Liberty Backhoe

[Fawken]

No problem. The top link is under strain when the machine is in transit and I did build a support bracket to reinforce the top link when I am driving on rough terrain. If you had seen the kind of stuff that linkage has lifted and/or jerked out of the ground these past 30 years you might understand why it doesn't concern me. A neighbor once moved his 60x12 mobile home with it (albeit less than 10'- and without my permission) to get clear of his lateral lines. As far as operating the backhoe without that top link pin, no for obvious reasons. The 500lb tiller seems to put a lot more strain on it, but time will tell I suppose. If you don't need a backhoe everyday but like me can use one a couple of times a month, I recommend this five foot Liberty. I went out of my way to find fault with it, but it is solidly built and has worked well in our notorious black clay soil. If you need to dig more than 4' deep or dig everyday then of course a machine more suitable should be considered. I would never spend $9000- $12,000 on a small tractor backhoe when you can pick up a used Bobcat or Teikuchi for the same money and save your tractor for other work.

 

[Grandad4]

Glad your setup is sturdy and holds up well. Unfortunately, a lot of other folks have not had such good luck:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/254853-tc24da-broke-half.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/9888-boomer-problems.html (sixth post down)

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/184151-tc24d-broke-bell-housing.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/167907-tc30-breaking-half.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/86498-tc-45-transmission-split-open-3.html (See msg #24)

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/105425-l2800-cracked-rear-end.html

I'll give you that if you are doing trenching or other work where you use the crowd extensively, a lot of the force of the backhoe's operation is horizontal, not vertical. But that's not always the case.

We use a much heavier tractor with a full 4 point subframe type backhoe that has done extensive stump removal over the last ten years. When the bucket curl snags on something, it is capable of lifting the front end of an almost 8,000 lb tractor/loader/backhoe rig off the ground. Obviously that lifting force goes through the entire tractor, not just to the stabilizers. I try to avoid extreme actions like that of course, but grubbing stumps is not easy on equipment.

By the way, welcome to TBN! Lots of good people here... your contributions are welcomed and appreciated.

 

[WWHQ]

Very good price on Liberty Backhoes with free shipping,do you think it would be suitable for my 04 Kioti LK3054XS?
Thanks

I broke my usual rule and went with price on this Liberty back-hoe...

Took a long time to get it, hard to get a commitment from them on time and delivery company and tacking shipment. Have been waiting for almost two years for them to ship the back ordered claw that was part of the deal / order.

I have been passed around from person to person. Each person has new excuses, from suppliers at fault to management not doing their job.

They have stopped responding to my polite e-mails every 4 months and are ignoring me now. No product or money back possible now???

They broker a Chinese product and can only serve client if what comes in their containers is what they have sold... they seem to be money processing jobbers with no real manufacturing or equipment experience. Very poor business in my opinion.

That said with some adjustment and modification I have got it working to a usable state.