Backblading a bad idea?

Dougster

Old Member
You are absolutely correct, my 580 Case extendahoe was less $$$$ than if I had bought a 511. That is one of the reasons that I have such a hard time with all these removable backhoes that everybody has. Why buy one of those when you can have a full size one for less $$$$?:confused: Unless you have size restrictions or transportation issues, why would you buy one of the removable hoes?
I do have transportation issues, of course. :rolleyes:

But you bring up a great point. Based on the latest figures, it would cost me about the same to upgrade my current backhoe to a brand new 511 with hydraulic thumb... or buy a used mini-excavator (also with a hydraulic thumb) with the same reach, depth and digging power capability as the 511. Funny how that works. ;)

Dougster
 
I do have transportation issues, of course. :rolleyes:

But you bring up a great point. Based on the latest figures, it would cost me about the same to upgrade my current backhoe to a brand new 511 with hydraulic thumb... or buy a used mini-excavator (also with a hydraulic thumb) with the same reach, depth and digging power capability as the 511. Funny how that works. ;)

Dougster

Doug, in your circumstances, would not the 511 be a better choice? That way the hoe and your 4110 are at the same place at the same time. But for somebody that isn't transporting their equipment around, but leave it in one place as I do, why would I even consider the 511? The excavator only makes sense to me?
 

Dougster

Old Member
Doug, in your circumstances, would not the 511 be a better choice? That way the hoe and your 4110 are at the same place at the same time. But for somebody that isn't transporting their equipment around, but leave it in one place as I do, why would I even consider the 511? The excavator only makes sense to me?
Believe me, it's a whole lot more complicated than you would think for my particular situation... and there are pluses and minuses either way. I just found out this last week that a funding source I was counting on will not be available to me in time... so instead of being in a position to sink another ~$25K into the business in time for next season, I'm now looking at more like ~$10K. Suddenly that $10K used mini-excavator I looked at... or the 509 to 511 upgrade route... appear to be my only affordable options for increasing my current digging depth/power.

Depending on location and what type of job you're looking at, either route could be considered the better choice.

Dougster
 

Bindian

Member
I do have transportation issues, of course. :rolleyes:

But you bring up a great point. Based on the latest figures, it would cost me about the same to upgrade my current backhoe to a brand new 511 with hydraulic thumb... or buy a used mini-excavator (also with a hydraulic thumb) with the same reach, depth and digging power capability as the 511. Funny how that works. ;)

Dougster
Brian,
I got my Big Red Beast with loader and BH, along with the hyd. PHD and 6 ft rotary cutter for the same monthly payment of buying a used Ford 555. I had my Ford 3055 for PTO owner, so I was looking for a used Backhoe. But I had nothing to haul it around. For now, I have one truck that is my transportation. But if I had went that way..........all these doors never would have been opened.:Tip-Hat2:
hugs, Brandi
 

Dougster

Old Member
I got my Big Red Beast with loader and BH, along with the hyd. PHD and 6 ft rotary cutter for the same monthly payment of buying a used Ford 555. I had my Ford 3055 for PTO owner, so I was looking for a used Backhoe. But I had nothing to haul it around. For now, I have one truck that is my transportation. But if I had went that way..........all these doors never would have been opened.:Tip-Hat2:
hugs, Brandi
Well, my full-size backhoe will come once I am relocated to New Hampshire. Home equity freed-up after the sale of my MA house will pay for that and the dump truck and trailer to pull it around. Nothing less will make me a dime up North were 86.4% of the people have (or have free access to) excavation equipment anyway! ;)

Keep in mind that you already have the stronger, longer 511 and it is mounted on a monster tractor that can very easily take it. You have more flow too and I'm guessing a bit more pressure if what I'm hearing about plumbing options is true. :)

I will only add that you would be in jail up here for hauling around the Big Red Beast at 4,000 lbs overweight! Or, far more correctly, given my propensity for very bad experiences with the men in blue... and your gender and blond hair... *I* would be going straight to jail with such a rig while you drove by similarly overloaded... honking & laughing at me and waiving to the cop!!! :pat:

Dougster
 

Bindian

Member
Well, my full-size backhoe will come once I am relocated to New Hampshire. Home equity freed-up after the sale of my MA house will pay for that and the dump truck and trailer to pull it around. Nothing less will make me a dime up North were 86.4% of the people have (or have free access to) excavation equipment anyway! ;)

Keep in mind that you already have the stronger, longer 511 and it is mounted on a monster tractor that can very easily take it. You have more flow too and I'm guessing a bit more pressure if what I'm hearing about plumbing options is true. :)

I will only add that you would be in jail up here for hauling around the Big Red Beast at 4,000 lbs overweight! Or, far more correctly, given my propensity for very bad experiences with the men in blue... and your gender and blond hair... *I* would be going straight to jail with such a rig while you drove by similarly overloaded... honking & laughing at me and waiving to the cop!!! :pat:

Dougster
Dougster,
It isn't that my truck is overloaded, but the transmssion is the wrong type for the load. What I have heard, Texas DPS checks rear tire weight ratings and that is all on roadside stops. But if I cause a major wreck, the transmission fact could come out in an investagation. Otherwise, for now:whistle:, I will honk as I go by because I have farm tags on my trailer.;)
hugs, Brandi
 

Dougster

Old Member
Dougster,
It isn't that my truck is overloaded, but the transmssion is the wrong type for the load. What I have heard, Texas DPS checks rear tire weight ratings and that is all on roadside stops. But if I cause a major wreck, the transmission fact could come out in an investagation. Otherwise, for now:whistle:, I will honk as I go by because I have farm tags on my trailer.;)
hugs, Brandi
Life is just not fair. :eek: I hope y'all will write to me while I'm in jail! :(

Dougster
 

shinnlinger

Member
Dougster,

You are right that folks don't pay in these parts for dinky tractor dirtwork.....we just go out and buy our own...thats the new england way...self sufficent and broke...live free and die.

