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

[chad22]

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.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. After getting it tore down and thinking about it some more. I decided to keep going with this project. But I'm not gonna work on it probably until spring, I should be able to purchase the necessary material by then.

I'm gonna also get me a chop saw so I can cut the material a lot easier. And a better drill press.

The renting of a mini ex is out of the question now. Seeing as the rental place went out of business just a few days ago. And the rest of the places to rent from require a credit card which I don't have.

So it's either dig the trench by hand, or get this backhoe built and going. And I choose the backhoe over digging by hand.

I figured up the cost and should be able to get it built right with the proper material for at least another $1,000.00 which would bring the project to $2,000.00 which is still cheaper than purchasing one already made.

So as I get the money, I'll probably order the materials a little at a time and put them back until I have everything to start the build with.

Chad

 

[NormL]

Hi Chad

I am pleased to see you have taken that step back as recommended. I'm sure you will not regret it. As for acquiring adequate tools and shop equipment - good investments that will work for you over the years the same as the back hoe should do!:thumbsup: I'll get back to my project when I get the time. Lately it has been a blur around here with haying and charters. All of a sudden people want to go places and mowers and rakes and balers all need to be serviced and ready when the weather is right. I'm especially pleased to be able to bring a sickle bar mower back into service after many years of lying in the scrap heap left behind by the previous owner. All it really needed was a new drive belt and pitman arm. The rest was shimming the fingers and other adjustments to bring the shearing surfaces closer together and the machine works like it hadn't in years.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you will do with your backhoe and hope to get back to work on mine real soon.

 

[Short Game]

... a credit card which I don't have.

Wow, I'm not the only one!

 

[Neat 1500]

i am looking at making my own but the cost of the cylinders,hoses and lever banks is a bit prohibiting at the moment. i estimate it is going to cost about $2500 just for these bits. steel will be about $500. still though its cheaper than buying one @ $9k......:shocked:

 

[evo803]

You are going to have the best feeling in the world when you are standing at the end of your just finished water line install !

 

[chad22]

Hi Chad

I am pleased to see you have taken that step back as recommended. I'm sure you will not regret it. As for acquiring adequate tools and shop equipment - good investments that will work for you over the years the same as the back hoe should do!:thumbsup: I'll get back to my project when I get the time. Lately it has been a blur around here with haying and charters. All of a sudden people want to go places and mowers and rakes and balers all need to be serviced and ready when the weather is right. I'm especially pleased to be able to bring a sickle bar mower back into service after many years of lying in the scrap heap left behind by the previous owner. All it really needed was a new drive belt and pitman arm. The rest was shimming the fingers and other adjustments to bring the shearing surfaces closer together and the machine works like it hadn't in years.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you will do with your backhoe and hope to get back to work on mine real soon.

I'm sure this time it will turn out as I hope. And yeah I probably won't regret continuing the build. Glad you got the mower back in service. I know I'd be satisfied.

Wow, I'm not the only one!

Nope. Your not the only one without a credit card. Well I used to have one. I got the application for one when I was 17 and no Job. I filled the application
for the heck of it. I figured I'd get a response saying I wasn't approved. But no I got approved for a credit card with a $3,000.00 limit.

And yep I spent every bit of it. And with the added interest. It's now at $4,000.00 of what I owe.

i am looking at making my own but the cost of the cylinders,hoses and lever banks is a bit prohibiting at the moment. i estimate it is going to cost about $2500 just for these bits. steel will be about $500. still though its cheaper than buying one @ $9k......:shocked:

Yep those parts are expensive. I wouldn't continue building this one. But I've already got $1,000.00 in hydraulics and steel. So I figured heck I might as well put another $1,000.00 into it.The fittings alone just to connect the hoses to the valve are $70.00

But if I hadn't already put the $1,000.00 into it. I would be just buying one of the pre made towable backhoes.

You are going to have the best feeling in the world when you are standing at the end of your just finished water line install !

I'm sure I will. And I can be proud that the backhoe was made by me in the USA. lol

And not China where those other ones are probably manufactured at.

Chad

 

[Short Game]

Nope. Your not the only one without a credit card. Well I used to have one. I got the application for one when I was 17 and no Job. I filled the application
for the heck of it. I figured I'd get a response saying I wasn't approved. But no I got approved for a credit card with a $3,000.00 limit.

And yep I spent every bit of it. And with the added interest. It's now at $4,000.00 of what I owe.

Well, I'm 64 and have never had one. Never had a checkbook either. I've always had crappy short term memory and would be a danger to myself or others with the card or the book. About the time I was 50, I discovered I could no longer rent a car without possessing a credit card. By the time I was 55, using cash meant I was probably a terrorist or a criminal of some other kind and therefore, shouldn't think about getting on a plane. It's okay though, they will starve me out soon enough, as they have forgotten that "entitlements" means that you were supposed to be entitled to something. In my case, it was supposed to be because I was in a war for them and their sponsors, who they, with my help, made richer.

Oh yeah, I hope you get the backhoe built.

 

[farmall bill]

Hay i've got one of those home made backhoes I make back in 97...... its priceless......... is yours cadplans.com?

