YouTube Was Right About My Harbor Freight Backhoe!

[@davidt4102]

I have absolutely zero use for one of these. So, how do I convince my wife that I need one? lol

[@eddiebarrera-ws8vu]

Tell her Kim Kardashian bought one,and she will want one ,she will even post Facebook pics with this thing.🫣🫣🫣

[@poopywelder]

Tell her you need to dig around the foundation to reseal it ..at least that’s what I’m doing 🫡

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

LMAO... you have to (fake) hurt yourself and say See if I had one I wouldnt of strained my back loading all that(fill in the blanks)...

[@jeffharper7579]

Can you say flower beds, flower beds, flower beds!! and maybe a goldfish pond or two.

[@maggiesdad100]

Mid life crisis! Lol.

[@redeyetrucker67]

Common sense says it's not as good as a full-size backhoe or excavator, but it's better than doing it by hand with a shovel

[@Orbic-hp5tt]

I think it's better than a trackhoe.

[@lorinkramer5805]

Amen brother! Amen!

[@user-fo4ve5fo4z]

I inherited one and thought it was going to be junk, well it is junk, the seat is rusted gone it was stored uncovered in pieces outside and the outriggers are rust welded into the channels, I dug it out of a mass of undergrowth. Well I had some time and I like a challenge so I challenged myself to getting it running again. The little motor on mine is a Robin which was a surprise because they are good medium quality engines. I cleaned and rebuilt the carb and that was a no go so I bought a chinesium knock off carb and it started right up. I drained the hydraulic oil and replaced all the rotted rubber hoses, all the hydraulic lines were in still passable condition. I light sanded off the rusted surfaces of the cylinders with 2000 grit and oiled them and expected the seals to get ruined but was just looking to see if it would actually resurrect, never planned on keeping it, was seriously thinking of selling it for scrap weight. It ran good that little Robin engine and I replaced the hydraulic filter and the coupling that broke and gave her new engine oil. Both tires and rims were gone rusted thru so I replaced them with some I had that were close enough to work. Everything was a bear grinding and banging to get the rust off. I took it to an overgrown field and taught myself how to use it sitting on a flat plate welded to a piece of pipe. I cleared the field of small trees and stumps and leveled the ground it worked amazingly well I didn't expect it to be worth a dam but I still have it after fabricating a seat and use it here and there for small jobs. Not bad for what it is that's what was surprising. I'll keep it like it is but if something major fails I'll have a nice little Robin engine to use somewhere else. Took me the better part of a year to get the outriggers oiled and grinded and beat on to release from the channel and then grind some more so they would fit like they should. It basically cost me about $150 dollars in parts the most expensive being the 5 gallons of hydraulic oil.The Kid here makes a good video.

[@christopher4101]

Yeah. Better than hand shoveling. But tbf, it's from harbor freight ie it's cheap china crap. You get what you pay for & id say its probably best to just save the money spent on this rig & invest in better quality equipment..

[@calholli]

It's better than a backhoe.. Try to drive a backhoe up a slippery hill and see how far you get.

[@ThomasLeonard454]

May not be faster but 2 grand and you own it.
Win win.

[@Cooter--l._.Y._.I]

$2999

[@Pocketfarmer1]

@@Cooter--l._.Y._.I that’s about ten days rental for a similar sized machine where I live.

[@Pocketfarmer1]

@@tmzz3609 stop what? Today harbor freight is selling that backhoe trencher for $2999.99 . Today Home depot is renting a 1.5/2 ton mini excavator that can dig to 6.5 feet for $369 a day. They give e you a break if you need longer period. But at the day rate buying the trencher works, if you have 10 more day long jobs . Yes there are better tools for the job posted, bobcat, excavator , pocket dozer….but I was only comparing costs for the machine at hand.

[@hippygaming2740]

@@tmzz3609 About $300 for a Mini ex and $250 for a small skid steer per day. I just rented both last month. So $550 a day for both which means 6 days rental is more then $3000.

[@cody39yrs]

​@@user-ch6um1vn8x do some research and figure it out yourself dingus

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

It beats the hell out of a pick/shovel and wheelbarrel !!!

[@Ohhwell]

100%

[@Rowganlife]

ive got a gas powered barrow on tank tracks that will move around and dump out almost a ton of dirt, and it climbs hills full. Combined with my backhoe im unstoppable! lol

[@user-xi6yq8rp6e]

Where does one acquire a 'wheelbarrel'?

[@Atticus1354]

​@user-xi6yq8rp6e there's a store to get them right next to the doctors office. Maybe swing by and have them pull that stick out while you're in the area.

[@JoshJackson13]

​@@user-xi6yq8rp6e what is a wee barrow

[@larrysherman5254]

I've had mine for about 6 years now. I've dug water lines, removed overgrown fence rows and tree stumps. I did break a tooth off while trying to leverage out a stump. Do yourself a favor and replace those Bent Pins that go to the outriggers and axels. They tend to wallow out the holes from the motion. I went to our local Tractor Supply and got swivel handle hitch pins with a definite shoulder that sit level above the holes. I also got tired of getting stabbed and snagged on the ends of all the cotter pins and replaced all those with linchpins. A grease gun is your friend too. Great work!

