External power

[1930]

Has anyone here ever considered an external power source for running their backhoe?

I'm wondering if it's doable and cost affective rather than having their tractor engine revving high all day long just to use that particular attachment. Harbor freight predator engine is cheap, pump might be the tricky part.

 

[Utopia Texas]

I personally would not worry about running a engine for extended periods, especially a diesel, for backhoe work. I have used multiple tractors and stand alone generators over the years for my business than run 24 hours a day for weeks at a time with no problems and these are under huge pressure at maximum loads. They are only shut down every 48 hours to monitor oil levels. Also have a neighbor in the commercial plumbing business that has 6 tractors with backhoes that are used on construction sites with 15 hour running days. I am curious if someone has a suggestion to your question.

 

[1930]

I personally would not worry about running a engine for extended periods, especially a diesel, for backhoe work. I have used multiple tractors and stand alone generators over the years for my business than run 24 hours a day for weeks at a time with no problems and these are under huge pressure at maximum loads. They are only shut down every 48 hours to monitor oil levels. Also have a neighbor in the commercial plumbing business that has 6 tractors with backhoes that are used on construction sites with 15 hour running days. I am curious if someone has a suggestion to your question.

Seems like in the tractor world hours on a unit are a major thing, I would have thought and still think that it might not be that big a deal to mount a 12 hp motor and small pump to operate backhoe.

I had demo d a DR towable backhoe, it was comparable in size to the bh77 that my tractor will come with, DR may have been a tad larger, a small gas engine and a puny hydraulic pump are all that powered it

Worked fine at digging

 

[CobyRupert]

I've never used a backhoe, but how long does a backhoe typically stay in one spot?
So wouldn't you be trading tractor running hours for many many more multiple starts?
Appealing for resale, I guess.

This is why I always thought hour meters (and odometers) don't tell the whole story, I wish there was a counter on many times cycled (started).
I'd rather buy a car started 365 times with 36,500 miles, than a car started 36,500 times with 3650 miles (if you get my drift).

 

[Utopia Texas]

I've never used a backhoe, but how long does a backhoe typically stay in one spot?
So wouldn't you be trading tractor running hours for many many more multiple starts?
Appealing for resale, I guess.

This is why I always thought hour meters (and odometers) don't tell the whole story, I wish there was a counter on many times cycled (started).
I'd rather buy a car started 365 times with 36,500 miles, than a car started 36,500 times with 3650 miles (if you get my drift).

The newer diesel pick up trucks do not tell you number of starts but they do log running hours and idle hours. This is important because the newer Diesel engines with all the anti pollution additions regenerate much more often with long idle times and after a certain number of regenerations some expensive maintenance is due.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Seems like in the tractor world hours on a unit are a major thing, I would have thought and still think that it might not be that big a deal to mount a 12 hp motor and small pump to operate backhoe.

I had demo d a DR towable backhoe, it was comparable in size to the bh77 that my tractor will come with, DR may have been a tad larger, a small gas engine and a puny hydraulic pump are all that powered it

Worked fine at digging

One of these is similar I assume to what you are talking about?
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Bac...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583657823866643&psc=1

 

[1930]

One of these is similar I assume to what you are talking about?
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Bac...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583657823866643&psc=1

Yes same concept, I could see making a small platform on backhoe for a small dedicated gas engine and small pump similar to what these portable backhoes use.

Pump drawing fluid from tractor reservoir thru the tractor controls.

I'm still uncertain what rpms the engine needs to be running at to maintain a decent speed and fluid flow, I hear engines screaming on you tube, I think I've read 2100 maybe as high as 2500 rpm.

In my opinion that's alot of rpm for a little 3 cyl

 

[ArlyA]

My guess is the HF predator engine will be X times more noisy than your tractor engine is. Our are you trying to reduce the wear-n-tear on your tractor? I've worked with a minim walking BH as pictured above and the noise it kicked out, was unbearable.

Has anyone here ever considered an external power source for running their backhoe?
I'm wondering if it's doable and cost affective rather than having their tractor engine revving high all day long just to use that particular attachment. Harbor freight predator engine is cheap, pump might be the tricky part.

 

[1930]

My guess is the HF predator engine will be X times more noisy than your tractor engine is. Our are you trying ot reduce the wear-n-tear on your tractor?

Yes, reduce wear and tear

 

[ArlyA]

Seems by the time you've spent the $$$ and time to set this up, you've out-priced the wear and tear you are worried about. Plus you'll be listened to that predator engine screaming very near your head. :confused2: