Backhoe blade

Volp · Jun 27, 2002

I have been working with the instalation of my new pool and used my backhoe level the ground. I find it difficult to get a good finish with the bucket ( about 30" wide).
Have any of you build a blade to fit a backhoe instead of the bucket?
If the construction is not too complicated I might build it myself. I have made a rippel tooth of simple design which works quite well.

EdKing · Jun 27, 2002

Anders, I would just use your back blade to smooth up the area after you finish digging with the backhoe.

JimMc · Jun 27, 2002

We built a couple of them for a local landscaping company. The hoe bucket goes into the back socket, then pins on.

rlw · Jun 27, 2002

I've seen a backfill blade that bolts onto the bucket. Basically you just remove the two outer teeth on the bucket, and the blade bolts on.
I can't find the link/picture - it may have been discussed on TBN somewhere.

Volp · Jun 27, 2002

Thanks Jim!
Your picture looks like the conception I was thinking about.
Thanks also to rlw and EdKing.
Maybe it is easier to bolt something to the bucket than making a new outfit to replace it.

dummy · Jun 27, 2002

One of the guys showed me a neat trick for that. He has a JD 455 with all toothed buckets. He welded up two pieces of flat stock into a V shape that slips on over the teeth. One end is welded closed the other has a small locking pin, on and off in a snap.He then has a smooth, flat surface to scrape and grade with.

rocky2 · Jun 27, 2002

An old excavator I knew had a simple setup on his case 580. A 1/2" flat plate bottom(a bit bigger than the bucket), a plate welded on either side with a couple of holes drilled/bolted thru the bucket, slipped on similar to a tooth bar on the FEL. Made for quick removal/installation without removing the bucket. It worked on all sorts of slopes/angles. Now this guy on his old Case had the touch of a surgeon and could smooth out an area that I couldn't match with a rake by hand.
Pose this question to WroughtnHarv and with his welding abilities, the guy will have one fabricated, installed, tested and photo's posted before you're even finished typing up the question.

rlw · Jun 27, 2002

Here is the link.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hallsdirtblade.com>http://www.hallsdirtblade.com</A>

Kodiak · Jun 27, 2002

I have a 38" one that we made from a garden tractor back blade. It has a 16" peice of 3"x5", 1/4" wall square tube, vertical support. That is slotted to fit over the center tooth and 5" up the bottom of the bucket. And is held on with a the T handle and screw, cut from an old (large) C clamp.

Mounted on the Woods 7500 BH, it works quite well. strong yet light weight.

Boondox · Jun 27, 2002

Kodiak -- Any chance of getting a picture of that?

Pete

micromike · Jun 27, 2002

Very interesting! I haven't seen one of these but can see it's value. It also got me to thinking. Does anyone make a landscape rake attachment for a backhoe? It wouldn't be hard to build I'm sure. I've been thinking about what I can use to clean and rake the woods around my house which is on a slope that is to steep and to narrow between the trees to drive a tractor. A land scape rake, say 36" on a backhoe seems ideal.

Any thoughts?

mike

Volp · Jun 28, 2002

Well Rocky2, it seems that your excavator friends device is similar to the other ideas presented on this thread. As a surgeon myself I am sorry to say that my touch with the scalpel is not transferable to my handling of a backhoe!

Kodiak · Jun 28, 2002

Well that does it I guess I can't procrastinate any longer, I'm just going to have to go out and get one of those new fangled digi-thingy cameras. I'll post pictures of it and some of my other interesting projects as soon as I do.

That was an neat idea about mounting a lanscape rake to a backhoe. My mind is already whirring with ideas. I could use an old cut down landscape rake attached as I described in my post about the BKH blade. Or just get some 3"x3" angle and buy some new LSR teeth and bolt to it, still using the same method of attaching it.

Volp · Jun 29, 2002

Kodiak
I can only support Boondox in this and will be looking forward to see your pictures!

Anonymous Poster · Jun 29, 2002

I welded 3/4" by 8" grader blade 40" long to some old teeth already installed on 36" bucket. Then u can take off when not using and put teeth back on.I have this on a Deere 710 tlb and dig basements and finish grade with it.

OkieG · Jul 1, 2002

JimMc,
Do you have a source for a moldboard "blank"? My summer project is to build a backblade for snow removal and grading. Presently, I have a length of 15" wide channel, which must be bent to form the moldboard....a project I am not looking forward to. I don't mind (in fact, enjoy) building from scratch, but a pre-formed moldboard would really help. Thanks,

OkieG

JimMc · Jul 1, 2002

We fabricate our moldboards in several steps. They are first cut with either a CNC high definition plasma or laser, depending on the model. The blank plate is then rolled in a plate roll, and finally the stiffening bend and offset for the cutting edge are processed in a CNC break.

Although this is a more expensive process than most manufacturers use, it results in a high quality moldboard with the radius exactly matching the curve of the cutting edge allowing a smooth transition from edge to moldboard.

I suppose we could make a moldboard available as a replacement part, but obviously if you buy the individual parts to make a blade it would probably end up costing more. Of course, if you just enjoy the challenge of "rolling your own", it's probably worth it. (I know I do)