Attaching a backhoe

[cadale]

I am considering the purchase of a small, new or used, backhoe that attaches to the 3pt. There is one listed on Ebay, new, Chinese made, I think a 6 foot dig depth and about 1000 pounds, using tractor hydraulics, for only $2800 delivered. Quite inexpensive.

However, I have read here and elsewhere that many consider the 3pt attachment unsafe or unsuitable, which I can understand. I am considering installing a mount that would bolt/weld to the rear of my Kubota L3130 at the bottom of the rear axle, below where the ROPS attaches. Attached to this location there is a bar running to the FEL frame. My thought is to attach the mount to both the axle area and FEL brace, perhaps a strong box beam shape that I could slide in a backhoe support frame. I don't know yet how I would attach the support frame to the back hoe, either a bolt on or weld attachment.
I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter, and has anyone else built a subframe for a backhoe?

There is also a heavy plate of steel welded vertically to the lower ROPS just above the axle, not a large piece, maybe protruding backwards 3 or 4 inches, with 3 holes drilled into it. Anyone know what that is for (both sides of the tractor)?

Thank you

Dale Johnson
Califoria

 

[rmorey]

On a frame mounted hoe, the frame is generally a square. There are also a front and rear mounts which are attached to the tractor.

I would go down to a dealership and look at a subframe mounted backhoe. Study how it hooks to the tractor, in order to understand how to fabricate the frame and mounts.

 

[Mendonsy]

A 3pt mounted hoe puts an extreme load on the top link. The subframe mount takes this load away and transfers it forward.

 

[cadale]

Thank you

I ventured down to my local Kubota dealer today, but despite lots of new equipment for sale there were no backhoes, or tractors with mounting for a backhoe. They were helpful though in describing what I would need for the hydraulic hookup. I would like to take a look at a factory mount.
Will keep looking.

 

[mj007]

Find a vintage Bradco subframe and copy that - easy on and off and takes all the strain off of the tractor's castings - an ingenious design. See this - Best 3 pt backhoe? - Yesterday's Tractor Co. (#548152)

 

[dfkrug]

I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter, and has anyone else built a subframe for a backhoe?

I have built a bunch of them.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/171760-how-build-your-own-custom.html

I just checked the Fresno CraigsList and see several other possibilities, incl a Bobcat 709 for $3K. Choose
Chinese only as a last resort. Be patient, and you can find a very good local deal, Dale.

 

[cadale]

Find a vintage Bradco subframe and copy that - easy on and off and takes all the strain off of the tractor's castings - an ingenious design. See this - Best 3 pt backhoe? - Yesterday's Tractor Co. (#548152)

Indeed, the underside mount is simple and ingenious. I think I would fabricate something similar, welded or bolted to the backhoe attachment. When I needed the hoe, I could just back and mount the entire thing, subframe and hoe, at once. It might take a while, but I only plan to use it maybe twice a year.

Which leads me to another thought.....is it smarter just to rent when I need one? I have been reading up on these attachments and the general opinion seems to be that they are far slower and less capable than mini excavators, which are also available in different sizes. I have rented these units twice, different sizes, and was impressed with how well they dug.

If I invest about $4000 in a back hoe, including the subframe and hydraulic add-on, I could rent a mini-ex perhaps a dozen times, and thats not including my labor, or the 10 hours I have already spent investigating this idea (which I find enjoyable).

I have looked at two attachments, plus online examined a hundred more, so am slowly becoming "lernt".

Dale

 

[cadale]

I have built a bunch of them.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/171760-how-build-your-own-custom.html

I just checked the Fresno CraigsList and see several other possibilities, incl a Bobcat 709 for $3K. Choose
Chinese only as a last resort. Be patient, and you can find a very good local deal, Dale.

Elite member dfkrug:

I spent a lot of time looking at your subframes. Thank you, They are well engineered and constructed. I saw one built for my machine, I think (several days ago), a Kubota L3130.

I notice some of the designs enshroud the rear axle, I think with a relatively tight fit. Is this necessary when you can locate or construct a strong attachment point at the bottom of the axle? I would imagine a heavy beam attached at the bottom of the axle and near the front loader attachment would be sufficient. If I proceed with this project (and I am having doubts) I would probably opt for a subframe welded to the hoe attachment and just bolt the whole thing up when I needed it, so a different design that what you use. And not as lovely.