 

[chad22]

Hay i've got one of those home made backhoes I make back in 97...... its priceless......... is yours cadplans.com?

I don't have any plans bought yet. Not sure if I will buy any plans or just wing it. "Probably just wing it".

The cylinders I currently have won't work on any smaller tubing for the boom and stick. And seeing as I already have the stick and boom made up. I think I'll just use them and build the frame strong enough to support it.


I'm gonna shorten the boom and stick just a bit and maybe even curve the boom.

Hopefully by next summer I'll have all the materials gathered and can go to work on it.

For now, I've stored the hoses, cylinders and valve in the shop.

Chad

 

[evo803]

Here is a picture for you chad. Study it well and follow its design and you will have a great backhoe.

Just remember in order to shorten the boom you need to overlap the cylinders mounting point . Look at the picture and the boom mounting casting on it is about 1/2" to 5/8" thick in places and its boom is about 4'. So if you leave yours 6' just think how thick that would have to be!!!

 

[Kernopelli]

i am looking at making my own but the cost of the cylinders,hoses and lever banks is a bit prohibiting at the moment. i estimate it is going to cost about $2500 just for these bits. steel will be about $500. still though its cheaper than buying one @ $9k......:shocked:

A backhoe build is probably my most desired project. I have all the steel and some hydraulics, just can't find the time. I have had great success buying my cylinders and valves on Ebay. It sometimes takes patient/dedicated watching for the "super deal" to come around but they always do. I absolutely love the Ebay store NPS ( national product sales) they are a freight recovery seller and sell anything from Amati violins to small block chevys....they are a little high on shipping and no longer start every auction at 99cents ( most still are) but they regularly have hydraulics that sell for little or nothing. They might list a pump as a motor or give an otherwise bad description of the item but if you know what you are looking at or for...you can get great deals.

 

[peavey]

I have been working on a towable back hoe project myself for the last month or so, in my spare time which I have less and less. I will try and attach some pics I took today. But, your exactly right about the cost and time. I spent the last 3 saturdays putting this thing togather and it is no where close to finished. Right now I am trying to get all the hydraulics working good, then I'll have to make some adjustments on the rear wheels, seat frame, floor, re route hoses, make engine cover when not in use, then grind, paint.

 

[chad22]

I will try and attach some pics I took today.

Please do. I would love to see those pics. :thumbsup:

Chad

 

[Neat 1500]

A backhoe build is probably my most desired project. I have all the steel and some hydraulics, just can't find the time. I have had great success buying my cylinders and valves on Ebay. It sometimes takes patient/dedicated watching for the "super deal" to come around but they always do. I absolutely love the Ebay store NPS ( national product sales) they are a freight recovery seller and sell anything from Amati violins to small block chevys....they are a little high on shipping and no longer start every auction at 99cents ( most still are) but they regularly have hydraulics that sell for little or nothing. They might list a pump as a motor or give an otherwise bad description of the item but if you know what you are looking at or for...you can get great deals.

thats OK just send me what you have and i will finish it off and trial it for you.....:laughing:

 

[Neat 1500]

A backhoe build is probably my most desired project. I have all the steel and some hydraulics, just can't find the time. I have had great success buying my cylinders and valves on Ebay. It sometimes takes patient/dedicated watching for the "super deal" to come around but they always do. I absolutely love the Ebay store NPS ( national product sales) they are a freight recovery seller and sell anything from Amati violins to small block chevys....they are a little high on shipping and no longer start every auction at 99cents ( most still are) but they regularly have hydraulics that sell for little or nothing. They might list a pump as a motor or give an otherwise bad description of the item but if you know what you are looking at or for...you can get great deals.

i was just looking around on ebay, cylinders in the states are way cheaper than here in australia. a 2" bore 18" stroke is about $78 US but here the same thing is about $288! thats the difference

 

[peavey]

If someone could tell me how to send the pics would be a big help, *I can't seem to figure it out.

 

[NormL]

If someone could tell me how to send the pics would be a big help, *I can't seem to figure it out.

I'll try showing what has worked for me

I'll assume you have the photos loaded in your computer by now. Once you are in "Reply to Thread" and writing your post, scroll down to "Additional Options" and click on "Manage Attachments". Click on "Browse" and hopefully the photos you want to attach will show up. BTW, you should be taking your photos at a setting which is suitable for sending by e-mail. That way you don't over-burden the file with unnecessary detail. Once you have browsed and selected your photos, click on "Upload". You should be able to handle the rest from there. Good luck!!:thumbsup:

 

[peavey]

Ok, this is my first try at adding the pics, so if they do not show go easy on me.

 

[NormL]

Ok, this is my first try at adding the pics, so if they do not show go easy on me.

They sent just fine!:thumbsup: Nice adaptation of an existing backhoe to a tow-able setup.

 

[Short Game]

I have an old Kubota backhoe that fits neither of my tractors' three-points. I was considering setting up a frame mount and not liking the idea of all the work it was looking like. That towable rig was all the inspiration I needed. That's the ticket for me. I'm doing that right after my next visit to the Spare Time Locker.