Backhoe on B6000

[69Rebel]

I couldn't stand looking at this backhoe attachment just laying around, especially when I have a major digging project to do. So, over the weekend, I went ahead built some brackets and plumbed it up, and voila`...backhoe.
Surprisingly, the belt-driven pump that runs the FEL is actually enough pump to run the hoe. Though it does occasionally squawk the belt. The re-purposed stainless tank is functioning as an accumulator as the oil wouldn't come through it fast enough via gravity alone.
The upper bracket is tied into the FEL framework, the lower is built around the three-point attachment, with tie-ins to some other studs for extra strength and stability.
The hoe feels pretty good, and the whole platform fells pretty stable when digging. The tractor stays put pretty well. As I consider this a temporary attachment, I haven't figgered out a swivel seat arrangement. I'm still deciding whether or not to put a counter weight up front so I can use the bucket with the hoe attached. Those two batteries weigh about 140lbs each and it's enough weight to stabilize everything while transporting. The hoe with all of it's bracketry weighs about 1000lbs. It's not physically large, but it is super heavy-duty.
I suppose the smaller pump on the B6000 is probably what keeps the hoe from just tossing it around. But it has plenty of digging power, even with that large bucket. I do need to take off the rock teeth for my dig. Maybe someday even build proper some grading and trenching buckets.
Pics will be forthcoming. Firefox is locking up on me.

 

[69Rebel]

Pics, as promised.

 

[Lil Foot]

Beautiful welds!

 

[69Rebel]

Thanks!
I wish my backhoe skills were similar. It's been a long time since I've been at the controls, and that was with log shovels, not backhoes. Backhoes are harder.

 

[Lil Foot]

I wish my backhoe skills were similar. It's been a long time since I've been at the controls

I know what you mean- after I rebuilt my B670 backhoe, I didn't start developing any talent & muscle memory till about the 7th project, and just when I was getting good, I had to pull it off, mount the Gannon, and probably won't get to use the backhoe again until next spring…. and by that time I'll be a no talent boob again.

 

[69Rebel]

Yeah, there was a time or two today that I was wishing that I had the box scraper on instead. Removing the rock teeth did make it a whole lost easier to dig a flat bottom.
I can unpin the hoe and drive away, but I still have to unbolt the lower brackets in order to re-install the three point arms. Plus the hoses aren't on quick connects.

 

[Lil Foot]

I can pull mine off in about 15 minutes, but most of that time is spent blocking it up for stability & ease of re-connection. One great thing is that I can leave the brackets in place, & they don't interfere with any of the three point implements.

 

[69Rebel]

That looks like a pretty good setup there. Mine is held on with four 1" pins, but I just couldn't find anything stout enough to bolt to that didn't interfere with the lower 3-point arms. I could have it off in a couple of minutes, plus another 15 or 20 of dinkin' around swapping brackets. Hell, when I'm movin' slow,it takes me dang near that long to switch from the flail to the scraper.

 

[ShaunRH]

Nice backhoe, looks about the same era and condition as my old Wagner Iron Works one that's on my D-17.

While you're working on it, I'd recommend checking all your lines and ditching anything that's really weather checked. Mine have blown rather spectacularly in the past and those old diggers need some TLC.

I bought the entire rig from my father, he bought it from his father, so it's been in the family a long time. My Dad and Grandpa weren't really good at preventative maintenance so it needs a lot of work now.

One thing I'd recommend, do a dye test on all your major weld points on the hoe, there might be some phantom cracks there, I've seen a lot of old units like this with more cracks than a plumbers convention! You've got some nice welding skills. Looks like mild steel with... 7018? 6011? If that's mig work, you have a nice unit!

If yours is in good shape, do whatever it takes to keep it that way, including new paint. Trust me, it'll last you for years.

 

[69Rebel]

I'm not sure who made this 'hoe, but it is Asian for sure. It is very solid, there is no slop whatsoever in the pins/bushings, but the control valve for the swing control is gonna need o-rings pretty soon as it doesn't hold as well as it should. There is a grease fitting on every single pivot point, which is definitely a sign that this unit wasn't built to be disposable.
I have some Spot-Chek around here somewhere, but the welds all look sound, and properly applied.
The brackets came from a truck bed tilt thing that I bought for about $25. All fo the steel, pins, everything. The down side is the time it takes to cut up and re-purpose steel. Very time consuming.
All welds are MIG. I have a PowerCon SS200 that I dug out of a trash bin and repaired. It's a sweet machine to be sure. I use a tri-gas spray mixture for most short-arc and all spray transfer welds. It seems to blow the scale off better and gives less spatter. IIRC, it's 90% argon, 7 or 8% CO2, and 2 or 3% oxygen. Those spray-arc welds are stronger than 7018, due to better penetration and less chance of slag inclusions.