3 Point Backhoe

[sparkyjohn]

I wish i ordered a backhoe when i bought my new Kioti CX2510H but it was a big add so i waited. Looking at them now i see 3 point backhoes for $2500 less than the Kioti brand made for my tractor. I understand it is a better frame mount. What is everyone's opinion or experience on a 3 point backhoe. Do they work or are they very hard on the tractor. I won't use it very much but when you need it nothing else works. However my property is a foot of black dirt then clay. This is my choice at the moment. 6 ' Compact Tractor Backhoe with Curved Boom, 12" Bucket, Self-Contained Gear Pump&Hydraulic Reservoir included, for 18-35 HP, Cat 1 Hookup, BH600. Thanks.

 

[RjCorazza]

No direct experience, but I have read that a 3 point backhoe is very hard on a tractor.
Having personally snapped off a lower link at the case (not with a backhoe), I can attest that there is stuff on a 3 point hitch that can break! (and it was expensive)

 

[tacticalturnip]

Your CX2510 is a light machine, a good one, but light none the less. A 3 point backhoe will beat the piss out of the poor thing. If you've got any warranty left on the Kioti using a 3 point backhoe will void it.

 

[drssg]

I've been happy with my 3pt backhoe, but my Kubota M5700 is in the utility/ag category. Also, my backhoe cost $7700 in 2002, so we might be talking apples and oranges.

When I've watched people operate a professional quality backhoe, it looks like they can directly take a scoop of dirt out of the ground. With my backhoe, it takes more finesse. If I'm digging a trench, I go down a few inches at a time to scrape a layer of dirt into the bucket.

For the price of what you're considering, it seems like it must be less powerful. I would suggest to be aware of the speed and power limitations and work with patience.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I've been happy with my 3pt backhoe, but my Kubota M5700 is in the utility/ag category. Also, my backhoe cost $7700 in 2002, so we might be talking apples and oranges.

When I've watched people operate a professional quality backhoe, it looks like they can directly take a scoop of dirt out of the ground. With my backhoe, it takes more finesse. If I'm digging a trench, I go down a few inches at a time to scrape a layer of dirt into the bucket.

For the price of what you're considering, it seems like it must be less powerful. I would suggest to be aware of the speed and power limitations and work with patience.

The CX2510 OP has is a frame size up from your 1025R, it's definitely an apples to bowling balls comparison to your Kubota.

 

[rScotty]

I've been happy with my 3pt backhoe, but my Kubota M5700 is in the utility/ag category. Also, my backhoe cost $7700 in 2002, so we might be talking apples and oranges.

When I've watched people operate a professional quality backhoe, it looks like they can directly take a scoop of dirt out of the ground. With my backhoe, it takes more finesse. If I'm digging a trench, I go down a few inches at a time to scrape a layer of dirt into the bucket.

For the price of what you're considering, it seems like it must be less powerful. I would suggest to be aware of the speed and power limitations and work with patience.

We had a little 3pt backhoe for years. It was about the smallest one made - a Yanmar BH600 - and would dig about 6'5" deep. It also had it's own PTO driven pump and reservoir. It was surprisingly strong and well made. It wouldn't take a bite out of hard soil, but it's teeth would scratch up a bucket full real quickly and sure beat shoveling.

I tried it first on our little compact tractor about the same as your Kioti...., but the hoe just threw it around so much when digging that I knew it was bound to break our cherished little tractor.

We had a lot of hoe work to do, so I mounted the hoe on a neighbor's old retired full size Ag tractor. That tractor had a massive catergory II 3pt hitch and no way that little hoe could hurt it....although it sure did try. So a tiny backhoe on a big heavy Ag tractor will work. It did for us

You could do that with most any old farm tractor. There are lots of those around.....Just don't forget to disable the draft control. Forgetting to disable the draft control when using a 3pt hoe was once a major cause of farm injuries. I forgot once myself. It cost me a good jacket, and the memory still makes me shudder.

