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

[chad22]

Yeah you 2 are right. I'll probably come up with another idea before I even get to making it drivable. "Then I'll wind up not making it drivable".

I'm always changing my mind on things. :laughing: Like just an hour ago. I was thinking of doing another tear down and build a nicer frame using some more square tubing and make better outriggers that dig into the ground better. hmm "scratches head". lol

I should be able to get all new tubing for $200.00. ideas, ideas, ideas "did I mention ideas?"

I'll probably try to get it as close as possible to the harborfreight trencher.

Chad

 

[chad22]

Well guys it was a fun project. But today was the last straw. Yesterday the boom pivot "Swing" broke off again. The metal snapped in half. "Not the welds" the metal itself. So I fixed it, and used a 1/2" steel angle. I started it up again. Everything was going fine until it broke once again.

The metal actually snapped in half. A 1/2" thick angle iron snapped right in half like a twig. The metal must have got a week spot or something.

I am seriously not gonna put anymore money into this backhoe. By the time I paid for all new steel and everything I could just have an already made one and be done with it.

As soon as I get the money. I'll either buy the one from harborfreight or the one on ebay.

I'm thinking about selling the cylinders, and the valve on ebay. So maybe I can get some of my money back. And put that towards the new backhoe.

I was gonna keep the cylinders to use for the loader. But then I think I'll just use the already factory made loader arms I got. They require a smaller cylinder.

And I won't need a five spool valve for the loader. I can get a joystick valve when the time comes.

I did redo the stick mount, and after all that work. The backhoe has to break again.

Before I tear it down. I'll take a photo of the new way I mounted the stick to the boom. And it worked so good. That is until the boom swing pivot broke.

Chad

 

[NormL]

Well guys it was a fun project. But today was the last straw. Yesterday the boom pivot "Swing" broke off again. The metal snapped in half. "Not the welds" the metal itself. So I fixed it, and used a 1/2" steel angle. I started it up again. Everything was going fine until it broke once again.

The metal actually snapped in half. A 1/2" thick angle iron snapped right in half like a twig. The metal must have got a week spot or something.

I am seriously not gonna put anymore money into this backhoe. By the time I paid for all new steel and everything I could just have an already made one and be done with it.

As soon as I get the money. I'll either buy the one from harborfreight or the one on ebay.

I'm thinking about selling the cylinders, and the valve on ebay. So maybe I can get some of my money back. And put that towards the new backhoe.

I was gonna keep the cylinders to use for the loader. But then I think I'll just use the already factory made loader arms I got. They require a smaller cylinder.

And I won't need a five spool valve for the loader. I can get a joystick valve when the time comes.

I did redo the stick mount, and after all that work. The backhoe has to break again.

Before I tear it down. I'll take a photo of the new way I mounted the stick to the boom. And it worked so good. That is until the boom swing pivot broke.

Chad

I appreciate your frustration with the way your back hoe has continued to break down. I guess there has to be a point where enough is too much. I hope that at some point you can revisit this whole affair with renewed vision and enthusiasm and a clear understanding of what it has been that keeps going wrong. The concept is sound - there are lots of homebuilts out there. I hope your discouragement is only temporary and you can move on again! Since it is the swing box and pivot that proved weak, why not wait and see how my innovation works out. I can't say that it will be strong enough till I put it to work. But to me it looks really strong and I have high hopes for it. If it proves worthy, maybe you could do a mod on yours with a similar system.

 

[evo803]

DO NOT GIVE UP, YOU CAN DO IT !!!!!!!!

Do yourself a favor and cut the boom and stick length down this will decrease the forces and the mount. As you have seen at that length there is enough forces to snap 1/2" steel with ease. You are getting tossed around because your base is so small and lightweight it can't support that large a hoe. I can guarantee you if you make those changes you will not regret it.

Take a look at a small woods backhoe and the 2 cylinders overlap on the boom or you can mount one on top and the other under the boom.

I will say again for alot less money you can get this rig working better than the e-bay unit.

 

[Cacinok]

Yeah you 2 are right. I'll probably come up with another idea before I even get to making it drivable. "Then I'll wind up not making it drivable".

I'm always changing my mind on things. :laughing: Like just an hour ago. I was thinking of doing another tear down and build a nicer frame using some more square tubing and make better outriggers that dig into the ground better. hmm "scratches head". lol

I should be able to get all new tubing for $200.00. ideas, ideas, ideas "did I mention ideas?"

I'll probably try to get it as close as possible to the harborfreight trencher.

Chad

Interesting thread Chad, very informative. I know you said you're giving up, but in case you don't, check out this guys back hoe he uses an interesting concept for moving it while working.

here's a video of his back hoe working link. he even made an electric version of it.

 

[o2batsea]

See the epic "your free time isn't free" thread of 2010. Then get back to us.

 

[chad22]

Thanks Guys. But I'm really done with it.

Here's the last video of it, before it's tore down. I also wanted to show you the new mount for the stick, that I made using some channel iron. I've attached some photos.

‪This is the final video of my backhoe before I tear it down for good.‬‏ - YouTube

I know I really shouldn't give up and continue with it. But the cost to get it right is gonna be close to what a new harbor freight one would cost. I really do think I'd be better off with an already made one.

Chad

 

[rjmack]

forget the naysayers... what you learned from this project probably puts you ahead of a lot of them. nobody learns for free. :thumbsup:

the trick is to try remember the more expensive lessons.

btw, looks to me like you have a lot of the pieces to build a picker for a flatdeck or trailer. :thumbsup:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks Guys. But I'm really done with it.

Here's the last video of it, before it's tore down. I also wanted to show you the new mount for the stick, that I made using some channel iron. I've attached some photos.

‪This is the final video of my backhoe before I tear it down for good.‬‏ - YouTube

I know I really shouldn't give up and continue with it. But the cost to get it right is gonna be close to what a new harbor freight one would cost. I really do think I'd be better off with an already made one.

Chad

You surely learned a lot from this experience. Thanks for sharing the process with us so that we could all share in the learning process.

 

[evo803]

Just step away from the project for a while and refocus yourself.

Stop trying to fix what will never work and get the proper stock to re-build the boom and stick from. Do yourself a favor and look at the design of what you want to purchase and use that to build from. You already have the hydraulics which is the most costly portion of the project. I bet for around $750.00 you can get a new pump,motor and the proper steel and in no time at all you will have a perfectly functioning backhoe.