Backhoe Feet

BTDT · Jul 4, 2007

As always, nice job. Others suggested putting gussets on the feet, I think some thin walled flat plate welded to the supports to box it in completely (to keep out dirt, mud, etc) would be a better option, and would add stability (maybe more so than gussets).

3RRL · Jul 4, 2007

BTDT said:
As always, nice job. Others suggested putting gussets on the feet, I think some thin walled flat plate welded to the supports to box it in completely (to keep out dirt, mud, etc) would be a better option, and would add stability (maybe more so than gussets).

Thank you.
Now that is a good idea to keep the dirt out and get support. I wish I would have thought of that before I put them on. I'll try them out as they are but if they fail, I'll box them in like that. Thanks for the good idea.

3RRL · Jul 4, 2007

I finally got the fittings I've been waiting for. It only took Discount Hydraulics two weeks to send them next day air.

The one on the left is a 3/8 BSPT British Pipe Taper (male) to 3/8 BSPP British Pipe parallel (female).
The one on the right is 3/8 NPT (male) to 3/8 BSPP (female).
Which ones do you like better? Which one would win in a fight do you think?

The difference between the BSPT and NPT is not just a few thousands in diameter, but more so one thread per inch. Now that I got them, they will go up to camp with me this weekend to see which fits. Then I can start working the backhoe again and check out the new red shoes too. Not only will they be taller and offer more stability for Huge Kama, but the backhoe legs should not leak down anymore.
I'm hoping to use the backhoe and company to dig the footings for the foundation of the water storage tank this weekend. I will report if the shoes bust a heel or not, and if the legs leak down or not. But neither of them will fail, I'm positive....especially after bragging about them so much.

In any case, I should have fun because it's supposed to be only 109°F up there.

john_bud · Jul 5, 2007

3RRL said:
I finally got the fittings I've been waiting for. It only took Discount Hydraulics two weeks to send them next day air.

And in 2 weeks a man with your skills and a lathe couldn't make them?

3RRL said:
In any case, I should have fun because it's supposed to be only 109°F up there.

Yowch! I was whining due to the high 80's we had today.

Which way did you attach the standoffs? Going parallel to the stab leg or orthogonal? When using my hoe, it wants to drag the tractor backwards if I'm not real careful. That type of action with your stout tractor, may test those welds.

3RRL · Jul 5, 2007

I mounted them the way they are in the photos above, parallel to the leg so they don't flip over when the hoe wants to drag the tractor. But that is putting more stress on the welds in that direction. I hope they hold up and I think they will.

Only 80°F at your place John?
Heck, even my buddy in Montana said it's going to be 100°F at his place in Stevensville today. I was in Edgewood, NM this past week and it got up to 93° and in Albuquerque it was 100°. You are lucky with the 80° man.

charlz · Jul 5, 2007

3RRL said:
I mounted them the way they are in the photos above, parallel to the leg so they don't flip over when the hoe wants to drag the tractor. But that is putting more stress on the welds in that direction. I hope they hold up and I think they will.

Nice job! My backhoe shoes throw dirt all over me too, I usually spend a few minutes 'jiggling' them up and down to try and clear the dirt off. Worst part is they throw crap all over the hyd cylinder shaft right before it makes it all the way into the cylinder, mine have scratches on them from crap sticking to them.

3RRL said:
Only 80°F at your place John?
Heck, even my buddy in Montana said it's going to be 100°F at his place in Stevensville today. I was in Edgewood, NM this past week and it got up to 93° and in Albuquerque it was 100°. You are lucky with the 80° man.

Stevensville, MT!? I grew up there! 100 is definitely hot for that area of the country. At least it cools off at night like it does here in Idaho. Fire season is going to be a bastard this year though. I lived in Vegas before here and it just never cools off. Weather says Vegas is going to be 115 with a LOW of 84!! Nothing like busting a sweat just getting into your car first thing in the morning

Charles

3RRL · Jul 5, 2007

Hi charlz,
Yeah, that's why I want to try no support first. I'm sure I'll still get dirt thrown up at me, lol ... just not a small bucket full.

Small world. When I visited my buddy in Montana he took me all over there. I didn't think it ever got that hot there either. My place in Three Rivers has 100°+ temps during July and August. Just have to deal with it though.

3RRL · Jul 8, 2007

It was a lot cooler than the weatherman predicted ... good thing for us.
I got the fittings installed and re-connected the hydraulic lines. Then mounted the hoe to the tractor for a tryout.

Here are some photos of how the DPOCV mounting worked out.

The hoses fit perfectly and did not get squished.

I zip tied them together to keep them in position, but when screwed in and fastened, the hoses didn't move anyway.

The fittings turned out to be 3/8 BSPT that go into the check valves, not 3/8 NPT. They sealed perfectly and so did the BSPP (parallel) threads for the banjo bolts. They did not leak a drop.

3RRL · Jul 8, 2007

In testing them out and also the new feet, I found them plenty wide enough and they grabbed the ground solidly. A couple photos after getting the hoe on.

This shows how neatly the hydraulic hoses are routed with the check valves on the cylinders.

I know now those check valves work good. I dug a 4' x 4' x 4' hole as a test with no leak down at all. Took about 30 minutes to do that in my hard ground. The feet held up with no hint of buckling at all. Then I dug a 10' diameter about 4" deep for my water tank, but that was on all decomposed granite and it was as hard as rock. It was baked and I spent at least an hour and a half screwing around with that. So I settled for 4 " and put a steel ring up tp form the concrete base. No problems there either.

I think the feet and the DPOCV's modifications are a definite plus, making it worthwhile to get a more stable and safe operating backhoe.
Thanks for looking.