Back hoe attachment

[sonnlaw]

Hello again its the newbie:
I seen some of you guys pics of the back hoe attachment and while I was at the dealer the other day he has one on the lot although my kids were running around and I could not talk with anyone about it, I have a few questions.
First how easy is it to hook up? Looks like it bolts to the undercarriage. From just looking it looks semi permanent. I would not like that. I would like to have one but it would not get used as much as the shredder, tiller, finish mower, box blade, etc. If it were as easy as the loader to remove I would seriously consider picking one up. Any insider info is greatly appreciated.
The one my dealer has, I can not remember model #, was around $4500. Is this about right? Thanks again.
Aaron

 

[polo1665]

The Branson backhoes are subframe mount. They are not bolted on and are simple to remove/reattach. The worst part about it is having to remove and reinstall the lower three point arms when you go back and forth between the hoe and other implements. Try and get back out to your dealer and take a look underneath, it's fairly self explanatory if you see it.
I'm not sure which hoe you are looking at, mine is a model 8620 and was over $6,000 when I bought my tractor a little over a year ago. I've not used mine a great deal but have major plans for it this summer.

Mark

 

[gldwing57]

Just has Mark says they are easy to install and the only aggavating part is removing the 3 point hitch arms.
I bought mine 3510i a little over a year ago and rarely use the hoe. But they are handy when you need it. I got mine for $3500.00 but cant remember the model right off my head.
If I had it to do over I doubt I would have bought it.

 

[MarEng]

Just to echo the above - it's easy to mount/drop.

However, we do a lot of rough ground work and with the sub-frame ground clearance drops considerably. Getting high centered is easy. The only saving grace is with the FEL and the Hoe it's easy to 'walk off' in either direction and even sideways.

 

[superdavex]

I can get mine off/on in about 15 minutes. It goes off very easy, on just have to line it up right. I've used it to install and remove 15"+ culverts and it works great. I also use it for picking up and moving equipment out of a trailer, some of it up to 700lbs. It works great for that too and I am definitely glad I got it.

On a side note has anyone bought/used a 24" bucket for the 7260. I currently have a 16" and am wondering what the cost is and how well it performs. I will be digging in mostly soft dirt.

,Dave

 

[devlin57]

I have the 7620 on my 3510i and like it. The only problem I have is with the stabilizer feet. I rolled back into a tree and bent the left one. When putting the BH back on I pushed it a little and the right one bent. They seem to be not very strong in sideways motion. It would also be nice if they were angled back some more. Digging 90 degrees to the side and digging all the way back under the BH the feet are in the way. Watching the guy I hired for excavation on my property, he would line the pin for rotation on the BH over the pit, parked perpendicular to the pit to be dug. He could then dig out to the left and then out to the right. Great technique but not real possible with the stabilizer feet on the 7620.
Bill

 

[Zork]

If I line up right on mine, I can do it in less than 5 minutes.

 

[sal64]

hello i have a jd990 with backhoe and it was a pain to get on lining up the subframe under tractor ,what i did was mount removable casters on the feet and it makes it a little easer to get on .

 

[sonnlaw]

Well folks I am back. I am still shopping for hoes. My local dealer now wants $7k for the 8620 which I like the looks of. It looks sturdy enough for what I want to do with it but this is 3k over what I could get a Litw hoe for. I am going to look at the Litw hoe's Tuesday to check them out. I know yall are saying 3 pt hoes cause trouble but the dealer says if it is hooked up "tight" it rarely causes trouble? I would like to keep my lift arms on as I will be going from hoe to box blade frequently. Also my dealer wants 700 for the remote kit and 200 to install....what are yall's opinion on this? Which route should I go? The litw with pump, or pay for remote's? Or just the Branson and fool with hooking/unhooking the lift arms?
Thanks

 

[sonnlaw]

Even thought I feel sometimes as if I speak to the internet gods only....
I did go check out the LiTW hoes today. Very impressed. The guy who sale's them was SUPER friendly. Not friendly as car salesman friendly but honest to goodness sounds like a good guy. My 3 yr old peed on herself, in his drive, cause it was a 2.5 hr ride there, and his wife took mine in the house and my daughter came out with new clothes on.... Those folks are hard to find most of the time. Heck I even rode the mans NEW 09 HD Ultra Classic. We were talking motorcycles and he showed me his, which he is VERY proud of. I told him I had a HD too and he said here, take her down the road. I thought that was amazing. I promised to ride back out and let him ride my bike sometime.

My dealer as previously stated has the 8600 only in stock, he wants 7K. He is asking 700 for a single spool remote, 200 install fee. I feel this is excessive. This guy has already made enough money on the purchase of my tractor to eat some on a dang hydraulic valve IMO! Needless to say that has me turned off of buying a hoe from him. Also on the Branson site it says th 8600 will not work with the 3510. When I questioned the dealer, "aww that tractor will handle anything you throw at it. I'd put that hoe on it tomorrow, no problem".
As for the LiTW's I can get a 7600 for 4500
or the 8600 for 5500. I can either have the dealer plumb my tractor (me haul it 125 miles to him, possibly taking all day) with QC's to the rear or buy the pump for 700. If I do either he will throw in the thumb. I think all I need to do is figure out which LiTW I want!!!!!
IF there is anyone on tonight, what are your opinions?