Witch Woods backhoe should I go with....

[Bswope]

If you use the "Search" function, it looks to me like you'll be able to find some threads about a Woods BH90 (or its predecessor, the B9000) on the smaller Grand L's. The 3540 has 8.3gpm available for the implements if you use remote hydraulics instead of a separate pto pump. A Woods dealer should be able to advise how that might work with their BH90 (or maybe a phone call to Woods). The pump would eliminate any flow limitations, of course, but costs additional and is a minor hassle when attaching/detaching the BH.

Just going on what has happened to me, backhoe performance is a function of hydraulic flow more than pto horsepower, and the backhoe seems to be just as happy with moderate rpm as running at full throttle. That's in contrast to the operator - me - who needs to back off the rpm since too much flow makes everything pretty quick and jerky on my BH... a reflection of the operator, no doubt! Note I have a Kubota hoe, not a Woods. So your 28 pto hp might be marginal on paper but in practice may be fine. Maybe someone else can give a better comment.

Size and weight wise, I think your 3540 should handle the BH90 OK.

Ive searched..... trust me!:laughing:

 

[Ductape]

You only need a simple power beyond loop to the rear to power the hoe. I'd say about $200. You can do the install yourself if'n you want.

 

[Grandad4]

Ive searched..... trust me!:laughing:

Here are some threads I pulled up that mention Woods and/or BH90 from the Kubota Buying or Owning sections:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...0-plus-woods-bh9000.html?highlight=woods+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...3130-loader-backhoe.html?highlight=woods+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...2-bh90-woods-9000-a.html?highlight=woods+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/124006-l3240-l3540.html?highlight=3540+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...9-3430hst-w-723-bh90.html?highlight=3430+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...khoe-loader-question.html?highlight=3430+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...3-l3430-capabilities.html?highlight=3430+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/29998-3130-3140-a.html?highlight=3430+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...97-looking-tractors.html?highlight=woods+bh90

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...6-l3240-price-check.html?highlight=woods+bh90

It gets confusing because both Kubota and Woods call their 9ft hoes "BH90", (although Kubota jumped up to a "BH92" recently). Although the Woods BH90 is a newer design than the Kubota one, they are broadly similar in size and general capabilities, and if one works on a particular tractor, the other one would likely also work similarly if installed on the same tractor. There seem to be a fair number of 3130, 3430, 3240 and 3540 tractors with one or the other BH90. There were more threads than this, but these were ones that seemed to match pretty directly to what you're considering.

My point was not to sell you on this idea, but to help you find others who put 9 ft BH's on their 30-35 hp Grand L's. Maybe some of those posters are still around or might respond if contacted. Please go with their input or that of someone who actually has comparable equipment, and not mine. I hope this helps a bit, and wish you all good luck with your decision.

 

[billhall]

I just bought the BH92 Kabuta BH and I also have the L3540, can I ask why you are not considering the Kubota BH?

 

[Bswope]

^^^^ thanks man!! :thumbsup:

Very good info also!

 

[Bswope]

I just bought the BH92 Kabuta BH and I also have the L3540, can I ask why you are not considering the Kubota BH?

Beings that im a heavy equipment operator IMHO the Woods backhoes are built VERY similar to the hoe's on CAT and John Deere equipment, they look to be built VERY STRONG and to me look very much more stout than the Kubota BH's.
Not saying that the Kubota BH's are not built tough cause im certain they are, I just feel the Woods are the better buy.

 

[billhall]

Are you comparing the Kubota 90 or the 92? As my dealer had both the woods and the Kubota 92 (new design) in stock and the Kubota looked more rugged to me. It just seemed to make sense to put the Kubota on a Kubota. I only mention this to you to make sure you are looking at all your options. The other reason I went with Kubota was that I could put it on my 0%lease.

 

[Bswope]

Are you comparing the Kubota 90 or the 92? As my dealer had both the woods and the Kubota 92 (new design) in stock and the Kubota looked more rugged to me. It just seemed to make sense to put the Kubota on a Kubota. I only mention this to you to make sure you are looking at all your options. The other reason I went with Kubota was that I could put it on my 0%lease.

Well to be honest, my local dealer only had one Kubota BH there to look at and it was the same size as the Woods BH70-X, curved boom and all so thats kinda what I was going off of and figured there would be any difference in the bigger BH's, and Ill be honest I havent seen the Kubota 92's... Maybe its something I need to look into......:thumbsup:
My local dealer mostly sells the Woods line of BH's and actually reccamend them.:confused2:

 

[billhall]

I am sure either BH would be great, I worked with mine all day yesterday for the first time and it was great, I just have the mechanical thumb, I could not justify the hydrulic thumb as when it comes right down to it I should not have justified the whole tractor. I am far from an expert on these backhoes it would be great to hear from anyone else that may have compared both these units. My dealer who has become a pretty good friend over the years pushed me towards the 92 after comparing the specs. To be honest I just took his advice and did not compare the specs personally, maybe I should have....I think the Kubota was a little more expensive. I did not price things out separtely.

 

[Grandad4]

Well to be honest, my local dealer only had one Kubota BH there to look at and it was the same size as the Woods BH70-X, curved boom and all so thats kinda what I was going off of and figured there would be any difference in the bigger BH's, and Ill be honest I havent seen the Kubota 92's... Maybe its something I need to look into......:thumbsup:
My local dealer mostly sells the Woods line of BH's and actually reccamend them.:confused2:

I'd agree with what BillHall said. The Kubota 9ft. hoes have always been very strongly built and good performing hoes. Until recently at least, they were better integrated into the tractor than others (my opinion)... heavier subframe and didn't hang out so far off the back of the tractor since they were specifically designed for the Kubota and not a generic hoe adapted to particular tractors. I think the newer hoes from Woods and others have improved quite a bit on those things and are very much equivalent to the factory BH90 ... actually in some respects better.

It's a mistake to dismiss the Kubota product out of hand, though. Remember, Kubota not only makes the small hoes like you saw, they also make commercial mini-ex's and TLB's, and I don't think anyone would say those BH's are wimpy. The backhoe market for the large frame CUT's like the Grand L's is very competitive. The manufacturers are constantly trying to out-do the others, which is good for us customers . Kubota's BH92 is the newest one in the market now, and probably one-ups the competition in a few areas... at the moment. You really would not get a bad product from either Woods or Kubota or several other brands.