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

[Short Game]

The day before yesterday, I crawled under the Kubota backhoe, which is sitting two 100' 10 AWG extension cords out in the field. I bought some 2X2X1/4 tubing to fit into the slots for the lower 3-point arms. Though the slots measured two inches, that wasn't quite exact. They were not quite parallel and the square tubes would not fit. I didn't want to grind the 1/4" material. I thought it better to grind the 5/8" stuff on the backhoe. My skinny, bad backed, old man body, lying on the ground, wielding a big, heavy, guardless, Makita grinder, was pure torture.

Anyway, I got the tubes to fit after a couple of hours. Yesterday when I got up I was about crippled from the ordeal. The mount on the backhoe has three 7/8" pin holes on each side. I drilled the two pieces of tubing to take the pin through one and a 7/8" bolt through another. The tubes are mitered to become horizontal to connect to the frame of a big old boat trailer I'm cutting way down for this project.

So anyway, the inspiration I got here is starting to become progress. I will get some pictures up soon.

I'm sure that I don't need a 41 HP diesel running at 2400 RPM to run the pump at 540, so I'm wondering what portable power (engine/gear reduction) setup would be optimum for running the PTO pump independently of the tractors?

 

[peavey]

Howdy Short Game, there is a fellow on this forum that goes by the handle J J who may be able to help you if you can locate him. I know he got me lined out on some hydraulic issues I was having in the early stages of my towable back hoe build.

 

[peavey]

I have a 13hp Harbor freight running my 7 gpm pump on my towable. I havent had any issues with it stressing the pump or engine. So far I have dug a ditch about 200 feet long, 3 to 4 feet deep in hard clay and rocky soil, then I dug a storm shelter 7 feet x 10 feet long x 8 feet wide. The little towable did a great job, I was really shocked.I can send you the link for the pump I used.

 

[Short Game]

Whatever engine I use, It'll probably be salvaged from something else.

I have noticed that J_J is always right there ready to help. He is very much appreciated. He knows enough about hydraulics that much of it goes right over my head. I'm starting at the bottom on that subject.

 

[peavey]

Yup, JJ really helped me out a lot. Told him what I was doing and he found the pump I needed and sent me the link to order it.

 

[Short Game]

Of course, I have that Kubota PTO pump and want to use that. I just wonder what kind of small engine will power it properly at 540. Assuming a reduction gear will be needed anyway, I'm hoping that the HP won't need to be huge. I have an old military Kohler 7 horse with a built-in reduction gear. It would be nice if that would do it.

Anyway, I've already bought the extra hoses to reach the PTO, so as soon as it's trailered, it should be ready to work behind a tractor.

 

[peavey]

you will have to find out what the gear reduction is first. The engine probably turns at 3200 rpm's as most do without the speed reducer. 540 rpm's is slow in comparison.

 

[Short Game]

It's 6:1, so durn, that is only 533.3. Came up short. :laughing:

 

[NormL]

It's 6:1, so durn, that is only 533.3. Came up short. :laughing:

OK. Now, the oversimplified progression would have you looking at 42 horsepower (7x6) and even with some loss due to friction, would you not still have ample power to run that PTO pump with your 7 hp? As long as it doesn't have hard starting issues it should be perfect.:thumbsup:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've always used the horsepower calculator in the wikipedia article to help calculate what's needed for a hydraulic system... Horsepower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Flow (gal/min) X Pressure (PSI) X 7/12,000 = Horsepower.

So, for 7 gpm at 2,000 psi you need a theoretical 8.2 horsepower. Give yourself a few extra HP for mechanical losses.

 

[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.