Backhoe for 2538

[aerojunkie]

How do you guys like the backhoe for the 2538 tractor? I have had several times in the last few weeks I could have used one if I had it, so I'm in the market for one. I should have bought one with the tractor and then financed it, but on the good side there isnt much difference in price buying now through my dealer and I wont have any interest on it, he quoted me $7000 for it. I do like that it is almost as powerful as a backhoe for the 2555 spec wise. I figure with a backhoe, a ratchet rake, and a grapple there isnt much I cant get cleared or moved. So for $7000 do you get a good loader with good controls? I had a guy dig a water line recently with a small kubota tlb and was amazed at how precise he could dig and what he could do with only about a 22hp tractor.

 

[tracydj]

You will be surprised how much more your 2538 will be able to lift and maneuver with the 1200 lb backhoe in tow. The backhoe digs great and has managed to get out at least 20 stumps for me.

 

[aerojunkie]

You will be surprised how much more your 2538 will be able to lift and maneuver with the 1200 lb backhoe in tow. The backhoe digs great and has managed to get out at least 20 stumps for me.

Thats true, would make for a heck of a ballast back there. I loaded my tires with the standard anti freeze/water solution but another 1200 it really would push the bucket along nicely. How hard is removing the backhoe and back to the 3pt? I havent found a video of the 2538 but of several other tractors, it they are basically the same should be a quick thing to do. How strong are the hydraulics on the hoe? I have read a few places where people have tested them by lifting the rear of the tractor with the arm fully extended similar to pushing down with the bucket. One last thing, what size bucket did you get? I was thinking a 12" should be sufficient for all around use and give a little clearance for digging down deeper, but never used a backhoe before.

 

[tracydj]

Thats true, would make for a heck of a ballast back there. I loaded my tires with the standard anti freeze/water solution but another 1200 it really would push the bucket along nicely. How hard is removing the backhoe and back to the 3pt? I havent found a video of the 2538 but of several other tractors, it they are basically the same should be a quick thing to do. How strong are the hydraulics on the hoe? I have read a few places where people have tested them by lifting the rear of the tractor with the arm fully extended similar to pushing down with the bucket. One last thing, what size bucket did you get? I was thinking a 12" should be sufficient for all around use and give a little clearance for digging down deeper, but never used a backhoe before.

The backhoe only takes about 15 min to unload and a little longer to load back up. The key is to dump it on level ground. On the 2538 it is frame mounted so the 3 point is just left in the down position while the backhoe is hooked up and hangs just below the frame of the backhoe. I have seen stronger hydraulics on bigger machines. It isn't possible to shift the machine to one side just using the bucket. The stabilizer are only set up to get the rear of the machine a little off the ground. I have a 12" bucket and at times have wished and I had smaller and at other times wish I had a bigger one. Overall the 12" will be sufficient.

 

[aerojunkie]

The backhoe only takes about 15 min to unload and a little longer to load back up. The key is to dump it on level ground. On the 2538 it is frame mounted so the 3 point is just left in the down position while the backhoe is hooked up and hangs just below the frame of the backhoe. I have seen stronger hydraulics on bigger machines. It isn't possible to shift the machine to one side just using the bucket. The stabilizer are only set up to get the rear of the machine a little off the ground. I have a 12" bucket and at times have wished and I had smaller and at other times wish I had a bigger one. Overall the 12" will be sufficient.

Well Im back looking at the backhoe again. I thought about just getting a bigger tractor instead but I have found some places over the past couple weeks that a larger tractor would be rather tough to get into. My main thing is I want to get stumps dug out in the woods behind my house Im trying to clean up. its never been cleaned just left to grow and most of the trees are just a little of everything. I have a lot of 8" and less trees I want gone and bought a stump bucket to try but seems like that is a lot of wear and tear on the loader with a chance of damage thrown in there. I figure a backhoe and a grapple can take on pretty much anything I want to do for cleanup given enough time. I would also like to dig a small pond out, nothing major maybe 1000-1200 sq ft and may take a while but I figure it should be able to do it. So you think it would be up to all that? Whats the biggest stump you have dug up? Just trying to get an idea of the limits on this thing.

 

[tracydj]

You can dig big *** stumps that are old. I have a double 14-16" green one that I still can't get out. I have it dug out 6' deep the whole way around. The backhoe on the 2538 is amazing but doesn't have the breakout force of a standard backhoe.

 

[aerojunkie]

Wow, sounds like it should do a lot more than I need then. The biggest I am planning to remove it probably in the 10" range. I would like to just cut down what I want gone then go back and remove the stumps when there is more room. I keep watching the youtube videos of a kubota tlb like a bx25 and amazed at what a small machine can do given the time and this one should do a good bit more. One thing I can figure out is the one cylinder for the dipper, most of the others have 2 shorter cylinders and not one long one. With it extended that long do you thing there is a chance of it bending something?

 

[mikeman1]

i have the 2555 hst with 65B hoe. at first i was a bit disappointed with the power of the dipper but i used it for about 4 hours today and after getting used to it and using the float feature it digs real nice. glad i got it.

 

[aerojunkie]

i have the 2555 hst with 65B hoe. at first i was a bit disappointed with the power of the dipper but i used it for about 4 hours today and after getting used to it and using the float feature it digs real nice. glad i got it.

What is the float on a backhoe and is it on the backhoe for the 2538?

 

[Jonathan70]

Biggest stump I pulled out with my 2538 is actually more weight then it can lift... dug around oak stump 4-6' below grade, bucket teeth cut / ripped roots. Was able to pull / roll the stump out and drag down to where I need to cut in half to load onto my trailer to haul away. Left quite the bomb crater .