Price Check Buying a BH92 with Hydraulic Thumb NH

[Fosterz]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here as I joined the forum last week. I've enjoyed reading a lot of the posts here, there is definitely a lot of knowledge and experience here.


Last summer, we bought a used 2012 L3540 from a dealer. The original owner had a backhoe on it but kept it after he traded it in.

We want to get a BH92 for this machine and we already have the subframe. I called our dealer this morning for a price check and want to know your thoughts:

BH92, 18" bucket, no thumb: $8800

BH92, 18" bucket, hydraulic thumb: $11,700

What do you guys think about this price? Definitely want to go the hydraulic thumb route. If it can be paid for in full with cash what do you think is a good offer? This price is delivered to my house 1.5 hours away in a crate so I'll have to break it open, install the thumb, and mount it to my machine.
Maybe I can save more if I pick it up myself.


Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts!

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Installing the thumb and valve stacks is not a trivial thing. Something to think about.

If that quote is from MB or Champlain I would strongly recommend that you talk to Townline in Plainfield, NH. Talk to Drew if possible (one of two brothers who own it). I drive 1.5hrs there instead of 20min to the Tilton MB if that tells you anything.

Used ones do come on the market.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Installing the thumb and valve stacks is not a trivial thing. Something to think about.

If that quote is from MB or Champlain I would strongly recommend that you talk to Townline in Plainfield, NH. Talk to Drew if possible (one of two brothers who own it). I drive 1.5hrs there instead of 20min to the Tilton MB if that tells you anything.

Used ones do come on the market.

Also, $12k will buy a servicable full size backhoe. Something else to think about... :drink:

 

[Fosterz]

Quote is from Chappell Tractor. And I'll say it was a pleasure dealing with them when we bought the tractor. Honest dealership and they delivered it within 2 days of the handshake.

I'll look into installing the hydraulic thumb. Thanks for the tip.

I have been looking around for used ones but I'm having a tough time finding stuff.

 

[moship]

Prices look to be very close to list price using the wholegoods price list. Any dealer should be able to sell at this price.

 

[Fosterz]

Hmm... This is starting to look like I should just buy the thumb valve and build everything else. Can't understand why it's 3K for a thumb. I don't think the $8800 is too unreasonable.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I put an aftermarket on my equivalent Woods hoe and it is functional but not near as nice as an OEM setup.

 

[moship]

Attached you'll find a few pages from the Wholegoods price list from 2016 that might help.

 

[FatTire]

A hydraulic thumb is a real handy tool, get it if you can afford it. Thirsty just did a nice write up of his project to install the valve for the thumb, it is a real project. You can find it here:http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/375028-adding-kubota-hydraulic-thumb-my.html

 

[Fosterz]

I'd really like to get one, but 3 grand is really, really steep.

I read through Thirsty's writeup and agree that it looks like a real pain. Don't know why Kubota didn't make it an easier project.

Guess we've got some thinking to do. Right now I think we'll end up just buying the BH and maybe add the thumb later. I went through the parts list of the thumb to see the price of individual parts. Anyone know how much just the cylinder costs?

 

[mike69440]

Also, $12k will buy a serviceable full size backhoe. Something else to think about... :drink:

If you shop, you may be able to get a second heavier stronger tractor for near the price of the BH 92, so, yup I'd think about it if you have room and can fix stuff.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Welcome to tbn. Love my bh92. I don't have a thumb, for that amount of money I'd get a grapple instead, or a manual thumb.

 

[scdeerslayer]

You should be able to take your tractor there and have them assemble and install the backhoe for that price. Also the manual thumb should be around the neighborhood of $750, and it meshes really well with the bucket teeth. In the thread linked above I mention about converting my manual thumb to hydraulic, copying what some others on this site have down. It's basically an electric over hydraulic setup, teeing into the bucket lines and using a normally closed solenoid valve on the cylinder side port of the thumb cylinder. I did have to remove some metal from the thumb to clear the fittings on the rod side port, and it's a longer cylinder than OEM so the thumb doesn't sit as tight against the dipperstick, but you should be able to do the entire conversion for less than $500, and the OEM thumb cylinder costs over $600.

 

[Fosterz]

You should be able to take your tractor there and have them assemble and install the backhoe for that price. Also the manual thumb should be around the neighborhood of $750, and it meshes really well with the bucket teeth. In the thread linked above I mention about converting my manual thumb to hydraulic, copying what some others on this site have down. It's basically an electric over hydraulic setup, teeing into the bucket lines and using a normally closed solenoid valve on the cylinder side port of the thumb cylinder. I did have to remove some metal from the thumb to clear the fittings on the rod side port, and it's a longer cylinder than OEM so the thumb doesn't sit as tight against the dipperstick, but you should be able to do the entire conversion for less than $500, and the OEM thumb cylinder costs over $600.

Thanks for your response!

You mentioned the mechanical thumb... Can the mechanical thumb be converted to hydraulic using all of Kubota's parts? In other words.. Could I buy the cylinder and valve kit later and mount everything that way? Or, does the mechanical thumb differ from the hydraulic thumb?

Tough choices when you're about to lay out a lot of money!

 

[scdeerslayer]

Thanks for your response!

You mentioned the mechanical thumb... Can the mechanical thumb be converted to hydraulic using all of Kubota's parts? In other words.. Could I buy the cylinder and valve kit later and mount everything that way? Or, does the mechanical thumb differ from the hydraulic thumb?

Tough choices when you're about to lay out a lot of money!

The thumb itself is the exact same thing. I've looked at the part numbers of both and it's the same part number. I would imagine though that it's going to be more expensive to buy the parts separately than to buy them as a kit when you get the backhoe.

 

[Fosterz]

Still shopping around

Went to a dealer who had two BH92s on the lot in crates. He quoted me $7700 with an 18" bucket before tax translates to $8162. Only problem with this is I'd have to move it 7 hours north.

I think that is a pretty good price! As mentioned before, I have the frame and hydraulics on my tractor already.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

You have a "saved search" on CL for each of the New England states?

 

[Fosterz]

Pulled the trigger yesterday on a BH92. Picking it up in a few days in a crate and putting it together myself. I think it'll be a fun project!

I did not go with any thumb at this point, too much added cost up front.

I hope to make a pretty extensive youtube video documenting the whole thing.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Congrats!

 

[mike69440]

I really appreciate the hoe on my L39, It handled, (just barely) this.
See post #67: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/374740-my-wife-wants-gazebo-help-7.html