A loving home for a neglected MF1455v

1stDeuce · Oct 15, 2016

Thanks! Moved a giant brush pile today. Couple of rub marks on my guard, but no damage.

I also found a Backhoe that I'm probably going to get... It's a Bradco 609. It's been sitting out for years, and a bit rusty, but the price is very right, so even if I have to paint it and replace a few hoses, I think it's going to work. It's set up for a New Holland skidsteer, so I'll have to build it a subframe, but it'll definitely get the job done!

PatrickS2222 · Oct 16, 2016

1stDeuce said:
Thanks! Moved a giant brush pile today. Couple of rub marks on my guard, but no damage.

I also found a Backhoe that I'm probably going to get... It's a Bradco 609. It's been sitting out for years, and a bit rusty, but the price is very right, so even if I have to paint it and replace a few hoses, I think it's going to work. It's set up for a New Holland skidsteer, so I'll have to build it a subframe, but it'll definitely get the job done!

Great - sounds as though that military-spec guard you built is doing its job! :laughing:

You'll never regret grabbing that backhoe - do it while its still available. Hoses - especially those you got for your bucket - seem really cheap, and many are stock items anyway ... or if you're lucky, have re-usable ends. Someone with your capability can repair damage or "wear and tear" in the relevant areas. :thumbsup: I'm quite lucky my good neighbour has a good strong backhoe on a grand old David Brown 885 - I've done some work on it for him and borrow it whenever I need it. He loves using my MF135 and I'm happy for him to do likewise. A mate and I chased a MF50B Loader/BH in superb condition at an auction a few years ago ..... it went for around 2/3 of its value. :licking: I still remind him we should have bought it and had the "discussion" with the "Minister for Finance" when we each got home

Go for it! :drink:

Tompet · Oct 16, 2016

Great job on your purchase and your skill in altering and adapting the tractor to your needs. You done good!

PatrickS2222 · Oct 18, 2016

Have you pulled the trigger on that backhoe yet?

1stDeuce · Oct 18, 2016

Just approved the shipper on Uship. They are supposed to pick it up today. It's a little rusty from sitting in Florida for years, but the cyl's are solid, and hoses also supposed to be good. I'll just paint the rest red and it'll be fine.

I'll have to build it a subframe, and probably have to find a narrower bucket, since it's coming with a 24" scoop! In the end, I'd have been better off with the $3k local one, but I missed it, and haven't seen much else... This one cost me $2500 delivered, so I can spend $500 on a bucket, and $50 on paint, and I'll be right there. I'll probably keep the NH skid steer mount so I can sell it if I grow tired of it.

1stDeuce · Oct 18, 2016

I should add that I discovered yesterday that surplus center has good prices on hydraulic hose assemblies too. Would have been a tiny bit cheaper to order my loader hoses through them, and I could have retained the 3/8" factory hose size instead of bumping to 1/2" for the -6 fitting size. Oh well. I'll need more, since I'm going to re-locate the loader quick connectors to mid-tractor, and put at least one electric diverter in so I can use the loader control to run a hyd top link. Eventually...

Plus I'll be adding actual Power Beyond connections on the back for the BH. (I have the QC's already, but they're buried down on the way to the loader valve... I'll just move them to the ROPS, and add a line for the drain to "tank".)

PatrickS2222 · Oct 18, 2016

Cool, sounds great! :thumbsup: You're gonna be a bit busy for a while

but in the end you'll have exactly the set-up you want, and all for a great price.

1stDeuce · Oct 21, 2016

Well, using the loader more, I got to thinking... The 1533 I ran had a "float" feature on the boom, but mine does not seem to. What mine does have is a 2nd position on the boom raise direction (Pull back on the stick) which seems to do a fast raise... I was noodling on how it could be plumbed wrong if that was supposed to be float and realize that the fast function was probably supposed to be fast dump. (Regen?)

I started a thread to inquire, but it's just me talking to myself as I figured it out myself...

Just turned the control 90° and re-connected the hoses, and now I can quick dump. Very nice!!! Still no float function, but I can live without that!

For my next trick, I'll probably have to remove the cables from one end or the other and lube them so they operate a little easier, but it's getting there!!

Once my trailer build is done, I may spend a bit of time making a canopy... Either a golf cart roof if I can find one, or I'll use some old bedliner floor I've had laying around forever. The bedliner might be cool if I can run the ribs side to side so any rain drips off the sides rather than the front. Should keep me a bit drier if I can make it wide enough.

PatrickS2222 · Oct 26, 2016

Sounds like you're getting her into top shape rather quickly - you'll be enjoying the seat time a lot.

What do you think of this idea for a bit of shade and protection from rain?
I'm toying with the idea of using an old car bonnet for a shade canopy, attached to a frame. The shape should be advantageous as well as naturally drain water off. I thought a pair of U-shaped pieces of steel tube - one 2" dia welded to plates mounted to the tractor's rear axle - probably where the fenders mount, with another U-shaped piece about 1" or 1&1/4" dia welded to it half-way or two-thirds up and angled forward. Then position the bonnet in the optimum location and attach with some self-threading screws to the bonnet's "skeleton" - its strength, or alternatively self-threading roofing screws (they come already with rubber sealing washers) from the top, into each piece of tubing. That should be strong enough, no protruding sharp points, and allow easy access on and off the tractor. I don't expect ROPS strength, nor do I want to be "framed" in - I just want some shade on hot days. Removing it should be as easy as undoing 4 bolts and lifting it off.:thumbsup: