Complicated but hear me out.

[montelatici]

I own a

BX1850 with a belly mower 54 inch.
BX 24 TLB
L-3700SU with a LA 463 loader and 60 inch brush hog.

I need a brush hog for cutting about 4 acres of fields. I need a mower for the lawns. I use the backhoe for various jobs, including removing stumps. The BX24 backhoe is very weak for that type of work.

I am thinking of trading in the BX 24 and the L3700SU for one of the new Kubota TLBs. But there a lot of options besides just trading in. For example:

Take the back hoe off the BX 24 and sell it separately. Keep the BX 24 and attach the brush hog on it and put the 50 inch belly mower from the BX1850 on it. Selling the BX 1850 with front hydraulics but nothing else. (the 1850 once had a loader).

Getting a current L class TLB would get me a much more powerful backhoe.

All of you clever people, what would you do?

 

[RaydaKub]

I've never had any of those. But I doubt selling just the backhoe from the BX24 will get you a very good return. The 24 is plumbed for the BH. Any other 24 won't need the BH because it already has one. And any other BX would need major modifications to attach and run the BH. That is going to really put a dent in your market.

 

[k0ua]

Option 1.. trade them both in and get what you want. The other options are real losers.. Not going to happen. The BX24 without a backhoe would be near worthless. Keep the Bx1850 for the lawn mowing.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Option 1.. trade them both in and get what you want. The other options are real losers.. Not going to happen. The BX24 without a backhoe would be near worthless. Keep the Bx1850 for the lawn mowing.

X2 :2cents:

 

[Grandad4]

Here's another suggestion to think about.
1. Sell the complete BX24 package intact. You'll lose your shirt by separating the backhoe from the tractor/loader, since a) the backhoe will only go on another BX24, which were only sold as complete packages to begin with, and b) for the same reason, your no-backhoe BX24 won't be worth nearly as much, either.
2. Sell the L3700.
3. Keep the BX1850 and mower for your lawns.
4. Shop an L class TLB, but also consider a larger L class tractor with backhoe attachment. The L tractors above 45 hp are going to have a seriously capable backhoe option and you'd likely save significant $ when compared to the L39/L45 TLB's. There are some things you give up... no convenient swivel seat is a biggie, but the tractor package is handier since you have an easily detached loader (the TLB loaders are permanently attached). Occasionally comments show up on TBN that seem to imply only the full-on Kubbie TLB's can do serious work... they are indeed excellent, but the BH92 backhoe should not be overlooked.

 

[94BULLITT]

Here's another suggestion to think about.
1. Sell the complete BX24 package intact. You'll lose your shirt by separating the backhoe from the tractor/loader, since a) the backhoe will only go on another BX24, which were only sold as complete packages to begin with, and b) for the same reason, your no-backhoe BX24 won't be worth nearly as much, either.
2. Sell the L3700.
3. Keep the BX1850 and mower for your lawns.
4. Shop an L class TLB, but also consider a larger L class tractor with backhoe attachment. The L tractors above 45 hp are going to have a seriously capable backhoe option and you'd likely save significant $ when compared to the L39/L45 TLB's. There are some things you give up... no convenient swivel seat is a biggie, but the tractor package is handier since you have an easily detached loader (the TLB loaders are permanently attached). Occasionally comments show up on TBN that seem to imply only the full-on Kubbie TLB's can do serious work... they are indeed excellent, but the BH92 backhoe should not be overlooked.

^What he said. The TLBs are pretty pricey so I would look at an L or grand L with a BH.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Here's another suggestion to think about.
1. Sell the complete BX24 package intact. You'll lose your shirt by separating the backhoe from the tractor/loader, since a) the backhoe will only go on another BX24, which were only sold as complete packages to begin with, and b) for the same reason, your no-backhoe BX24 won't be worth nearly as much, either.
2. Sell the L3700.
3. Keep the BX1850 and mower for your lawns.
4. Shop an L class TLB, but also consider a larger L class tractor with backhoe attachment. The L tractors above 45 hp are going to have a seriously capable backhoe option and you'd likely save significant $ when compared to the L39/L45 TLB's. There are some things you give up... no convenient swivel seat is a biggie, but the tractor package is handier since you have an easily detached loader (the TLB loaders are permanently attached). Occasionally comments show up on TBN that seem to imply only the full-on Kubbie TLB's can do serious work... they are indeed excellent, but the BH92 backhoe should not be overlooked.

Just a small edit: For the TLBs that Kubota makes; the BH does come off and a 3pth can be installed (optional accessory). :drink:

 

[rScotty]

Just a small edit: For the TLBs that Kubota makes; the BH does come off and a 3pth can be installed (optional accessory). :drink:

Yep, that's right. Kubota TLBs have had that option of quickly attaching a standard 3 point hitch for at least a decade now. Just like a traditional tractor can mount a backhoe, a Kubota TLB can mount a 3 point hitch. But for some reason the ability of a TLB to do that never has gotten much attention or press.

Hmm..... maybe we ought to give it more thought. After all, adding a BH92 backhoe to a traditional tractor costs about $10K; the 3pt hitch kit for a Kubota TLB costs about $500. Right there we've made up a lot of the difference in price.

The TLBs also have a real nifty PTO. Their PTO output shaft is kinda hidden under a under a steel flap so it's not surprising that some TLB owners don't even know that it's back there, although there is a switch to activate it on the dash. After all, TLBs don't normally use a PTO for anything. But it is back there sure enough...., and it's a good one - a fully independent type PTO which combines with the TLB's HST tranny to give this PTO the ability to power an implement at a constant PTO speed while the operator varies the tractor's speed over the ground. A handy ability.
rScotty

 

[TnAndy]

As you've already discovered using the small backhoe, the abilities are quite limited. Going to a mid 40hp range tractor/backhoe unit will increase it some, but you'll never have a 'real' backhoe on a farm tractor, in my opinion. They simply aren't built to do the job of a real backhoe.

Save your money, spend it renting a real one when you need it, or do what I did, and find a used small excavator (8-12,000lb range) or used backhoe IF you have enough need to justify getting one.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

trade them all (with us :thumbsup on a B26. Will give you a commercial powered hoe with the ability to still mow off the 3pt.

 

[montelatici]

Some really great ideas. Is it a consensus opinion that a backhoe attached to an L 40 HP will not be considerably more capable than the backhoe on my BX24? Conversely will the backhoe on an L TLB be considerably more capable than the backhoe on an L tractor?

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

My opinion is the opposite of what you just said on both counts. Look at the breakout force and reach specs online. Where the TLB will excel for sure over an L is with convenience of BH use.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Ok so here they are with bucket and dipper forces (to approximate breakout forces):

Bx24:
Reach=8'7". Depth=6'1"
Bucket=1936#. Dipper=1171#

BH92:
Reach=12'6". Depth=9'2"
Bucket=4548#. Dipper=2698#.

L47:
Reach=13.5". Depth=10'
Bucket=5825#. Dipper=3779#

No question the BH92 on a 45hp+ L-series will out perform your current machine by a lot IMHO.

The other ways the L47 may excell other than convenience is weight and durability.

 

[montelatici]

Ok, got it.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Trade them all, get the 1 big tractor for the backhoe and get a zero turn for mowing the lawn.

 

[montelatici]

What about the 4 acres of fields?

 

[BoylermanCT]

I'd dismount the backhoe and throw on a 6 or 7' bush hog. Depending on the tractor and brand, that may be an easy task or a real chore. A good zero turn could easily maintain 4 acres, but you'd have to mow more frequently than a couple of times a year. I used to use a lawn tractor on my 3 acres of lawn and the 5' bush hog on my 2 acre field. Then I switched to mowing all 5 acres with the lawn tractor each week, which took 4-5 hours. I bought a 54" zero turn and now can do all 5 acres in 2 hours. You can get a 72" zero turn and make quick work of the job. This of course assumes the fields have been tamed and are smooth enough to use the speed of the zero turn. Having 5 acres of manicured grass looks really great!

 

[mguitas]

Trade them all, get the 1 big tractor for the backhoe and get a zero turn for mowing the lawn.

Ya get a backhoe like the one in my avatar

 

[montelatici]

I'd dismount the backhoe and throw on a 6 or 7' bush hog. Depending on the tractor and brand, that may be an easy task or a real chore. A good zero turn could easily maintain 4 acres, but you'd have to mow more frequently than a couple of times a year. I used to use a lawn tractor on my 3 acres of lawn and the 5' bush hog on my 2 acre field. Then I switched to mowing all 5 acres with the lawn tractor each week, which took 4-5 hours. I bought a 54" zero turn and now can do all 5 acres in 2 hours. You can get a 72" zero turn and make quick work of the job. This of course assumes the fields have been tamed and are smooth enough to use the speed of the zero turn. Having 5 acres of manicured grass looks really great!

That's the problem, the ease of removing the backhoe to mount the brush hog. The 60 inch brush hog is not an easy removal and reinstall single-handed especially as one gets into the 60s!

 

[newbury]

<snip> The 60 inch brush hog is not an easy removal and reinstall single-handed especially as one gets into the 60s!

I resemble that remark.
I've got Pat's Easy Change, a 5' hog and am 65. I drop the brush hog either on HF mover dollies or if on rough ground I use 2x4's on blocks. That way I can easily slide it back and forth by hand for fine adjustment when I go to hook it back up.

Easy peasy