Backhoe update. I'm making progress (Video included)

[rallyaction]

I have been reading this thread with some interest.
I'm new to the forum, however have been around heavy equipment for a long time.
Chad, your determination is comendable.
You have suffered a few set backs for a variety of reasons and have worked to overcome them. IMO; design, materials and tools all probably played a part in the equipment failures you had.
Like a couple of the other guys have already mentioned, its worth a good look at an existing design to see how some of your issues have been overcome on production units. No doubt over the years your issues have been encountered by manufacturers and they have poured millions into R&D to fix the problems.
Its also worth taking note of some of the smaller items such as: reinforcement/attachement points, pins/bushes and routing and protection of hydraulic hoses.

I'm really typing this reply as a safety message. Research could save someone a lot of time, money and possibly an injury. A failure in the wrong place could easily hurt or kill someone.

I'm not wanting to discourage anyone from building their own equipment. Just a request to be safe about it.

 

[Short Game]

Some of us like living on the edge.

 

[NormL]

Some of us like living on the edge.

And some of us are living on the edge whether we like it or not!:laughing::laughing:

 

[Short Game]

And some of us are living on the edge whether we like it or not!:laughing::laughing:

Some?

We live in edgy times, eh?

Hey, did I just speak in Canadian?

 

[NormL]

Some?

We live in edgy times, eh?

Hey, did I just speak in Canadian?

Yup!:laughing: Scary, eh?

 

[tglass]

yep, but some positive input would be nice. Trying to make something cheap that works. And American made. Safety is a factor, and trying to make something work at a cheaper price. I put things together all the time I think are to thin to hold the force, but when the rest is put together, the strength is greatly improved. Follow up on this, of what works and what don't.

 

[Short Game]

Yup!:laughing: Scary, eh?

Yup, eh?

 

[chad22]

Chad, thats has too be the funniest story I've ever heard about digging a hole. Bet you wished you still had the energy to do that now.

Oh yes. How I wish I had all that energy.

I'm back. Been gone for awhile due to being short on money for phone and internet bill. Just finally got it back on today. Haven't worked much with the backhoe though.

I've been busy tearing on my old fifth wheel camper that I used to live in until a month ago. "The aluminum siding is what paid the phone bill." lol

I'm gonna use the trailer to haul scrap metal with.

A friend of ours gave me a mobile home. He asked me if I wanted it and I told him I'd take it. He delivered it here for $30.00 in gas.

So I'm living in the mobile home now. It does need a bit of work on the floor, and the ceiling. Plus I need to re plumb it. To get water on inside the house. For now I've gotten a hose tied to the toilet and taking showers at my moms.

Hope to get back to working on the backhoe soon though. I still need to go see the local hydraulic shop and see if he can get me a seal kit for my hydraulic pump.


Anyway, just thought I'd update you guys.

Chad

 

[chad22]

An update. I went to the hydraulic shop today and picked up a seal kit for my pump. It was $70.00 But not too bad seeing as a new pump would have cost me $80.00 more.

I got the pump put back together and hope to be able to try it out soon.

I've done some work on the backhoe. Redid my swing mount. Still haven't gotten it all welded back up. "Ran out of welding rods" But hopefully will be picking some up in a few days.

I'm trying to get this thing going pretty soon as I've got a job lined up for it in a few weeks. I've got a guy needing part of a sewer line dug up so we can cut into it, clear out the clog and put in a clean out.

I'm sure once I get this swing mount fixed with my new design. It should work flawlessly.

When I get done. I'll get some photos and another video of it digging.

Chad

 

[Short Game]

Ok, this is my first try at adding the pics, so if they do not show go easy on me.

I had to go dig this post up to see it again. I am concerned that I am going to be dealing with serious negative tongue weight issues, as my axle is way forward in comparison to your rig. I have used a very long tongue, but think the amount of ballast to overcome the leverage of the hoe's weight will be excessive.