3pt Backhoe on a GC series?

[dnw64]

I have one project in mind I could use a backhoe for. It's digging outside a foundation to redo waterproofing and drainage. The footing is only about 3' below the surface so I don't need any great reach.

As you can see from my signature, I have a GC2300. The way I see it I have a few options to consider:

• Get a FEL and 3pt backhoe for this tractor.
• Buy a different GC (maybe a 2400 or 1705) that already has a FEL and get a 3pt backhoe.
• Buy different GC TLB

I'm sure that if I had a backhoe I would find more projects for it, but I don't see using it on a regular basis. How feasible is a 3pt on a GC series? For my current machine, I have just the factory 2-valve joystick that's currently used for the snowblower. What would be involved hydraulics-wise to operate a backhoe?

FWIW, my son has a mid '60s Massey TLB (not sure the model/size, but around 50hp I'd guess) and my son-in-law has a Kubota excavator. So larger projects can be easily covered. I'd mostly like to be able to do small projects without counting on someone else (both are very dependable, that's not the point, I like to be independent).

 

[zski128]

Not sure you will find a 3pt backhoe for a subcompact or at least one at a reasonable price if they exist. I would either get a new GC1710/20 or rent a mini excavator for that foundation work.

 

[atsah]

My vote is for renting a mini excavator digging near the foundation as well.

 

[atsah]

Oh and I agree that independents is essential, it is for me as well. I have rented equipment many times over the years so not to bother anyone. My brother is a heavy equipment operator and brings home machinery all the time but I just like doing things on my own and when I have time to do it not when someone else has time to do it.

 

[ray66v]

I have seen one member who posted about putting a backhoe on a subcompact. It was a long time ago.

The frame needs to be beefed up, and it's going to be expensive.

I would suggest you swap it out for a TLB, before you do that.

You will no doubt find lots of uses for a TLB, and they are great to have.

Option #4 is to rent. I own lots of nice stuff, and still will rent, if it's going to make my life easier.

I would get a mini excavator to dig the basement walls. To dig a wall up for waterproofing, a mini excavator with a boom that is offset to one side, allows you to dig right along side the wall. It's much easier to dig, and you will end up with a much narrower trench.

Because of the outriggers, and the boom being centered on a subcompact backhoe, you can't dig right along side the wall. So, it is not an efficient way to do this.

In your case, It may not matter much if it's only 3'.

When I do basement walls, I back fill to within 12" of the surface with washed stone. So, having a narrow trench saves time and money.

For running drainage pipes, unless you are running them through the woods, you can't beat renting a 6" trencher. It's much faster, and the back fill is powdered. If you fill the trench with water, and back fill it, there is almost no settling.

Compare that to using a 10" or 12" bucket on a backhoe, which is the smallest you can use most of the time. They result in a 12" to 14" wide hole, (if you are really good at digging), and, it has to settle sometimes for years.

 

[dnw64]

The problem with renting is that I am not going to be able to just start and finish the job - I have two days a week to work on this project. The offset boom would definitely be an advantage.

At this point I am most likely going to buy a new 1710 TLB. Our "local" dealer is offering me a really good price and The Boss has pre-approved me.

 

[irvingj]

I'd agree, David. When I bought mine, I asked about the possibility of adding a BH later, and was told the same thing Ray said-- that the frame on the 2310 model was specifically "beefed up" to support the BH, and that putting one on later would not work well, if at all. That was one issue that led me to pay extra for the TLB version. I haven't regretted it, though Ray does make a very valid point about an offset boom-- I've run into that situation several times.

Renting might be a good way to go, though I'd also add that having my BH when I want it has been great. When you need it, there's just no substitute. Add a thumb to the BH, and it really becomes useful.

One thing I did to mine which has made a HUGE difference in removing & (especially) re-installing the BH was to add three 24" hydraulic extension lines to the BH. That allows me to just get close to the BH with the tractor, hook up, then raise the BH to re-attach. The extra lengths then just safely tuck into the base of the BH.

The OEM hoses are so short that I found it nearly impossible to hook them up because the tractor had to be so close to the BH that there was too little room to even get your hands/arms in easily. (Lots of 4-letter words involved, along with a lot of sweat!) Now, it only takes me about 7-8 minutes to put the BH back on.

 

[dnw64]

Good tip. I do plan to stop in and see you at some point. Thanks.

 

[ray66v]

The problem with renting is that I am not going to be able to just start and finish the job - I have two days a week to work on this project. The offset boom would definitely be an advantage.

You could dig out a 3' foundation in 1/2 a day, and send the machine back. So, two days are plenty. A min ex, is not good for putting in stone, and foundation back fill anyway.

Later, when you are read to fill, you use your new tractor, or rent a loader to finish the job.

 

[dnw64]

You could dig out a 3' foundation in 1/2 a day...

Theoretically, yes.

But this job is a lot more complicated because of the configuration of the house - 4 decks, an attached shed, and 2 chimneys that I will be removing as part of this project. Plus there are two "addition" type parts of the building that have to be worked around., so an extra 8 corners to work with.

I will need to fully complete one section at a time, including the obvious excavation, waterproofing, drainage and before backfilling I also need to install some kind of protection to the foundation* above grade - it currently has wood shingles that go all the way down to grade...

