Hopto Backhoes
If you want to learn how to operate a backhoe, here is some advice.
Do not learn on an antique with four levers instead of these new fangled ones with just two four-way levers.
I had to do some digging yesterday to look for a field tile. It got me thinking about how much of a morphidite. I'm pretty good at running the thing, but I suck at a normal backhoe.
We have a 1959 Hopto on a '68 Chevy C50. It has a 6 cylinder Continental flat head with three low pressure Vickers pumps. It's good sized. Came with three buckets 18 inch to 30 inch. We only use the 24 inch bucket. Anyway, it has four levers and this is fun with only two hands.
When I get on a new backhoe on a tractor, my mind is constantly trying to translate my movements. I'm looking for those two extra levers that aren't there. I fear I will never get the hang of it.
One the plus side, this old things, this old things levers go directly to the hydraulic valves. There is no master slave system. It is much easier to have controlled steady movements.
Our original Hopto had no back to the bucket. If you dug wrong, the bucket of dirt would fall out the back side. When I first started to learn how to dig, we buried a 9 foot diameter culvert in the pasture. We would have to chain the backhoe to another truck so I didn't drag it into the hole.
Do not learn on an antique with four levers instead of these new fangled ones with just two four-way levers.
I had to do some digging yesterday to look for a field tile. It got me thinking about how much of a morphidite. I'm pretty good at running the thing, but I suck at a normal backhoe.
We have a 1959 Hopto on a '68 Chevy C50. It has a 6 cylinder Continental flat head with three low pressure Vickers pumps. It's good sized. Came with three buckets 18 inch to 30 inch. We only use the 24 inch bucket. Anyway, it has four levers and this is fun with only two hands.
When I get on a new backhoe on a tractor, my mind is constantly trying to translate my movements. I'm looking for those two extra levers that aren't there. I fear I will never get the hang of it.
One the plus side, this old things, this old things levers go directly to the hydraulic valves. There is no master slave system. It is much easier to have controlled steady movements.
Our original Hopto had no back to the bucket. If you dug wrong, the bucket of dirt would fall out the back side. When I first started to learn how to dig, we buried a 9 foot diameter culvert in the pasture. We would have to chain the backhoe to another truck so I didn't drag it into the hole.
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Same goes for end loaders. My last job had two a newer cat and an old allis. THe allis had the three levers and the cat had the multi function joystick. I learned on the allis and when I steped up to the cat, I almost put the bucket through a wall. THe controls were alittle bit faster acting. 0 -
Try running a drag-line there mister[:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sothere
Try running a drag-line there mister[:D]
No thank you. Used to work at a place with a American 9210 with a clam shell to unload barges. Never ran it, but I could tell it made a backhoe look easy. Guy who did operated it was an alcoholic with the shakes. When he operated that crane he was smooth and graceful. He could gently swing that bucket and feather out the load over a trailer. It was an enjoyment to watch him work. Only alcoholic I would trust in industry. (Don't know if he was ever drunk at work, but I would be he wasn't as shaky with a little medication.)
The Komatsu and Cat endloaders were a different story. Stockpiling salt was relaxing and kind of fun. Build a pile as high as you can, then make a ramp and start a new tier. Carrying salt up to a third tier in a 300 hp endloader was a fun way to spend the afternoon.
The supersized skidloader was just a toy to screw around in. (Bobcat 963 with air conditioning).0 -
I am an operator running a backhoe with four sticks is fairly common and running one with SAE wobble sticks is very common but try to run one with john deere controls they suck 0 -
When it comes to rubber-tired backhoes I'd rather operate a 4-lever Case Extendahoe than any other type. There's no better control setup, in my opinion, than a Case with foot-pedal swing. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Lowrider
When it comes to rubber-tired backhoes I'd rather operate a 4-lever Case Extendahoe than any other type. There's no better control setup, in my opinion, than a Case with foot-pedal swing.
We have a Case 580 sk.....have to think constantly about what your feet are doing
Screw that, give me my link belt 'Zero Turn".0 -
my friends' house was at one end of this huge field, and the kwik shop was down past the other end of the field. well, when you go to get cigarettes, why walk when you can drive? there was a tractor left there after work and they'd leave the keys under the seat. one of them caterpillars with the plow thing in the front and a hoe in the back. I figured out how to start it up, I figured out how to put it in gear, I'm practicing driving it and I'm headed backwards towards some trees... oh s#**t! how do you stop?! I threw a lever and launched it forwards, the whole dang thing pulled a wheelie so high I thought it was going to roll over backwards. I put it back and walked the rest of the way.
next day we all figured out how to drive it, went to and from the store every day for about a week till we got busted. it was great.0 -
Hard to beat a Case backhoe and their 4-lever set up. Love that foot swing! First 2-lever hoe I was on was a Cat. Hated that dang thing! Cat makes some great equipment, usually way ahead of the competition (at least in the service department), but Case still has their number on backhoes! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
my friends' house was at one end of this huge field, and the kwik shop was down past the other end of the field. well, when you go to get cigarettes, why walk when you can drive? there was a tractor left there after work and they'd leave the keys under the seat. one of them caterpillars with the plow thing in the front and a hoe in the back. I figured out how to start it up, I figured out how to put it in gear, I'm practicing driving it and I'm headed backwards towards some trees... oh s#**t! how do you stop?! I threw a lever and launched it forwards, the whole dang thing pulled a wheelie so high I thought it was going to roll over backwards. I put it back and walked the rest of the way.
next day we all figured out how to drive it, went to and from the store every day for about a week till we got busted. it was great.
I bet no alcohol was used whatsoever with that story!
Good one!0
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