[@drcovell]

👏👏👏👏👏! Yay, grease guns and wrist pins are it-always remember to wipe off the dirt from the grease zerks and excess.

[@Rowganlife]

i bent the ram for the bucket trying to pull out a stump. Limits found! Been using it for years since, i freakin love this thing!

[@dodgeme1986truck]

@@drcovell when I grease mine I leave an extra dab of grease ovet the fitting then wipe it off right before the next greasing as it helps keep the dirt and corrosion from the grease fittings

[@Captain-Max]

The beauty of the situation is that you came in without unreasonable expectations and the patience to let the machine show you what it is capable of. Win win all around.

[@marchingmoto]

Yes that is exactly right!

[@dodgeme1986truck]

These are extremely capable... However the weakest links are the pivot pins (main boom and cylinders) and bucket tooth pins(causing the teeth to fall off)and the swing pivot pin (as it wears out it will oblong the swing cylinder pin holes). Mine is 9yrs old already and has paid for itself numerous times over and has had all these issues... Also you must run zddp additive in the engine or it will eat its camshaft lobes as it is a flat tappet cam and lifter engine, also avoid ethanol in your fuel like it's a plague as the carb will fail rapidly if this isn't followed.

[@perrylankford4269]

Use Rotella (diesel oil) it's high in zinc.. Extra lubricant additive...​@@dodgeme1986truck

[@prairiefork]

Impressed you read the owner's manual and followed the suggested break-in. 👍

[@dodgeme1986truck]

@@prairiefork I read the break in but decided to use my own procedure instead... (kept it under 3/4 throttle varying speed constantly for the first week of use)

[@modsquad8u]

​@@dodgeme1986truckThat's better for the engine and rings. Best for it to see a variety of Ramps, just not several hours of max load.

[@thestrangechannelofjeff7426]

Yah I'm impressed someone read the manual. I have a full-size excavator and I've never read opened the manual 😂

[@matthewlins8196]

whats an "owner's manual"?

[@LynxSnowCat]

I wonder if part of that 'break-in' is getting operators acclimated to working within the machine's sustainable range.

[@whitewolf1477]

one thing to know about the first oil change is that its not going to look used but it might have some metal shaving from the manufacturer.

[@apennameandthata2017]

Exactly

[@LaserParody]

Precisely. It's a flush batch that clears out everything from physical particles to manufacturing fluids and protective storage/shipping coatings.

[@joesinakandid528]

Silly me - And I Thought That the OIL FILTER would actually capture all that manufacturing and milling chunks of debris you guys seem to find in your oil.
In the past I learned from people who's work is to actually research breaking in engines that the reason to change oil early on the first change is to allow the rings, using single viscosity organic lube oil, to polishing the cylinder walls before heavy usage with better multi viscosity oil. You know, getting rid of the well known new engine high oil consumption from unpolished cylinder walls before changing over to multi-grade super slippery oil.
Not really rocket science, eh?

[@rahrah5091]

I can hear Tim Allen saying RUH RUH RUH MORE POWER! and putting a big block v8 on it.

[@calholli]

Bent iron and bursted hoses.. but at least it was cool for 7 minutes.

[@viokosovan322]

I have owned one of these for about 4 years. I have done an INSANE amount of work on it. I have replaced so much stuff on it. It’s still running. I’m still digging on my 5+ acre property. Still taking down trees, digging up roots, moving stuff. It’s actually incredible the amount of work this thing has done. Only down said is that its a little slow and maneuvering is not the easiest either. But like you said there are some places where it works even better than traditional excavator.

[@DanielDeLoach]

I love mine. I have had comments about it's speed but my reply is always "It is mine, and it is a lot better than a shovel" lol

[@janicefoltz400]

Beats using a shovel!!

[@JustSomeJoe-dp5rp]

I recently redid a septic field by hand, partly because I'm cheap and partly because I find manual labor cathartic (I don't do much of it in my day-to-day work). But no question, if I had to do it again I would be using one of those! For the price, it doesn't seem like there's a valid criticism to be made.

[@user-gw5ru6kr6c]

I’m a service plumber and I’d love to have this for replacing water mains. I’d have to get another bucket and have it made more narrow tho. But like you said, much better than hand digging and cheaper than a rents over time.

[@howlandexcavating]

I’m an excavation contractor, I really would never have a need for that. But we actually have a septic pumper locally that tows one behind his pumper truck. Seems like an awesome setup to me.

[@jeffharper7579]

Years ago my boss and I seen a baby mini excavator and laughed until they ran it out the back of a pickup and dug up a telephone line in the middle of a drought, the ground was so hard a shovel wouldn't make a mark but it dug with no problem and then they put it right back in the pickup. They said at best it would dig 5 feet but doing phone lines it beats a shovel.

