Can I add a hydraulic cylinder to this attachment?

[casolorz]

I got this fairly cheap at an action and I'm wondering if I can add a hydraulic cylinder to it?

 

[mrbb]

I don't see why not, they make and sell them with them mostly called stiff arm backhoe attachments
some are cheaper made than others

 

[casolorz]

I don't see why not, they make and sell them with them mostly called stiff arm backhoe attachments
some are cheaper made than others

Do I just need to match the length and width or are there other considerations?

 

[foton]

I would take off that arm and swing the bucket totally out and totally in and get that measurement to determine the needed throw of the cylinder.

 

[casolorz]

I would take off that arm and swing the bucket totally out and totally in and get that measurement to determine the needed throw of the cylinder.

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Gearclash]

Just remember that back hoe attachments of that type are notorious for bending the rods of the bucket cylinders. Digging with that attachment can put a massive amount of compressive load on the bucket cylinders.

 

[casolorz]

Ok so I got the measurements.

Retracted length 21 3/4 inches

Extended length 31 1/4 inches

Those are center to center.

The pin hole appears to be 1 1/4 diameter.

I'm guessing the stroke is around 9 1/2

I'm having a hard time finding something that matches, so which numbers is it ok to not be exact? I'm guessing retracted can be slightly higher, stroke slightly lower?

 

[foton]

one thing to consider that would be a nice option is a manual thumb ,if you go down that road that will slightly change your measurements on the closed bucket position.

 

[casolorz]

I probably don't want to make this anymore complicated than it already is. I can't figure out what cylinder to buy. I contacted a company that sells them but they keep asking me what the bore size is but I have no idea how I would know that if it never had a cylinder to begin with.

 

[mrbb]

just a thought for you, maybe go to some local skid steer attachment places that sell these and have a look at what they have, as for size of bore on cylinder

or contact a good cylinder shop (or maybe even a good hose making shop)
and tell them what your trying to do, and ask them for recommendations on what all to get to set you up(even better if maybe you can bring it to them to see for them, measure an d get you all you will need!


and also make sure when you get hoses you get them long enough, seen some of these stiff arm hoes with too short of hoses and had them get damaged due to not being long enough(same with routing them, so they don't get damaged!


lastly, things can get pretty costly here fast, so keep that in mind as to what its worth in the end
very easy to sink more into something than its worth!


my last two hoses I just had made were almost $400 bucks alone and they were NOT very long, less than 30 inches!
so, add in two hoses, a cylinder, pins, and what no;ts, and you can have a bunch of cash into this thing fast

and I have seen them for sale like yours for about $700 bucks up my way used or like a grand new!

I bought one a few yrs back for less!


here are two I found quickly on Craigslist that have pic's that may help you, plus shows prices of new VS used
maybe not your exact make/model, but gives you some ideas I hope!


https://tricities.craigslist.org/grd/d/rogersville-backhoe-front-hoe-skid/7855331677.html
https://tricities.craigslist.org/fod/d/elizabethton-new-heavy-duty-skid-steer/7881409600.html

 

[casolorz]

Yeah I'm starting to wonder if I'm better off just buying a used one with the cylinder already.

 

[mrbb]

Yeah I'm starting to wonder if I'm better off just buying a used one with the cylinder already.

and also, keep in mind, these things ain't the best at digging if you have very hard or rocky ground, and there pretty hard on the skid steer

if you have soft ground or, only use lightly, they do work


I got the one I have, as odd as this might sound , for digging holes to bury some pets for friends and family!
if I had to dig any real amount of dirt, for any larger project(unless again in very soft soils)
I would rent an excavator, if I didn;'t have or could borrow one!, and save the abuse to my skid steer and get more work done faster and easier, with less clean up as well!

I personally think this is why when you find used one's for sale, there normally about half the price of new or less!, as owners soon find out they don't work as great as they hoped and to move them, prices have to be appealing for another to gamble on!
HAHA!

 

[mrbb]

OPH I also want to note, that you CAN still dig with it AS IS!
you just have to use your hoe like a spoon of sorts, using tilt and raise lower and then move skid steer backwards, to make like a digging motion

MY 2 cents says that is why the previous owner, made that steel rod to FIX it in the position

its NOT as friendly as having it work as it should, and again can be adding extra stress to quick attack tabs and cylinders,
but in softer soils, it will work AS IS for you! to a POINT that is!

I've dug out smaller stumps and dug graves for many pets using as it is in locked out position , its in now !(when I first got mine, I didn' have means to hook it up to my skid steer) so used that way till I did)

getting holes down to about 3-4 ft!
also used it as a claw to scratch ice , push snow backs back farther and even to knock some dead limbs off tree's
so there are still uses for it AS IS!

 

[casolorz]

I was planning on using it for light stuff, like when I need to plant a tree.

 

[foton]

if you are near chattanogga tn. I got a cylinder that might work and I will give it to you.

 

[casolorz]

if you are near chattanogga tn. I got a cylinder that might work and I will give it to you.

I'm in Kansas. I would be willing to pay for shipping though.

 

[foton]

ok I measured the cylinder retracted lenght center to center on the eyelets is 22-1/4 inchs ,eyelet holes are 1-3/8 inchs cylinder diameter is 3-1/4 inchs,I expect that the cylinder will extend 12 or so inchs. This is close to what you need with some modifications. My concern is where the solid post connects at the arm end ,will you have enough clearance to hold a 3-1/4 inch cylinder there.

 

[casolorz]

I see what you mean, probably wouldn't work.

And if my max stroke is 9, what will happen?

 

[foton]

yeah it could be done with a major refit,but as far as the lenght of throw from the cylinder,you could use a longer throw but have to be very carefull not to extend or retract beyond what the attachment bucket was designed to move.

 

[casolorz]

I just realized I have multiple holes I can attach to, so maybe I can just find a different smaller cylinder that would work. I'll measure the new range tomorrow.