Backhoe Added a ripper to my Woods BH90x: Trees beware

[mjncad]

I guess I'm mostly used to it know, but don't always remember how many feet are in a mile, for example.

Statute mile or nautical mile? :laughing:

Now if you really want a clusterfrak...part of Japan's electric grid is 60hz, and the other part is 50hz. It's enough to make Uranus Hertz.

 

[Coyote machine]

I would imagine the reference is to an earth mile?
But if Newt were to have his way it might become a MOON mile; well hopefully for him at least!:laughing:

BTW, I have a hydraulic thumb and it has no effect whatsoever on getting the ripper/CLAW attached to the dipper stick on the Kioti KB-2485 hoe. Does the Woods hoe IT uses, or others are using, present additional issues with a thumb, mechanical or hydraulic?

 

[IslandTractor]

On my Woods BH90x the mechanical thumb is mounted (pivots) on the main bucket pin. That means that it needs to be lined up perfectly when installing the pin. As the thumb is only attached by that pin plus its adjustable "plunger rod" it is very wobbly until the pin is in. Basically you need about four hands to position the ripper and thumb so that main pin can be beaten in with your fifth hand. Remember none of these things weighs less than fifty pounds so you work up a sweat with all the isometric exercise. That requires a sixth hand to hold the beer can. Bottom line: not one of my favorite tasks.

 

[mjncad]

Sounds like it's about as much funs as connecting and disconnecting a 3PH post hole digger.

 

[IslandTractor]

Sounds like it's about as much funs as connecting and disconnecting a 3PH post hole digger.

Without the option of suspending it from a rafter.

 

[Reg]

Without the option of suspending it from a rafter.

That must be a ROYAL B*TCH once you realize you've just used it to rip out the last tree on the property with a decent enough branch to hang it from (-:

OK, so now we get out the band-saw mill, make lumber, build a gantry to hang it from.....
All in a man's burden I guess (-:

OTOH, if the last tree is gone, do we still NEED this thing ?

 

[nickel plate]

Without the option of suspending it from a rafter.

I must confess that I do use my overhead hoist to aid in the proceedure and I'm still not setting any tooth land speed records.
I dread the day that it ever becomes necessary to make a tooth/bucket bucket/tooth field swap out.

 

[Reg]

A cheap engine crane is something I have found SO MANY uses for - though never for actually hauling out an engine, I "got over that" before I finally broke down and bought one.

 

[IslandTractor]

The problem with any system of overhead support, tree, gantry or engine crane, is that the BH itself interferes. I suppose an overhead bar with the ripper supported below and BH in the middle would work but would hardly be a simple setup.

Although I have so far failed to devise a workable solution, I believe it will be best to support the ripper from below in a device that will allow x,y,z spacial adjustments as fine as 1-2 mm. Kind of like a drill press vise mounted on a transmission jack. That is a pretty unwieldy and expensive solution though.

MIE mentioned a quick attach mount which could be patterned after what is used on the big boy excavators. That would allow you to place the ripper tooth in a hole so the BH could the use it's own controls to manipulate the attachment.

Still waiting for some TBN genius to solve this conundrum.

 

[Reg]

The problem with any system of overhead support, tree, gantry or engine crane, is that the BH itself interferes. I suppose an overhead bar with the ripper supported below and BH in the middle would work but would hardly be a simple setup.

Although I have so far failed to devise a workable solution, I believe it will be best to support the ripper from below in a device that will allow x,y,z spacial adjustments as fine as 1-2 mm. Kind of like a drill press vise mounted on a transmission jack. That is a pretty unwieldy and expensive solution though.

MIE mentioned a quick attach mount which could be patterned after what is used on the big boy excavators. That would allow you to place the ripper tooth in a hole so the BH could the use it's own controls to manipulate the attachment.

Still waiting for some TBN genius to solve this conundrum.

I may be the TBN Genius you have been looking for, first a quick note to my patent attorney - done, and I'll copy him on this post.

Basically, an engine crane can "go low" and with a shelf/platform can raise/support below overhanging structures (the hoe boom).
All you need is a platform and it would be "nice to have" a parallelogram feature that maintains that platform at the same angle relative to the horizontal (whatever that starts out to be) in the useful range, say -15, 0, +15.
The details of fine adjustment are just that - details.
A machinist's vise, or some adaptation of that would work.
Some number of turn-buckles suitably arranged in x, y and z directions could also work, just details.
Almost any semi rigid mount COULD work if you were willing to mess with pry bars and wedges (-:
Yeah, I can imagine tapping in bits of shim stock here and there to get things close enough for a tapered pin to do the rest.

(-:

 

[IslandTractor]

I like where you are headed Reg but the patent office is going to demand specifics before crowning you. I think we need to put a $50 budget limit on the project too minus any materials any self respecting DIY geek would have on hand.

 

[lhansman]

Can someone point me to a website for the MIE Claw? I'd like to see if I can get one for me Kubota B26.

 

[Reg]

I like where you are headed Reg but the patent office is going to demand specifics before crowning you. I think we need to put a $50 budget limit on the project too minus any materials any self respecting DIY geek would have on hand.

As a "self respecting economist" might say; "First let us assume a fully equipped machine shop, also skills and access to welders ?".

***_u_ming economists HAVE self respect (-:
=======================================
Seriously, I don't think a shelf/table on front of an engine crane boom would be at all hard and (with the right geometry) a couple of links going back to the main lift post could keep it at a constant angle to horizontal.
I rarely lift more than 1,000 lbs with mine and I can do that with the boom all the way out, it doesn't QUITE tip forwards with a loaded 17.5L24 tire on it at max extension.
This is how I change my summer turfs to loaded R4s for winter on the little tractor and I have to line up the bolt holes fairly accurately, figure 900 plus pounds for those, true I do it on a concrete pathway.
If I pull it in to where it is rated for a ton the end of the boom is WAY inside the support wheels.

$50 in materials ? Maybe.
20 hours ? Maybe, ,,, Is that a "cost" at $75 an hour, or a "recreational pastime" valued by M/C as priceless ?

BTW, I have a ripper tooth that I got at Tractor supply.
It was my INTENTION to punch a couple of holes in the side of a backhoe bucket so I could use it for GENTLY picking and scratching at roots.
I still keep meaning to do that and if/when I do I might just put a set of holes on each side of the bucket.

Yeah, I know, I know; It will twist the B'Jeepers out of the sheet metal side of a bucket if I REALLY push/pull on it.
Not sure of the details for the backing strip; at least angle iron, more likely C section.

 

[IslandTractor]

Can someone point me to a website for the MIE Claw? I'd like to see if I can get one for me Kubota B26.

Search for Michigan Iron and Equipment or send a message to Michigan Iron. Bob monitors TBN and you can find MIE in the sponsors section too.

 

[IslandTractor]

Reg, I will keep your engine crane idea in mind. I have one of the HF 2 ton units. I hadn't been thinking of mounting the ripper with the thing suspended four feet high but that would make it easier to use the crane. still not sure about fine xyz movement though.

 

[Coyote machine]

Can someone point me to a website for the MIE Claw? I'd like to see if I can get one for me Kubota B26.

From what I understand MIE will make a CLAW to fit whatever tractor/backhoe
one owns...
Get Bob on the phone- their toll free number is on their web site.

 

[Reg]

Reg, I will keep your engine crane idea in mind. I have one of the HF 2 ton units. I hadn't been thinking of mounting the ripper with the thing suspended four feet high but that would make it easier to use the crane. still not sure about fine xyz movement though.

It probably isn't that hard, should be little/no worse than hooking up a 3 pt implement.

You have height adjustment with the crane and if it goes anything like hooking up a 3pt implement once you get one side connected you can get the other side to the right height with hydraulics (crane or hoe, whichever offers FINE adjustment) that leaves a need to spin it a little bit on the vertical axis and you may be down to a long wrecking bar to nudge it.
I don't know how close it needs to be, but that probably depends on pin/hole clearance and taper.
It MIGHT be worth using longer pins with more taper, though straight on the section you actually use for load.

I'm guessing that this hooks up in a very similar way to the hoe bucket, so once the first (pivot ?) pin is all the way across the other one (to the bucket cylinder) is easy.

OTOH, did this thing come in a crate ?
Would it be possible to reassemble that and hold the ripper vertically, then pick it out from the "top" with the dipper stick ? even if only at the pivot point, then hook up the bucket cylinder.
I imagine shoving it around while held upright in a topless crate should be easy to get it very close.

 

[lhansman]

Thanks IslandTractor.

Lauren

 

[pclausen]

If you talk to MIE, they will send you a pdf where you fill in basic dimensions for your bucket that they will then use to built your ripper. Here's what the pdf looks like:

I filled in this sheet for my Woods 1050 bucket (which is different than a BH90), and they built my ripper last week and I received it a couple of days ago. Here's what mine looks like:

Can't wait to hook it up and make sure it fits, and then put it to some use!

 

[IslandTractor]

That looks really sharp! Too much paint though. Get it into the dirt and scrape that black stuff off!:thumbsup: