Recent content by Colcreate

Exploring the limits....

Thanks for the comments. If I was to build another..... I would go with a bigger engine, a compact Diesel engine say 40-50hp with twin hydraulic pumps. The 15hp Kohler bogs down at times as it does not have the torque at low rpm but otherwise works extremely well and is a perfect match for the...

Yes it surprising, the tyres (OK tires) seem quite tough until the back hoe gets pulling under a big root. Unfortunately I didnt plan the layout very well and ran out of room by the time I got to thinking about the outriggers. The leg rams sit within the two vertical channels and really should...

Still working...

It's been a while since I have worked on this but here's what I managed to do the other day. The bucket linkage here is a bit too long and ideally needs shortening by about 2 inches but it works ok for now. I picked up a couple of ram seal kits recently so had a go at stripping the bucket ram...

Backhoe I hadn't managed to do anything on the backhoe over the last couple of weeks, but I did find a few hours over the weekend to figure out the bucket ram. The hydraulic ram used on the main boom was the best one of a matched pair that I bought, the other which I'm now using for the bucket...

Yes the eyes in the joints are spherical (sometimes called spherical joints) and are free to revolve in any direction allowing quite a few degrees of movement. I used two of these on the ends of the steering ram.

Backhoe slew rams Here's some pictures looking down on the slew rams with the boom on full lock to the left, in the middle and full lock to the right. The hoses have been made and fitted to feed diagonally across the cylinders so when one ram pushes the other ram pulls. I will try taking a...

Backhoe slew rams I'm back to work now so progress will slow up on this project...:thumbdown: Here's where I am at the moment: The slew ram brackets were cut from 10mm thick steel plate and have been tack welded in place The cylinder ends are fastened to a chassis crossmember, I'll cut a piece...

OK, I've managed to connect up the hydraulics now using a temporary reservoir tank that I made from a steel box that was lying around. It's a bit on the small side but fits nicely in the space and can be replaced with a larger custom made thing at a later date. Here's a description of how I have...

Re: 15hp Motor and pump Adjustable steering column, orbital block and priority valve from an old forklift was bought off Ebay. I oiled blacked the freshly turned pump adapter by heating it to a dull red and then quenching it in old used motor oil.

15hp Motor and pump Here's the Kohler 15hp motor I want to use to drive the hydraulics. Not sure where it will be mounted but thought I would try it up front first. The housing for coupling the hydraulic pump to the motor was welded up from scrap plate and tube then true'd up in the lathe.

Backhoe, Front End Loader, Homebuilt 4WD tractor?? .... and now with wheels! I'm making this up as I go along just using stuff I have accumulated over the years. It's ended up bigger than I thought it would be especially now the wheels are on! Not so much a mini digger now as a midi tractor...

One of the 2nd hand hydraulic motors I bought off ebay earlier this year came with a substantial mounting bracket which fits nicely against the chassis. The motor adapter to fit the Suzuki flange was straightforward to make and the propshaft just need shortening and welding back together. Just...

Front axle pivot pin and bushes fitted. The transfer box is now bolted in place and connected to both axles. The hydraulic motor will be mated up to the drive flange, just need to turn an adapter flange.