Attaching and dropping BH77 on B3200 question/issues

Teikas Dad · May 12, 2013

I got a new B3200 last fall with a BH77 backhoe. When I dropped the backhoe for the winter I had a great deal of difficulty getting one of the pins that holds the backhoe to the subframe out. I tried raising and lowering the boom, raising and lowering the outriggers all in an effort to get the subframe and backhoe mount lined up. The other pin slid right out with only a little resistance. I ended up using a brass drift and hammer and get the pin out.

I mounted the backhoe on the tractor today but first I took some steel wool and cleaned the inside of all the subframe and backhoe frame mounting holes. I also cleaned the pins up really well with the steel wool. Then I sprayed everything with some Boeshield T-9 then tried putting it all back together. One pin slid right in, the other wouldn't go in no matter how much I raised and lowered the frame and outriggers. It looks like the mounting holes are just a little bit out of alignment. I took a hammer and hit the pin a couple times and it went right it. (I didn't beat on it, I just hit the end of the pin using the weight of the hammer for force)

Is it possible that the frame and subframe mounting holes are misaligned or did I just not find the sweet spot for the pin to go in? I haven't used the backhoe yet, so one question I have is will the mount loosen up a little from use? The other thing I thought of doing was grinding a little more of a taper on the end of the pin to let it guide itself in a little easier. Just wasn't sure if this was a normal condition on a new backhoe and subframe.

Thanks

MapleLeafFarmer · May 12, 2013

Teikas Dad said:
Is it possible that the frame and subframe mounting holes are misaligned or did I just not find the sweet spot for the pin to go in? I haven't used the backhoe yet, so one question I have is will the mount loosen up a little from use? The other thing I thought of doing was grinding a little more of a taper on the end of the pin to let it guide itself in a little easier. Just wasn't sure if this was a normal condition on a new backhoe and subframe.
Thanks

yes it is possible the holes are misaligned
yes it is possible you have not found the sweet spot. When I find the sweet spot on my bh65 they slip with little pressure but if sweet spot not just so then a tap with a hammer is needed.
yes the holes will loosen with time. (and as the paint wears off the sub frame)

I can get my hoe removed in under 5 minutes. 10 minutes to put it back on when alignment is easy.
A few days ago.... well over an hour to get it back on as the quick connects were contaminated with sand and for the life of my couldn't get them cleaned to latch closed.

deathtoblackberries · May 13, 2013

Try the pins in the holes with the backhoe off, then you can decide if you have a frame/subframe alignment issue or a hole that's just gooped up with paint which you can clean out with a dremel or whatever.

jim_wilson · May 14, 2013

There's a "sweet spot" I think to getting those pins out.

I just took the BH77 backhoe off of my B3200 (and put it back on again) this weekend so I could try out the new 3pt mowing deck I picked up.

Here's what I did.

First I tried putting the stabilizers down to see if that would take the weight off the pins enough that I could get them out. That didn't help. Then I tried just lowering the backhoe arm down til the bucket contacted the ground - and lifted the tractor up some with that - that also did not work.

So then I did the following: I lowered the stabilizer arms to the ground and put just enough pressure on them that you could see that they were *just* starting to take the weight off the rear tires.

Then - I moved the backhoe down until the bucket contacted the ground and put some pressure on it - until I could move the pins by hand. Once I could release the little crossbar thing in the pin - I used that to twist the pin(s) -and pull them out. Then I used released the backhoe arm so the whole backhoe assembly pivoted out of the lower pins and I could pull the tractor away from it. Once the tractor was released - shut it down - release the pressure in the hydraulic system - and dis-connect the hydraulic lines.

Putting it back on was basically the reverse - except it was a little bit of a pain to get the lower pins to sit in their cradles - once I got them to sit in (THUNK!) - I used the backhoe arm again to get the whole unit into just the right location so I could "twist" the pins back in.

I don't have the pins in mine lubricated at all - but it also spends most of it's time indoors - so nothing is corroded either. The trick I think is find the sweet spot using both the stabilizer arms and the backhoe itself to find the sweet spot where the pins will just slide in.

Bear in mind that the pins are a pretty tight fit - and even just a little mis-alignment between all of that might make them stick. I think I may have taken some sandpaper to the pin holes on mine after having a cursing session the first time I tried to take it off / put it back on.

If you want to clean the holes out where the pins go in - check out Home Depot or Lowes - you can get small wire brushes meant for cleaning out the inside of pipes - they work well for doing something like this. I think I just used some sandpaper on mine.

Teikas Dad · May 14, 2013

Thanks all, particularly Jim. I'll try your method of gently putting pressure on the outriggers and boom at the same time. The other thing I just happened to think of is that the area where I dropped the backhoe had a slight sideways pitch compared to the tractor's back tires. Next time I'm going to make sure it's all on the same plane. I did take some steel wool and clean the light surface rust out of the mount holes. I just need to start digging some holes to work it a bit. I'll report back the next time I take it off.

Thanks!

jim_wilson · May 15, 2013

Teikas Dad said:
Thanks all, particularly Jim. I'll try your method of gently putting pressure on the outriggers and boom at the same time. The other thing I just happened to think of is that the area where I dropped the backhoe had a slight sideways pitch compared to the tractor's back tires. Next time I'm going to make sure it's all on the same plane. I did take some steel wool and clean the light surface rust out of the mount holes. I just need to start digging some holes to work it a bit. I'll report back the next time I take it off.

Thanks!

Theoretically you should be able to use the stablizers to level out the backhoe - I but once it's dropped into those lower pockets - the ground level shouldn't be affecting it all that much.

All that being said - it's probably just easier to get it lined up when it's on level ground. The mounting system on the BH77 (and a lot of the newer Kubotas) - is simple - but honestly, after using it a bit I think I prefer the "old" Kubota system that used these spring loaded clamps. My BX23 had that system and I've seen it on the B21 too. I never had a problem locking that thing in, I just think it was faster and easier to lock in than this pin arrangement.