Has anyone converted a full size backhoe to a quick attach bucket?

[4570Man]

I really want a set of forks and maybe a grapple for my backhoe. I’m wanting to convert it to either a 4 point mount like loaders use or SSQA. The conversion isn’t as straightforward as some tractor conversions since it has the curl cylinder in the middle.

 

[CalG]

Who ever did it , doesn't want to talk about it,

because it broke in a swift and terrible way.

 

[4570Man]

Who ever did it , doesn't want to talk about it,

because it broke in a swift and terrible way.

That’s what I am afraid will happen to the SSQA version.

 

[CADplans]

I do not think that would be difficult,, it might be helpful if the SSQA was off a machine that used a center cylinder,,,

I have no idea what machine my SSQA is off of,, it was at a junkyard,,,

 

[Agvg]

Why not use a solution made for excavators and then make an adapter from that to the tractor quick hitch?

 

[Agvg]

Or was the plan to use it for general digging?

 

[kenord]

I have a 420 ford industrial backhoe, and I thought about putting a quick change for the bucket to forks or whatever, I changed my mind and just put 3 hooks,(similar to the 4 hooks on your bucket), and use a 1and 1/2 inch steel bar across the top and hung the forks on that, it hooks up quicker than a quick attach as I don't have to get off tractor to hook it up. the down side is I cant see the forks most of the time. they do hang down about 4 inches below the bottom of the bucket, but still cant see them if there on the ground, In any case they are very handy, just yester day neighbor had me load shingles on his roof, so his son didn't have to carry them up a ladder. We are both in our 70s so don't like ladders anyway.

the grapple part , I have a Hyd thumb on the hoe and use it all the time .

Hope this gives you some ideas , Have fun, Stay safe.
Rich

 

[mikester]

All the OEM's sell their own version of QA, these are a lot more HD than the skidsteer QA system. Be prepared for sticker shock if you want to buy the parts. You might get a better deal finding and buying a machine with QA and attachments already and selling your old machine.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a 1998 Ford/New Holland 555E loader backhoe that I converted to a quick attach system ten years ago. This has really given me a lot more options on what to do with it. Being able to have a grapple on it was the biggest thing. But now that I have horses, I keep the hay spear on it most of the time unless I'm doing a big project requiring the bucket or the grapple. The other day, I took off the hay spear and put the bucket on to stop water from overflowing one of my ditches that supply water to my pond. It's really nice being able to do that quickly and easily.

The one thing that I found out that I wasn't expecting is that the weight and power of the backhoe, and maybe the way the loader is designed, is that the Quick Attach system will fall off on you unexpectedly. I had to add some Eye Bolts to each side of the attachments to hold it in place.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...e-grapple-my-555e.html?highlight=Quick+Attach

 

[4570Man]

All the OEM's sell their own version of QA, these are a lot more HD than the skidsteer QA system. Be prepared for sticker shock if you want to buy the parts. You might get a better deal finding and buying a machine with QA and attachments already and selling your old machine.

That’s what I intended on doing before I bought the machine I currently have but it would have taken another 20k.