Backhoe 3pt hitch Backhoe takes it's toll

[Grandad4]

I just bought a WoodMaxx 8600 3pth backhoe for my L3940 tractor. Reading the threads, I see people are mentioning about a heavy duty top link bracket and the support frame kit for Kubota tractors. Could somebody post a picture or a link how these look installed? Just want to confirm if I need one for my tractor as in one of the post somebody mentioned that the Kubota already redesigned that for L series tractors and don't need it.
Thanks.

Your 40 series Grand L should not need the reinforcement kit. K changed the 3 pt setup beginning with the 30 series so it has a dual cylinder lift and heavier overall design. You can check with Messick's or your local dealer, but I don't think a kit is needed or offered.

My 10 series has the single cylinder design (still in use on some models, including non-Grand L's and MX); the reinforcing kit uses a heavy "L" shaped bracket that mounts underneath the toplink mount where the link attaches to the tractor and wraps over the top of the rear diff/ 3 pt lift cylinder housing, mounted at several places on the top. The effect of the "L" bracket is, when there is a heavy tug on the toplink, some of the load is diverted from the back of the 3 point casting.

 

[rScotty]

I just bought a WoodMaxx 8600 3pth backhoe for my L3940 tractor. Reading the threads, I see people are mentioning about a heavy duty top link bracket and the support frame kit for Kubota tractors. Could somebody post a picture or a link how these look installed? Just want to confirm if I need one for my tractor as in one of the post somebody mentioned that the Kubota already redesigned that for L series tractors and don't need it.
Thanks.

Not installing the heavy duty top link will just break the tractor, but you will probably be OK otherwise. The bigger problem is remembering to disable the 3 point draft control. Forgetting that can smash the operator between the controls and back of the tractor seat. It nearly got me.
rScotty

 

[rogerius]

Not installing the heavy duty top link will just break the tractor, but you will probably be OK otherwise. The bigger problem is remembering to disable the 3 point draft control. Forgetting that can smash the operator between the controls and back of the tractor seat. It nearly got me.
rScotty

Lucky me; the L3940 doesn't have the draft control. The top link is fix mounted on the tractor chassis.

 

[California]

... there was a warning to, I think, either not have a ROPS or to make sure you had sufficient clearance so you weren't crushed if the pin let go.

Not just if something breaks.

I have a 3-point hoe and I've had a scare when for example I was pushing down next to a foundation then the bucket slipped off the foundation and sunk a few inches into the earth while I was still pushing on the lever. The operator controls and seat rotated back and upward a little. My back that had been resting against the back face of the rops would have been crushed if my shoulder or even a joint in my spine hadn't slid easily against that back rops face. Now I lean forward at all times!

3-point hoes shouldn't be used with a rops, period.

 

[California]

And - related - there was a nearly identical thread last year describing similar (bent upper link) BH problems and hazards. Here's something I posted that may be of interest here.

I have a 1980 model backhoe made in the US that was sold as OEM by both Yanmar and Kubota dealers. Its manual has an addendum for a recall kit, which is installed on my hoe. The kit adds restrainers below and forward of the three-point pins. The restrainers touch the lower edge of the 3-point arms and won't let the hoe fall forward if the top link should fail.

The recall kit is doubly important on that model hoe since there is no grab bar anywhere near the controls, the operator would fall forward into the controls if the top link broke and the hoe pitched into the excavation.

I posted photos of this add-on kit in my posts #35 and #39. I suggest reading that entire thread as well as this one, for anyone with a 3-point hoe. The safety issues could be deadly.

 

[newbury]

As I've posted before Woods has recommended to me to use a 3pt hookup (they call it 3-point hitch Saf-T-Lok kit and it was going to be about $800) if I want to put my BH70X on my M4700 since they do not make a subframe for it. And it was available for the BH90X but would fit the BH70-X.

When talking to Woods they said that is how they do the mount for over 50HP tractors.

 

[tkevan]

Kubota gives themselves some wiggle room on their warranty. While others like Mahindra and MF specifically state 3P BH are prohibited, Kubota only says "Unauthorized attachments". Wonder what that covers?

 

[Herkypilot]

I bought the Woodmax 6600 about 2 1/2 years ago for my Kubota B7500. The 6600 is listed as weighing in at 995 pounds (the 8600 is 1150). Before I installed it the first time I did purchase the heavy duty top link bracket and the support frame kit from my dealer. I have dug up over 30 tree stumps and never had a problem; it is a powerful backhoe for it's size. But I do recall that my Woodmax hoe did not come with a pin to make the top point connector on the tractor, you had to supply your own. I'm thinking that the OP likely had a cheap (think Chinese) top link pin to have it bend that much. The problem would further be exasperated if the pin were longer than necessary. I use the same short top link pin for the backhoe as for all of my other 3 point attachments and it is not bent in the least.

Nope. That was a Kubota OEM pin. You have to use their pins on this as far as I know because it has a lip on it that can only be inserted in one direction.

HP