Mini Hoe

Eaglepb · Apr 28, 2004

Would like some comments on the use of the Mini Hoe Attatchment used with the 422 and 425. Thanks! Eagle!

Clarke · Apr 28, 2004

Hi,

Look back in this forum at my mini hoe project. some pictures of work with the hoe. I like the hoe for the small projects I use it for takes some seat time to get used to operating the unit. I would like to give you a link to that thread but I don't know how to do that. It's about page five at this point/. Click on mini hoe project.

sg

pajoube · Apr 28, 2004

I have a 425 and the mini hoe. I have done some major projects with the mini hoe and posted pictures under Mini Hoe Project by pajoube. Its about a page or two back.
I have many hours on my mini hoe already on a number of projects so ask away.
PJ

RegL · Apr 30, 2004

I used the mini hoe for the first time today on the pt 1430. Not a happy project, as I was digging a grave for our old dog who we had to have put down this afternoon. Anyway, I think it did a good job for the tuff conditions I was digging in. Very rocky gravel and some tree roots. While I was digging, I was thinking of some ways to improve it's performance ( why are we always thinking like that? ). I think figuring out a way to add weight to the front of the tractor would smooth out the ride some. Seems I had the front wheels off the ground a lot while penetrating with the bucket. It would also be nice if someone could figure out a way to get that quick disconnect, alias mini-hoe bucket curl, alias grapple control, lever mounted up by the joy stick instead of down under the dash. Now that I have the grapple bucket and mini-hoe, I've got to go back in the posts where I know someone explained about mounting a diverter valve on their loaded arms so they could just plug in the the hoses for grapple and hoe without unpluging those for the quick disconnect.

OK, I'm getting a little carried away. To answer your question, the mini-hoe works pretty good.

pajoube · Apr 30, 2004

Glad to hear it worked well for you even under those trying curcumstances.
When digging in the very hard soil I use the curl to break the ground which in some cases brings the front wheels off the ground to add weight to the bucket. Most of the time I use the curl and very slow reverse to get a good gip.
PJ

MossRoad · May 1, 2004

Sorry to hear about your dog. I've burried a few over the years, but they lived long happy lives, and that's the part that I want to rememmmbm, hey.. the cat just jumped in my lap to remind me that he isn't dead yet... almost, but not yet. 16 year old diabetic cat that acts like the dogs he was raised by. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

There are a few threads here on TBN concerning you delimma about controlling the bucket curl of the mini hoe by using the joystick. A few people have addded electric diverter valves and a switch on the joystick. This allows them to flip the switch to change a function of the joystick. Have you seen those threads?

Also, someone(forgive me, but I forgot who) made a pretty slick change to the knee lever and extended it to the left side of the steering wheel. That way, you can operate the mini hoe bucket curl with your left hand. It was very slick and very inexpensive. Someone will have to search for that thread.

dsmith3 · May 4, 2004

It takes a while to get used to - between having to use the quick release lever and also moving the tractor back and forth. It's more a tool for digging trenches more than big holes. The reach isn't that much and the swing - via swiveling the front of the tractor - isn't that much either. I often find myself taking a bucket of dirt and then having to backup, then go foward at an angle to dump the dirt far enough away from the hole.

Trying to dig anything bigger than 4 feet in diameter is tough. I was trying to remove a big stump and ended up having to cut a ramp down into the hole with the rock/dirt bucket.

The hydraulics are powerful and it's easy to lift the back end of the tractor if the hoe bucket hits something solid. It's scared me a few times digging out some really tough stumps. I've started being easier on the tractor after reading the posts on the bent pivots.

The only funny thing about the bucket is the speed of the curl. Sometimes it's fast and other times, when the bucket is curled up, it's quite slow to rotate out. I usually operate the throttle at maybe 60% so maybe I don't have volume somewhere.

Dave

davesisk · May 4, 2004

See my post from last May about installing the diverter valve on my PT-1418. I think I even posted a hydraulic schematic. Charlie Iliff also has some posts about it. It's a fairly easy mod requiring a double-diverter valve (about $80 for a manual one, $150 for a electric one), and 2-4 additional hoses (depending on where you mount the valve), plus some hydraulic quick connects. I went with the electric diverter, although I was a bit concerned about how well it would hold up to weather exposure, but I'm quite pleased to report that I've had no problems at all (although a squirrel did manage to steal the pushbutton mounted into a piece of plastic pipe connected to the joystick! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif).

Dave