[@dodgeme1986truck]

@@howlandexcavating they are more useful than most realize and while folded up fit inside a 5x10 utility trailer they can fit through a 4ft gate/fence opening and can be towed into remote areas via a yard/garden tractor, atv compact tractor, self walked in, or most any vehicle with a hitch. I upgraded to a 2inch ball coupler on mine so that my trailers under 5k lbs all hooked to a 2inch ball.

[@howlandexcavating]

@@dodgeme1986truck nice. It wouldn’t be very useful for me specifically. I am lucky if I put 40 hours a year on my 8 ton. It’s just too small for my business. but I could really see these things being very useful. Especially for a small landscape contractor, planting shrubs and trees.

[@drcovell]

It’s s much faster way to uncover a septic tank cover. Using picks and shovels may look “Manly” but it takes time and will eventually wear out your shoulders!

[@user-ch6um1vn8x]

Does he use it to scrape the dirt off to get to the lids of the tanks for pumping ?

[@nomusicrc]

Great video Thank you for not adding music while you were talking or using the equipment

[@markfrye9178]

Harbor Freight has impressed me the last few years. There really are some tools with quality and value. I also like the changes you've made to your video production. You'e getting it down.

[@marchingmoto]

Thanks! Yeah it’s becoming more and more natural to me. And yeah recently most of the stuff i’ve gotten from there has actually been pretty good!

[@jeffharper7579]

Some call it Harbor Freight some Horrible Freight but for me it's my go to place for most items, I like most of their products.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

You must have got some luck. Most Harbor Freight gear is shite.

[@frrapp2366]

i have been buying HF stuff or 20 years now! i dont think the electrical tools would stand up to every day contractor type work but for occasional use seem fine. i havent tried the new ratchets yet the old ones were just so-so for farm use but the sockets and end wrenches held up fine i used the 3/4 in drive sockets on our big disk blade gang nuts with 8 ft of cheater one the breaker bar sockets are just fine!!!!! wired our new shop with their 5000 lum led lites --LOVE THEM have fun all

[@user-ch6um1vn8x]

@@frrapp2366 I did my garage with those 5,000 lumens daisy chain lights also. Very nice. It's handy being able to turn all of them on or just whatever light you want on.

[@jackman6256]

Ive done lots upgrades to mine
Went to one Hydraulic got a 4 point 1 pump for mine not for speed but efficiency change seat
Bigger return hose extra wheels
I hang blocks off back to keep it from jumping around so bad
Canopy on it for sun they are stronger than you think had mine for 4 yrs done everything with it

[@GP-ur6if]

I bought an old towable backhoe (a Badger, seems to be made by Honda but so old can't get a lot of info). I replaced the leaky Hydraulics/some old lines, put on Predator engine, replaced pump... and so so so worth having. I almost bought the HF one but covid hit and it went on backorder. I am certain I'd be happy with the HF, the overhauled old digger is heavier (can use bigger buckets on it) and overall with repairs cost a little more but these towable diggers work and for ditch digging (what I mainly use it for, have dug over 700 feet of ditches) it is great. Has saved me many thousands at this point.

[@htownblue11]

That machine punches above its weight class for sure.

[@stevengoodwin4501]

A helpful note here. I put an attachment on my trailer hitch that has a 2 inch female galvanized pipe opening on it. This allows me to simply set the mid tooth of the trencher down into the 2in. pipe coupler. I then lowered the extended boom until the outriggers came off of the ground! also, when I use this method, I will have my wife in the truck, and me on the machine. That way i can "back steer" the unit into tighter situations!

[@97TRAKIN]

That's what I'm buying and will pull it with my compact tractor around my property as needed. It is WAAAAY cheaper than the factory backhoe attachment that's available for my tractor.

Please let the tractor not be a John Deere. 😬

[@97TRAKIN]

I have two. A Yanmar and a John Deere.
The serial number plate on the John Deere reads, "Manufactured in Japan by Yanmar", so technically I have two Yanmars lol 🤣😆.

[@samj1185]

and you won't risk breaking your tractor in half.

[@thejoker-pd9df]

My dad built a CADdigger from plans he bought from an ad in popular science. It's the same concept, about this size bigger engine, probably a little sturdier. Very handy digger. Put a foundation under his house, dug a pond, buried water lines

[@brucelivingstone365]

I have one as well. 20 years now and not broken . It has limitations of course but paid for itself many times over. I have three buckets. A trencher, a digging bucket ( a little larger than that shown in the video ) and a scoop about 40 inches wide. The trencher and bucket get the most use. This HB version looks like a really close copy of a CADplans machine.

[@212caboose]

People need to understand the limitations of these kind of machines, and that the work will simply take longer. Faster/easier than digging by hand, but MUCH slower than a full size machine. People seem to think all machines are the same- I mean, they make different size machines for a reason LOL
ALWAYS throttle up machines while working. Movements will be smoother, and work will take less effort. It grinds my gears when I watch people operating, and they didn't throttle up the machine...

[@DOOM_A-O]

He said the manual tells you to run on low throttle for the first 25 hours. My guess is that the engine and hydraulics need to break in/wear together before putting a full power load on it. May be washing out metal flakes from milling the engine, out from the engine too is my guess, thus the oil change at 25 hours.

[@Orbic-hp5tt]

Okay thanks, Mr Happy.

[@jackjumper4231]

2:00 there is a reason the owner manual wants you to do an oil change at 25 hours and not to idle up prior to this. The engine has to go through a break-in. As you’re going through this break-in. The bearings are beginning to seat themselves and they need to do it under, very precise conditions in order for the best life of the main bearings. The reason you change the oil and the oil filter is because what you can’t see in there is pieces of bearings have turned to dust and are now caught in your filter. Now, if you buy a brand new car and it has less than 100 miles on it, it has not been broken yet you need to not rot it because a friend of mine blew the engine and his brand new truck. Every new engine has to go through a break-in.

[@kurtw176]

Harbor Freight should have you review their products since you do such a great job.

[@dangoodall-williams4200]

I think it has paid for itself already. We'll done.

[@marchingmoto]

Vs renting equipment or hiring someone. Yes very close for sure

[@patvaneyssen]

🌹
The company should contract you to demo their machinery Dalton. You did such a good job! 👏
I know absolutely nothing about machinery but the way you explain everything in such detail and so clearly .... you have taught me such a lot. In fact, I learn something new from each and every video you share with us on here. Thank you.💐
You have so many skills and your willingness to share your knowledge is such an inspiration to all the young guys out there. You would make a brilliant teacher. You have so much to offer.
🌹

[@marchingmoto]

Thank you that’s very flattering! I’m glad you enjoy the videos!

[@patvaneyssen]

@@marchingmoto You're most welcome, Dalton.🌹

[@ThreeBall-t3l]

Diqk rider

[@Rowganlife]

i absolutely love mine. I bent one of the hydraulic rams (found its limits trying to pull out a stump). I got another prolly 60 hours out of the ram after i bent it and just forced it to close which straightened it back out. Replaced the ram, and no problems whatsoever for years. Ive got an unstoppable tank tracked gas powered wheel barrow thing that'll go straight up crazy steep hills with almost a ton of dirt in it. With those two tools i can do almost anything with my ROCKY ass land.

[@manleynelson9419]

What is this wheel barrel. Gotta see it. Need one. NC mtns

[@Rowganlife]

@@manleynelson9419 look up US ExtremePower 6.5hp its the one that moves 1100 pounds (is what it says, it would do more if you could fit it, i suspect!)

[@Steven-gv1ke]

I'm not an engineer but I'll bet those axles are only designed to handle the rolling weight of the unit. The moment you start digging snd adding a bunch of additional stress/weight to them, you are probably going to bend an axle. Those outriggers are significantly stronger.

[@thomasgentr443]

The out riggers are very weak. I’ve broken and re welded mine 3 or 4 times.

[@Anne-pk8gs]

Omg…a man who reads & follows the owners manual instructions!

[@karlmckinnell2635]

😂

[@marchingmoto]

Something that costs this much, i think its worth it haha

[@janicefoltz400]

I read the owner manual then tell my husband what he did wrong🤣🤣

[@kwhp1507]

First thought was this must be a woman making this comment, guess I am right. I’m not anti instructions. I am anti translated instructions.

[@Anne-pk8gs]

@@kwhp1507 It’s a joke about stereotypes.

[@scottycrippin2126]

Why in the world would you be convinced that you shouldn't idle it up after you've changed out the break-in oil? My god it's a predator engine, rev the shit out of it. Unless you outright neglect those things it's gonna take whatever you can throw at it. Worst case scenario you're out 250 bucks for a brand new engine. The faster you turn that pump the faster and stronger it's gonna dig.

[@speedfreak8200]

Yep, I used to run frontend loaders and forklifts for 30 yrs gotta Rev them up to go faster. Breakin oil is crappy oil don't leave it in very long

[@AlanAshton]

There’s a publication by Continental motors called “don’t baby your engine” that explains break-in on air-cooled aircraft engines. It gave me a new perspective on different engines break-in processes and that what we know from one doesn’t necessarily apply to others.
Personally, I run the absolute shit out of everything I own that has an engine.

[@bigboycombo6342]

@@AlanAshton Drag racers do it all the time with new pistons and rings.

[@aquariuswithfire]

HF woodchipper uses a Predator engine and that sucker runs 110% rpm out of the box!

[@AlanAshton]

@@bigboycombo6342 Yup. The point of the article I mentioned explains how being too easy on an engine allows deposits to get into the cylinder honing and rings to not set.
On a distantly related note... I've been on a rant lately thinking that Musk is going to release an internal combustion engine as soon as subsidies for EVs end. The reason I believe this is that the scale of high performance alloys that they're producing and using for SpaceX can yield higher temperature deltas than current metals used in engines, and thus greater thermodynamic efficiency. What if valves didn't burn, pistons didn't melt, and rod caps were at lower risk of letting loose at the top of the exhaust stroke where we're most likely to throw a rod?
The efficiency limiting factor on one of my airplanes is the material that the turbocharger exhaust housing is made from, so I have to manage my fuel burn based on what amounts to the temperature of the hot exhaust going into the exhaust side of the turbocharger. Either I have to run so lean that I start to lose some power, which at least is more efficient, or I have to run extra rich, wasting fuel and adding carbon deposits.

[@teamja1088]

$2000 backhoe that I have to run for 25 hours before using its potential, and it takes 3 days to do what can be done in one day with a rental excavator for less? I will just keep renting real machines and will pass this up. Good and honest review on your part bud - I appreciate that.

[@codychickadee5095]

You scared of a break-in period? 😂

[@redjellonian8126]

Ignoring the other idiot who challenged math by asking if it was afraid.
The value quickly flips if you need to use a backhoe again within 5 years or if you need it for more than a week total at any point.

[@AlexR_44]

@@codychickadee5095 more likely, they just don't have much use for one. 25 hours could be a lifetime of use for an average home owner...

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Man ly machines are the way to go uggg grunt pound chest.

[@timothyblazer1749]

Heh. Yeah, for 2k, this thing has already paid for itself. I don't see the problem. Be useful for many small jobs around homesteads.

[@sandyhansen]

We’re so glad for the update. Thank you 😁

[@frankintx699]

INice job with the little machine. I am looking forward to your Harbor Freight tool series!👍

[@marchingmoto]

@@onamissionfortruth6326thank you thats very encouraging to hear!

[@joshua_lee732]

Not gonna lie. I kinda want one.

[@ronniefuller2334]

@@joshua_lee732 Me too

[@marchingmoto]

Thats the boat i was in for a long time haha

[@Mrbfgray]

The 25 hr rule is probably hoping owner gains enough proficiency at lower stress that they won't scrap the thing on the first outing.

[@kenlieberman4215]

No. Its standard for small engines. It allows for any burrs to breakoff and have the parts run in.

[@ericashmead4049]

Theres an engine break in period for cars too, I dunno what they do off the factory line but after a rebuild you should do an oil change within the first 500 mi or so, for the same reason as Kenlie mentions in the above comment. (also in case any debris was inrtoduced while the engine was apart)

[@DoubleMFarmHomestead]

Is this where we are suppose to say "Told you so."😂 Another job well done. Like I told you, the more you use it, the better it gets.😉

[@marchingmoto]

Thats the truth. I wasn’t totally sure about it at first but its really not bad at all!

[@LaserParody]

I like the included instructional video @ 7:54 on what not to do to your truck.
Teasing. What I have found from HF is that their products - that in the 80s/90s were DEFINATELY purchased as one-offs... you didn't expect more than a single project worth of time out of things (if that).... from '89 through 94, every piece I sculpted for the Vegas strip was done with what I called "disposable" electric chainsaws from Harbor Freight. Then in the mid 2000s, I don't know exactly when, but I literally woke up after a coma, in 2006, and the next thing I bought from Harbor Freight, a 10" cut-off saw... lasted me until just now. Like 14 years. Huge load of work through over a decade of commercial use, and the only thing that went wrong was the actuator for the safety cover broke about a decade later. Easy fix.
I just bought the same brand (Admiral) 12' saw, that is still sitting about 6 feet behind me, not installed on the table yet.
Startling turn-around, quality wise, from the 1990s to now.

[@ZephodBeeblebrox]

It's always faster than a pick, shovel and a wheelbarrow

[@fhuber7507]

Be careful.... it has the power to rip the bucket in half.
I would reduce the pressure setting of the relief valve in the control valve body.
There's a direct replacement pump to bolt on the engine which doubles flow rate, but not pressure. Everything moves faster and you can use all 4 levers at once.

[@marchingmoto]

That would be really nice

[@ernestgalvan9037]

Any info on that ‘direct replacement’ pump? Such as make and model?

[@jimfiles3307]

Something to note about hydraulics: Pressure makes it work; Flow makes it go.

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Rocky terrain lol we in NH dream of that terrain. I'm running out of places to put the rocks and still have no dirt . Keep having fun!

[@vickisavage8929]

Here in north central Arkansas we will match you rocks for rocks.

[@silverbackag9790]

@@vickisavage8929here in north central Missouri, I have to import rocks from Arkansas to have anything other than crushed limestone.

[@vickisavage8929]

@@silverbackag9790 I rather suspect that there are plenty of people around here who would be willing to donate more than you want!

[@mmiller1188]

The more I watch of this the more I need one

[@marchingmoto]

That’s how i felt until i got one lol

[@paradoxworkshop4659]

As soon as I realized it could crawl, I was in.

[@biffmalibu3733]

I bought mine because it's better than a shovel. It's pretty impressive what it can do. I've actually had people try to buy it after seeing it work.

[@MilitaryTalkGuy]

same with me. After I dug out my first pond with mine, a buddy offered me $1000 for it which was twice what I paid used for mine. He wanted to do a pond in his yard. Now mine has dug 2 ponds. They aren't fast but can outwork a shovel by miles and if you take your time, you can in fact dig small ponds with them.

[@user-gw5ru6kr6c]

I’m a plumber and one of these would be amazing for replacing water mains and small sewer jobs. I would just need a more narrow bucket, 13 inches would be too wide for water mains , sewer jobs that’s perfect.