Lastly, there is currently no drainage, and I can't daylight it. So I will have to get under the footing to get to a sump pit that I will have to make in the basement.

*it's a wood foundation.

 

[fried1765]

I have one project in mind I could use a backhoe for. It's digging outside a foundation to redo waterproofing and drainage. The footing is only about 3' below the surface so I don't need any great reach.

As you can see from my signature, I have a GC2300. The way I see it I have a few options to consider:

• Get a FEL and 3pt backhoe for this tractor.
• Buy a different GC (maybe a 2400 or 1705) that already has a FEL and get a 3pt backhoe.
• Buy different GC TLB

I'm sure that if I had a backhoe I would find more projects for it, but I don't see using it on a regular basis. How feasible is a 3pt on a GC series? For my current machine, I have just the factory 2-valve joystick that's currently used for the snowblower. What would be involved hydraulics-wise to operate a backhoe?

FWIW, my son has a mid '60s Massey TLB (not sure the model/size, but around 50hp I'd guess) and my son-in-law has a Kubota excavator. So larger projects can be easily covered. I'd mostly like to be able to do small projects without counting on someone else (both are very dependable, that's not the point, I like to be independent).

Swap it for a REAL TLB with sub-frame, either new or used.
You may not use it often, but you will find many more uses for it than you originally thought you would.
You will NEVER ever want to be without a TLB again.

 

[07keo02]

For what it's worth, wallstein makes a subframe and backhoe that works with the gc2300. Of course, you need remote hydraulics to run it, or thier optional hudraulic power pack that runs off the pto. Either way it would run about 8k to do it right.

I had a manufactor tell me i could put a 3 point backhoe on a subcompact, and you can, but would likely end up with a broken tractor, injured, or both. Wallstein is expensive, but it will be comparable to the factory setup.

 

[not2old]

The OEM hoses are so short that I found it nearly impossible to hook them up because the tractor had to be so close to the BH that there was too little room to even get your hands/arms in easily. (Lots of 4-letter words involved, along with a lot of sweat!) Now, it only takes me about 7-8 minutes to put the BH back on.[/QUOTE]

I don't take my hoe off very often but don't appear to have this problem with my GC2610. Makes you wonder why they would change something that works OK.

 

[atsah]

Swap it for a REAL TLB with sub-frame, either new or used.
You may not use it often, but you will find many more uses for it than you originally thought you would.
You will NEVER ever want to be without a TLB again.

My 2305 was a tlb and I do without it just fine, I found the 260 backhoe was close to useless, great ballast though. Maybe they work okay for people living in an area that the ground is soft but very small hardwood roots and rocks make a tiny backhoe worthless in my neck of the woods. I sold the tlb and bought a GC and rent a real backhoe when I need one. The price of a backhoe on a sub compact is ridiculous for what you can accomplish with one.

 

[fried1765]

My 2305 was a tlb and I do without it just fine, I found the 260 backhoe was close to useless, great ballast though. Maybe they work okay for people living in an area that the ground is soft but very small hardwood roots and rocks make a tiny backhoe worthless in my neck of the woods. I sold the tlb and bought a GC and rent a real backhoe when I need one. The price of a backhoe on a sub compact is ridiculous for what you can accomplish with one.

I have never had a sub compact, so perhaps the small hoe really is useless.
I have an older Ford (48HP gas) TLB with a 10' hoe, and I would NEVER want to be without it.
My Ford hoe is not a massive machine, but is capable of REAL work!

 

[SteveM70]

My small hoe is not useless. I've dug graves, ditch lines, and several large hardwood stumps out with it. Most of the work was done on my land that is rocky beyond what most would believe.

 

[ray66v]

Every piece of equipment, and every operator has limitations.

I have solid clay, with lots of basketball sized rocks.

My subcompact hoe has never failed to get my work done.

I have dug out decent sized trees, trenched through roots, and dug 7' deep holes.

Subcompacts don't have the weight to be able to just rip things out of the ground. But, with the right technique, they are capable tools.

 

[dnw64]

I went and looked at the 1710 yesterday. It doesn't appear that the cab from my 2300 will fit, as the new style loader arms come back further than the earlier ones.

Additionally, even if I took the loader mount off in the winter so I could use the cab and snowblower, I'd have to take the cab off if I wanted to use the BH because the seat goes up too high. I'd have maybe one inch clearance even with the seat in the down/forward position.

So that is the end of that exercise. Now I am thinking about buying a used mini excavator versus renting one.

 

[mguitas]

For what it's worth, wallstein makes a subframe and backhoe that works with the gc2300. Of course, you need remote hydraulics to run it, or thier optional hudraulic power pack that runs off the pto. Either way it would run about 8k to do it right.

I had a manufactor tell me i could put a 3 point backhoe on a subcompact, and you can, but would likely end up with a broken tractor, injured, or both. Wallstein is expensive, but it will be comparable to the factory setup.

If he get a gx620 like my hoe, I will also have a double swing cylinder an 180 degree swinger which no other factory hoe has in that size.

 

[07keo02]

If he get a gx620 like my hoe, I will also have a double swing cylinder an 180 degree swinger which no other factory hoe has in that size.

It would be a GE605, with a 150 degree arc.