My opinion is save ourself some grief and get the Kioti backhoe with the subframe. The hoe will still try to throw your compact Kioti tractor around, but the subframe will keep it from tearing the 3pt mouning points out of the rear casting.

Having tried all the options, I'm a believer in subframes. Safer for you and your tractor.
We eventually bought an old industrial JD310 backhoe. That's the best.
Luck,
rScotty

 

[yanmars]

I have a subframe on my 3 pt Woods 750 backhoe on my Yanmar 336d. Was worried I would damage the tractor without it. The tractor is a 33HP

 

[sparkyjohn]

Thanks all for the feedback. I did my homework when i bought the Kioti just 4 years ago. It was the heaviest, strongest and seem to beat the others in every area. I also picked the smallest 3 point backhoe to not hurt the tractor. Correct me if i'm wrong but the 3 point is faster to remove as i have a bushog post digger and tiller however if there is a chance it will hurt my tractor then i will wait.

 

[rScotty]

Thanks all for the feedback. I did my homework when i bought the Kioti just 4 years ago. It was the heaviest, strongest and seem to beat the others in every area. I also picked the smallest 3 point backhoe to not hurt the tractor. Correct me if i'm wrong but the 3 point is faster to remove as i have a bushog post digger and tiller however if there is a chance it will hurt my tractor then i will wait.

I'd wait. Get a subframe type hoe with the right subframe to fit your tractor. Backhoes last forever, so they can be found used.

BTW, that's a good point you make about the 3pt being easy to use or not. You do want to be able to mount other 3pt implements without a lot of work.

So check that the subframe for your Kioti is the kind that is not in the way of using the 3pt when you take the backhoe off. Not all subframes are so convenient.

 

[kneedeep]

I put a subframe BH on a Mahindra 3510 several years ago.
Except for the short reach and separate seat, digs like a big machine. I can pick the tires off the ground and shift machine over while moving forward or backward.
A 3pt mount would already be broke by now.

 

[FredM AZ]

About 20 years ago I bought a new Jinma 30HP 4WD tractor and an Italian 3 point attached backhoe. The combination worked but was not very stable and after reading about possibly cracking the tractor housing I made my own frame attachment out of heavy weight 4x4 angle. It it bolted to the bottom of the frontend loader posts and to the read axel. A second piece of the 4x4 angle is attached to the backhoe on each side. The bolts at the axel extend through the frame mounted piece so the backhoe [piece can be attached. I then attach the top link. This has proved to be a sturdy mount even with our hard clay. Tough to dig as it does not have the power of a full size backhoe but it still will get the job done.

 

[sreeb]

There are plenty of very cheap gas powered 1 ton mini excavators flooding the market now. I would look into one of them. Probably more capable than an add on to a smaller tractor and more convenient.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I had a 3-point hoe on an M6040 for a very short while. Hated it.

It took a fair amount of work to attach and detach, unlike the factory one I installed on my Kioti CK2026.

 

[jdmeth]

I wish i ordered a backhoe when i bought my new Kioti CX2510H but it was a big add so i waited. Looking at them now i see 3 point backhoes for $2500 less than the Kioti brand made for my tractor. I understand it is a better frame mount. What is everyone's opinion or experience on a 3 point backhoe. Do they work or are they very hard on the tractor. I won't use it very much but when you need it nothing else works. However my property is a foot of black dirt then clay. This is my choice at the moment. 6 ' Compact Tractor Backhoe with Curved Boom, 12" Bucket, Self-Contained Gear Pump&Hydraulic Reservoir included, for 18-35 HP, Cat 1 Hookup, BH600. Thanks

 

[Jaygyver]

It is not without risks as is most things.
Back in 2019 after 3 or 4 months of looking online I found around 4 instances of people having major problems. Well, 3 1/2 as one was a, "my buddy had a friend that knew someone that had problems". 2 had top link bracket mount issues, the bracket broke at the bolts and the other was the back of the transmission where the bolts went in busted out, and 1 transmission broke in half. I did find one where the factory hoe frame mount that did break. Different brand tractors and the newest post was around 5 years old?
None of them mentioned what they were doing at the time, were they abusing the hoe to the max or was it just a factory defect.

