Backhoe 3320 and 448 backhoe

[Chuck Sheen]

Well, I'm sold on having the thumb. Thanks again Rob

 

[Chuck Sheen]

Well, just wanted to let everyone know I finally got my 485 backhoe for my 3120 tractor. Very impressed with the power it has. Digs out poplar tree stumps like its nobody's business! Very happy with the mechanical thumb as well, a great investment. Little bit of difficulty removing and installing hoe attachment due to the lift height of the rocks shaft arms on the 3120 but with a little practice I'm sure it will be fine. Thanks again Rob for the advice.

 

[Rob-D]

Thanks Chuck, glad to help.

I usually lift the hoe with the rockshaft as far as it can go and then drop the stab. arms to finish getting it on.

 

[VTjohndeere]

I have a 3520 JD with the 448 backhoe, love it, and love it even more now with a mechanical thumb! As others already have mentioned, the stabilizers are almost certainly needed to mount the backhoe, even when I didn't have the additional weight of the thumb. Right out of the dealership, even with the hydraulic pressure and lift properly adjusted, lifting the backhoe using only the rockshaft was marginal at best, especially with the weight of the heavy duty 18" bucket.

Yes, you cannot mount the 485 or 488 backhoe on a 3x20 series cab tractor. That's why I ended up with a 3520 open station and a 3720 cab tractors!!!

VTjohndeere

 

[Rob-D]

I have a 3520 JD with the 448 backhoe, love it, and love it even more now with a mechanical thumb! As others already have mentioned, the stabilizers are almost certainly needed to mount the backhoe, even when I didn't have the additional weight of the thumb. Right out of the dealership, even with the hydraulic pressure and lift properly adjusted, lifting the backhoe using only the rockshaft was marginal at best, especially with the weight of the heavy duty 18" bucket.

Yes, you cannot mount the 485 or 488 backhoe on a 3x20 series cab tractor. That's why I ended up with a 3520 open station and a 3720 cab tractors!!!

VTjohndeere

Yes, that's right, there isn't enough set clearance for the 485 or 448.

(sorry that should read seat!)

Rob

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I have a 3520 JD with the 448 backhoe, love it, and love it even more now with a mechanical thumb! As others already have mentioned, the stabilizers are almost certainly needed to mount the backhoe, even when I didn't have the additional weight of the thumb. Right out of the dealership, even with the hydraulic pressure and lift properly adjusted, lifting the backhoe using only the rockshaft was marginal at best, especially with the weight of the heavy duty 18" bucket.

Yes, you cannot mount the 485 or 488 backhoe on a 3x20 series cab tractor. That's why I ended up with a 3520 open station and a 3720 cab tractors!!!

VTjohndeere

This is certainly not true. As I've said many times if your 3000 series machine can't lift the 448/485 hoe you need to check your relief set pressure or rockshaft feedback linkage. My 3320 effortly lifts my 448 with out any issues at idle. Folks get lazy about checking these items and decide to use the stabilizers instead. To each his own but for me I prefer the rockshaft method.

Matt

 

[Rob-D]

This is certainly not true. As I've said many times if your 3000 series machine can't lift the 448/485 hoe you need to check your relief set pressure or rockshaft feedback linkage. My 3320 effortly lifts my 448 with out any issues at idle. Folks get lazy about checking these items and decide to use the stabilizers instead. To each his own but for me I prefer the rockshaft method.

Matt

Matt,
I wish it was true, i meticulously adjusted the rockshaft and checked the pressure. I even tried different position of the BH thinking that if I relieved some of the weight of the BH it would go into place but it doesn't.
Like I said, I use the rockshaft to bring the BH as high as possible (usually about an inch and a half from home) then I switch to the stabilizers to finish getting it up.

Does anyone have the weights of the different hoes? Maybe with the thumb and 18" bucket the weight is too much. I don't think it's the BH so much I think it's how far it extends from the tractor that creates the problem.
It's possible that I could bring the rockshaft end point higher but this can be dangerous.
Rob

 

[jonnysteals]

I have a 3120. Can anyone give me a ballpark price on a 485 backhoe with mount. Haven't talked to the dealer yet to price it out.

 

[Rob-D]

I have a 3120. Can anyone give me a ballpark price on a 485 backhoe with mount. Haven't talked to the dealer yet to price it out.

In 2010 I think it was around $8,400.00, add another ~ $900 for the thumb.

Rob

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Matt,
I wish it was true, i meticulously adjusted the rockshaft and checked the pressure. I even tried different position of the BH thinking that if I relieved some of the weight of the BH it would go into place but it doesn't.
Like I said, I use the rockshaft to bring the BH as high as possible (usually about an inch and a half from home) then I switch to the stabilizers to finish getting it up.

Does anyone have the weights of the different hoes? Maybe with the thumb and 18" bucket the weight is too much. I don't think it's the BH so much I think it's how far it extends from the tractor that creates the problem.
It's possible that I could bring the rockshaft end point higher but this can be dangerous.
Rob

The 448 and 485 are the same hoe, the thumb can't weight that much more. I have a 36" bucket on mine and have no issues. What's your pressure relief set at? If it were me I'd be on the dealer to fix the issue. If you look at JD parts site you'll see the parts are all the same with exception to the dipper with the thumb mount. There are also different mounting plates for the cabbed tractors. My dealer says the mounting plates can be installed on the 448 to make it cab compatible. Deere's site actually had a video of a 4720 cabbed with 448 hoe before they released the 485. I'd be happy to take a video of mine, to prove there's no magic to it.

Matt