Tractor backhoe - homemade

BFreaky · Apr 17, 2020

Alignment of the bushings

Triangle shaped plate is part od self leveling mechanism

rScotty · Apr 17, 2020

BFreaky said:
RScotty, you can't disconnect mechanical self leveling while working with the loader. It's a challenge to design it properly but once it's done it works great all the way to the max height.
I based mine on a at least 45 deg dump angle and almost perfect leveling to the ground because I use pallet forks alot.
Hydraulic self leveling loses position quite frequently. We also have an M4072 with front loader and hydraulic self leveling...and i have to say it does not keep the position as it should. 3-4 times up-down and it's quite a bit off true level...

It is sure an interesting design. A quick way to switch over to manual bucket positioning would also be an interesting design challenge, and might be worthwhile.

FEL use varies a lot. I rarely use our hydraulic bucket leveling, and don't even own any pallet forks. Not ever having used our hydraulic self-leveling repeatedly, I have no idea whether it would maintain position... I kind of doubt it.

As far as unusual bucket additions go, that has got to be a subject worth exploring all by itself. I have considered making up a bucket having a cutting edge slightly moveable or perhaps oscillating as a way to aid the bucket as it pushes into a pile of difficult material. Like self-loading, that would make it more efficient for loading some material.

Of course very accurate loader control valves enable the operator to do a lot of these motions with hand control... motions that are simply not available with sloppy valves. I'm a great believer in the value of really good accurate control valves, although I don't know which ones to recommend. Do you?

BTW, great line-up on those bushings. These projects have made you a bushing line up maestro as well as a master welder.

rScotty

Oldpath05 · Apr 17, 2020

Xfaxman said:
The rod is connected to the plate that the tilt cylinder is mounted on moving it as the loader arms raise or lower. This keeps the bucket or forks at the same angle set before the arms move.

If you level a pallet and just raise or lower the arms, the pallet will stay level:

I never thought of that, you just nailed it I have that problem everytime with pallets, now I know the cure or problem............

Oldpath05 · Apr 17, 2020

I see some very nice welding, I'm staying tuned like a cat just to see this self leveling FEL extravaganza.......

BFreaky · Apr 21, 2020

Hydraulic valve and joystick in place...

sixdogs · Apr 22, 2020

BFreaky--how did you earn to design, weld and engineer like that?

BFreaky · Apr 22, 2020

Well, I grew up on a farm, there were always some machines around an much of that we had to fix and maintain by ourselves. So there came the experience with mechanics. Besides that, I have a certain talent...I started to draw 3 dimensional drawnings at very very early age; everybody said I'll become a painter...but that wasn't interesting. As soon as I gained acess to cnc plasma cutting all my drawnings could easily become reality...so it's a mix of things. Later I got interested in computers and automation so I got a degree as an electrical engineer/subgroup automatic systems...so now I work as an electronics maintenance engineer at a company, but I never forgot where I came from so after regular shifts I develop and make prototype machines at my home shop...

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 22, 2020

BFreaky said:
Well, I grew up on a farm, there were always some machines around an much of that we had to fix and maintain by ourselves. So there came the experience with mechanics. Besides that, I have a certain talent...I started to draw 3 dimensional drawnings at very very early age; everybody said I'll become a painter...but that wasn't interesting. As soon as I gained acess to cnc plasma cutting all my drawnings could easily become reality...so it's a mix of things. Later I got interested in computers and automation so I got a degree as an electrical engineer/subgroup automatic systems...so now I work as an electronics maintenance engineer at a company, but I never forgot where I came from so after regular shifts I develop and make prototype machines at my home shop...

You do have a gift.

BFreaky · Apr 23, 2020

Lifting cylinders are done and mounted in place

sixdogs · Apr 23, 2020

Kyle_in_Tex said:
You do have a gift.

Sure do.

BFreaky · May 7, 2020

Started making the bucket...got the sheets back from bending shop...they made a mistake, wrong upper angle but I will cover this with a little triangle and it will be fine. Originaly it should have followed side plate shape...

mickeyw · May 7, 2020

That looks fantastic. How thick are the sides?

BFreaky · May 7, 2020

10 mm sides, 5 mm bottom sheet, 12 x 100 mm hardox cutting edge and side edges. It will have 4 sliding plates, and some reinforcement plates at the back side under the coupling

Kyle_in_Tex · May 7, 2020

Looks good. Our Deere's FEL bucket has roughly 10mm x 100mm wide reinforcement under the bucket in line with the couplings. It goes all the way underneath to the cutting edge.

Ryansweatt2004 · May 7, 2020

I’ve really enjoyed following this whole thread! Keep up the great work and keep posting updates!

BFreaky · May 27, 2020

Some turning and welding...

Gale Hawkins · May 27, 2020

BFreaky said:
Some turning and welding...

WOW! that is shaping up to be a nice FEL. You may have mentioned earlier about the bucket and or forks. Are you going to build them from scratch also?

BFreaky · May 28, 2020

The bucket is almost done and I made the forks earlyer.

texasranger556 · May 28, 2020

I keep expecting to check this thread to find that you've started building your own tractor from scratch. The backhoe and loader are going outclass the tractor.