tow behind small backhoe

CharlieR · May 3, 2011

I agree with PILOON.
I've got an HFT towable and move it around as he described, bucket to bucket - a faster move and you've got two separate machines, one to trench with and one to fill with.
The towable can crawl into places you'd never get a tractor which suits my needs real well.
My engine is a Robin/Subaru, 9 HP.
It has started and run very reliably for the last 6 years.
I've added a ripper from Metkit and a home made thumb.
With the thumb, you can pick up a rock and "walk" with it to a new location without getting out of the seat.:thumbsup:

wawajake · May 3, 2011

Here is a tow behind brand (deluxe version)

CanDig builds mini diggers.

Soundguy · May 5, 2011

her's what I ended up with.. a woods BH6500 groundbreaker. went in with my stepfather on it.

tractor is my old 1955 ford 850 with ford 722 1-arm loader...

soundguy

Brad_Blazer · May 5, 2011

Looks good - matches the loader!

Soundguy · May 5, 2011

I'm gonna fab up a small brace / subframe for it to protect that rear end housing a bit more..

soundguy

jdmar · May 6, 2011

Looks like you got a deal. The paint's still on the bucket...and the rest looks even nicer. I got a small hoe when I bought my JD4300 used. I thought I would NEVER spend the money for one if I bought it new. I use it ALL the time. I knock down things, grab and drag, trench, wave at my kids with the bucket (most important thing!) I use it to "nudge" boulders/rock when I did landscaping/walls, pull fence posts(or break em off!). It really is my tractor version of a multiplier.

Great buy Soundguy.
Peter

Soundguy · May 6, 2011

pins and bushings have 0 wear on them.. teeth on the bucket are still sharp.. I don't think the prev owner used it much at all.

I love it.

am about 80% completed with a subframe and toplink support system for it to make it play nice with the old ford..

Soundguy · May 9, 2011

finally got the subframe as done as it's gonna get. mostly it is side to sidestabilization, and some reinforcement for the toplink connection.

also used some 6x6 timber to make new pads for the stabilizer feet. I had to adjust the hoe's 3pt geometry to it's max to get it to set level on the tractor.. this raised it up about 3-4" from where it normally rides.. that and the fact it is made for something like a small cut with smaller tires than a 45hp ford, it made it so the fold down stabilizers only just barely made it to the ground. with the new timber feet, they have a solid footing.. plus I enlarged it cuz I got lotsa sand and didn't want them to dig in, but rather ride on top.

note, the pads are resting on a pallate and another piece of timber to facilitate painting.. etc.

on the top cover I used 6 studs to mount the brace frame I welded up, plus 4 of the axle trumpet studs.

I used heavy angle and box to make some stabilizers that mounted to the fender mount points.

It ain't as good as a real subframe.. but it is sure better than the simple 3pt connection.

soundguy

schmism · May 10, 2011

with your FL sand you may not have an issue but in my IL clay id rip those blocks off the stabilizers in about 5 min. They take a phenomenal amount of horizontal force especially when making the opening cut on the ground. with the orientation of the blocks being in the direction of the force, i wouldnt expect them to last long (around here at least)

YMMV especially in the sand

(remember i have a woods 7500)

Soundguy · May 10, 2011

you may be overlooking the fact that those blocks are bolted with 29 lagbolts to a 3" flat, and 2" angle iron subframe. to that subframe I welded 6 studs to it to bolt them on in place of the anemic original stabilizer pads. there is then flat stock runnig the length of each side of the pad held on with lag bolts, plus another strap on top, again.. lag bolted in... I'd say the lag bolts, metal strapping and bracket likely weight more than the pieces of timber I used as the pads.

what size machine is yours on. I think mounting to my ford 850 was a lil bigger han woods intended it to be mounted on. looks like it was made for more of a subcut style tractor.. hopefully that will help witht he stresses.. and again.. I'm only digging in sand and black / orange earth too.. no rocks.. or clay.

soundguy