yet another custom backhoe subframe

dfkrug · Feb 22, 2007

Here is another of my full custom backhoe subframes....this time
for a Kioti CK30. This one was my hardest and most ambitious so far.
I have now done full custom subframes for an L2500, two JD 955s (2
diff kinds of subframes), a CK30, and a factory old style subframe from
Woods for an L2550.

A goal for this project was first to get the best subframe I could
do for this tractor. Not all the best criteria were compatible, however.
e.g. the quickest attachment method may not be the tightest. Anyway,
after building a few different kinds of frames and carefully evaluating
factory frames, I decided on this implementation. I have modeled my
subframe after the tightly-coupled frames you may see on a small
commercial-duty machine like the L39 or even a larger CASE 580. Mainly
this means a "4-pt" attachment with some sort of alignment aid at
the lower section of the subframe. The hoe is tilted into the lower
part and secured with bolts or pins at the top. I went with bolts, since
they allow less wiggling. Professional machines also mount the hoe as
close as possible to the back of the tractor. I have done this, too.
There is no use of the 3-pt bracket to secure the hoe. Finally, I
wanted the 3-pt arms to not have to be removed when the hoe is
mounted.

The CK30 was tough to do, due to all the exposed hydraulics underneath.
Now they are pretected!

These pix are the results. There is no detectable wiggle or flex, I
am happy to report.

I may try one of Woods' new 4-pt frames for another Kioti this summer.
Then I will have more to compare it to.

Mr Grizz · Feb 22, 2007

Very nice job dfkrug

montejw · Feb 23, 2007

Nice. Can't wait to start mine.

Monte

whodat90 · Feb 23, 2007

Looks great, very factory. The rops police are coming for you, though.

dfkrug · Feb 23, 2007

montejw said:
Nice. Can't wait to start mine.

Monte

Thx for the support, guys.

Monte, I thought you would be mounted by now. Let me know if you
need a thumb for your 'Dog.

As for the ROPS, I was wondering when I would hear something. The
stock height is reduced 8-9" so I can clear my 8-ft roll-up door. The
ROPS is still a foot+ higher than my noggin. Sometimes I don't even
wear my seatbelts, but don't tell anyone....

montejw · Feb 23, 2007

dfkrug said:
Thx for the support, guys.

Monte, I thought you would be mounted by now. Let me know if you
need a thumb for your 'Dog.

As for the ROPS, I was wondering when I would hear something. The
stock height is reduced 8-9" so I can clear my 8-ft roll-up door. The
ROPS is still a foot+ higher than my noggin. Sometimes I don't even
wear my seatbelts, but don't tell anyone....

Done? Haven't even cut a piece of metal yet. I'm going from scratch, have a set of drawings that I'm going to have to make changes to most likely.

The thumb caught my eye. I'll have to look at it more, but I think I see how it works. Got any pictures of the bucket extended?

Monte

joes_427_vette · Feb 23, 2007

Nice work, looks like it will do the job. I have gone through 3 drawings and still not final on my sub frame. I'm mating a bradco to a NH tractor. They want 2k for the mount with shipping. I think it can be done for the price of the steel. I was thinking of the over axle braces also but would there be alot of flex in the length of steel involved. I guess it could also be tied into the upper axle mount plus the three point upper control. I want to make sure it is strong enough.

mudcat · Feb 23, 2007

Outstanding job!!! Very nice presentation also.

dfkrug · Feb 23, 2007

joes_427_vette said:
I was thinking of the over axle braces also but would there be alot of flex in the length of steel involved. I guess it could also be tied into the upper axle mount plus the three point upper control. I want to make sure it is strong enough.

Flex is definitely bad. My over-the-axle braces are very hefty and
have almost no curve to them. Where there is a slight curve to get
around the axle housing, it is welded up double-thick to 1.25". I was
more concerned with where it attached to the channel frame. From
the operator's seat, I could see no apparent flex. I also used 12 total
bolt holes in the rear casting to support the lower section of the
subframe. My subframe prob weighs about 200# total. Looking at
what Woods did for this tractor, I see they avoided the whole issue
of wrapping around the axle by attaching to the bottom and top of the
rear casting. Easier to make, but I think mine will put less bending
moment on the middle of the tractor.

