Backhoe Build A Backhoe For PT425... It Could Happen

[MossRoad]

Between people stopping by and occasional spits of rain, I was lucky to get 2 hours in today.

I fabricated the bucket linkage, mounted it to the dipper stick, tacked the spacers and bushings in place and checked for articulation. I need to adjust the cross tube that goes through the dipper stick a foot up from the end. It is not quite square and makes for a small bind. I will ream out the bottom of the hole on the side that is too high and keep test fitting until it operates smoothly and is square with the dipper stick before I tack the tube in place.

I also started fabricating the 12" bucket. The plans call for making the bucket from 1/8 inch plate. However, I don't have any. I am using 1/4 triangular plates for the sides that I think will make for a good bucket shape and size. The bottom and back of the bucket will be from 3/8 diamond plated. The smooth side will go inside the bucket and the diamond side will go on the outside.

Pictures will be taken before I continue.

Running totals:
Time = 53 hrs.
Approximate Cost = $1600.00

 

[Barryh]

Between people stopping by and occasional spits of rain, I was lucky to get 2 hours in today.

I fabricated the bucket linkage, mounted it to the dipper stick, tacked the spacers and bushings in place and checked for articulation. I need to adjust the cross tube that goes through the dipper stick a foot up from the end. It is not quite square and makes for a small bind. I will ream out the bottom of the hole on the side that is too high and keep test fitting until it operates smoothly and is square with the dipper stick before I tack the tube in place.

I also started fabricating the 12" bucket. The plans call for making the bucket from 1/8 inch plate. However, I don't have any. I am using 1/4 triangular plates for the sides that I think will make for a good bucket shape and size. The bottom and back of the bucket will be from 3/8 diamond plated. The smooth side will go inside the bucket and the diamond side will go on the outside.

Pictures will be taken before I continue.

Running totals:
Time = 53 hrs.
Approximate Cost = $1600.00

I can't wait to see this baby in action. Hope your going to take lots of pictures.

 

[MossRoad]

Pictures as promised.

Running totals:
Time = 55 hrs.
Approximate Cost = $1600.00

 

[JD-Beach]

Yo MossRoad, You got a real project goin on. I can tell you're a man of detail. ... wow! You're doing some beautiful work. Keep it up, ... and thanks for sharing the project with us.

 

[MossRoad]

Yo MossRoad, You got a real project goin on. I can tell you're a man of detail. ... wow! You're doing some beautiful work. Keep it up, ... and thanks for sharing the project with us.

Thanks for the kind words, but don't look too close at my welds... they're ugly!

I ran out of oxygen for cutting yesterday, so I started welding and ran out of rods, too!

 

[pajoube]

Thanks for the kind words, but don't look too close at my welds... they're ugly!

I ran out of oxygen for cutting yesterday, so I started welding and ran out of rods, too!

David,
Very nice, that is one very heavy duty backhoe.
You thinking of starting more work on your property?
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

David,
Very nice, that is one very heavy duty backhoe.
You thinking of starting more work on your property?
PJ

Yes. I pulled a septic and well permit a couple weeks ago. The septic area was marked off and soil boring took place with great results! It will sit about 15' below the level of my walk out basement and is all gravity fed, no mound system, etc... very fortunate. The well will probably go up the hill and on the oposite side of the house from the septic field, about 150' away.

However, as you know, I am a tightwad and enjoy my debt free lifestyle! But, we might as well bite the bullet and start, so we will probably be interviewing builders in the next couple months. We have a good floorplan that I laid out in the backyard with flag sticks and then used my giant reed grass stems to outline the walls. It was nice to walk around in it and get a sense of the space. The wife approved, so now we go. YIKES, I'm nervous already!!!

 

[MossRoad]

Spent some time going over my hydraulic schematic tonight and checking all the port sizes. It looks like I got lucky and all ports are SAE#8 3/4-16 with the exception of the free cylinders that I am going to use for the swing function. I pulled an adapter that was on one of them and will take it to a local hydraulic shop to figure out what I need to adapt it to SAE#8 3/4-16. It also looks like some sort of restrictor device. I will try it without the restrictor, first just because I can. Attached is the hydraulic schematic that I drew up tonight. Anyone interested, please take a look and see if you see any glaring problems. Thanks in advance.

 

[MossRoad]

I should note that there are two swing cylinders, working like this...

When one is pushing, the other is pulling and vice versa. I have them Teed together as shown in the schematic with dots.

 

[pajoube]

Yes. I pulled a septic and well permit a couple weeks ago. The septic area was marked off and soil boring took place with great results! It will sit about 15' below the level of my walk out basement and is all gravity fed, no mound system, etc... very fortunate. The well will probably go up the hill and on the oposite side of the house from the septic field, about 150' away.

However, as you know, I am a tightwad and enjoy my debt free lifestyle! But, we might as well bite the bullet and start, so we will probably be interviewing builders in the next couple months. We have a good floorplan that I laid out in the backyard with flag sticks and then used my giant reed grass stems to outline the walls. It was nice to walk around in it and get a sense of the space. The wife approved, so now we go. YIKES, I'm nervous already!!!

Whats the market for builders? Out here it is still very tight with builders getting 3 to 4 percent more than 200 miles away.
Plants you brought last summer are in full bloom, be sure to let the girls know.
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

Whats the market for builders? Out here it is still very tight with builders getting 3 to 4 percent more than 200 miles away.
Plants you brought last summer are in full bloom, be sure to let the girls know.
PJ

I'm not sure what they charge, that's why we're going to interview. We have several recommendations for builders that freinds have used and not had to sue to get things finished! Those builders move up on our list REAL quick. I was shocked at how many people I know that have had houses built and had to take legal action to get things done. My in-laws got a good, sturdy house... no squeaks, nice, straight lumber, etc... but I could see that the builder cut corners in some details like vapor barriers, electrician and soundproofing. It will be an adventure, for sure. Where's the smiley face that depicts "sick to my stomach with joyfull worry"? Maybe this one...

Nice to know the plants are blooming. We picked up some geraniums and vegetable plants today to give to my wife tomorrow on mother's day. We are having her family over and I get to cook brunch. I enjoy that.

No work on the backhoe this weekend. Hopefully I will start picking up fittings and hoses next week. I'd like to get the swing, boom and outriggers functioning first, make sure all the articulation is correct, make any corrections, and then get the dipper stick and bucket working. I'm surprised how fast it is now coming together. Daughter #1 has a school play next weekend, so it will be a couple weeks before any more visible progress is made.

 

[MossRoad]

Attached is my hose sheet that lists all the hoses and fittings I should need. I still need to figure out what type of fittings the swing cylinders will take.

 

[MossRoad]

What's the best way to seal the fittings. I've heard that you should not use teflon tape on hydraulic fittings because if any telfon gets into the system, it will ruin things. Any thoughts?

 

[irwin]

What's the best way to seal the fittings. I've heard that you should not use teflon tape on hydraulic fittings because if any telfon gets into the system, it will ruin things. Any thoughts?

Is this true?? I'm glad I read this post today if it is. Tomorrow I get my backhoe manifold back from tool&die shop, minor repair, was considering using teflon tape when I reinstall hoses!!! okay, so, no teflon tape unless I can prove it's okay... thanks MossRoad....tim

 

[J_J]

What's the best way to seal the fittings. I've heard that you should not use teflon tape on hydraulic fittings because if any telfon gets into the system, it will ruin things. Any thoughts?

David,

I use Teflon tape on my fittings. Just leave the first couple of threads free.
You could also use Teflon paste, just don't apply to much, and leave the first couple of threads free.

 

[KentT]

To ensure you don't get contaminents in the system, I've heard two techniques:

1. Use a "liquid" sealer specially designed for hydraulic fittings instead of the tape. Leave two clean threads at the end of the fitting, so that none of the sealer gets into the system. (see below) Lock-Tite makes some, as do other manufacturers...

2. Use only enough Teflon tape to go around the male fitting 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 times. Place the tape on the male fitting, wrapping it clockwise, but leave TWO threads exposed on the end. This gives you enough thread to start the female fitting on the male fitting without risking it cutting off a sliver that'll get into the system and contaminate it...

EDIT: Duh, JJ beat me to it...

 

[J_J]

Attached is my hose sheet that lists all the hoses and fittings I should need. I still need to figure out what type of fittings the swing cylinders will take.

David,

I had to bite the bullet, and ordered the same valves that you have. I still have a stock pile of various valves. According to your chart, you say that SAE8 is 3/4. Is that correct? I thought SAE4 was 1/4, SAE6 was 3/8, and SAE8 was 1/2 , and SAE 12 was 3/4. Those joystick valves are o-ring SAE8. They also say if you use quick disconnects, go one size larger because of the restrictions in the sealing setup. Most of my cylinders take a 3/8 fitting, All my fittings will be JIC-37..

 

[MossRoad]

The website and the PDF documentation list the ports as #8SAE (3/4-16). They are the same port size as my hydraulic cylinders. I'll find out for sure some time soon, if I get some time to get down to the hydraulic shop here in town. I have a pretty full plate this week. My daughter is in a school play and several festivities and ceremonies leading up to 8th grad graduation.

I think the 3/4 -16 is the thread, not the hose size.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm going to use the same quick disconnects that are on my mower and brush hog. I believe the hoses are 1/2 inside.

 

[J_J]

David,

I had to bite the bullet, and ordered the same valves that you have. I still have a stock pile of various valves. According to your chart, you say that SAE8 is 3/4. Is that correct? I thought SAE4 was 1/4, SAE6 was 3/8, and SAE8 was 1/2 , and SAE 12 was 3/4. Those joystick valves are o-ring SAE8. They also say if you use quick disconnects, go one size larger because of the restrictions in the sealing setup. Most of my cylinders take a 3/8 fitting, All my fittings will be JIC-37..

This is the fittings that I am planning to use on the valves, which is a JIC-6 to a SAE8 o-ring fitting, which is 3/8 to 1/2 . I think.

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