Rebuilding John Deere 7 Backhoe and need measurements

[techwrtr2]

Yes, ended last thursday. Were you the other bidder?

No. I looked at it but couldn't see that it had all of the mounting hardware. Since much of it is NLA from Deere I decided against bidding. I think you'll have an easier time locating a bucket than the mounting hardware, so if it's actually there I almost wish I'd bid since I'm not super far away.

Good luck getting it into service. I'm not desperate since I still have the Beaver with a hoe on it.

 

[dfkrug]

I plan on laying alot of 4 inch drain pipe, so I need as narrow I can, one as big as I can safely have for cleaning/grading, a plain digger in between, and some type of fang/root buster.

I dont NEED to reproduce the original bucket exactly, but if I gotta make it, I might as well. I have some really good picks of a NOS bucket that I missed in eBay, and if I had the pin spacing and mouting width, Id be cutting plate on the water jet tonite.

I had a 9" hoe bkt, but got rid of it. Dirt gets packed into it and often gets stuck, even if you drill holes in the bottom.

My 18" has never been mounted.

I have the sides cut (CNC plasma) for my ripper tooth "bucket", but I have never welded it up. Probably should get to that....

 

[bankston]

No. I looked at it but couldn't see that it had all of the mounting hardware. Since much of it is NLA from Deere I decided against bidding. I think you'll have an easier time locating a bucket than the mounting hardware, so if it's actually there I almost wish I'd bid since I'm not super far away.

Good luck getting it into service. I'm not desperate since I still have the Beaver with a hoe on it.

The front hangers were included and compete, and the seller had a 855 that he was parting that I pulled the rear"fork" brackets off for $75. Dont feel like you missed a deal, this thing is trashed. My parts list from JD is over $4k. The Amerequip dealer I found quoted me just under $2500 with a 4-6 week wait, probly plus shipping. A few of the parts I may make to save a couple dollars, expecially the bucket($390) if I get the time. All the rods are damaged, two barrels are shot, and every pin hole on the stabilizers are 5/8 by 1 inch ovals.
JD quoted $763 for the boom cylinder, Amerequip said $470. Thats about 40% off JD. Id like to find a better price, but I want it to be correct for the machine and be able to find parts to reseal it when the time comes.

 

[bankston]

I had a 9" hoe bkt, but got rid of it. Dirt gets packed into it and often gets stuck, even if you drill holes in the bottom.

My 18" has never been mounted.

I have the sides cut (CNC plasma) for my ripper tooth "bucket", but I have never welded it up. Probably should get to that....

So you think 12" is the best all around bucket? This is the only backhoe I will have, so I figured id make a assortment. What do you think about a chain or plate dirt clod ejector in a skinny bucket? I have never used one, but the look like a good idea.

 

[techwrtr2]

The front hangers were included and compete, and the seller had a 855 that he was parting that I pulled the rear"fork" brackets off for $75. Dont feel like you missed a deal, this thing is trashed. My parts list from JD is over $4k. The Amerequip dealer I found quoted me just under $2500 with a 4-6 week wait, probly plus shipping. A few of the parts I may make to save a couple dollars, expecially the bucket($390) if I get the time. All the rods are damaged, two barrels are shot, and every pin hole on the stabilizers are 5/8 by 1 inch ovals.
JD quoted $763 for the boom cylinder, Amerequip said $470. Thats about 40% off JD. Id like to find a better price, but I want it to be correct for the machine and be able to find parts to reseal it when the time comes.

Wow. I expected a total investment of nearer to 3k.

However, I could also see myself getting it functional and not worrying about making it perfect.

 

[Mechanos]

I know what it's like to buy someone else's "junk" resurrecting it... my 955 is proof of that. By the time I got it all put back together and functional, i could have just bought a low hour functional 955 for the same money. Unless you just want a project to occupy your time, it sounds like you will be time and money ahead to buy a working aftermarket backhoe (Woods, Amerequip, etc.) And attach it to the subframe you have from the #7.

