LFEngineering
Silver Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2013
- Messages
- 109
- Location
- Western, MA
- Tractor
- Kubota B1700, IH Cub Lo-Boy 185( Sold) & Deutz Allis 5215 (Sold)
I stumbled across a listing on Facebook marketplace; someone was parting out a Kobelco SS60 walk behind micro excavator. After a month or so of negotiation I brought home the chassis, hoe arm & hydraulics for $400 bucks.
Although the factory backhoe for my Kubota B1700 (B4672) is a 3pt mount I opted to build my own sub-frame and tie into the top link bracket for extra support.
The keen eyed observer will notice no seat. I wanted to keep hoe as short as possible so I dumped the seat and went with standing controls. My logic, standing is easier than shoveling and if I want to sit that bad, I'll bring a bucket.
The Kobelco SS60 didn't have any kind of stabilization so outriggers were a low priority. Phase 1 was to get it running and test the digging ability before investing any more time or money. That being said stabilization is important as it takes the stress off the sub-frame & tractor and transfers it to the ground. The simple fix, use two 2000lb trailer jacks that I already had on hand. No doubt I will rip them off if I'm reckless, but being the guy that has to fix it when it breaks typically limits the recklessness. Plus I got the idea from the vertical stabilizers used on some of the JCB equipment or the old Case 646 tractors.
I was equal parts creative and lucky when it came to the hydraulics. The factory hydraulics in micro-ex used 2 pumps to feed 2 halves of the valve body. Unfortunately with only one pump on my machine I had to find some way to make it a single supply system. Thankfully I was able to disassemble the valve stack, flip 2 of the 3 valves over and run them all in series. It's a little slower, but it works. As for the tractor side I had already installed a 2 spool valve feeding 2 sets of rear remotes on my machine so I just plug in the backhoe and switch on one of my aux circuits.
Another must have is a thumb, mechanical or hydraulic. Again at the time of the build I had no idea if it would work so I opted for a simple mechanically adjustable thumb. Made from some C-channel and flat stock it will fit the bill.
It got the cheap used car treatment, taped off the cylinder chrome and sprayed the entire thing in 1 shot.
Testing: I was pleasantly surprised by the power. It's significantly less than the B4672 specs, but It'll dig a 5' deep hole x 8" wide and can lift near 200lb at full extension. Sure beats picking 200lb rocks out of the ground by hand.
Almost all of the steel I had laying around, the only real expense was hydraulic adapters, QD fittings, paint & beer. After selling some unused parts my all in cost is $450.00 (+30 hours of fab time) Not bad for a custom hoe.
Although the factory backhoe for my Kubota B1700 (B4672) is a 3pt mount I opted to build my own sub-frame and tie into the top link bracket for extra support.
The keen eyed observer will notice no seat. I wanted to keep hoe as short as possible so I dumped the seat and went with standing controls. My logic, standing is easier than shoveling and if I want to sit that bad, I'll bring a bucket.
The Kobelco SS60 didn't have any kind of stabilization so outriggers were a low priority. Phase 1 was to get it running and test the digging ability before investing any more time or money. That being said stabilization is important as it takes the stress off the sub-frame & tractor and transfers it to the ground. The simple fix, use two 2000lb trailer jacks that I already had on hand. No doubt I will rip them off if I'm reckless, but being the guy that has to fix it when it breaks typically limits the recklessness. Plus I got the idea from the vertical stabilizers used on some of the JCB equipment or the old Case 646 tractors.
I was equal parts creative and lucky when it came to the hydraulics. The factory hydraulics in micro-ex used 2 pumps to feed 2 halves of the valve body. Unfortunately with only one pump on my machine I had to find some way to make it a single supply system. Thankfully I was able to disassemble the valve stack, flip 2 of the 3 valves over and run them all in series. It's a little slower, but it works. As for the tractor side I had already installed a 2 spool valve feeding 2 sets of rear remotes on my machine so I just plug in the backhoe and switch on one of my aux circuits.
Another must have is a thumb, mechanical or hydraulic. Again at the time of the build I had no idea if it would work so I opted for a simple mechanically adjustable thumb. Made from some C-channel and flat stock it will fit the bill.
It got the cheap used car treatment, taped off the cylinder chrome and sprayed the entire thing in 1 shot.
Testing: I was pleasantly surprised by the power. It's significantly less than the B4672 specs, but It'll dig a 5' deep hole x 8" wide and can lift near 200lb at full extension. Sure beats picking 200lb rocks out of the ground by hand.
Almost all of the steel I had laying around, the only real expense was hydraulic adapters, QD fittings, paint & beer. After selling some unused parts my all in cost is $450.00 (+30 hours of fab time) Not bad for a custom hoe.
