Backhoe Attachment Project

[rbutterfield]

I would at least investigate a possible subframe for it.

It will be a 3 point however, I also plan on building a sub frame as well. The idea is so that I do not have to remove the arms on the 3 point everytime I wish to attach the BH. The 3 point will basically remain in tact while the BH is attached. Unlike the JD which requires you to remove the 3 point arms. Not sure how the Kubota attaches.

 

[David Devuono]

I am also working on a homemade backhoe project and will post pictures soon so this thread develops. I am using 3"x3" 3\16 wall tubing. Mine will attach to an old MF 135. I was thinking of building a FEL for the Massey but changed my mind to a backhoe recently as I have a FEL (I made) on my Kubota B4200 (12HP) minicompact. Not sure if this site allows larger images but closeups of the bucket attachment would be nice. I am concerned about your main boom joint and believe that you should sandwich some steel plates on either side as the 2" shoulder cylinder will push at about 7,000 pounds very close to that joint. I just bought a small horizontal bandsaw and looking forward to cutting some more metal without all the sparks and smoke......enjoy.

Dave

 

[rbutterfield]

I am concerned about your main boom joint and believe that you should sandwich some steel plates on either side
Dave

I agree that there will be quite a bit of stress at that location and I will be welding plate on each side of that joint once I determine the attaching point of another cylinder. Thanks for your input, I appreciate and welcome all suggestions.

 

[rbutterfield]

closeups of the bucket attachment would be nice.
Dave

Here are a few photos. Hope they help. Most welds are just tacked and the discolored metal is the result of "tweeking" with the torch. Thank goodness for paint, it covers a multitude of errors!

 

[jimgerken]

Looks good! I will be copying your idea for the bucket teeth. Thanks!

 

[rbutterfield]

Looks good! I will be copying your idea for the bucket teeth. Thanks!

Thanks Jim. The idea for the teeth wasn't mine, it was suggested on the plans. Used 1" bar stock. I drilled a hole then cut out with my band saw. Will try hardening by heating up then quinching.

 

[David Devuono]

Thanks for the bucket close-ups. I will have to shape those boomerang pieces at the wrist cylinder to bucket with a grinder (no torches). Since I was originally making a FEL I have a 36" stroke cylinder so I may be able to get away with straight pieces. Most comercial backhoes have those two pieces welded together (or forged) so they are an "H" shape. I like those teeth as well. Simple and if they wear you can always lay a few beads of weld and grind them to a point again.

Dave

 

[rbutterfield]

I will have to shape those boomerang pieces at the wrist cylinder to bucket with a grinder (no torches).
Dave

Actually, I cut them with a bandsaw then did a little grinding. I have since bought a plasma cutter that would have been handy in the beginning.

 

[Farmerford]

I don't know which I most admire: your workmanship, your clean shop, or your tools. Like Mike, I have too many unfinished projects laying around to have room for another. Last night I made a quick weld while standing on a portable cooler that my wife "stored" in the shop!

That is a nice looking project. I assume the bracket sticking off the lower side of the frame is for the swing cylinder. Will you use a single cylinder, and if so how much swing will you have?

 

[rbutterfield]

I don't know which I most admire: your workmanship, your clean shop, or your tools..... Last night I made a quick weld while standing on a portable cooler

I would say the safe bet is the tools. They aren't the best and most expensive but there are a lot of useful things laying around. As for the workmanship, I appreciate it but I would say I would fall in the average category. The clean shop, now that's a different story, my wife would probably say if you saw it a few days ago you wouldn't have said that, and she would be right. I have a bad habit of working until I get tired and therefore don't take the time to clean up. I need to knock off in time to straighten up, that would be a good habit for me to develop. I laughed when you said you had to weld while atop a cooler. I'm always having to climb over and on piles that I have created and not gotten around to cleaning up.
The bracket is for the swing cylinder. One to begin with, will add another if I feel it needs it. I'm guessing around 170 deg of swing.

 

[wmgeorge]

Thanks. Best guess would be aound $1500-$1800.
Whether I could have bought a used BH for the same amount I don't know possibly, I think it would have proven difficult to find one the right size for my 2320. Also, I just simply enjoy building stuff.

