Been studying the frame on my I5 lately since i have it torn down. All it really is, is a single sheet of steel that was put into a press and the sides were bent down to form a channel. Then reinforcement bars were welded in the channel at mounting points like where the trans-axle and front attachment bars mount. The trans-axle itself is a structural member in this design. I had thought this was a fairly poor design. However my FIL whom is a retired auto engineer saw the frame and knew exactly what GE was doing. The basic design criteria seems to be light weight - simplicity - manufacturing cost. Also like an automobile frame it was made to flex. This prevents stress fracturing in key area's. Only way to prevent this in a tractor frame is to really beef it up. My JD140 of the same year uses 1/4 inch thick steel plate box frame all the way around. Deere did not design that frame for efficiency, they overbuilt it as weight was really not an issue with the
gas engine. It is pretty obvious that GE reached their targets when designing the frame. The frame was not designed for severe duty work. I would call backhoe/bucket severe duty. If it were me and i wanted to do this, i would build a new box frame using square tube, or C channel. Or at a minimum weld on reinforcement on the existing frame around your mounting points.
Just my observations - hoping some retired GE guys could chime in.
> From: elec-trak-request cosmos phy tufts edu
> Subject: Elec-trak Digest, Vol 9, Issue 176
> To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:00:02 -0400
>
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Putting a back-hoe on an E20 (Chris Zach)
> 2. Re: Putting a back-hoe on an E20 (William Martin)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:26:04 -0400
> From: Chris Zach <cz alembic crystel com>
> To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> Subject: (ET) Putting a back-hoe on an E20
> Message-ID: <4E54532C 8090906 alembic crystel com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> So I was thinking: After spending a
few hours working with an excavator
> in Vegas (dig this, lot of fun) I realized that what I really need on my
> E20 isn't a front-end loader, but an excavator arm with a thumb.
>
> So.... Anyone ever thought about this one? I'm thinking mount it on the
> back swap the seat 180 degrees, and run the hydraulics off an E20 sized
> motor. That would reduce the pressure on the front wheels, how much
> weight can the rear of the tractor take?
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:25:34 -0700 (PDT)
> From: William Martin <martinsprinklerdesign yahoo com>
> To: Chris Zach <cz alembic crystel com>,
> "elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
> Subject: Re: (ET) Putting a back-hoe on an E20
> Message-ID:
>
<1314156334 78252 YahooMailNeo web45901 mail sp1 yahoo com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Chris,
> ?
> A backhoe on a garden tractor is good for VERY light work only.? If your backhoe has enough power to actually dig, you will end up dragging the tractor around if you hit dirt that is hard at all.? I've ran compact tractors with backhoes and haven't been impressed.? You need to get into a utility tractor size to do some damage.? A friend of mine has a JD 4410 with a loader & backhoe and it does a great job.? Even with the utility tractor, if you hit a good sized rock with the backhoe...you and the tractor are moving.? All of this is based on my experience.? There may be other opinions.
> ?
> Also...I've seen loaders bend frames pretty easily on the front of the ET's.? I would assume a backhoe could bend the back of the frame just as easily.???
> ?
> It does sound
like a fun project though.? I personally wouldn't go through the trouble to make a backhoe for a garden tractor.? If you end up doing it...send pics.? I would like to see it.? :)? Good luck.
> ?
> Billy
> From: Chris Zach <cz alembic crystel com>
> To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 9:26 PM
> Subject: (ET) Putting a back-hoe on an E20
>
> So I was thinking: After spending a few hours working with an excavator in Vegas (dig this, lot of fun) I realized that what I really need on my E20 isn't a front-end loader, but an excavator arm with a thumb.
>
> So.... Anyone ever thought about this one? I'm thinking mount it on the back swap the seat 180 degrees, and run the hydraulics off an E20 sized motor. That would reduce the pressure on the front wheels, how much weight can the rear of the tractor take?
>
> Chris
>
>
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