[@nightflight1454]

You could probably get a narrow bucket for it too

[@user-gw5ru6kr6c]

@@nightflight1454 I’ve looked and I don’t see it. I’d probably find a narrow bucket and have a welder swap out the connection. I’m seriously thinking about this. I hate digging waterlines.

[@nightflight1454]

@@user-gw5ru6kr6c l dont even really need one but for $2000 bucks you can't go wrong .I know I could buy a narrow bucket though and fabricate a new connector on it in my shop fairly easily.You might even be able to cut the ends of the bucket it comes with and reweld them back on after cutting it down to size

[@solutions553]

Hats off to yah young man..miss my younger days...!

[@izaks14]

John 14:21-23 ESV
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." [22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" [23] Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

[@tZydeco]

In the early 2000s I built a Caddigger 821. Much heavier duty but even back then it cost more than this HF backhoe. And the engine on my Caddigger was free.

[@effthegop]

GREAT review! I can see a LOT of really practical applications for this tool, especially for the price. Personally, with a property like that, I am too lazy and would have sprung for a backhoe attachment for the Kubota. My little Kubota BX sub compact *might have done that driveway connection in 3 hours. Ay my age, time is more important than money :)

[@marchingmoto]

I would if it was my tractor but it’s not

[@SimplestUsername]

Watching it scoot around makes me happy.

[@futures525]

I bought one used for $1500. It was the best investment I ever made.
I had to reinforce the bucket. Even with the small 9HP engine, it has
enough power to rip the bucket apart.

[@painmt651]

Definitely more capable than I would’ve thought.

[@MilitaryTalkGuy]

I have one that is over 10 years old now. I've dug 2 little ponds plus all manner of projects such as holes for trees, drainage, cleared rocks, trails, etc. It is slow but works and got mine for $500 used. Had to rebuild a couple of the hydraulic cylinders and replace the lines when I got it but that was only a couple hundred dollars and some labor. Keep the oil changed and hydraulic tank full and it will just work and work. Compared to a shovel... it is about 10x faster than a shovel and runs 2 hours on a tank of gas.

[@shadowdemon13]

Save yourself a hard fall, put grip tape on the platform for your feet. It gets extremely slippery when wet, or when walking from wet grass to your backhoe.

[@Patriottoo2]

A 12 VDC power caster would, sure, make moving it around a lot easier. Thanks for the review!

[@martinswiney2192]

I bought a bad 1/2” drill motor from em years ago. It just did not even work. I hav3 more trust in them now. A friend of mine bought one of their portable sawmills. He started just to make his own lumber for a barn. He kept adding to it and now he has pretty much a complete saw mill operation in his front yard. He told me he still has not built his barn but has cut enough wood to build 3 other peoples barns.

[@calholli]

You do realize that you could have taken the drill motor back, right. lol

[@martinswiney2192]

@@calholli i did. But the store was an hour from my home. I had bought it because I stop in that store when I was on that side of town. So special trip to take back a drill motor. Thus very annoying.

[@tadcobert1307]

Thanks so much for this information, I really needed the confirmation that it will do what I want it to do on our property, have many projects for it!

[@SusieMonk-jh8tj]

You can do anything you set your mind to..Bravo Dalton👏👏🥳👌

[@davejalenderki]

That's pretty cool. Harbor Freight has stepped up their game in the tool world from what they use to be. Their durability is much better without an exponentially high price increase. Thanks for the video.

[@robf2251]

It beats the heck out of a shovel

[@stevengoodwin4501]

Another useful idea! I had a chain hook welded on to the backside of the bucket. with that, I have several smaller tools that can be applied to it. I hooked a scissors type log lift to the chain, and moved logs. I also hooked a 3ft heavy rope to a "C" clamp welders Vise grip, and lifted 600 pound sections of concrete debris on to my utility trailer. REMEMBER, LEVERAGE IS YOUR FRIEND! (You could also place a motor into a vehicle with it)!

[@jamesolivier3192]

Just because the oil didn't look dark or contaminated does not mean it wasn't needed. You cannot see broken down polymers with your eye, nor can you see the wear metals from a break in period. If you SEE metal in your oil that is much more and much larger particles then should come from a break in period of any modern engine. send out a sample for testing and you'll see what I mean..

[@davidrodgers7224]

Used to dig graves with a similar machine, would put a wheel barrow next to hole fill it,then haul it off, or a nice pull behind dump trailer behind a garden tractor or atv , just fill and haul them off makes jobs neat and organized

[@somaday2595]

Hitching to your truck to give leverage, yeah. ☺
If this backhoe is tight enough to feel tree roots, the inability to easily dig through anything in the way can be a plus when digging next to old foundations. Knowing when the digging gets tougher may be a sign to stop and investigate what may be in the way. Using even a Case 580, it may be too late and the foundation collapses when pulling the root.
Just a thought - For just a little more money and not needing to dig deeper than 5 or 6 ft, an alternative would be a used small trencher with blade.

