Mini Hoe Teeth

[DCWhitley]

Anyone have any problems with the Mini Hoe teeth breaking off? Granted, digging in NH is not easy. I was helping a neighbor expand their garden by digging up a 10' X 30' X 2' deep area which produce roughly 80 rocks, about 8 in the 2' x 2' x 1' size. (We are not know as the Granite State without good reason.) The mini hoe performed very well and I used the thumb to pick up many of the rocks. However, when I was done, the middle 2 teeth were gone and the 1/4" steel plates on the thumb were bent! I realize I may have been pushing it, but if the mini hoe is strong enough to dig out and lift that size rock, I would think the teeth and thumb should stand up to it also. I guess I am going to have to beef them up. Anyone have any suggestions for replacement teeth?

 

[SwampmanLA]

According to Chris and Terry they try to build everything themselves instead of buying. So they built that bucket in Tazwell. Now knowing a bit about welding, I have been a bit underwhelmed with some of the welds on my PT but nothing has failed. So with all that said, if I were running that shop, welding teeth on a bucket is the kind of job I would put an apprentice on. If I were you I would just clean up the welds and run my own bead over them. As for the thumb bending, I would not worry about it, mine did the same thing. Once it takes the shape of the arm that is all it is going to bend. Hopefully you were able to fine those two teeth!

From the Swamp

 

[woodlandfarms]

Those teeth look pretty lame. How about just buying new, heftier ones and welding them on?

My PT was not welded correctly at the oil tank. As it was used I am not sure if it was something that came from the factory and no one ever noticed? or something that happened along the way.

 

[Rivco]

When I built my mini hoe I used bolt on teeth for my 10" & 16" buckets. I know there has been some debate about where to mount bolt on teeth on a backhoe bucket. I mounted them on top of the cutting edge instead of on the bottom side and I never had any problems at all.
You could always grind off PT's teeth and go with John Deere bolt on's like I did.

 

[smartguyz]

A number of years ago, a member built their own thumb, I forgot who it was. Anyway, they abused the living daylights out of it, and ended up just bending the whole square tube that comprises the main 'spine' of the mini-hoe. I am thinking that the 1/4" plates on the PT thumb might be (guessing here) designed to buckle so that you won't pick up things that exceed the lift capacity of the PT?

Rob

 

[Marks481]

At least it was just the welds on your teeth that gave way. I actually ripped part of the tooth bar and two teeth off of my bucket while prying big rocks out of a hole (and I put a dent in the back of my bucket).

I think the bucket could be built out of a thicker material.

 

[MossRoad]

For what it's worth, my 1970's IH 2500b tractor loader had the same ability to lift its 8000 pound butt off the ground with the FEL... and I broke the entire bucket across the rear with a huge crack!

I have bent my pallet forks on my PT425 by jamming them into the ground and prying under a rock.

The problem is, we abuse our machines. We pry on immovable stuff until the rear end comes off the ground, then grab from a different angle and pry some more. The PT, in my opinion, has overpowered hydraulics for its weight. The reliefs do not kick in before the rear comes off the ground and the machine is capable of damaging itself. I don't think it is because of weak implements, although I do think the mini hoe tube does not have a thick enough wall tube to support a thumb. I think if you beef up the thumb and bucket, you may end up kinking the tube.

 

[catsco]

I don't think it is because of weak implements, although I do think the mini hoe tube does not have a thick enough wall tube to support a thumb. I think if you beef up the thumb and bucket, you may end up kinking the tube.

I believe you are correct; I've but a small, but disturbing dent in the (arm) tube just by accidentally trapping fair sized rocks between the bucket and tube when digging close to the tractor when you can't see the bucket.

That said, though, I'm going to order a thumb anyway. Then I can learn how to replace the tube of the mini-hoe!

Mark H

 

[KentT]

Using a minihoe with thumb on my older 425, I've found out that the weak link on mine is not the hoe nor the teeth -- it's the "rollover assembly" that tilts the bucket or other attachment.

We cracked the thin-wall round tubing on that pivot twice and welded it back -- reinforcing it each time. Using it last week week, we broke it once again -- this time past the point of repair since the shaft that it pivots on is now bent. I just got off the phone from ordering a new one from Tazewell, complete with shaft and "toplink" which bent also. Supposedly, they're using thicker wall tubing now -- I hope so.

 

[catsco]

KentT -

It is a much thicker wall tube; my bent and cracked about 1-1/2 years ago, and I spent a lot of time and money having it welded, then ordered a new one when it got really bad.

The new one has been fine since then with much heavier work!

The downside is the price and high shipping cost to repair what I think is an inherent design flaw.

All told, with the new parts and welding, and the other repairs, I spent over $600 in a couple months.

Mark H.