Thanx for pointing out the Bobcat 709 attachment-I will probably contact the seller. By the way, what is wrong with the Chinese stuff? Hoses, cylinders, valves?


Dale

 

[dfkrug]

I notice some of the designs enshroud the rear axle, I think with a relatively tight fit. Is this necessary when you can locate or construct a strong attachment point at the bottom of the axle? I would imagine a heavy beam attached at the bottom of the axle and near the front loader attachment would be sufficient. If I proceed with this project (and I am having doubts) I would probably opt for a subframe welded to the hoe attachment and just bolt the whole thing up when I needed it, so a different design that what you use. And not as lovely.

Thanx for pointing out the Bobcat 709 attachment-I will probably contact the seller. By the way, what is wrong with the Chinese stuff? Hoses, cylinders, valves?

Since the housing bust about 5 y ago, I have seen numerous excellent deals for used hoe attachments
around here. Even a subframe setup for a Kubota L3x30.

Re a custom subframe, there is nothing wrong with just welding what you make to the hoe. Unless you
see changing it somewhere down the road. Each tractor is different, and the final height of the hoe
off the ground is important. The 3130 is an excellent CUT (I almost bought one new when they came out)
with lots of places to bolt a subframe to existing threaded holes in the stout rear axle housings. With
a ladder-style subframe that is completely below the tractor, I like some kind of strengthening element
above the axle to minimize bending. This could be a simple as using the toplink. In this case, there
is far less stess on the toplink than with a 3-pt attachment.

As for Chinese hoe attachments, I have never owned one, and I usually like to speak from experience. That
said, there have been numerous reports of hydraulic valve problems, and where do you get parts? When the
LW-7 Chinese hoes were first imported, I could buy new ones for under $1800, which is less than half of
what other hoes cost. Unless you can get one super-cheap (under $1500 in perfect shape), hold out for a
Kubota, Woods, Rhino, BushHog, Ameriquip, Bradco, Bobcat, etc.

If you are willing to drive a bit, you may want to also check out Craigs for Sacto, LA, Bakers, and the SF Bay
Area, too.

 

[cadale]

Since the housing bust about 5 y ago, I have seen numerous excellent deals for used hoe attachments
around here. Even a subframe setup for a Kubota L3x30.

Re a custom subframe, there is nothing wrong with just welding what you make to the hoe. Unless you
see changing it somewhere down the road. Each tractor is different, and the final height of the hoe
off the ground is important. The 3130 is an excellent CUT (I almost bought one new when they came out)
with lots of places to bolt a subframe to existing threaded holes in the stout rear axle housings. With
a ladder-style subframe that is completely below the tractor, I like some kind of strengthening element
above the axle to minimize bending. This could be a simple as using the toplink. In this case, there
is far less stess on the toplink than with a 3-pt attachment.

As for Chinese hoe attachments, I have never owned one, and I usually like to speak from experience. That
said, there have been numerous reports of hydraulic valve problems, and where do you get parts? When the
LW-7 Chinese hoes were first imported, I could buy new ones for under $1800, which is less than half of
what other hoes cost. Unless you can get one super-cheap (under $1500 in perfect shape), hold out for a
Kubota, Woods, Rhino, BushHog, Ameriquip, Bradco, Bobcat, etc.

If you are willing to drive a bit, you may want to also check out Craigs for Sacto, LA, Bakers, and the SF Bay
Area, too.

I called the fellow selling the Bobcat backhoe attachment, but he lives an hour away, so will not visit it soon, and last weekend while on a short trip to cool off in Northern Calif I stopped off in the Sacramento area to look at another one, but it was tired looking, with cracked hoses and rust.

Good to know the L3130 is a stout tractor, and yes, there does seem to be some attachment points in the area of the ROPS/ axle juncture.

If the underaxle subframe is built really beefy is there any need for a toplink brace? If I was to build a subframe I think I would like it to be sufficiently long to place the backhoe front just beyond the back of the 3ph so I would not need to remove the Quik Hitch, which is time consuming.

Dale