Pump or no pump for my BH80-X

mpwr · Sep 14, 2006

I'm going to get a BH80-X for the B3030 I'm buying. I'm getting different advice from the dealers about getting the Woods pump.

Neil Messick suggests I don't get the pump. It will save money. The tractor puts out 9 gpm and the Woods pump only does 6.

My local dealer suggests the pump. He says 95% of his customers get it. (I forgot to ask him whether that was customers in general or specifically B3030 customers). He says it will save heating of the tractors hydraulic oil and will increase the life of the tractor.

What do you think?

MadReferee · Sep 14, 2006

mpwr said:
Neil Messick suggests I don't get the pump. It will save money. The tractor puts out 9 gpm and the Woods pump only does 6.

Shame on you Neil Messick.

The implement flow on the B3030 is only 5.2 gpm according to the Kubota literature while the power steering is 3.9 gpm, giving 9.1 total. That means only 5.2 gpm is available for the backhoe.

It is interesting to note that the B2710/B2910/B7800 all have 6.4 gpm available for the implement flow while the B2630 has only 5.6 gpm available for implements.

Well Neil, what say you about this?

mpwr · Sep 15, 2006

That's interesting. I didn't realize part of the tractor's pumping capacity would be used up by the power steering. But obviously, on reflection, 9 gpm is the total capacity of the pump, and anything that uses the hydraulics, including the steering, would use some of the capacity.

I wonder, though, if the tractor is stopped, and you're not steering, if it would still take up 3.9 gpm?

HODAK · Sep 15, 2006

I believe there are two separate pumps.

MadReferee · Sep 15, 2006

mpwr said:
That's interesting. I didn't realize part of the tractor's pumping capacity would be used up by the power steering. But obviously, on reflection, 9 gpm is the total capacity of the pump, and anything that uses the hydraulics, including the steering, would use some of the capacity.

I wonder, though, if the tractor is stopped, and you're not steering, if it would still take up 3.9 gpm?

Actually, for the B and L series tractors Kubota uses two pumps, one for the implement hydraulics and one for the power steering hydraulics. Neither's flow can be mixed or combined with the other. For marketing purposes they sometimes add the two gpm's together to get a higher number since the competition is doing the same.

mpwr · Sep 15, 2006

Wow. That sounds like that old "Does your dog bite? No. (Chomp). That's not my dog" joke. Including in the specs the output of a pump that doesn't drive any implements!

guyrj33 · Sep 15, 2006

I have a b7800 with woods 7500 backhoe driven from the tractor hydraulics. I am not happy with the way it works.
I can not perform simultaneous operations with the backhoe controls unless I carefully very very carefully feather the controls. Now I don't know if this is caused by pump capacity, power beyond or if it is just the way it works.
I was told the Kubota hoes all come with a seperate pump.
I think I only saved a coulpe of hundred dollars.

guyrj33 · Sep 15, 2006

I suggest you demo the backhoe with and without the pump.

MadReferee · Sep 15, 2006

guyrj33 said:
I have a b7800 with woods 7500 backhoe driven from the tractor hydraulics. I am not happy with the way it works.
I can not perform simultaneous operations with the backhoe controls unless I carefully very very carefully feather the controls. Now I don't know if this is caused by pump capacity, power beyond or if it is just the way it works.

It could be the cumulation of several things including flow capacity and backhoe valve block design. It is definately not power beyond because that is simply a method of connection, unless it is plumbed incorrectly.

The advantage of having a seperate pump for the backhoe is that it will be sized to optimally operate the backhoe. You will not need any additional tractor plumbing. It may cost a few dollars more but, in my opinion, is well worth it.