The front hangers were included and compete, and the seller had a 855 that he was parting that I pulled the rear"fork" brackets off for $75. Dont feel like you missed a deal, this thing is trashed. My parts list from JD is over $4k. The Amerequip dealer I found quoted me just under $2500 with a 4-6 week wait, probly plus shipping. A few of the parts I may make to save a couple dollars, expecially the bucket($390) if I get the time. All the rods are damaged, two barrels are shot, and every pin hole on the stabilizers are 5/8 by 1 inch ovals.
JD quoted $763 for the boom cylinder, Amerequip said $470. Thats about 40% off JD. Id like to find a better price, but I want it to be correct for the machine and be able to find parts to reseal it when the time comes.

 

[bankston]

Wow. I expected a total investment of nearer to 3k.

However, I could also see myself getting it functional and not worrying about making it perfect.

I hoped so too.

 

[bankston]

I know what it's like to buy someone else's "junk" resurrecting it... my 955 is proof of that. By the time I got it all put back together and functional, i could have just bought a low hour functional 955 for the same money. Unless you just want a project to occupy your time, it sounds like you will be time and money ahead to buy a working aftermarket backhoe (Woods, Amerequip, etc.) And attach it to the subframe you have from the #7.

I could never do that, they are the wrong color. All jokes aside, I already bought a Bobcat attachment intending to make a subframe for the 855, it was to large and it was in much worse shape than this 7. All the small backhoes I have looked at are $4-$5k new or just as beaten as this one for $3.5-$4k. I will be happy to have a fully restored, mechanically new, and correct for my tractor attachment for around $4k, hopefully under if I can get measurements for the bucket and make a few pins/plates.
I am a sucker for projects like this. I have the facilities and equipment to make alot of cool stuff, I just need a reason to.

 

[dfkrug]

So you think 12" is the best all around bucket? This is the only backhoe I will have, so I
figured id make a assortment. What do you think about a chain or plate dirt clod ejector in a skinny bucket? I have
never used one, but the look like a good idea.

For me, the 12-incher is best all around. I keep the 18 only because I might do some volume digging. It is prob
double the volume of the 12. If you have softer soils and want to move a lot of dirt fast, the bigger one
is something to own. I also find the 12" is about perfect for pipe trenches. The pro I hired years ago had
numerous bkts for his CASE 580, but none narrower than 12".

I have not tried the chain or articulating plate methods of bkt clearing. Drilling a bunch of 3/4" holes in the
bottom of a narrow bkt seems easier and may be as effective.

If you have time to make a 2nd bkt after making a 12" first, I would prioritize them based on your need,
and your needs may be different than mine. Consider a single-tooth ripper, a large bkt, and maybe a
rock bkt, all before a 9-incher. A rock bkt's carcass is mostly steel round stock so you can filter
rocks out of the dirt.

 

[Mechanos]

I could never do that, they are the wrong color. All jokes aside, I already bought a Bobcat attachment intending to make a subframe for the 855, it was to large and it was in much worse shape than this 7. All the small backhoes I have looked at are $4-$5k new or just as beaten as this one for $3.5-$4k. I will be happy to have a fully restored, mechanically new, and correct for my tractor attachment for around $4k, hopefully under if I can get measurements for the bucket and make a few pins/plates.
I am a sucker for projects like this. I have the facilities and equipment to make alot of cool stuff, I just need a reason to.

Yeah... if you want a project to occupy your time or are doing a restoration then go for it. If you need to get some work done, buy a new one. Take your $4k estimate and multiply by 150% minimum. Take your time estimate and double.or triple it. Or take that $6k and buy a new one... in the color of your choice... with an assortment of bucket sizes and be working in a fraction of the time. Just my take on it.

One other suggestion... if you stay with the #7 take the valve stack apart and rearrange the valve order to convert it from the retarded ISO pattern to the SAE pattern.