[@glennmorgan4197]

Hydrolic pumps rely on pressure, and single cylinder engines require that 25 hours to break in the bearings. Miniature equipment is designed to be used in tight locations. It's never going to replace heavy-duty equipment.

[@GunNut37086]

You convinced me 100% that this backhoe is worth way more than it costs. Thanks!!

[@tjmaineinspector]

I used one for 2 years, it was a great like thing! Eventually, I upgraded to a tractor with a backhoe attachment and sold it.

[@marchingmoto]

@@tjmaineinspector i hope to do the same thing someday!

[@SLKR-ek9hj]

My guy has a pistol in his hip a true patriot 🇺🇸

[@lagrenouille21]

You never thought that a " CRICKET " could work that well ...

[@andrewrivera4029]

Nice! I may get one I need to dig some shallow irrigation ditches on my ranch, I have a backhoe but it digs deep very quickly.

[@user-ec4vv3iq9k]

They should sponsor you this was a great presentation

[@patvaneyssen]

Absolutely. I second that !!!👏👏👏

[@marchingmoto]

I wouldn’t mind!

[@bluecollardadventures2338]

Love the video and the info. 💯 👍👍👍 For wearing a hoodie in the sun, people think I am an idiot for covering up in the summer. I wear hoodies and long sleeves and hoods/hats non stop. I don't mind the sweat and it actually cools you as you sweat into layers. And since I work outside EVERY DAY I think its a good thing to be careful about sun exposure

[@Nphen]

I have a suburban lot but we have a walkout basement with crumbling retaining walls. This mini-ex could definitely help me do more than $2k in work in that area. There's other stuff to do in the yard, too.

[@calholli]

You can get the little backhoe with tracks for only around a thousand more dollars. This would be cool if it was cheaper, but for the price: I'd rather just get the other one, with tracks.

[@dougtheslug6435]

Cool, I've been thinking of buying one of these. As far as your comment about the break in oil, it is important to change it out. It's got nothing to do about the color of it, it's more to do with letting the engine seat the valves, flush out any gung that may be in it when it was built and smooth out any bugs. It may be fine or not but like you said, why take the chance, oil change is cheap, repairs are expensive.

[@jyienger]

This looks like more trouble than its worth. I got a older 3.5T mini with worn pins and bushings, a few leaks, and 3000 hours. Diesel still strong. It would chew threw what you did in hours, not days. If you have lots of property, invest in an older machine that is retired from commercial service but awesome for home use.

[@richardnott9587]

I used one of these once to do a bunch of little jobs on a work site. Because it was small. When I was ready to move it I would put the bucket onto the hitch of the truck and remove the outriggers and haul it that way. Less stuff to move off for going 100yrds. Lol

[@peteJoseph-x3h]

Every so often you can get a real good tool from Harbor Freight, I have “Earthquake impacts and a 70 lb jack hammer that are excellent .

[@dodgeme1986truck]

If used in soft or muddy terrain a set of 22x11-10 high load 4ply atv tires on 10x10 4on4 pattern trailer rims is an amazing modification... Another great mod is a thumb add on, also changing the bent pins to flat handle pins will nearly stop the hole elongation, in the axle stubs and outriggers, great spare parts to keep on hand are spare pivot pins for the boom and cylinder, as well as one for the main swing pivot, and finally a spare set of teeth and tooth pins

[@Sureshots.]

Sounds like you know what your talking about.

[@dodgeme1986truck]

@@Sureshots. I might just know a thing or 2 about them since mine was just pulling 500lb plus rock outta the ground 15min ago while on saturated blue clay...

[@johnk5461]

My opinion; DON’T BUY THIS MACHINE! In soft dirt or sand, it’s probably okay, but anything else, forget it. Don’t buy this thinking you’re going to be digging trench’s for pipes, or whatever. Why? This backhoe is just way too light. When you attack hard dirt or caliche the machine lifts off the ground rather than dig.

[@dakkblakk982]

my stepfather flying forward as his hooked a large tree root was the best thing I've ever seen. I am glad he landed off to the side so the engine didn't crush him when it flipped over. these things are crap plain and simple.

[@patrickcreath217]

Wait until you're retired to get one. That Predator engine is really good. Has enough power to stress crack an outrigger. Better than a shovel. 😅

[@patrickackerman1917]

The break in oil has zinc added to fill in and smooth out micro scratches and imperfections from manufacturing. It's not that the first round gets dirty it's because it has an additive to help break it in. Then you go to a normal operating weight oil.

