converting a 3-pt concrete mixer from PTO to hydraulic drive

[dfkrug]

My improvement was to weld plates on the outer part of the paddle frames to help retain and eject the mud. Much like a commercial mixer, I rotate one way to mix, and the other way to dump.

The first photo shows the prior setup. The paddle frame extended from the back of the drum to the tapered section.

I cut some 0.075" stainless steel plates out of a sink I had, then welded them in. I took the outer part of the drum off (first time) to weld the back of the plates. That drum is a full 1/8" thick and has held up well.

I also posted a video. The drum at idle turns at about 15 RPM. That is faster than I would like, so I feathered the lever in the video to slow the ejection of mud and not overwhelm my wheel barrow. Ideal rotation speed would be 5-8 RPM, IMO.

The improvement makes it so that nearly all the mud is ejected, and I do not have to go in for final manual cleaning. Happy.

 

[MossRoad]

Very nice!

 

[arthurjohnston]

How long does it take for you to make it? I was actually thinking about conversion of my 3-point concrete mixer from PTO to hydraulic drive.

 

[dfkrug]

How long does it take for you to make it? I was actually thinking about conversion of my 3-point concrete mixer from PTO to hydraulic drive.

I strongly recommend you do it if you have interest.

I would be surprised if I had more than 10-12 hours in making the changes, but I am slow, plus I jump around among my active projects.

And, thinking about it, designing it, and acquiring the materials took time. If I did it again, I would only change the size of the motor: make it one with larger displacement for lower rotation speed.

 

[nyone]

Heres my poor man's version of this. A electric mixer mounted on the bucket of my mini ex. I just welded a pipe on the bucket and slipped the cement mixer on. This ment I can pour tubes as tall as my bucket would lift. This left my tractors loader available to move bags of cement. It also ment that every bag and mixer was at the perfect working height. 15 12"x5' tubes filled by my self in one day, I wasn't even sore the next day. If I remember right it was about 120 80lb bags. I had to move every bag 2x.

 

[dfkrug]

This ment I can pour tubes as tall as my bucket would lift.

Interesting approach! Can you post a photo of the mounting onto your bucket?

How much weight can your mini-X lift at that extension? I figure my mixer weighs 200#, and I have put as much as 700-800# of concrete in it.

I do prefer smaller loads, however, since I can spin the drum more horizontally with less in there. Ideally, probably 4cf.

 

[Smokeydog]

Like the ejection paddle idea. More control vs dump into narrow forms.

 

[pmsmechanic]

View attachment 2089212
Heres my poor man's version of this. A electric mixer mounted on the bucket of my mini ex. I just welded a pipe on the bucket and slipped the cement mixer on. This ment I can pour tubes as tall as my bucket would lift. This left my tractors loader available to move bags of cement. It also ment that every bag and mixer was at the perfect working height. 15 12"x5' tubes filled by my self in one day, I wasn't even sore the next day. If I remember right it was about 120 80lb bags. I had to move every bag 2x.

Is that you watering the grass in the background?

 

[nyone]

Interesting approach! Can you post a photo of the mounting onto your bucket?

How much weight can your mini-X lift at that extension? I figure my mixer weighs 200#, and I have put as much as 700-800# of concrete in it.

I do prefer smaller loads, however, since I can spin the drum more horizontally with less in there. Ideally, probably 4cf.

The mounting was just a pipe welded on the bucket that was the same diameter as the cement mixer stand. Nothing fancy. I actualy welded it on about 1yr prior and did some jobs like digging all these sono tubes with it welded on. Once this was done I just cut it off.
I believe that's a 3cuft mixer. I think it held 3-4 80lb bags. When filling and mixing I could swing the boom over to the pallet of cement. Then when its ready to pour swing it over to the sono tube and dump the drum just like it was on the original stand. It basicly made my mini ex the cement mixer stand.

4 days, 2 guys, 15 sono tubes including setup, getting the concrete, back filling, spreading stone around the tubes and inspection. The ground was packed clay with dinner plate sized rocks, so I spent 1/2 day failing at trying to auger them.

 

[dfkrug]

The mounting was just a pipe welded on the bucket that was the same diameter as the cement mixer stand.

Hard to see the scale of that mixer. Much smaller than mine, apparently. Also mine has 2 receiver holes for pipes that act as stands that keep the mixer from tipping over when dismounted. Long gone.

Poured and grouted new footers and blocks for replacement steel tractor-port last winter.