Finally Building my Backhoe

[NormL]

You could try using search as I'm pretty sure I saw a thread on it somewhere on one of the forums, or a simple thing I've seen is to weld a couple chains from the end of the stick to the inside of the bucket just behind the teeth . The chains should be long enough so that they are almost tight when the bucket is fully open.

Glad I asked! That seems a lot simpler than what I was thinking of doing; thanks!!:thumbsup:

 

[NormL]

rcurrie:

I've been meaning to ask you how your project is coming along. I hope to start mine this week. I have most of the parts I'm going to salvage from the bale loader. I thought I might use the spool valves from it till I took a closer look at them. If I tried to gang them I would have to leave too much space between them and would wind up with something almost as big across as a keyboard! Have you pinned down a joystick yet?

 

[rcurrie]

I've pretty much got the bucket, stick and boom finished. Next I'll probably start on the swing frame. I haven"t really looked for a joystick valve yet, but I did see a 4 spool valve at PA last week on sale for around $210 that was pretty tempting. If I can get one of my kids to show me how I'll try to post a couple pictures of what I've got done. I hope this is OK with Iplayfarmer .

 

[NormL]

If I can get one of my kids to show me how I'll try to post a couple pictures of what I've got done. I hope this is OK with Iplayfarmer .

I wondered about that myself a few pages back and apologized for hogging his thread. He was very gracious about it at the time.:thumbsup: I hope he hasn't changed his mind.

 

[dcyrilc]

I wondered about that myself a few pages back and apologized for hogging his thread. He was very gracious about it at the time.:thumbsup: I hope he hasn't changed his mind.

I would be very suprised if he has. There's great info coming out here which will help him with his build.:thumbsup:

 

[NormL]

I would be very suprised if he has. There's great info coming out here which will help him with his build.:thumbsup:

Amen to that! and me with mine!!:thumbsup:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm loving all the input and interest that this thread has generated. Keep the posts coming. As always, pictures are a must.

The only good thing about the fact that I haven't made much progress on my build is that I can still change my design and poach ideas off of you who are making more progress.

 

[NormL]

The only good thing about the fact that I haven't made much progress on my build is that I can still change my design and poach ideas off of you who are making more progress.

HA!! When it comes to the "poaching" going on here, we'll see who takes the prize! Just today, while working on the wooden mockup of the boom and dipper, I found out what the "toe" on the bottom of your boom was for. At least I know why I'm going to be putting one there. Doing the mockup has been an eyeopener for me. When I took a guess what length my cylinders would be, was I ever wrong, wrong,: wrong!!

On a different note, Iplayfarmer, I have tried to start educating myself in the use of SketchUp with little success. Part of the reason for that is the internet setup we have here in the boonies. I hope to take this laptop along with me when know I will be able to access either a strong signal or a wire-line. Then I'll download the whole she-bang, tutorials and all. If I'd had this program when I was doing my drawings, I probably would have better specifications to work with now.

 

[dcyrilc]

HA!! When it comes to the "poaching" going on here, we'll see who takes the prize! Just today, while working on the wooden mockup of the boom and dipper, I found out what the "toe" on the bottom of your boom was for. At least I know why I'm going to be putting one there. Doing the mockup has been an eyeopener for me. When I took a guess what length my cylinders would be, was I ever wrong, wrong,: wrong!!

OK, I give. What's the "toe" and what's it for. I've run larger backhoes for years, but I'm drawing a blank on what you're refering to.

 

[NormL]

OK, I give. What's the "toe" and what's it for. I've run larger backhoes for years, but I'm drawing a blank on what you're refering to.

Take a look at the second photo when Iplayfarmer first began this thread. He calls it an angle and I called it a toe. I should have looked it up and used the same terminology, sorry. As for what it's for: I can't speak for Iplayfarmer, but in my case, it makes room for mounting the cylinder operating the boom. As I was putting the mockup together I could see a problem getting the boom, dipper and bucket folded up for transport. Adding that angled piece solved most of that, I hope.