I built the Caddigger 608,(3 point) with some used steel and shopping for bargains, I had at the most $1500. No you can't buy a used Backhoe attachment, at least in Iowa or surrounding, I looked for 3 months. Regardless of dire predictions that I would break my tractor (old JD 650) or be crushed using... not one of those things happened.. It works fine. Don't get me wrong using any kind of hydraulic powered equipment is dangerous, just think before you pull that lever!!

 

[rbutterfield]

I built the Caddigger 608,(3 point) with some used steel and shopping for bargains, I had at the most $1500.

wmgeorge,
good advise on "thinking" before pulling the lever. Wish I had kept a record of my costs however, like you I couldn't find a used BH and knew if I were to have one I would have to build it and what ever the cost it would be less than buying one (at least most of the time)
Have any pictures of your Caddigger?

 

[wmgeorge]

wmgeorge,
good advise on "thinking" before pulling the lever. Wish I had kept a record of my costs however, like you I couldn't find a used BH and knew if I were to have one I would have to build it and what ever the cost it would be less than buying one (at least most of the time)
Have any pictures of your Caddigger?

I will post some if I can. My son borrowed the tractor for 3 weeks to do some digging for his construction job before I took down to the lake property. I dug in a sewer line and then did some landscaping. Increased the size of the boom cylinder from 2.5 to 3.0 inches and made a thumb to be able to move those good heavy RR ties.
Oh the bucket is a Ebay find, brand new Bushhog 13" wide, $278 to my door!!
I also covered the hoses with protective material at the wear points.

 

[rbutterfield]

Very nice work.
Who's joystick's did you use? I haven't bought mine yet. I like the combination of 2 joysticks and 2 levers however, 6 levers is fine also.
Thanks for the photos.

 

[wmgeorge]

Very nice work.
Who's joystick's did you use? I haven't bought mine yet. I like the combination of 2 joysticks and 2 levers however, 6 levers is fine also.
Thanks for the photos.

Made my own. Ideas and drawings over on Machine Builders Net backhoe forum. I have a Husco valve, 4 spool, power beyond port, and pressure adjustments on all ports. Price was about $200 to my door from Surplus Center but with no handles. (They are now sold out of these valves)

So I made a mount bracket and handles and then found the Machine Builders Net joystick drawings.
http://www.machinebuilders.net/

I stopped posting here, when I was building because all I got was people telling me that a 3 point backhoe would either kill me or break my old (heavy duty cast iron and real steel) tractor. Nether one happened.

 

[rbutterfield]

Thanks for the nfo.
I haven't been on this forum very long and have not run into any problems but I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'm sure there are those that think I'm making a mistake as well but that's OK, I will strive my best to not break my tractor or cause harm to myself, or others.
I got that crap out of my system in Southeast Asia!

 

[rbutterfield]

Just an update.
Changed my mind regarding the 3 point attachment. Well, not entirely, when finished, it will have the attachment points for 3 point hook up however a few months back I posted a thread asking if anyone could supply some dimensions for the 46 subframe.
Didn't get much response so I decided to go ahead a fab my own. Basically I found some installation instructions for the 46 and pretty much duplicated what they did. No point in re-inventing the wheel. The subframe is pretty much complete and bears a striking resemblance to JD's.

 

[MJPetersen]

Pictures man!! Pictures!! Show us what you are doing.

Mike

 

[rbutterfield]

I posted from work and forgot I had no photos.
Anyway, went out early this am and shot a few in no particular order.
I replaced the original draft link pin with a longer one from a different tractor, added two spacers, I picked up from a local TSC store, to each side of the lower mount.
Again, I had no dimensions to work with so I just had to wing it so to speak. I have added a recessed area in the event I want to add a hydraulic tank and pump in the future. Right now I plan on using the tractors hydraulics.

 

[rbutterfield]

Today was the first time I connected the joystick to my home brew power beyond set up. The good news is the tractors hydraulics appear to provide more than enough pressure and flow to work more than one cylinder at a time. Best news, no leaks! With the stabilizers and slew pivot functioning now it's on to the boom, crowd arm and bucket. Fortunately, everything is pretty much fabricated, just need to cut out a couple support plates, weld on a cylinder bracket and run the hyd lines.