PF Engineering plans

[Carol in CA]

Anyone have an experience with these? Comments?

 

[dfkrug]

I used CADPlans to build my CADDigger 728 years ago. It was not perfect, but designing from
scratch would have taken a LOT longer. They also have a small loader for garden tractors. PF
came around much later and I know little about them. If you like to cut and weld, I hope you
try one of these DIY plans.

 

[Carol in CA]

Years ago I had a Ford 1100 4wd diesel and built a BH for it from the CADPlans. I had lots of help. Our thought about the plans was that they left much to be desired though everything was there. I am wondering about the PF Engineering plans this time around. Either will have to be scaled down to fit the smaller tractor.

 

[Kioti Tom]

Go to his website. PF Engineering . com. you may find some answers there.
Tom

 

[Carol in CA]

Trust me. I have read every word on his site. What I had hoped was that there were others here who actually built from one of his plans, or at least knew first hand someone who did. Nothing like talking to someone who has firsthand impartial experience.

 

[brewdog]

I bought a " The Ripper" kit from MetKit for my Back Hoe. Not nearly as complex as the CADDdigger, it went together well. All pieces were laser cut and fit perfectly.

 

[blackd]

Carol, I built a FEL using CadPlans and Metkit. Everything went well except for my substitutions. So my advice is get the metal kit or get the metal cut professionally. If/when you substitute be especially careful of the measurements.

None of my decisions were bad, just that adjusting for them added hours to the build for little savings gain. What I substituted was the hydraulics kit, and fitting the cylinders within the available mounts was problematic.

 

[Densleigh]

Hi Carol,

I obtained a set of plans for the PF backhoe some years ago. They are certainly easy to follow, some dimensions were missing and required a bit of maths to establish. Feeling is that metal sections are possibly on the light side 3mm where 6mm might be better sort of thing.

I have not actually used them yet to build the backhoe but when the w/shop has a new roof and and more space they will be reviewed again.

I also have a set of Ubuild plans - heavier stuff and a 'simpler' design but do not like the wheels/ drop arms style of working. Also drawings not quite as detailed as pf - more missing dimensions.


I have built a multi use style system with a hydraulic flail side arm flail hedge cutter, this can be removed and a hydraulic power brush and a dual gang mower (reel type) attached to the base frame. The intention is to use PF designs to build a backhoe to attach to this frame system.

Here in UK the major market is in small 1 ton tracked diggers which are cheap to rent (£250 / week) and have some serious power ability.

 

[Carol in CA]

When I did the BH for the Ford with CADplans years ago, I also used the Metkit. Don't have that option with the PF Engineering plans. The plans are ordered. When I see them I will see what format is necessary for a shop to cut out the parts for me. Since I plan to scale the plans down some, that will present another interesting challenge. I also plan on a finger in place of the bucket, though I will make the bucket also. Another aberration is that I plan to make it out of plywood first for proof of concept and to get all the hydraulics operational. Since there may well be a variety of hydraulics that do not exactly match up, some innovation will be required.

An understatement if I ever made one.

 

[milkie62]

I have talked to PF on the phone.I had planned on going out to see his setup since he is only about 2 hrs from me.He invites anybody to come out.

 

[Carol in CA]

Unfortunately there is an entire country between me and him.

 

[milkie62]

I may still get out there in the next few weeks,I have email notification so just keep blipping this thread and ask me so I do not forget to get back to you.He seemed pretty confident in his design and said He would put it through its paces.I would guess as long as you used decent sized cylinders since that is how hydralics get its power it will come down to machine weight overcoming whatever you are digging.

 

[Carol in CA]

This sort of sounds like the only working model is the one he has built? I know CADPlans and MetKit have been around for more than 10 years because I built the BH more than ten years ago. Those plans left me hoping for a better set, and PF was a bit less expensive. FWIW, the MetKit was more than worth it. The UPS guy who delivered it wasn't too happy though.

It will be interesting when the PF Engineering plans arrive some time this week.

 

[/pine]

A while back a member (FARMGUY1) started a thread about building a backhoe using the PF plans and had posted a video on youtube...but he never followed it up or gave any updates on the project...

 

[Carol in CA]

Found his single post from March of last year. No answers for the questions posed and the YouTube is no longer up. His observations were that the steel was expensive and to shop on-line for parts. Also that the small tractor hydraulics were lacking and to use a pto pump. His was a 3pt hitch mount. I did that with that with my earlier one more than 10 years ago. The 3pt hitch mount leaves tons to be desired. Not going there again. I have designed a frame, so we will see how that goes.

 

[/pine]

Found his single post from March of last year. No answers for the questions posed and the YouTube is no longer up. His observations were that the steel was expensive and to shop on-line for parts. Also that the small tractor hydraulics were lacking and to use a pto pump. His was a 3pt hitch mount. I did that with that with my earlier one more than 10 years ago. The 3pt hitch mount leaves tons to be desired. Not going there again. I have designed a frame, so we will see how that goes.

I remember watching the video...IIRC...he had to make some modifications after initially fabricating without fitting stuff...things like cylinder end mounts and sizes...I had hoped he would keep his progress posted...I had been interested in making one...I've since bought an independent machine (ditch witch) which has turned out to be a sage decision for me...

 

[dfkrug]

Years ago I had a Ford 1100 4wd diesel and built a BH for it from the CADPlans.
I had lots of help. Our thought about the plans was that they left much to be desired though everything was
there.

You are doing the right thing to try to find a first person review of the PF plans you want.

I did my CADDigger so long ago, the Web was barely up and my cameras were all film. I wish I
could find my old stash of photos. The blue thing in my avatar is the 728, next to a rented Cat 315.

Also back then (1995?) Metco Supply had no "Metkits" tho I did buy their hyd cyls and DOM tubing.
I had a local steel recycler cut the plate I needed, using an OA torch and guide. I built everything
using only a metal bandsaw and Lincoln 225AC buzz box (ugh). The plans I bought are all marked up with
the errors I found. I hope that they improve them as they continue to be sold.

 

[Carol in CA]

PF plans arrived today. I'll need a few days before I can make an observation about how colorful this journey will be.

 

[notme]

When I did the BH for the Ford with CADplans years ago, I also used the Metkit. Don't have that option with the PF Engineering plans. The plans are ordered. When I see them I will see what format is necessary for a shop to cut out the parts for me. Since I plan to scale the plans down some, that will present another interesting challenge. I also plan on a finger in place of the bucket, though I will make the bucket also. Another aberration is that I plan to make it out of plywood first for proof of concept and to get all the hydraulics operational. Since there may well be a variety of hydraulics that do not exactly match up, some innovation will be required.

An understatement if I ever made one.[/QUOTE

do you know what plan # u had built, I don't see many neg comments about the newer ones. 821/831/841 but even those models are quite old now.. late 90's im thinking, theres several builds of htem on the net, much more popular then ubuild it plans. check youtube

 

[Carol in CA]

No longer remember the plan number. All that info went with the tractor when I sold it.

As for negative comments by builders. My impression was that when you are dealing with the only business in town, complaining is useless. There were no other plans available from anyone. Yep, lots of holes in the information offered; some outright mistakes. They seemed to be notes and drawings gathered as the result of a build, sort of like a journey or diary of information. They may well have had all those things addressed over the years.

One of the reasons that this time I chose the PF Engineering plans is that they promised sources, part numbers, and approximate costs. That stuff is there, though I am sure it is dated. Place to start though. And they were less money than CADPlans.

One surprise thus far is that plans for a sub-frame for the tractor are included. I can and will build the solid mount as opposed to the 3pth mount.