How are a trackhoes "mini ex" tracks driven?

[chad22]

I was thinking of making my backhoe swing back and forth on a gear like a mini excavator with a wheel hub. But I was wondering if I run hoses to drive the wheels, how will I be able to spin the thing completely around without kinking or tearing up hoses?

Is there a special connector that the excavators use to connect the hoses through the swing mechanism?

I've looked around on the net and haven't really been able to tell by looking at the excavators.

When a friend rented a mini ex, I noticed some hoses leading to the tracks, but didn't really look closely. I just noticed, because I was letting him know he had snagged a piece of rebar on the hoses.

Thanks

Chad

 

[amazincaucasian]

Inside the turntable, under the seat, there is a swivel valve. On mine it's about a foot tall cylinder that allows hydraulic fluid to be distributed to all the functions without tangling hoses.

 

[oldnslo]

Do a search for "hydraulic swivels" and you should end up with several options. You will need to know how many functions or lines need to run through this swivel before ordering one. Last time I checked they are not inexpensive either.

Roy

 

[chad22]

Thanks guys. I never knew there was a swivel manifold. That's just really cool how that thing can work while swiveling.

I haven't quite decided if I will make it swivel, but would really like too seeing as I am putting the money into it.

There's a hydraulic place about 30 miles from here where I might be able to get one from.

Probably in the $500.00 range or a little higher. I'll have to stop in and ask them.

Since I work with scrap metal, I'd like to be able to make a claw attachment for my backhoe and be able to lift things on and off the trailer.

And sort things around the yard. Having that 360 degree swivel would really help a lot.

I'm thinking if the total cost will be around $2,000.00 for the build. I might as well spend a bit more and make it swivel. Otherwise I have a feeling I'm gonna regret not making it swivel.

Chad

 

[Localmotion]

Since I work with scrap metal, I'd like to be able to make a claw attachment for my backhoe and be able to lift things on and off the trailer.

Take a look at YouTube - Dany homemade excavator thumb.MPG.

Also search for "excavator thumb" on google - may give you a few ideas of how to make that claw :thumbsup:

 

[Bob Rooks]

A backhoe that swivels 360 degrees? What did I miss?

 

[chad22]

A backhoe that swivels 360 degrees? What did I miss?

:laughing: Right now my project is currently a backhoe off a riding mower here's the link--->> http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/200605-backhoe-update-im-making-progress-3.html

I've decided to later build it separate from the riding mower and make a backhoe like the go for digger

I then got to thinking of making it swing like a track hoe does. That way it would have full 360 degree rotation.

So basically what I want to do is make a wheeled mini excavator.

Note the pic below is the go for digger which I was planning on making something similar too.

Chad

 

[Bob Rooks]

That is quite an unusual piece of equipment. I was thinking that a backhoe that swivels 360 degrees is called an excavator (with differences of course), not thinking the entire machine would swivel, er, pivot on it's own axis.
Very interesting. :thumbsup:, but I don't think you'll be digging up any stumps with it.