The top link is the one that takes 90% of the beating.
Just doing normal digging and the like there shouldn't be a problem but if you're digging out tree stumps for example then that type of use could be an issue. When digging the roots if you have a good pull on the bucket and it suddenly releases then THAT is the most strain full part of it as the top link is absorbing that back and forth banging. If you do it slow and carefully it can be done safely.

Contrary to rumors your 3pt does NOT raise or lower the hoe, the lower links just link it -statically- to the hoe. So if you do have the a Draft control you have to make sure it's disabled.

I only had the JD-770 at the time and I ended up getting the WoodMaxx 6600 series self contained one. The smallest they made and grey area if my tractor spec's made the min suggested. Pump and Hyd tank is built in. I was looking at quality to $$$.
For me it worked great. It can be a pain sometimes to attach, sometimes it only takes around 15 minutes and sometimes it takes almost a half hour. Just make sure to have a really flat area to park it. The WoodMaxx was actually only around 100 ish pounds heavier then the OEM one was, and IF you found a used one they wanted almost as much as a new aftermarket one.
I did have to chain my back blade onto the front bucket of the 770 if I had to go to the other side of my property as it just bounced too much. I've used it to dig out stumps, moved large rocks, logs, brush, etc. Sometimes I was amazed how much it would pick up and sometimes I was amazed at how much it Didn't pick up. I also got the hyd thumb with it, OMG I love it. I did get my larger LS and it works fine with it, I can't pick any more up with it as the relief valve on the Hoe will still release the same but I can go to the other side of my property with out doing wheelies.

 

[jdmeth]

Many years ago we use 3 point hitch backhoes on our 8000 lb 75 hp ag tractors. Didn't bother the tractor at all and I had no mercy on it digging stumps. I now have a JD 1023E, I do not have a backhoe for it but I think it would handle a small one. Of course I have tens of thousands of hours using backhoes so I would know how much stress to put on one. If you are just doing no more then what a shovel would do I think you would be OK.

 

[harig]

i have a new holland tc24 with a sub frame backhoe mount that is 22 plus years old and my opinion is on a small tractor subframe is the only way to go if you want it to last. i have a case 580 for big jobs... just remember small tractors are best for smaller jobs, took me 6 hours to get a 32 inch diameter red pine stump out with my tc24 not including back-filling, same size tree with my case 580 took about an hour and that was back-filling also.with the 580. i would push the tree over cut it up then pull stump.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

There are plenty of very cheap gas powered 1 ton mini excavators flooding the market now. I would look into one of them. Probably more capable than an add on to a smaller tractor and more convenient.

As a follow-up on that, unless you're going to use it a LOT, if you have rentals available, it may be cheaper, in the long run, to rent for a week, use it long and hard and send it back.
When I bought my B2301, I considered a back hoe, but opted not to spend that money. I have no regrets and I'm still WAY ahead of the game for dollars spent. The excavator is also far more maneuverable and versatile. There's also the reality of time spent attaching, detaching, storing, maintaining....

 

[ptsg]

Sub frame mounted backhoes don't really exist on this side of the pond but 3 point backhoes are fairly popular.

However, they typically add 2 extra links attached to a solid point on the tractor to spread more of the forces so it's not all concentrated on the top link mount of the tractor. It also adds stability to the backhoe. Just like this:

The ones sold here also have side-shift which is honestly a must.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

When I bought my B2301, I considered a back hoe, but opted not to spend that money. There's also the reality of time spent attaching, detaching, storing, maintaining....

If there's one good thing about the backhoe on our BX25D it's that it requires very little time to install and detach it.

Unfortunately the tiny tractor is so light that it's hard to perform any actual digging with the backhoe.