Mf220 backhoe "restoration"

Hello, so I have been on the hunt for this model backhoe since I found out my massey ferguson 3165 tractor w/loader can accommodate one. Anyway after a few years of raiding auctions, online auctons near me, craigslist, market place, and even tractor salvage yards, I finally found one that was attached to an old Ford that was locked up. Ended up talking the guy into letting me buy just the backhoe off the tractor for a decent deal, got the sub frames and upper stabilizer bars as well(which there were some modifications to the subframe due to the frankenstein idea someone crafted). All in all it was in really good shape zero structural cracks or breaks just used and abused. So I want to "restore" it for another "50+ years" of use hopefully. Or as long as I can keep it together. Which it's a great candidate for plenty of future braces since it doesn't have any issues to this point in its life, obviously it wasn't used hard in its day cuz I've seen some that are really patched up.

Anyway I'm in the process of sand blasting it and found a couple very small cracks in the pin gussets where they were welded in, fixed that up and was wondering if there were any other things I should really put an eye on before priming and painting. Or if there are any supports I should add as prevention?

Thanks,

Mike

I would imagine you will see any cracks after blasting that it might have, any weakness it might have should have shown up before now, but the only real test is use it and see how it goes.
AJ

Well I fixed the minor cracks I did find in that pin gusset that was a little weak. But everything else checked out fine zero cracks. So I got it primed and first coat of paint on it now. Now I need to finish taking apart the support mast with the outriggers, so I can sand blast that all up and coat it cuz it needs it bad. I just got the rotate cylinder thing off so only have a few more pieces to take apart to get it cleaned up and painted. The outriggers are gonna be fun to get out tho I assume. Planning to coat those with slip-plate dry lubricant along with the slide rail on the support frame.

Also need to finish sandblasting the seat/control section and have a bucket repair job to do. Somebody got stupid and used it as a battering ram or something cuz there is a patch needed at the bottom of bucket. So gonna have to get that patched and add some 3/8" x 2" flat wear strips on bottom of bucket for strength so this bucket can make it to 100years old!!! Lol

My buddy was telling me I should use this as an example to make my bucket strong. He said the wear strips and hardfacing (art work) will make it last forever, so that's what I'm gonna do to an extent. Might not get so fancy with the hardfacing but who knows if I have fun with it I might go all out. But definatly gonna do the wear strips like this bucket has.

Some progress...

That's looking really nice. Have you finished painting the bachhoe, and mounted it on your tractor? If so, take some pictures of it and let us see what it looks like.