Backhoe Big Tractor, Little Backhoe?

[quadridermx]

I recently acquired a very nice John Deere 4600 Tractor with a 460 loader and would like to have some kind of backhoe working for me as well. I really like the idea of being able to quickly detach the backhoe to use other implements.

I am on about 2 acres with some woods, and my wife and I want to do a lot of landscaping this summer to make it park-like. I know a JD 4600 is probably overkill for just 2 acres, but I didn't want to get something and end up wanting more right away.

Here are my thoughts, and my questions...

1) My situation and thoughts... We are not going to be using the backhoe as an industrial tool. It will mostly be used for tearing out hedges, small trees, shrubs, plants, etc... and planting them.

However, if the possibility ever arises to break a 3 point backhoe, or the tractor, by over working it, my wife will do it. Some trees in the woods are dying, so I can see having to dig some stumps, pushing a 3pt backhoe to what seems to be it's limit. And I can see her ripping apart the rear end on my new beloved JD 4600.

2) Questions.... What is the smallest, weakest, 3 point backhoe out there? Would it be weak enough so as not to come close to breaking the components of a JD 4600 3 point setup (2500lb lift capacity at 24", so fairly beefy).

If I bought, say, a woods groundbreaker 7500 3 point hoe that weighs around 1000 pounds, I would be well within the tractor's capacity to lift it and drive it around and plant it. Im sure it would dig well in dirt and do some light-med work no problem. However, from what I read, that hoe could have the capacity to really damage the 3pt hitch parts and top link if someone got into a large stump and pushed it beyond the strength of the tractor's rear end components.

Can a backhoe like that be "dialed back" or somehow restricted so that it's max strength/pressure is well within the capability of the tractors rear end components?

On the flip side, it seems that the most common failure with 3 point backhoes is the top link pulling out when it's put under extreme push/pull loads. So can the top link be "strengthened" somehow to be able to handle the stresses it is put under?

The john deere 48 backhoe would be perfect for my application because they are a frame mounted quick dettach hoe. However the cost of them is sky high.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[quadridermx]

Or... maybe even a towable backhoe that is always attached to the draw bar hitch ball on the tractor could work? Any experience there?

 

[2458n]

I had the big backhoe little tractor problem. Hoe is a Arps 750. Little tractor L245DT. The hoe had a 2inch square solid steel top link. It is designed to be used with cat.1 or 2 hookup. Changed the solid top link to a cat. 1 adjustable link-the ball will pull out from the casting before ruining the back of the tractor. Bought a backhoe that was originally to be used with the little Kubota. Now use the Arps as intended on a cat.2 White Field boss. Still use the Cat. 2 top link with castings on each end as a safety link.

 

[Fallon]

Most backhoes have their own pressure relief in addition to the one on the tractor. You could dial that down to make it less likely to break things.

If your wife beats stuff up, avoid a 3pt hoe. A subframe mounted backhoe will be a bit more, but is a lot stronger. The subframe distributes the force over more of the tractor & strengthens the tractor frame. A 3pt hoe puts all the load on the 3pt & back of the transmission. The 3pt wasn't designed for the leverage & more important off kilter directions a hoe can generate.

Lots of people say a 3pt hoe is fine, but digging stumps is hard on a hoe. Personally I wouldn't risk it.

 

[joecdeere]

Aluminum rear cases with aluminum axle housings and three point backhoes are a bad and costly combination.
Save up those jobs and rent a real hoe for the day or weekend

 

[pmsmechanic]

My neighbour bought a Case 580C for $5000. He has all the backhoe he ever needs and I can borrow it when ever I need it. It's all the backhoe I will ever need. It's slow compared to the newer models but for the odd job it's very adequate.

If you keep your eyes open you should be able to do something similar for less money than a three point hitch model backhoe for your tractor.

I really like the idea of saving up the jobs and renting one for the weekend. You'll be money ahead in the long run.

 

[joecdeere]

My neighbour bought a Case 580C for $5000. He has all the backhoe he ever needs and I can borrow it when ever I need it. It's all the backhoe I will ever need. It's slow compared to the newer models but for the odd job it's very adequate.

I'm the same way, I picked this Ford up for $6,500 last year, best money I've spent in a while!

 

[bcp]

Or... maybe even a towable backhoe that is always attached to the draw bar hitch ball on the tractor could work? Any experience there?

Not "always attached." They are attached to the tow vehicle only for longer moves. When digging, they are detached and mobile on their own.

Metsa Man has a bunch of videos about his. Here's one:

More:
metsa man kellfri - Google Search

Bruce

 

[quadridermx]

I would love to have an industrial hoe like the ones you guys picked up, but they are just too big for my area. It would have to constantly sit outside, which bugs me to no end. Plus it would be another piece of equipment to have to maintain and repair. My JD only has 600 hours on it, so I'll hopefully get at least hundreds (years, for me) of trouble free hours out of it!

I have looked into a small trencher/backhoe but would again have to store it outdoors, and anything in decent shape around here goes for $4500+.

Does my JD 4600 have an aluminum rear end as mentioned?

If so, both my wife and her father are boilermakers, so they have a lot of experience welding and fabricating. If it indeed does have an aluminum rear end, what are some good points to use as a strong point to tie a backhoe to? Would I need to tie into some points further forward in the tractor?

What do you guys think of this idea....

Get a small(ish) 3 point backhoe. Fabricate mounts to effect of using the 3 point setup to lift the backhoe into place, and then once in place, bolting on the supporting plates/hardware. Keep the backhoe attached to the 3 point lift arms and top link, but also have some good brackets assisting with transferring the stresses to another part of the tractor. Kind of a small hybrid system that would have the ease of a 3 point setup, most of the strength of a frame mount, and maybe only 8-10 bolts that would have to be installed.

Would that be a lot easier said than done? What would be some strong points to bolt to if the rear of the tractor is aluminum?

 

[quadridermx]

By the way, I like the towable backhoes. It looks like it would be just fine for what I am wanting to do. However, they are pretty rare around here and go for $4000+ (non harbor freight models) when they do pop up!