, "I can dig it."

Oh yeah, daddy-o!

 

[chad22]

Ok, this is my first try at adding the pics, so if they do not show go easy on me.

Great idea on a towable version of that backhoe.

I came across a site Ground Hawg Towable Backhoe and am gonna use his photos as a guide for mine. But I'm not gonna buy the plans as I'm gonna use the same boom and cylinders for my backhoe and the bucket I made.

So I'm gonna go with his pictures and just build the frame stronger to hold the extra weight of my boom and stick, and the heavier cylinders.

I think the cylinders I got are at least 35 lbs a piece and the steel tubing is 25 lbs each.

I'm just guessing here. But I think the boom, stick, cylinders and bucket together weigh at least 250 lbs could be more, could be less.

All I know is that stuff is heavy and makes my back hurt. :laughing:

I'm also thinking of using a good engine I have laying around and the current pump mount. "To save money" And mount it for direct drive like in this photo.

I do have an old briggs single cylinder that just needs some carb work. I only gave $1.00 for the engine at a yard sale. The guy had it in the corner of his garage. I asked him about the engine. He said he could never get it to run. So he just bought a new engine for his riding mower and put that one in the corner.

I asked him how much he'd take for it. He said how about a $1.00 ? I said sure and whipped out a dollar bill. And then loaded it in my truck. Got it home and noticed no compression. Pulled the head off and noticed intake valve was stuck. I pulled it out and lubed it stuck it back in put the head back on.

Put gas in and it fired right off. It's a great engine. I just let it sit with some old gasoline in the carb. So now I need to get a carb kit for it.

Chad

 

[peavey]

I am a firm believer in not re-inventing the wheel. Use what others have designed and try and make their design better. Recycling metal is a must for us back yard fabricators, so I used what I had available at the time. Waste not want not. The finished product may not be as pretty as a new laid out cad plan digger or a professional one, but it will still be functional and mine. Best of luck on your build. Credits: J.J. on this forum gave me some good advice on hydraulic componets. He is a pretty sharp when it comes to this stuff.

 

[NormL]

Put gas in and it fired right off. It's a great engine. I just let it sit with some old gasoline in the carb. So now I need to get a carb kit for it.

Chad

Good on you, Chad!:thumbsup: Great deal on an engine for One dollar! As for the gummed up carb, try cleaning it first. Leaving gasoline in the tank during hot months without running an engine typically evaporates and leaves residues behind. If the carb needed a kit anyway, then go ahead. Otherwise cleaning will get 'er done.

 

[peavey]

Like to see it as you do the build.

 

[peavey]

Ok folks, I got most of the welding finished on my towable hoe, also finished the hydraulics and they work great. Slapped a seat on it and tried it out. I thought it would be handicapped because of digging force, man was I wrong. The stabilizer jacks do their job, this thing rocks.

 

[NormL]

Ok folks, I got most of the welding finished on my towable hoe, also finished the hydraulics and they work great. Slapped a seat on it and tried it out. I thought it would be handicapped because of digging force, man was I wrong. The stabilizer jacks do their job, this thing rocks.

Congratulations!:thumbsup: Always good to see the successful completion of a project. And yes, I am envious. One question about stability as you dig: do you keep the towing tractor hooked up for additional anchoring? How prone to lifting off the ground are the castor wheels when the digger is not hooked up to the towing tractor? The reason I'm asking is because when I position my outriggers I suspect I'll have to angle them towards the work area as much as I can in order to benefit the most from the limited amount of weight I'll have to counterbalance the force of my digging.

 

[evo803]

I'm gonna use the same boom and cylinders for my backhoe and the bucket I made.

Chad

BIG MISTAKE ! You have to remake your boom and stick. Match Peavey's Kubota , those engineers have already done the math and it works . I bet you his boom and stick are made out of 1/8" thick stock and the cylinder mounts/gussets are 1/4" plate . You will spend needless time and money trying to make everything else strong enough to take the stresses of such a long boom & stick. Remember this " A 1/2" thick angle iron snapped right in half like a twig ", that should alert you to the stresses involved. There are no advantages to keeping it that long if it doesn't work and you have already proven that many times over.