BH90-x

mpo111 · Aug 23, 2007

Anyone in southern NH or central MA have a Woods BH90-X they would like to show off?? Thinking of buying one, but can't really try one out at any of the local dealers. I'm hoping to find someone who can show me how well it digs - especially when it comes to stump removal. I'm trying to decide between adding the hoe to my TC35 or buying a beat up old full sized machine. Hoping the little hoe will do what I want it to so I can avoid maintaining an old beater.

Thanks,
Mike

MadDogDriver · Aug 23, 2007

Mike,

I'm a few miles west of you

, but here's a thread that demo's the BH90-X on my TC40DA. Have had lots of fun with it and really enjoy using its hyd thumb too. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/103175-tree-removal-bh-grapple.html

CJ4 · Aug 23, 2007

Too bad i'm in Oklahoma, i'd love to let you try mine out. I love it. I first tried a BH80x and took it back after the first 10 minutes. It acted like a toy. I still think something was wrong with it but the dealer insisted it was working properly but it wouldn't even dig up grass. Anyway I traded for the 90 and it's a whole new world. I love it. I have extremely rocky ground but i'm digging just about what anyone would expect with it and my TC55DA. I went through the same delima wordering if I should buy an old beater big backhoe but decided to go with this. I think it was the right choice for me and probably you if stump removal is mostly your concern. It may take longer than a big backhoe but I think the decision is in what tasks you are going to be trying to accomplish with it. Let us know what you decide.

Bob_Young · Aug 25, 2007

I'm a little closer. Central NY between Rochester and Syracuse. I've got the 90X on my Kubota L4300. Only complaint I have on the hoe itself is that the boom cylinder seems a mite jumpy. Gotta feather carefully on raising or the boom jumps up and whacks the stop. Since I'm new to 'hoes, I don't know if this is normal or not.

Stumps? Digging out stumps is about all I've done with it. It works, but stumps beyond 8 to 10 inches aren't exactly easy. Perseverance is the key. Grabbing an 18" bucket full of dirt (and rocks, around here) is never a problem if there are no big roots in the way.

My L4300, even with loaded tires, seems a bit light for this hoe. The hoe drags the tractor around more than I like. You might find the same thing on your TC35. Something like an Ag utility tractor might be a better match.
Bob

MadDogDriver · Aug 26, 2007

Bob_Young said:
... Only complaint I have on the hoe itself is that the boom cylinder seems a mite jumpy. Gotta feather carefully on raising or the boom jumps up and whacks the stop. Since I'm new to 'hoes, I don't know if this is normal or not...Bob

Bob,

Not normal.

When I first used my BH90-X, I had the very same problem you described. It was extremely sensitive and had no capability of any fine feathering. Very frustrating to try any BH ops with it acting like that. Once I purged all the air out of the BH, it smoothed out and has continued to perform beautifully for me ever since. My BH was brand new and evidently wasn't full of hyd fluid when installed. Fully extending and retracting all the cylinders several times did the trick. I wasn't comfortable standing the rear of the tractor way up off the ground to fully extend the BH's boom so I dug a deep trench to get it extended. Once the BH was fully purged of air I had to add about 3 gallons back into the tractor's hyd resevoir, so it obviously needed quite abit of hyd fluid in the BH.

Mike's TC35 should be heavy enough for the BH90-X. My TC40 is the same frame as his 35 with just a little more muscle and handles the BH90-X just fine.

I agree with CJ4's comment about the 80-X being really puny when compared to the 90. The 80 is really a light weight compared to the 90.

Bob_Young · Aug 26, 2007

Hmmm...... Thanks for the input, MDD. I must not have gotten all the air out. The boom was really bad when the hoe was first delivered; it would bounce like the cylinder was a spring. Everything else was fine. I have a steep riverbank behind the house so I backed up to that and extended the boom as far as it would go over the edge. That made it a lot better but still a little tricky.

I'll try it again next time the hoe is on the tractor. Good to know it's not normal.
Bob

millpond · Aug 27, 2007

Maddogdriver I posted a note on attachments and then saw you had just last week been reviewing the Woods BH 90x and still seemed extremely happy. I have tc55da and have worried that 90x would be a lot of weight
swinging the machine around, but it seems tc40 is plenty of tractor for this Woods. I guess at this point is there anything you don't like about 90x..?

MadDogDriver · Aug 27, 2007

millpond said:
... I guess at this point is there anything you don't like about 90x..?

NOPE!

I have absolutely no regrets having the BH90-X, especially with it's hydraulic thumb!!!! (the smaller X series only offer a mechanical thumb). I have the 18" Gannon bucket and it has served me well. I initially thought I'd want a narrower bucket for trenching, but the 18" has been just fine. One of my neighbor's has a 9" bucket (not available on the 90) and he's constantly having to break out rocks that get stuck in it.

Your 55 won't even blink with the 90 on it. I've never had a problem with the 90 on the backend, even with my CaCl filled tires. Dismounting the BH takes only a few minutes. Mounting it initially takes a little longer, but once you've done it a few times it only takes about 15 minutes and would take even less time if you had a dolly for it. (#1 on my to do list).

millpond · Aug 28, 2007

Ok I'm in. 4 point hitch sub-frame and hydraulic thumb to boot. What about the PTO pump system ? I already have 2 rear remotes do I need a third or what is proper set up. How much bargaining room did you have with dealer on price. I think you mentioned your total cost was 10k. I was thinking Gannon 12 inch or 14. This will be in rocky Northern Vermont digging utility ditches laying conduit and general culver maintenance. I really won't be able to justify two seperate buckets as this is all non-commercial use. Have you seen any other backhoe that even compares to BH 90x. Thanks again as TBN and it's tireless members like you make reviews and research invaluable tool.
Bill

MadDogDriver · Aug 28, 2007

Congrats Bill, I'm sure you will enjoy the BH!

4pt subframe mount........the only way to go, especially on your beast.

I was just reviewing the manuals that came with my BH90-X. Your TC55DA has oodles of power for it and there's no need for a PTO kit to be installed. The BH needs 9-12 gal per minute and 2500psi for efficient operations and your 55 more than meets that requirement. 1/2" diameter hoses (SAE 100 R1 3000psi) connect from the BH to the tractor. Woods sells a hose kit that simplifies connecting the BH hydraulics right into your rear manifold where your existing rear remotes are powered from. It's a clean install and makes for a super easy mount/dismount of your BH.

The 90-X bucket options are: 12", 16", 18" (std), 24", and 36" w/ teeth or 36" ditching bucket w/o teeth. Check with your Woods dealer about the thumb compatibility with the narrow buckets. There might be a mismatch with the teeth of the thumb and the bucket teeth. Absolutely no probs with the 18" and thumb.

We bought our BH90-X as a package deal when we purchased the tractor and I'm not sure what the current stand alone pricing is. I was also fortunate that my NH dealer was also a Woods dealer too. My configuration was: 4pt subframe mount; hose kit; & hyd thumb kit with the standard 18" bucket.

Here's a link to the Woods website for your info: Woods Equipment Company - Backhoes

Hope this helps you.