EarthForce EF-5 enhancements

[MChalkley]

Re: EarthForce EF-3 & 4, and EF-5 enhancements

Ok - a very brief update: I've found pretty much what I was looking for as far as the hydraulic motor to power the tiller is concerned. After looking and looking and looking, my friend Jack gave me a catalog Saturday that a friend of his had given him a few days before, and what I've been looking for was sitting right on the back cover. Go figure. The catalog is from Surplus Center in Lincoln, NE (800-488-3407, no web site, as far as I know) and they have a huge amount of very cool stuff. All kinds of hydraulic valves, cylinders, motors, as well as miscellaneous items. (I also bought a surplus 12v fan that I'm going to figure out some way to mount under the canopy for a cool breeze when there isn't a "natural" one. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif)

Anyway, the motor is actually listed on the back cover as a PTO Drive Motor. It's a new Danfoss OMS 160. The description says "Use on equipment with no existing PTO, or for drives in remote applications." Specs - Displ. 9.74 cu. in., 3000 PSI continuous (which is great because the EF-5 puts out 2900), 470 RPM at 20 GPM (the GPM requirement is a little high, but I can deal with that), 560 RPM at 24 GPM max., torque 3100-4800 in. lbs., 28 hp max., 28 lbs. Cost - $290. It even actually has a 1 3/8" 6-tooth PTO spline on it. I'm going to mount it to the Kasco Switch Hitch (http://www.kascomfg.com/switch hitch.jpg), then I can use it to power any mechanical PTO device I need to use with the EF-5, with or without a Freedom Hitch on it.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Yes, TBN, the EF-5 exists! Attached is a picture of the TLB after D&E had worked on it for a day. Beginning on the left, at the back of the tractor, you can see the thumb they made for me. You can also see the quick-attack on the backhoe, but another pic will make it a lot more clear. Also, the 24" backhoe bucket. There's a chain eye on the backhoe quick-attach bracket for lifting, and another chain eye at the bottom of the boom, but it's a little hard to see. At the top of the cab, you can see the light brackets, still unpainted. They will hold a red and an amber 4" round LED light on each side in the back, and two amber ones on each side and the front. Inside the cab, on the right side of the seat, you can see THE CUP sitting on its custom cupholder. Up front, attached to the loader, you can see the 1.5 yd high-capacity bucket D&E made. What you can't see very well is that the EF-5 74" 4-in-1 bucket is inside the D&E bucket and inside the 4-in-1 bucket is an auger head and a ripper tooth.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Here's a little better picture of the bucket-in-a-bucket. Keep in mind that the small bucket is 2/3 cu. yd., 74" wide, and weighs just under 1000 lbs...

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Close-up of the cup holder...

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

A wider-angle shot of the cup holder and cab interior.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Another shot of the rear of the EF-5. You can see the welded-on chain eye at the base of the boom better in this one. The side-shift backhoe is also clearly visible.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

A close-up of the D&E thumb, 24" backhoe bucket, and quick attach.

MarkC

 

[MossRoad]

What is the red bar under the loader arm and above the loader cylinder?

<font color=green> MossRoad </font color=green>

 

[MChalkley]

Another pic taken by my friend. On the pallet, you can see the 18" & 24" backhoe buckets D&E made for me. To the right, I'm pretending to be getting ready to pick up a thumb made for a small excavator. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif To my right is the high-capacity D&E bucket.

BTW, see the D&E name tags on the buckets? They're 3/8" plate... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

More shots of the D&E attachments. On the pallet, closest to the camera, is the quick attach they made for the EF-5 backhoe. If you look closely at the end of it farthest from the camera, you'll see the hooks that lock under the round tube on the bucket/whatever. The bucket in the foreground on the right shows the tube quite clearly. The end of the quick attach closest to you has a hole in it - a pin slides through it and the hole at the other end of the bucket, locking it into place. At the 10 o'clock position from the quick attach, lying on it's side, is the ripper tooth. At the 1 o'clock position is the quick attach plate D&E made for the auger head. In the background, you see the 1.5 cu. yd. capacity bucket again. I'm standing beside it, doing my best flamingo imitation - standing on one leg while taking a nap. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkC