Backhoe loaders and other stuff

[Threviel]

So, I bought myself a backhoe loader, a Danish one called Hydrema V7F9 from 1979 based on a Volvo tractor.



I have lots of small projects, each one needing some digging machine. The best solution seemed to be to buy a backhoe loader and the plan was to find one cheap enough that I can keep it afterwards. I found this one and the seller seemed serious so I bought it.

It did not start well, the brakes did not work when unloading, but the seller promised to pay all parts necessary if I fix it myself. The pump cylinders will probably have to changed.

Then it's time to start digging. Anyone here have any experience with these kind of machines?

[The Brain]

Not really, no.

[merithyn]

I drove a Bobcat when I was in Des Moines. I'm sure it's the same.

[Maximus]

I ran one for a summer.

[Threviel]

Did you find it easy?

[Maximus]

It's like a lot of things. Easy to learn, hard to learn to do well. I wasn't very quick.

[Maximus]

And by hard, I mean it takes time.

[PDH]

It takes time indeed - in a few hours you can be sure you won't kill yourself if you think, but to do with any level of ease will take longer.  As with any of these thing, a weeks worth of "chores" can help you get at least comfortable with it.  Don't worry if each day you feel like you regressed a bit, it is both muscle memory and internalization of movements that you have to get.

[Threviel]

It'll take a few weeks to service and fix it up, by then our farmer should have harvested and I can practice in the field. After that I plan to fix up some roads in the forest and by then I should have gotten practice enough to do some fiddlier stuff. That's the plan at least.

[HVC]

I only ever used the backhoe attachment for a tractor... and I did not use it well.

[Josquius]

Do you own a farm?
The concept of buying something like this is so far out of my reality....

[HisMajestyBOB]

My son and I know how to operate an excavator, thanks to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBE8JrByOf0
We also watch this several times a day, so we are pretty proficient at using a variety of heavy equipment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8MYbzoCFw

My son has promised to buy me this one with the stump grinder attachment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKkgXyt54iQ

[merithyn]

My son and I know how to operate an excavator, thanks to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBE8JrByOf0
We also watch this several times a day, so we are pretty proficient at using a variety of heavy equipment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8MYbzoCFw

My son has promised to buy me this one with the stump grinder attachment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKkgXyt54iQ

Damn you.

I just spent 25 minutes watching those videos.

[mongers]

Over here these are generically know as 'JCBs' after the main manufacturer; no idea if they are the originator of the design.

[Monoriu]

This can't be happening.