Made a deal for a hoe

[bradblazer]

The guy in the pic had this ARPS 730 attachment for sale about 10 miles from me. 9.5' digging depth, ~1500lb implement weight, 24" bucket. Set up to run off tractor remotes. Manual outriggers Most hoses look good, a couple need to be replaced. All of the bushings, structure look very good.
$2200. I said I would take it.

I'll pick it up Wednesday after work.

[dougw]

I bet the outriggers wont be manual very long!

[3RRL]

Brad,
What a great find.
That sounds like a serious hoe too ... 9-1/2' digging depth is huge and a 2' bucket is huge too. Your Kama 554 should handle that but I would seriously consider making a sturdy full subframe for it that connects to both the rear end loader mounts and also as far forward on the front as far as possible to distribute forces over as large an area as possible. Also a stand for when it's off the tractor. I can see where that thing might be a bear to get on and off because of it's size. From the photo, it looks to be in good shape. How old is it?
Rob-

[bradblazer]

Thanks for looking guys.
Yeah Doug, I'm not even sure just how it would operate with the manual outriggers. I did find a couple of pics online of the same unit with hydraulic outriggers and it loooks like the hardest part will be valving and plumbing.

Rob - good advice for sure - yeah, it's too big to run right off my 3ph arms. It will be something of a project before I can even use it. I have a couple of pieces of 2x6x1/4" tubing I have in mind for a subframe. I am guessing it's 10 - 15 years old but has spent a lot of that time sitting around. The bucket teeth are almost worn out but they are still all there. It has recently been painted but I crawled over it pretty good and couldn't find any evidence of frame damage or repairs. I've seen beat/worn out backhoes and this one looks like it's in great shape. I like the design with the crook in the boom that allows the dipper stick to curl in with plenty of space. I hope the oil in it is not too bad - If it looks good maybe I'll hook it up, do some range of motion exercises, and then change the oil in the tractor. Otherwise I'll have to figure out how to purge and flush it manually and safely. It would be cool to mount it sideways somehow to allow manual movement.

Lets see - Hydraulic outriggers $$ + work
Subframe - work work work
Hoses, maintenance, etc.

I sure hope it works like a $6000 machine when I'm done.

[3RRL]

Wish you were closer so I could help.
That's definitely my kind of project. IMO, that thing is worth more than 6 grand. I wish my hoe had that capacity. I'll bet the breakout force and such are equally greater than mine. It's probably almost like a real backhoe on a Case TLB. It should do some serious work for you.
I'm envious man!
Rob-

[Jake]

Nice, Brad !
Congrats on the find.

..couple cylinders & valves and you'll be all set.

[bradblazer]

Thanks Rob and Jake,
Rob, it would be too cool to have your help - I'll git'er done though. I have an idea for shock mounts - make a sandwich with some thick rubber belting I have. YOU envious? Now I've accomplished something. You are living the dream man.

Jake - I had to do something - I felt like the only NC member without a hoe at my beck and call.

Here are some more pictures. I was going to go get it tonight after work but I hadn't hooked up my trailer since I had let my neighbor borrow it and the connector had gotten drug and was broken. I had a spare and got it all fixed including some poor contacts that had me scratching my head for a bit. Everything is hooked up for Wednesday night at least.

Crusty Bucket. The teeth are worn a little thin but looking at the cutting edge between the teeth it doesn't look worn at all. I'll get it cleaned up and hopefully the bottom isn't rusted thin. If it is I can fix. I see a smaller bucket as another small project opportunity. The cylinder shaft is covered with grease and paint overspray.


Backside.

He has a few implements for sale. This 3-point trencher is cool. He also had a couple of 7' box blades with hydraulic scarifiers and hinged rear blades. I don't know why I didn't snap pictures of them.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

That trencher is really cool! How much?

[3RRL]

Although I'd love to help on this one, I'm sure you'll come up with something spectacular for the subframe gig.
Those bucket teeth don't look all that bad to me. There's plenty of life left in them IMO. You should see the tooth wear on my toothbar. It makes a difference what kind of ground you digging too. I don't recall you having that rock hard DG I have out here. So it should be fine. Also, did you see how good the cutting edge and especially the side cutting edges are?
They look to be in exceptional shape to me.
I'll bet you're already figuring how to make that subframe and how to hydraulic -ize those stabilizers.

YOU envious? Now I've accomplished something. You are living the dream man.
I don't get it man, everybody thinks that and I just barely get by .. I don't even have a job?
Do I look like a movie star or something?
Rob-

[bradblazer]

flyhiflylo said:

That trencher is really cool! How much?

He's asking $2500. (won't come off that price) He has a bunch of new teeth that are not on it - some were missing when he got it. Without having seen it dig I would want either creeper gears or a hydrostatic transmission to run it. It really doesn't look like it has seen much use. Du-Al brand made in Sioux Falls, SD.

[quikduk]

Brad:

Great deal on the hoe. The teeth look like they are pin-on models so replacement if nec. should be fairly easy.

Re: the trencher, I remember seeing something somewhere that said they should ONLY be used on a 35HP or better tractor with a hydro trans due to the continuous shock loads applied to the tractor transmission and rear differential.

[GuglioLS]

He Scores!

Brad that is one serious BH for the price. One good thing about manual outriggers is they never leak down.

Just a short 20 hours away from you looking at that bad boy in YOUR back yard . I cant wait to see all you do to fit it up and customize it. You going to keep the yellow paint job?

Nice find,


Larry


P.S Please get some pics of those hydraulic box blades.

[bradblazer]

Thanks Ken and Larry,
Got it home tonight. It looks bigger on the trailer. I'm afraid it will look pretty big on the "little" KM554.

I was half way there and realized I forgot the camera.

Yes, the teeth are replaceable. They look like they might be set on by indenting the sides.
Max did an okay job of painting it. I'll probably eventually paint it to match.

The only dings on the whole thing are where it looks like someone beat the stabilizers into place. They must have been a real PITA. That's probably why it is such good shape - it was such a pain to use those stabilizers it never got used much.

Here's my plan: Put a female quick connect on the backhoe return line, add a quick-connect pair in-line between the loader valve and 3ph. To use the hoe, disconnect the in-line connection and route the flow through the backhoe. Add stabilizer cylinders and run them off my 2 existing rear remotes. I'll probably add a relief valve at the same time I add the in-line quick-connect set to avoid the possibility of me busting the pump.
Rob - does that sound like it will work?

Here are some pics I took after pulling it home on my 16' equipment trailer. The cylinder shafts are covered with grease and overspray but from what I've checked they look fine.







Okay - how do you put the thumbnails in rows?

Brad

[GuglioLS]

Okay - how do you put the thumbnails in rows?

Brad,
Put your cursor at the end of each /url], hit delete, then add a space.

I fixed it for you (no charge)

Larry

BTW your new BH looks to be in good shape. Adding hydraulic outriggers should be easy enough as it looks to have the cylinder clevis pin hole mounts already in place.

[GuglioLS]

You may have seen this already?
The link below shows one with hydraulic outriggers:

flickr.com/photos/tysonneil/160019516/

Here is one on craigslist for $4250, the guy has a 24" and 12" bucket, maybe he would be willing to part with the 12" bucket to add to your collection.

sacramento.craigslist.org/bfs/625610901.html

And a pic of the outriggers to give you some ideas:



Larry