Backhoe- Build or Buy?

[dfkrug]

The sooner I get all the equipment needed to make any thing the happier I will be. no sending out to a machine shop only to have them make the mistakes for me.

That is the key really.

One shop I paid to cut some large holes for my CADDigger cut one in the wrong place. Each hole was clearly marked on each piece. It was
aggravation at every turn. Now I cut my own.

I have a lot of tools now, but I refuse to dedicate floor space to a milling
machine. And a 3-phase converter. I do have a couple of pals with
large Bridgeports, but I try to work around the need for milling machine
work. Lately the only service I have been going outside for is CNC steel
cutting.

 

[2manyrocks]

I guess one has to consider all the costs and use of time. Once you start buying a bandsaw, drill press, welder, etc., it runs up the cost. Unless you are going to use the equipment for other projects, it can get expensive.

There are some guys who can knock out a project before I've even cut my materials to length. Even a simple project seems to take a lot of my time. I can't remember where I read it, but it seems like one of the keys to building a backhoe is to get everything aligned correctly so it doesn't bind or twist in operation. Building a backhoe is probably not a project that I should attempt, but certainly other people have that skill if they want to invest their time and money doing it.

 

[john_bud]

You forgot 1 VERY important part my friend finding a reputable place to repair it for you... The sooner I get all the equipment needed to make any thing the happier I will be. no sending out to a machine shop only to have them make the mistakes for me. no disrespect intended towards your "fun" during your rebuild.

Oh, I can't argue or even dis-agree with you on that one! In fact I went to several shops and the one I used was highly regarded. So much for references, they are only good as long as the people they refer to are still there.

I would like to have the equipment and skills to do my own machining. That's probably not in the cards, unless anyone wants to send me the winning lottery ticket. (If so, just PM me and I'll let you know the address! !)

jb

 

[joes_427_vette]

The 50 hour theory is just that. I had over 50 hours designing, planning, fabricating, refabricating, redesigning, welding, grinding, priming and testing. This was just what it took to get an acceptable mount for a Bradco 611 to a New Holland TC 55DA. Don't get me wrong.... it was fun and exciting watching it progress, changing ideas, and finally closing on a design that is adequate for the task.
Bradco doesn't make a subframe mount for my combination. That is what sent me down this trail and of course at todays shop rate I couldn't justify sending it out.
Some of this work is not impossible.... just takes time and a small amount of ambition.
I'm studing loaders presently and want to fabricate one for my JD 4110.

 

[wmgeorge]

Well I went down to my local re-cycled metal place and I can do the metal part of the Caddigger for less than $400, my major expense now will be the hydraulics. I may be shopping the "yard" for those also. I figure I can get by for now on just using the standard, adjust by hand stabilizers. BG in Iowa

 

[Mith]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I really think you would be wise to shell out for hydraulic stabilizers and use a subframe mount. Apart from the risk of breaking your tractor you will also have a hard time getting downpressure as the 3ph will tend to lift when you push down with the hoe.


Once the design is sorted I think the actual construction of a backhoe is easier than that for a loader, atleast, I thought it was. The loader had to be square between the 2 arms, and both sides had to be exactly the same. With the backhoe, as long as it was square it wasnt an issue to get it to fit up. Design for the backhoe was much harder.
No including sourcing materials and design I'd reckon 50 hours is reasonable to build.

I built the following loader and backhoe combination last year.

 

[dfkrug]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I really think you would be wise to shell out for hydraulic stabilizers and use a subframe mount. Apart from the risk of breaking your tractor you will also have a hard time getting downpressure as the 3ph will tend to lift when you push down with the hoe.

Although I am against using the 3-pt on compact tractors to support a
backhoe, if one insists on doing it, then an additional brace should always
be used to keep the 3PH from lifting. Severe injury can result when an
unbraced hoe suddenly rises and pinches the operator. All of the
commercially available hoes that I have seen that come with 3-pt mounts
provide such a brace. Often a strengthened toplink is included, too.

 

[Mith]

if one insists on doing it, then an additional brace should always
be used to keep the 3PH from lifting.

Yes, I agree. But adding this brace would mean that you would not be able to use fixed stabiliers. If I read right, the OP is planning to use his 3pt lift to lift the BH up off the stabilisers to move?

 

[wmgeorge]

Yes, I agree. But adding this brace would mean that you would not be able to use fixed stabiliers. If I read right, the OP is planning to use his 3pt lift to lift the BH up off the stabilisers to move?

It just so happens when the BH is in operation, the 3 Point hitch can not raise. In fact someone would have to move the lever up anyway, and since I'm the only one on the machine... I don't think that would happen.

3 Point... Did I tell you my tractor has cast iron transmission and clutch housing? This tractor weighs 1600 lbs, plus the loader on front with its sub-frame adds another 600 lbs. The odds of this 16 Hp tractor having enough power to snap the cast iron tractor, steel frame and steel loader frame in half would be hard to imagine.

Now If I had a newer tractor with say 50 - 75 HP and a die cast aluminum hydrostatic transaxle, and a U formed sheet metal frame I'd be concerned. BG in Iowa

BTW nice job on the build!! Your tractor is about the same size as my John Deere 318 I sold, my current one now is a John Deere 650.

 

[Mith]

BG, you can lift the lower arms of a 3ph without moving the lever on all the tractors I have had experience with, the links are able to move allowing you to lift the lower arms. Yours must be an different design, my mistake, I'd be interested to see a picture, apart from the brace with effectively locks the 3ph that dfkrug mentions I dont know of any other way of preventing it lifting.

The problem is not so much breaking the tractor in half (but thats still a consideration, but your loader frame will probably prevent that), but ripping the toplink bracket out the housing. Most of the digging force (several thousand lbs even with 16HP) will be concentrated on it.
I can tell I'm got going to convince you though

Thanks. The tractor is only 12HP. Weighs 2000lbs or there abouts. 6'2 loader lift, 6' backhoe dig depth.