Backhoe 2015 Backhoe

[knute_m]

I'm thinking seriously about buying a 2710 backhoe from my 2015.

I've got lots of trenching to do, footers to dig, pond edge cleanup, and a lot of stumps to pop.

With four sizes of buckets to choose from -- what is the best size for general purpose use?

Thanks,
Knute

 

[rback33]

12" is by far the most popular. That does not tell u it's the right bucket, but it IS the most popular.

 

[driver444]

I have a 2015 with a Woods B-70X backhoe. I have a 16 inch bucket. I think the twelve inch is the most popular as well. I don't know why I went with the 16, but I'm not sorry. That little tractor handles it like nothing!

 

[knute_m]

First, let me start by saying that I'm extremely fortunate to have a fantastic family-owned dealership to work with. I was buying from them before they took on the Mahindra line.

But, now I'm really conflicted.

I talked to the local dealership today. The older owner told me not to put anything larger than a 12 inch bucket on the backhoe. He said it wouldn't have enough strength to do things like removing stumps.

The younger owner thinks the 16 inch bucket would probably work just fine for me -- but wouldn't want to influence me.

They both told me that the 12 inch is what most people order, but -- the older owner did tell me that somebody was trading up to a 16 inch!

When I bought my tractor, the older owner talked me out of an FEL tooth bar because he said that people have a tendency to overwork and damage the FELs when they are installed with toothbars. I've not found that the loader to be lacking in anything (I did weld some extra strengthening pieces on my bucket), except I sure wish it had a tooth bar to get out old roots, buried fencing, and lumber trash left by the previous owner.

Any other experienced owners of 2015s and 2615s with factory loaders and different size buckets??? (the same loader, but different model and slightly different mounting for the 2015/2710 and 2615/3710)

Thanks,
Knute

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Knute
I have sold most of the 2710 backhoes with 16" buckets and have not heard any complaints from any on the operation. Also just for your imfo for the most part you will not just pluck stumps from the ground with the 2710 or any other brand of 7 1/2 foot backhoe. It requires a little finness to work them out but it will get the job done. I tell you this because I have run into a couple of customers that thought that their backhoe would pluck the stumps out with just one stroke of the arm. Needless to say they were dissapointed. I didn't want you to have this allusion and also be dissapointed

 

[knute_m]

Galen,

That was the answer I was hoping to hear, and coming from you I feel pretty confident that it will do what I want.

Many years ago I was pretty proficient at popping stumps with an old gutless JD backhoe that had a big bucket and not enough weight. So, I figure I can do it with my little tractor.

Again, thanks.

Knute

 

[driver444]

I know I already replied to this post once, but let me reaffirm what I said before.

DO NOT be afraid to put a 16 inch bucket on the 2015 if that's what you want. If you need a 12, or whatever, that's fine. But if you want the 16, you will have no problem at all. I spent the last 2 days digging stumps with my 2015 and 16 inch bucket. Works like a dream. And when it comes time to dig holes or trenches, That little bit of extra dirt you take out with every bite makes a huge difference at the end of the day. Good luck

 

[Outlander]

What would a ball park price be for a 2015 backhoe?

 

[bindian]

I know I already replied to this post once, but let me reaffirm what I said before.

DO NOT be afraid to put a 16 inch bucket on the 2015 if that's what you want. If you need a 12, or whatever, that's fine. But if you want the 16, you will have no problem at all. I spent the last 2 days digging stumps with my 2015 and 16 inch bucket. Works like a dream. And when it comes time to dig holes or trenches, That little bit of extra dirt you take out with every bite makes a huge difference at the end of the day. Good luck

Most folks like the 12 inch bucket even on the 511 BH, but I keep a 24 inch bucket on mine, as it does move more dirt and does about the same at ripping roots as the 12 inch bucket. The wider the bucket, the easier it is to concour bar ditches and such.
Also, I have the Bradco thumb and it's teeth will not mesh with the 12 inch bucket and it takes a lot of effort to change buckets with the thumb there. So get the bucket you want. Buy two different sizes if you can, cause odds are you won't buy one after the sale is final, but you can always sale one. Attached is a photo of the massive Bradco thumb with the 24 inch bucket.
hugs, Brandi

 

[knute_m]

Now Brandi has me wondering if I should go with the 20-inch bucket. One of my main tasks is going to be pond and water channel maintenance -- damp muck removal during the dry season. Volume of muck per scoop is pretty important. Ripping roots (actually stump removal) is the second major need. If I can still rip stumps with a 20 inch bucket -- well . . .