I am running my hoe at 2500psi and this tractor of about 5000-5500
lb is quite easily lifted and dragged by the digging action.

design · Feb 23, 2007

Dfkrug,
Nice job.

Has anyone contemplated mounting a "quick hitch" cat 2 bracket to a custom sub-frame (attached at the rear axle, and the loader mounting plates.)
With the quick hitch, I think it may be possible to then use a 3 pt. hitch frame on the back hoe. The frame whould carry the top link loads to the sides into the subframe.

Picture a 4 point subframe that has the quick hitch mounted in place of the lower connecting points and a single link/bolt at the top in the center. The frame then carrys the bending loads to the outside where it can be directed to the subframe.

Still trying to design the frame for the bh-9000 and the L2900.
Design

Tractors4u · Feb 24, 2007

Excellent work. I have a Deere 4310 and a Koyker 3 point backhoe. That is one of the first projects I want to tackle when I get home from Iraq later this year. I don't do any real heavy work with mine, but I want it to be sturdier and easier to attach. Yours looks great.

dfkrug · Feb 24, 2007

montejw said:
The thumb caught my eye. I'll have to look at it more, but I think I see how it works. Got any pictures of the bucket extended?

I forgot your 2nd question, Monte. Since I can't easily post a video,
I took 4 pix in series from full open to full closed. They are posted in
the thread I started about my articulated thumb:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/94333-another-backhoe-mechanical-thumb-fixed.html

dfkrug · Feb 24, 2007

design said:
Has anyone contemplated mounting a "quick hitch" cat 2 bracket to a custom sub-frame (attached at the rear axle, and the loader mounting plates.)
With the quick hitch, I think it may be possible to then use a 3 pt. hitch frame on the back hoe. The frame whould carry the top link loads to the sides into the subframe.

I am not following your idea. What is a "quick hitch cat 2 bracket"?

Thx for the kudos, guys.

montejw · Feb 25, 2007

dfkrug said:
I am not following your idea. What is a "quick hitch cat 2 bracket"?

Thx for the kudos, guys.

I think he's talking about one of these, welded to a sub frame instead of mounted to the 3 point hitch.

Saw the pictures of the thumb, great idea.

Monte

design · Feb 26, 2007

montejw,
Thank you for finding the photo. That is the idea. Weld this quick attach hitch to a subframe. The idea of 3 point BH scares me into thinking about other ways to quickly mount/dismount a backhoe.
Design

dfkrug · Feb 26, 2007

That could work. It would be better than a standard 3-pt hitch
with the exception of the toplink. All the upper stresses would
still be on one point.

I do think you could make a good attachment out of this "quick
hitch" if you weld it on and provide TWO attachment points at the
top for the hoe, and support the top of the "quick hitch" at more
than just the toplink bracket on the tractor.

design · Feb 27, 2007

dfkrug,
I would like to weld this adapter to a subframe (much like the current 4 point systems) I would not attach the back of the quick hitch to the top link area on the rear of the tractor, instead I would weld the upper corners of the qucik hitch to bar stock running down to a subframe. I will try an draw something today.

Design

dfkrug · Feb 27, 2007

Design:

Sounds like your plan would work. If the quick hitch makes your
job any easier, then it makes sense. I see these things at HF
Tools for $69.

Don't forget to post some pix.

tlbuser · Feb 27, 2007

dfkrug said:
These pix are the results. There is no detectable wiggle or flex, I
am happy to report.

Looks great. I got a good chuckle out of the subliminal message

70832d1172199581-yet-another-custom-backhoe-subframe-ck30_sub_mntd_2.jpg

3RRL · Feb 28, 2007

Very nice work Dave.
Looks like you went the extra mile on this one. It's really heavy duty with the use of all that thick steel. Seems to me it would weigh quite a bit more than 200lbs though. I'll bet if you weigh it on a scale, it's gonna be over that. But that's part of what makes it so sturdy. I like your mounting position so close to the hoe too, and you don't have to take off the lower lift arms either.
Great project man,