What have you done to your Branson today?

[ericm979]

Next time I have it out I'll try to remember.

 

[Bute56]

Does anyone have a new 4520 they could measure for me? I need the inside dimension of the cutting edge to order a toothbar. My tractor is ordered and should be here in a couple weeks. Thanks in advance!

 

[ericm979]

I did it a while ago and I still don't have pics (it's raining... again). But I added two one way metering valves to my BH760 boom cylinder. So much better. Now the boom doesn't slam up or down and jerk the whole tractor around if I move the lever 1mm too far. Parts list from surpluscenter:

2 ea of:

9-7960-4 1/4 NPT 5 GPM PRINCE WFC-400 IN-LINE FLOW CONTROL
9-2404-6-4 JIC 6M x 1/4 NPTM CONNECTOR
9-6505-6-4 JIC 6F TO 1/4 NPTM SWIVEL

I stretched the dipper and boom all the way out so the boom cylinder's fittings were as close to on top as they'd get, with the bucket on the ground, and hardly lost any fluid. The hoses were long enough too. The only weird thing is that the hexes on the BH fittings are different sizes than on the fittings I bought.

Now with pics below. Using two valves might be overkill. I was concerned that I'd want different settings on each (because the rod end flows less per inch of movement). A single two way needle valve would be simpler. I'd put it on the upper port but I'm not convinced that makes a difference either.

 

[Branson Bob]

Now with pics below. Using two valves might be overkill. I was concerned that I'd want different settings on each (because the rod end flows less per inch of movement). A single two way needle valve would be simpler. I'd put it on the upper port but I'm not convinced that makes a difference either.

View attachment 606064View attachment 606065

Hey Eric. Thanks for all the great info and the pics.

Much obliged.

 

[Branson Bob]

I took the backhoe (BH76) off for the foreseeable future. Because I want to store it away from the house I don't really have level ground on which to store it. I tried leveling it left to right with a torpedo level I placed on the operator station console near the levers.

In re-reading one of the backhoe topics I used a suggestion and chained the outriggers together to prevent them from "settling" thereby pressuring the hydraulic lines. I also made outrigger pads with 3/4" plywood and placed a large log underneath the operator station of the backhoe.

After disconnecting the hydraulics I worked all the levers in all directions. Hopefully when I re-attach it, it won't put up too much of a fight.

 

[Branson Bob]

The post hole digger worked really well. I used the 12" auger bit and it was like butter. The real test comes next week when I attempt to dig out cylindrical footings for 18" rebar cages. I'll be using a 24" auger.

 

[Branson Bob]

I used my "3 Point to Universal Quick Tach Adapter" from Titan Attachments for the first time. I had been using my pallet forks on my FEL to move 275 gallon IBC totes of water that I use in my rainwater harvesting system. When full they're over 2400 lbs so I try not to fill them all the way. Regardless it puts a big strain on the FEL and the front axle and I was excited to use the adapter so that I could lug the IBCs around using the 3 point hitch which has a higher lifting capacity as well as the benefit of bearing weight on the much larger rear axle. The thought occurred to me that lifting a full container might cause the tractor to be too light on the front end and sure enough I had to get a mostly full bucket of 3/4" crushed stone in order to balance things out. Even with that you can see from the photos that the tractor is back heavy. I just keep the load low and the speed slow and it works great especially with the top and tilt. It's like operating a forklift except you're facing away from the load. The only downside is that the Titan attachment is not compatible clearance-wise with the Pat's Easy Change System so I had to remove the Pat's. Probably just as well as it moves the load closer to the axle by 3-4".

 

[Aquamoose]

Bob, wouldn’t it be prudent to shorten your 3ph hoses? My top link is much shorter. Also I redid my backhoe hoses by eliminating it altogether and put fixed couplers on top with a bypass valve.

 

[Aquamoose]

 

[ptsg]

Bob, wouldn’t it be prudent to shorten your 3ph hoses? My top link is much shorter. Also I redid my backhoe hoses by eliminating it altogether and put fixed couplers on top with a bypass valve.

That's a really nice idea Aquamoose. That's exactly what I would do if I had a backhoe like you guys get there.

Honestly, the manufacturers should this and wouldn't cost that much to them. I bet they could even get a hydraulic supplier to build a compact block for this purpose and with better access to the hoses.