[@djkilpatrick5256]

Looks really cool! Cool tool to have around a small farm

[@maxwebster7572]

A few criticisms of HF: they sometimes obsolete and item and the newer parts don't interchange. If you buy something to use 10 hours / year when it is out of warranty after 2 years you may not be able to get parts. I have an item they are currently selling that I can't get parts for.
The Chonda clones when taking apart have multiple component failures vs a GX that wears out. I just tore down a 390 that had a valve sideways in a piston, rear bearing missing, full of metal and some other issue I forgot. The Honda I tore down that was 15 years old had seized and broken bolts in the case but ALL the internal parts were still good. I attribute this to poor clearances in Chonda.
The engine you can change, a very NASTY reality with hydraulics is the cost of a replacement pump. I work on 20ton cranes and there are failures ALL the time from crap in the system during manufacture whether it be blocking a valve or takes out pumps. Biljax equipment is a great example.
Before buying hydraulic equipment spec out the pump and replacement cost and determine if you can afford it. I have a Case trencher that the pump is 5-8k. Machine is worth 5k running if I am lucky.
The pivots and bushings are nasty as well. I have replaced several under warranty in offshore equipment in less than 6 months because of poor material and design.
Choose wisely.
I would NOT own a HF machine OUT OF WARRANTY.

[@carlerickson74]

Now if you could build a little operators cab, that would be awesome! Baby excavator!

[@jtsimmons3133]

It's like any other piece of equipment. You have to work within the limitations and abilities of the machine, not your expectations. HF gear is priced lower because it is engineered to cost less. That doesn't mean it's of inferior quality, it means the power and strength are less. Still ok IF you keep that in mind.

[@edwardlance2379]

Well, this is definitely the ticket for me. Primary use would be keeping the drainage ditch dug out along the side of the road. I have a 50 HP Mahindra 3550 tractor for bush hogging, box blading the driveway and snow removal, etc, but the attachment backhoe for it is $10,000...way too much for just keeping a small ditch cleared. I think this little backhoe would be perfect and affordable....but, the video says $2,000...it's actually $3,000 ($2,999) currently on their site. Still a 1/3 the price of the attachment for my tractor.

[@jbrow397]

Local rental shops will rent you an excavator with 5 times the capability for $300 a day. A mini would do all that work in 2 hours.
These are toys to teach children how to use machines.

[@Ferd414]

On an initial look, I'd expect that this thing would be mainly a "toy", but that's speaking as someone who can walk over to the shed and drive out a John Deere with a loader on the front and a removable backhoe behind. I thought more or less the same about that rig when I first came to work for the folks who own it, but after multiple uses on the place, it's quite capable. You ain't gonna dig out a 16 foot deep basement with it, or put it to regular use for sinking new septic tanks, but it'll get you down to a busted pipe, or cut a trench for a new phone or power line, or trench in a french drain. I expect this thing will be about the same - not fit for "industrial-grade" use, but one helluva lot better than a pick and shovel for light-to-medium duty work.

[@dallasarnold8615]

I have been a heavy equipment operator most of my life. You could have dug that "ramp" in a few minutes with the Kubota if you drop the rear mounted cutter.

[@marchingmoto]

Well this kubota isn’t heavy equipment so it doesn’t work like that. Its way too light to dig anything

[@dallasarnold8615]

@@marchingmoto I own a 1980 L-235 Kubota. Been there done that. Yours is too light because you have all that weight on the back, countering the weight of the loader.

[@marchingmoto]

@@dallasarnold8615 brush hog on the back or not even with the axles locked in 4x4 the wheels just spin before the loader is even 2” inches into the earth. The ground is way too hard to push a bucket into it. That’s what i started off doing on this project it hardly scraped the grass off the ground

[@samcoon6699]

Yeah, HF has a little bit of junk but most of their stuff is pretty decent. I have several power tools that have worked perfectly for years. Their flux core welder works great with good wire. A small drill press I've had for 15 years is still going strong, both large and small wood lathes work perfectly. Angle grinders, bench vices, hand tools etc are all pretty dang good! If I need something else, HF is my go to.

[@brianlaird5355]

If your trying to get something out of the ground. Such as stump, root or concrete. Get the bucket under it and roll it as you let the boom down. Wont lift the other end.

[@steveman223]

this is gonna be on my list for next spring.

[@criticalevent]

The two stick Redrock version that Princessauto sells is way faster to run, towable backhoes make way more sense than having a backhoe semi-permanently bolted to a compact tractor, locking you out of your 3-point.

[@redsquirrelftw]

Princess Auto has these for around 5k. Very tempting. That's less than the cost of renting a regular size excavator for a few days once you factor float fees etc, and it's yours to use any time you want.

[@CaveJohnsonHLE]

Careful leaving it hooked to a truck. can mess up parking spline in the transmission

[@matthewmoilanen787]

As a 40 yr mechanic and Senior Master ASE I can assure u that that unit would put significantly less strain on a the parking pawl of a trans than a 30 travel trailer parked on a slope. For goodness sakes.

[@garywinkel1831]

Beats the heck out of a shovel!

[@snowpaw360]

I thought about digging small garden ponds as a business, I would definitely use this for that.

[@H2ODiver_Down]

Lol! It looks like one of those kiddy ones in the sandbox you would see in a park😂

[@hinspect]

Rent a Kubota for a weekend, it is loads of fun!

[@RichardMiller-tq6ut]

Not a bad machine once you do the necessary modifications. First thing is replace the pins with American. Second is a beer holder. Optional attributes would be over grease and leave it hitched to the truck for beam bending work platform. Don't install nitrous unless you can afford new hoses and rings almost daily