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

[chad22]

Just step away from the project for a while and refocus yourself.

Stop trying to fix what will never work and get the proper stock to re-build the boom and stick from. Do yourself a favor and look at the design of what you want to purchase and use that to build from. You already have the hydraulics which is the most costly portion of the project. I bet for around $750.00 you can get a new pump,motor and the proper steel and in no time at all you will have a perfectly functioning backhoe.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. After getting it tore down and thinking about it some more. I decided to keep going with this project. But I'm not gonna work on it probably until spring, I should be able to purchase the necessary material by then.

I'm gonna also get me a chop saw so I can cut the material a lot easier. And a better drill press.

The renting of a mini ex is out of the question now. Seeing as the rental place went out of business just a few days ago. And the rest of the places to rent from require a credit card which I don't have.

So it's either dig the trench by hand, or get this backhoe built and going. And I choose the backhoe over digging by hand.

I figured up the cost and should be able to get it built right with the proper material for at least another $1,000.00 which would bring the project to $2,000.00 which is still cheaper than purchasing one already made.

So as I get the money, I'll probably order the materials a little at a time and put them back until I have everything to start the build with.

Chad

 

[NormL]

Hi Chad

I am pleased to see you have taken that step back as recommended. I'm sure you will not regret it. As for acquiring adequate tools and shop equipment - good investments that will work for you over the years the same as the back hoe should do!:thumbsup: I'll get back to my project when I get the time. Lately it has been a blur around here with haying and charters. All of a sudden people want to go places and mowers and rakes and balers all need to be serviced and ready when the weather is right. I'm especially pleased to be able to bring a sickle bar mower back into service after many years of lying in the scrap heap left behind by the previous owner. All it really needed was a new drive belt and pitman arm. The rest was shimming the fingers and other adjustments to bring the shearing surfaces closer together and the machine works like it hadn't in years.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you will do with your backhoe and hope to get back to work on mine real soon.

 

[Short Game]

... a credit card which I don't have.

Wow, I'm not the only one!

 

[Neat 1500]

i am looking at making my own but the cost of the cylinders,hoses and lever banks is a bit prohibiting at the moment. i estimate it is going to cost about $2500 just for these bits. steel will be about $500. still though its cheaper than buying one @ $9k......:shocked:

 

[evo803]

You are going to have the best feeling in the world when you are standing at the end of your just finished water line install !

 

[chad22]

Hi Chad

I am pleased to see you have taken that step back as recommended. I'm sure you will not regret it. As for acquiring adequate tools and shop equipment - good investments that will work for you over the years the same as the back hoe should do!:thumbsup: I'll get back to my project when I get the time. Lately it has been a blur around here with haying and charters. All of a sudden people want to go places and mowers and rakes and balers all need to be serviced and ready when the weather is right. I'm especially pleased to be able to bring a sickle bar mower back into service after many years of lying in the scrap heap left behind by the previous owner. All it really needed was a new drive belt and pitman arm. The rest was shimming the fingers and other adjustments to bring the shearing surfaces closer together and the machine works like it hadn't in years.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you will do with your backhoe and hope to get back to work on mine real soon.

I'm sure this time it will turn out as I hope. And yeah I probably won't regret continuing the build. Glad you got the mower back in service. I know I'd be satisfied.

Wow, I'm not the only one!

Nope. Your not the only one without a credit card. Well I used to have one. I got the application for one when I was 17 and no Job. I filled the application
for the heck of it. I figured I'd get a response saying I wasn't approved. But no I got approved for a credit card with a $3,000.00 limit.

And yep I spent every bit of it. And with the added interest. It's now at $4,000.00 of what I owe.

i am looking at making my own but the cost of the cylinders,hoses and lever banks is a bit prohibiting at the moment. i estimate it is going to cost about $2500 just for these bits. steel will be about $500. still though its cheaper than buying one @ $9k......:shocked:

Yep those parts are expensive. I wouldn't continue building this one. But I've already got $1,000.00 in hydraulics and steel. So I figured heck I might as well put another $1,000.00 into it.The fittings alone just to connect the hoses to the valve are $70.00

But if I hadn't already put the $1,000.00 into it. I would be just buying one of the pre made towable backhoes.

You are going to have the best feeling in the world when you are standing at the end of your just finished water line install !

I'm sure I will. And I can be proud that the backhoe was made by me in the USA. lol

And not China where those other ones are probably manufactured at.

Chad

 

[Short Game]

Nope. Your not the only one without a credit card. Well I used to have one. I got the application for one when I was 17 and no Job. I filled the application
for the heck of it. I figured I'd get a response saying I wasn't approved. But no I got approved for a credit card with a $3,000.00 limit.

And yep I spent every bit of it. And with the added interest. It's now at $4,000.00 of what I owe.

Well, I'm 64 and have never had one. Never had a checkbook either. I've always had crappy short term memory and would be a danger to myself or others with the card or the book. About the time I was 50, I discovered I could no longer rent a car without possessing a credit card. By the time I was 55, using cash meant I was probably a terrorist or a criminal of some other kind and therefore, shouldn't think about getting on a plane. It's okay though, they will starve me out soon enough, as they have forgotten that "entitlements" means that you were supposed to be entitled to something. In my case, it was supposed to be because I was in a war for them and their sponsors, who they, with my help, made richer.

Oh yeah, I hope you get the backhoe built.

 

[farmall bill]

Hay i've got one of those home made backhoes I make back in 97...... its priceless......... is yours cadplans.com?

 

[chad22]

Hay i've got one of those home made backhoes I make back in 97...... its priceless......... is yours cadplans.com?

I don't have any plans bought yet. Not sure if I will buy any plans or just wing it. "Probably just wing it".

The cylinders I currently have won't work on any smaller tubing for the boom and stick. And seeing as I already have the stick and boom made up. I think I'll just use them and build the frame strong enough to support it.


I'm gonna shorten the boom and stick just a bit and maybe even curve the boom.

Hopefully by next summer I'll have all the materials gathered and can go to work on it.

For now, I've stored the hoses, cylinders and valve in the shop.

Chad

 

[evo803]

Here is a picture for you chad. Study it well and follow its design and you will have a great backhoe.

Just remember in order to shorten the boom you need to overlap the cylinders mounting point . Look at the picture and the boom mounting casting on it is about 1/2" to 5/8" thick in places and its boom is about 4'. So if you leave yours 6' just think how thick that would have to be!!!