Backhoe BH77 Backhoe Worth It?

[homerjsimpson137]

Got a Kubota L3200 HST and have the chance to purchase a BH77 Backhoe for it really cheap...... but is having a Backhoe attachment for this tractor really worth it. Anyone have any experience with this type of attachment?

 

[jeff9366]

How much work do you do with Three Point Hitch implements?

Removing/replacing a Backhoe for Three Point Hitch components is just enough of a PITA that many make the swap only once or twice.

It is rare for anyone to find the correct Backhoe for their tractor used, at a good price.

 

[homerjsimpson137]

Found one for 3k in perfect shape. Fits my L3200 (per Kubota specs). Just wondering if these type of attachments have enough power to be worth it. I need to dig a few ditches, rip out a few small stumps/trees. The other thing that concerns me and I don't know, is the Backhoe attachment has a fixed seat, meaning I will have to get off the tractor seat, then get back on the Backhoe seat to start to dig my trench. While on the Backhoe, does that mean I have to get off the Backhoe seat and return to the tractor seat to move the tractor 5 feet to continue extending my trench?
I know on a true full Backhoe, Ive seen operators dig, reach behind them and move the Backhoe forward a bit, then dig again.....

If I have to continually go back and forth between seats to readjust the tractor during a dig, it might not be worth the purchase.

Thoughts are welcome.

 

[homerjsimpson137]

Forgot to mention that I do use three point hitch attachments on a regular basis but also the Backhoe attachment is quick attach so should be very easy to connect and disconnect. I hope....lol

 

[mikescruggs]

Our first tractor upgrade was to a 33 hp tractor to obtain a sub-frame mounted backhoe. We thought it worked great until we started to build trails/roads in the woods....a lot of repositioning. I have used the backhoe to reposition the machine, but I think (in our sized machines) we may be causing more wear by not "anchoring" the machine. I feel there was a lot of shaking or movement as I dug when I set the machine to be repositioned.

Removing/attaching it was not too bad...except where the backhoe sat for long periods because I needed to use other attachments for projects. The backhoe would settle and require some repositioning to line it up to be re-attached. It was not too bad, but worth mentioning.

If you have a few projects which would require renting a tractor with backhoe then do the math....I am sure the rental fees would more than cover the cost of the unit you are looking at.

Mike

 

[homerjsimpson137]

Thanks Mike. I think the cost will pay for itself but if I have to get off Backhoe part and reposition a bunch of times it might just be a pain. Any tricks to reposition tractor without getting off every time?

 

[David Wayne]

I have the BH77 on my L3400, quite capable little machine, stump digging will be a chore if they are very big. For digging a trench, when you want to move ahead I just push with the dipper. That sounds like a good deal for the hoe, does it come with the sub-frame mount? They are
around $900 from Kubota, and you need hyd. to the rear for the backhoe. If you buy it, get a manual for it. There are some don'ts to know,
like dont raise the three point even though the arms are removed, can cause internal damage. As for removing the arms for the hoe and then putting them back for other work its only 10-20 minutes.

 

[TimP]

Found one for 3k in perfect shape.

hi homerjsimpson137.

Please let me know where you found that BH77. If you don't buy it, I may get it.

I can't find one close to me and shipping is what is stopping me from getting one.

Virginia isn't that far from me.

 

[Ortimber]

I had one. While it's much better than using a shovel, I soon found out that the jobs I wanted to do with it got bigger than what it could handle. In my case, I had a lot of acreage and a lot of stumps. I put about 40hrs on the backhoe, then traded it for an excavator. If you only need the backhoe a few times a year doing smaller homeowner tasks, the cost of having one is probably worth considering.

 

[Tomtint]

I have one for my L3700. .....it certainly beats the shovel. As said earlier, removing the 3pt hitch is a bit of a nascence, and just like nought of a pita that I only have the BH on a couple times a year. But for 3k....I would scoop it up asap...you could probably make 2k on it real quick if you wanted to sell it. You also need the hydrolic lines to the back if you don't already have them, and the sub frame.

 

[BufordBoone]

Any tricks to reposition tractor without getting off every time?

I have my Wife drive the tractor while I'm on the backhoe. Having a cab makes it very time consuming if you don't have a helper. Were I to do it over again, I'd save the money to be used for renting a mini-excavator when I needed to dig trenches or get stumps out.

 

[Newby first timer]

I have my Wife drive the tractor while I'm on the backhoe. Having a cab makes it very time consuming if you don't have a helper. Were I to do it over again, I'd save the money to be used for renting a mini-excavator when I needed to dig trenches or get stumps out.

I do not have a Cab on my MX5800 and was thinking the same thing when I need to do a lot of trenching.
It would make things go a whole lot quicker and no climbing up and down every 5 to 10 minutes.

 

[Henro]

It all depends...

The little backhoe on my B2910 has served me well over the last 15 years. It is what it is. I got my money worth out of it over the years. It is not a monster machine.

It really depends what you expect of it. But it will not perform like a real backhoe or excavator.

But I am happy with my purchase.

 

[mdhughes]

At the price it is well worth it. I have a BH77 that I bought used for my L3901DT. Make yourself a backhoe dolly and it will make taking the back hoe on and off a lot easier. I can change mine in about 20 minutes, a little faster when everything go right. I installed the sub-frame myself, took about three hours.

 

[Gator6x4]

At the price it is well worth it. I have a BH77 that I bought used for my L3901DT. Make yourself a backhoe dolly and it will make taking the back hoe on and off a lot easier. I can change mine in about 20 minutes, a little faster when everything go right. I installed the sub-frame myself, took about three hours.

He hasn’t mention a sub frame. Did say it was quick attach. I hope he is not thinking of buying a three point backhoe because it sounds like he has some excavator work he wants to do. If it is a three point it will not be long before he will have a broken tractor.

 

[Carl_NH]

At the price it is well worth it. I have a BH77 that I bought used for my L3901DT. Make yourself a backhoe dolly and it will make taking the back hoe on and off a lot easier. I can change mine in about 20 minutes, a little faster when everything go right. I installed the sub-frame myself, took about three hours.

Exactly right on the dolly - I built one a few years ago finally and it rolls away in the corner for storage in the winter. Takes longer to put the 3PT arms on that to R&R the BH. I don't take mine off anymore all summer - just in spring and fall for winter blade/snowblower mounting.

The BH77 QA needs the subframe and then the BH "hooks" on the bottom and pins on the top of the tractor subframe section. I do have the swivel seat and can move the BH by reaching the pedals but you can move with the BH stick too when trenching.

For $3K its a great deal - you can resell in 3-5 years and have used it for next to $0.

 

[mdhughes]

He hasn’t mention a sub frame. Did say it was quick attach. I hope he is not thinking of buying a three point backhoe because it sounds like he has some excavator work he wants to do. If it is a three point it will not be long before he will have a broken tractor.

BH77 is a 4 point connection using a sub-frame.

 

[tcreeley]

Even though these are handy tractors and tough I think a backhoe may be pushing the limits. I would rent a backhoes as you need it or go buy a towable back hoe that is a separate unit and use that for the extra projects.

 

[Code54]

They do ok on stumps but a lot more digging than a mini Ex would take to yank them out. They work good for trenching and digging holes. Is it a Mini Ex - nope, but it will do the job and for the price you could use it and get your money back out of it. If you have HST you can use a stick and push the pedal to move forward or back slightly.

 

[beckmurph]

I have dug lots of Poplar stumps with my bh77.
Takes about 1 - 1&1/2 hours to get the larger ones out.