Hi Ken. My backhoe works very good and I like it. Of course it has it's pros and cons. Pros is it is powerful when hooked to my
L4740. Other complain of performance issues when used with smaller tractors. I took out a cluster of 3 stumps, 2 foot per stumps. The removal of this stump cluster can be seen at
A hack for the removal and disposing of stumps - YouTube It works well and the controls are smooth. I don't have not problem digging through clay with a 16 inch bucket. I don't suspect an 18 inch bucket would stop it either. Over all I like it but below is some factors to take into considerations:
1. the overhang(the hoe sticks out about 4 feet past the tires of the tractor) gets hung up on stumps and rocks when traveling the logging road or atv trails. You have to travel very very carefully because if the tires go down in a hole the hoe could get caught up on a rock. The hoes is robust but none the less I suppose you cold ben some stuff up. I suspect the overhand could also pose an issue when loading it on a trailer.
2. Some say there was a performance problem( slow) when hook to their tractor. At about 2000 rpms hook to my 47 hp tractor it's not to bad. You can see the speed it operates at 2000 RPMs near the end of the above video. You can decide if that is fast enough for your liking.
3. When it comes to ditching a trail it has some draw backs. It is a bit more ackward then an excavator to use if you can't straddle the ditch. I got a work around for that problem. Instead of positioning back on to the ditch I drive beside the ditch and do the digging at a 90 degree angle to the tractor. I found that it would not be very efficient to get off the backhoe then go into the tractor to reposition it so I have a rope and pulley hooked to the HST peddle. This allows me to advance the tractor along the ditch which efficiently repositions the tractor.
4. My tires are loaded so pushing and lifting the tractor seems to be to much of a strain on the hoe and causes to much sideways twist to always be shifting the tractor from side to side. I do it only when I have to.
5. Another disadvantage of a backhoe over a mini excavator with zero clearance rotation is that you cannot position immediately beside a foundation side on. This because of the stabilizers comes down and the hoe is hinge in the middle of the tractor. Don't get me wrong you can still dig at 90 degrees of the tractor or position the tractor back on to the wall but it's harder to end up with a clean. I never did this task yet so I am just making assumptions on this one.
6. The manual thumb is very handy to have but it cost something like $1000. Personally doing what I do which is digging stumps, moving brush and rocks I could not be without a thumb. A hydraulic would be better but it is $3000 here in Canada. I am glad I went with a manual one because it work good and is less expensive. When using the manual thumb and your are doing a task of picking things up and moving them, you can adjust the length of the manual thumbs arm. This brings it closer to the bucket and you sure can use it efficiently. But then if you go to dig when you curl the buck you squeeze the ground tight into the bucket and wet clay doesn't always come out easily. So I have the thumb adjusted so that I can still pick things up, it's not usually in the way and it doesn't squeeze and pack a heaping bucket full of hard into the bucket.
7. I heard that when you switch out the bucket you can somehow mess up the pin which can be a bit expensive to repair. Maybe somebody can shed some light on this. At any rate I kind wish I bought the quick attach bucket system. It was another $1000 or so here in Canada.
8. Taking on and off the backhoe is not to bad but keep in mind that although you can put it on and take it off without taking off the 3 point hitch system is is highly recommended that you do in fact take off the hitch. Apparently you can bend stuff up.
9. You cannot touch or use the other rear hydraulic ports when the backhoe is attached. Apparently you can cause yourself very expensive repairs if you do so like blow out the hydro pump. When I have the backhoe on I lock the lift arm leaver with the little thumb screws. This way I don't accidentally move the three point hitch cylinders. Without the 3point hitch arms on I don't know if it would do any damage or not but potentially using the rear hydro functions in anyway with the backhoe install can cause repairs so I don't take a chance. I lock the 3 pt hitch arm lever.
9. I have other projects I did with my backhoe which can be seen on my youtube channel. I have some outdoor videos as well so you may have to scroll around to find the backhoe videos.
Green Acres
- YouTube
Hope this all helps.
Ray