Outlander --
As for price -- I have a real fair dealer to work with. They give me good service, and I don't try to nickel and dime them. I'll just say the MSRP is about $5800. Include tax, tags, and dealer prep -- and maybe a little discount, and you're in the ballpark.

Thanks all,
Knute

 

[bindian]

Now Brandi has me wondering if I should go with the 20-inch bucket. One of my main tasks is going to be pond and water channel maintenance -- damp muck removal during the dry season. Volume of muck per scoop is pretty important. Ripping roots (actually stump removal) is the second major need. If I can still rip stumps with a 20 inch bucket -- well . . .


Thanks all,
Knute

Whoa now, slow down partner...how big is this machinge? When I am digging in dripping wet clay, my 24 inch bucket full of muck cannot be lifted right out of the hole at full boom extension. Wet clay weighs a lot. I have to pull the stick back in and tease the boom up. This is with a 6520 powering a 511. I would love to have a 36 inch bucket with no teeth just for gully clean out, but know I won't be able to fill the bucket full with damp stuff. So don't expect to be able to dance with a full 20 inch bucket of muck. But you should be able to pull the stick in and tease the boom up as you retract the bucket in and take it slow.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I saw a 2015 today at my dealer. You wanna hang a BH with a 20 inch bucket on that? It looked like the loader bucket was only 40 inches wide. The front tires are not even 20 inches tall. Well, I guess if you have a flat, you can use the 20 inch bucket as a kick stand.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I hope you took my last post as an attempt at humor. I realized a plus this afternoon for narrow buckets. I am digging up two large pine stumps (20 & 22 inches diameter) that are about 6 feet apart. Some of the roots are up to 6 inches in diameter and are intertwined. These need digging in-between them and my 24 inch bucket can't get in there. However, the sheer mass of the 24 inch bucket works well when a tooth catches the root with the grain and splinters it. So like I said before, get a narrow bucket and a large bucket. If you don't like one you can always ebay it.
hugs, Brandi

 

[knute_m]

Brandi,

Your posts really got me to thinking -- and calculating.

Over the last 40-some years, I've owned a lot of equipment, big and small. Thankfully, I'm secure in my manhood. Bigger is not always better. Skill always wins out.

My little iddy-biddy red toy tractor is one of the best pieces of equipment I've ever owned. It is by far the strongest and heaviest for its size -- and for somebody my age with bad knees, it sure is an easily accessible machine. It does a great job of logging, bush hogging, snow plowing, road maintenance, post-hole digging, and a whole lot more on my measly little 32 acres.

Because of your post, I seriously studied the Mahindra backhoe data sheet yesterday. The 20-inch bucket I'm thinking about holds less than half the amount of volume of your 24-inch bucket. (2 cu. ft. vs. about 4.5 cu. feet).

IIRC, a cubic foot of fully saturated wet sand or clay weighs about 150 lbs. Even solid granite only weighs about 175 lbs. per cubic foot. A cubic foot of water weighs about 65 lbs. As I recall, your maximum loader reach is about 11-12 feet. The back hoe I'm looking has a maximum reach of about 7-1/2 feet. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but based on what I calculated yesterday, the backhoe/bucket combination I'm looking at should have no trouble pulling and lifting a 2 cubic foot load of wet muck.

I really want to thank you for getting me thinking. I am planning on placing an order tomorrow morning.

Thanks again,
Knute

P.S. -- this is an edit. The ML-104 loader bucket is 48 inches, not 40 inches. Size does sometimes matter!

 

[Dougster]

Because of your post, I seriously studied the Mahindra backhoe data sheet yesterday. The 20-inch bucket I'm thinking about holds less than half the amount of volume of your 24-inch bucket. (2 cu. ft. vs. about 4.5 cu. feet).

Excellent point Knute... and one you tend not to think about until you get into the specs. The fact is that the buckets made for your machine are "night and day" different from the ones made for the 509/511. In fact, your 20 inch bucket will have about the same heaped volume capacity as a 509/511's 12 inch bucket.

Your post is also a helluva tribute to the 2015 tractor. You sound like one very happy camper!

Personally, I am not a big fan of changing buckets all the time (unless you have a quick change system installed), and I tend to suggest buying one good compromise bucket unless you are rich and/or actually enjoy changing buckets. In your case, it still appears that the 16 inch bucket might be the best overall choice for your backhoe... although I fully acknowledge that changing a bucket on your backhoe is likely to be far easier and quicker than on mine (especially with my fixed thumb).

Dougster

 

[bindian]

Brandi,

Because of your post, I seriously studied the Mahindra backhoe data sheet yesterday. The 20-inch bucket I'm thinking about holds less than half the amount of volume of your 24-inch bucket. (2 cu. ft. vs. about 4.5 cu. feet).

IIRC, a cubic foot of fully saturated wet sand or clay weighs about 150 lbs. Even solid granite only weighs about 175 lbs. per cubic foot. A cubic foot of water weighs about 65 lbs. As I recall, your maximum loader reach is about 11-12 feet. The back hoe I'm looking has a maximum reach of about 7-1/2 feet. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but based on what I calculated yesterday, the backhoe/bucket combination I'm looking at should have no trouble pulling and lifting a 2 cubic foot load of wet muck.

I really want to thank you for getting me thinking. I am planning on placing an order tomorrow morning.

Thanks again,
Knute

P.S. -- this is an edit. The ML-104 loader bucket is 48 inches, not 40 inches. Size does sometimes matter!

Knute,
I guess I got my point across. I wasn't trying to compare bucket to bucket. But just give you an idea of what to expect. You also got me thinking. Mahindra's sales broucure says my 24 inch bucket holds 4.32 heaped cubit feet. At 150 pounds a cubit foot, that equals 648 pounds. So my BH is lifting 648 pounds along with the weight of the bucket of 185 pounds for a total of 833 pounds I was lifting at full horizontal reach of say 12 feet. (14.5 feet at bucket teeth with bucket extended) That is a lot of weight. I remember when I was researching used TLBs, either Ford or Case listed a lifting weight at full extened reach in their broucures, Bradco and Mahindra doesn't. So I think we are on the same page that our model BH will work with the biggest published bucket offered, but it is slow lifting at max or near max weight fully extended. I just saw online Bradco offers a 38 inch bucket, but Mahindra offers only the 36 inch bucket for the 511. I have a 4 month old quote of $840 for the 36 inch bucket. I hazard to guess the cost of a new 38 inch bucket!
As for size....as a mechanic I can look at a bolt or nut and tell you the correct size at a glance, but a 40 or 48 inch bucket looks the same after staring at 84 inches of bucket all the time. But I digress. I sometimes put my pickup in reverse only to find I have turned my left turn indicator on. When I still had my old Ford 3055, every now and then I would try to engage the clutch on my automatic transmission pickup to stop.
But enough of this, I got two stumps to dig up and a culvert to install.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Personally, I am not a big fan of changing buckets all the time (unless you have a quick change system installed), and I tend to suggest buying one good compromise bucket unless you are rich and/or actually enjoy changing buckets. In your case, it still appears that the 16 inch bucket might be the best overall choice for your backhoe... although I fully acknowledge that changing a bucket on your backhoe is likely to be far easier and quicker than on mine (especially with my fixed thumb).

Dougster

Dougster,
I don't like changing buckets (and thumb) often either. That is why I am digging with a 24 inch bucket right now. But last time I hung the PHD, I was a lot faster in R&R the bucket and thumb. I would use my 12inch bucket for the stumps today, but want 24 inches to help out with the culvert.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Dougster]

Mahindra's sales broucure says my 24 inch bucket holds 4.32 heaped cubit feet. At 150 pounds a cubit foot, that equals 648 pounds. So my BH is lifting 648 pounds along with the weight of the bucket of 185 pounds for a total of 833 pounds I was lifting at full horizontal reach of say 12 feet. (14.5 feet at bucket teeth with bucket extended) That is a lot of weight.
hugs, Brandi

And don't forget to add in that 160 lbs worth of fixed thumb!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, I don't like changing buckets (and thumb) often either. That is why I am digging with a 24 inch bucket right now. But last time I hung the PHD, I was a lot faster in R&R the bucket and thumb. I would use my 12inch bucket for the stumps today, but want 24 inches to help out with the culvert.
hugs, Brandi

The thumb makes it a real pain... even for two people... but I wouldn't give it up now for anything!

Thumbs rock!!!

Dougster

 

[bindian]

And don't forget to add in that 160 lbs worth of fixed thumb!

Dougster

Dougster,
Wow, now that is 993 pounds. Make me appreciate that 511 that much more.
hugs, Brandi