About the overweight deal...My cousin got pulled over in Pensylvania with his 1 ton and a gooseneck with a big skid steer and harvester on the back and a 4 wheeler to boot. The load was over 20,ooo pounds, but the truck was registered for 10,000 and the trailer for 12 or 14,000 so no problem right?

well the officer felt that only the trucks 10,000lb registration could apply and made him leave the trailer on the highway.

Fortunatly nothing happend (except the hassle of all this) and the case got tossed out of court, but you never know what your going to get and he was advised to just say he was going 4 wheeling next time and not say he was on bussiness.

This applied to me in Oregon when I bought a school bus to move here. The bus was over 28,000 gvw and had airbrakes so I needed a CDL right? Well yes, unless I took most of the seats out and called the bus an RV and then there was no problems. WHich is kind of scary when you think about it. THose huge coach bus motor homes zipping down the higway piloted by octagnarians require no special licensing or training.

PS get the excavator
 

Dougster

Old Member
Dougster,

You are right that folks don't pay in these parts for dinky tractor dirtwork.....we just go out and buy our own...thats the new england way...self sufficent and broke...live free and die.

About the overweight deal...My cousin got pulled over in Pensylvania with his 1 ton and a gooseneck with a big skid steer and harvester on the back and a 4 wheeler to boot. The load was over 20,ooo pounds, but the truck was registered for 10,000 and the trailer for 12 or 14,000 so no problem right?

well the officer felt that only the trucks 10,000lb registration could apply and made him leave the trailer on the highway.

Fortunatly nothing happend (except the hassle of all this) and the case got tossed out of court, but you never know what your going to get and he was advised to just say he was going 4 wheeling next time and not say he was on bussiness.

This applied to me in Oregon when I bought a school bus to move here. The bus was over 28,000 gvw and had airbrakes so I needed a CDL right? Well yes, unless I took most of the seats out and called the bus an RV and then there was no problems. WHich is kind of scary when you think about it. THose huge coach bus motor homes zipping down the higway piloted by octagnarians require no special licensing or training.

PS get the excavator
I see that you zeroed right in on one of the key dilemmas of me moving up to New Hampshire. While I love your fine "Live Free or Die" state and hate the crazed socialist utopia where I am now, my little "compact tractor & backhoe" business in it's present or slightly improved form has some actual potential down here (assuming I ever get the business and advertising aspects straight) whereas it would be a sick joke "as is" up there in the great Granite State. I will need to completely reinvent the business for New Hampshire or simply retire outright... but the latter cannot be done for an least 2-5 years whereas I will definitely need to move in 1 to 1-1/2 years.

I joke about every young kid to old granny up there having a rusting original 410 or 555 or 580 or whatever up there in their back yard that they use for gardening and/or anything else comes along... but it is true!!! I believe you have more working and derelict excavation machines per person up there than anywhere else in the country.

The overweight thing is something I am paranoid about around here. My family's "luck" with cops is and has always been nothing but bad. I could be at an expired nickel parking meter while the bank across the street was being robbed... and guess who the men in blue would haul off to jail? I need to meet every rule interpreted in every possible way... even the ones that the cops and the people that wrote the laws don't understand.

Dougster
 

Westendorf

New member
Read FEL's Operator Manual - Here is DANGER position

Backdragging with bucket tipped under exposes the rams on your bucket cylinders, too much down pressure can pop the nut off your cylinders or worse, bend the rams. They are very vunerable at this position. Here is what our loader operational instructions recommend.
The back drag blade is our "safer" way to back drag without strain on cylinders. The rams are inside the cylinders and much stronger in this position.
 

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Doc

Admin
Staff member
Gold Site Supporter
Good graphic. I'm 'usually' around the 40 degree I think ... but I'll try to be more aware of the angle I'm dragging at now. Thanks for the info. :thumb:
Rep points for your informative post!!!!
 

Bindian

Member
Backdragging with bucket tipped under exposes the rams on your bucket cylinders, too much down pressure can pop the nut off your cylinders or worse, bend the rams. They are very vunerable at this position. Here is what our loader operational instructions recommend.
The back drag blade is our "safer" way to back drag without strain on cylinders. The rams are inside the cylinders and much stronger in this position.
Westendorf,
Is this back drag blade a part of your bucket? Or is it a skid steer option that can be mounted to any bucket?
hugs, Brandi
 

Westendorf

New member
It is an bucket options available when you purchase a bucket. It is also available to weld on existing bucket. If you don't have a Westendorf loader we are not sure of the correct angle so some modification may be necessary to attach to another manufacturer's bucket. The reason the angle is important is to allow the bucket to function as a normal bucket, yet when you roll back your bucket you activate the blade, if you roll back further you activate the scarifying teeth. It's like adding a tooth bar, but with more digging power.
 
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