Backhoe Can I run a backhoe mounted to the loader arms?

[dfkrug]

Welcome, aboard, COFFEE.

I would use the tractor's hyd system. For a small hoe, you only need
about 4 GPM of flow. The tractor's system will provide the fluid cooling
and filtration, as well as the relief valve protection you need.

I think you could safely build a mount for the loader, esp since that is
not a large unit. Note that hoes are commonly mounted on the FELs of
skidsteers.

 

[CoffeeFarmGuy]

Thanks for the input. I am just getting over the Eddy Arnold feel when I am on the tractor <g> - but I still have a lot to learn.

So when this is mounted on the loader will it be a "Front Hoe?"

 

[AKfish]

I believe the JD 8B and JD 7 hoe are both 4pt mounts with a "ladder" frame similar to those described by dfkrug. They are "pinned" into the permanently fixed mounts at the rear pto location and forward, at the rear of the engine. As dfkrug indicated, with age the pin mounts can wear and get a bit sloppy. Nothing that a little bit of maintainence/repair can't address, though.

My neighbor has a Bobcat S250. He demo'ed the hoe for a weekend; thinking he might buy it. Dealer drops it off with the warning that of all the SS attachments that Bobcat makes - the hoe has the greatest frequency of injury and death..

He wasn't impressed with the unit's capabilities - even with the stabilizers - the short wheelbase and the lack of additional ground anchors (FEL bucket) you could throw the Bobcat side to side real quick! And he didn't like the ground clearance whenever he needed to relocate - draggin' everywhere.

Quick-tach loaders are not designed or constructed of materials needed for this type of work - IMO. Attaching a SS type hoe on the front loader of CUT's is a recipe for loader component failure.

There are more than enough tales of woe here on TBN about FEL problems without attempting to do this kind of work - already. That said; that's why God invented mechanics and new parts.. (But, that's kinda what the ER doc says every time he sees some hot shot on a new 4-wheeler! Job security.)

AKfish

 

[dfkrug]

He wasn't impressed with the unit's capabilities - even with the stabilizers - the short wheelbase and the lack of additional ground anchors (FEL bucket) you could throw the Bobcat side to side real quick! And he didn't like the ground clearance whenever he needed to relocate - draggin' everywhere.

Interesting about the ground clearance issues. I have never operated a
SS with the hoe attached. Since you are in a separate seat on the hoe,
and the SS seat is hard to get into, I have always wondered if the operator
usually tries to push or pull the whole unit around when he is trying to
get re-positioned.

The OP is suggesting the use of a small hoe on his FEL....some of those
SS units are 1500-2000 lb! (Which hoe is it, COFFEE?)

 

[AKfish]

The OP is suggesting the use of a small hoe on his FEL....some of those
SS units are 1500-2000 lb! (Which hoe is it, COFFEE?)

The hoe attachment for my JD 110 weighs 2,000lbs. I don't think you could convince me that it would be a good idea to mount something like that off the loader arms of my 110.

And IMO - the FEL on the 110 is alot more HD than the FEL on a 4720.

Rent.. a small excavator. (It's a whole lot of fun to run one of them, anyway!)

AKfish

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with AKfish rent one, bear in mind that even if the fel offered the advantage of reaching further uphill it still would not reach as far as any brand's extendahoe.



Steve

 

[dfkrug]

The hoe attachment for my JD 110 weighs 2,000lbs. I don't think you could convince me that it would be a good idea to mount something like that off the loader arms of my 110.

And IMO - the FEL on the 110 is alot more HD than the FEL on a 4720.

Rent.. a small excavator. (It's a whole lot of fun to run one of them, anyway!)

I don't think anyone would suggest putting the 110 hoe on any FEL. It
is large, heavy, and 2x the weight of the JD448 (for the 4720).

Many in the 7.5' class of hoe attachment weigh less than 1000#, and
the 6.5' hoes are in the 700# range. There are also the "pseudo-hoes"
you sometimes see on SS's, which are basicly bkts on a boom. Those
are only a few hundred lbs and can be operated from the SS seat.

No question, an excavator is the best tool for digging. And I love using
them. But I also think there is a good place for owning a hoe attachment.
Very versatile, even if not as good as a dedicated excavator.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Count me in the don't do it camp.
The loader on a skid steer is a heavily triangulated unit that goes almost to the rear of the tractor. The 400cx on the 4720 and the 245 on the 2155 are pretty different than the SS. I think the chances of damage are higher.
Plus SS hoes kind of suck. I've used them twice (too many). Of course maybe that is because they were on a skid steer.

Rent an excavator, they really are better for digging ditches or multiple holes.

Also, I think you might have an issue with open vs. closed center hydraulics...but I would have to think more about that.

 

[sweetjeep]

If anyone is curious.. my solution was to simply buy a full size backhoe. A Case 580. She's old and has issues.. but came with a 24' ExtendaHoe backhoe. $8k. So, roughly half the price of a 9' Woods or JD backhoe.

 

[dfkrug]

If anyone is curious.. my solution was to simply buy a full size backhoe. A Case 580. She's old and has issues.. but came with a 24' ExtendaHoe backhoe. $8k. So, roughly half the price of a 9' Woods or JD backhoe.

Yes, construction machinery is cheap as dirt now. Case 580s under $10K
have been common here for a year. I went to a live auction 10 days ago and
a Takeuchi TB25 excavator went for $1750. That's a fully working 7000#
machine. Wow.