Backhoe ditch witch model 140 3pt backhoe

johnierotten · Oct 7, 2009

I just picked up this ditch witch model 140 3pt backhoe but the seller didnt know which of the two ports in the block was supply and which was return for the hydraulic fluid.I havent found much info on this model hoe on the internet can anyone help? will I do damage to anything if hooked up wrong? Thanks for any help,John

kennyd · Oct 8, 2009

Welcome to TBN

You won't damage anything-but I would apply air pressure to one hose and make sure that it comes out of the other when all the valves are in neutral. You want to make sure the valve is an OPEN CENTER type.

If you post some pictures of the valve we may be able to identify the IN and OUT side for you.

Be very careful with this if it's only mounted to the 3PH...a lot of damage can be done to your machine from them since there is no subframe to distribute the load it will place on the machine.

What tractor are you attaching it to?

johnierotten · Oct 9, 2009

Hi ,I will try to get a picture on this evening,the hoe is going on a jd 4310, I plan on making up a sub frame after I look at some other tractors to see where and how they are attached. I will just take it easy with it untill it has a sub frame.Thanks for the help! J

kennyd · Oct 9, 2009

OK, be careful! You know that the tranny case is made of aluminum right?

johnierotten · Oct 10, 2009

No!!! I did not know it was aluminum.... Im stunned as I thought it would be steel or at least heavy cast. Now I will have to take it extra easy untill the sub frame is on. Thanks for the info! I will post a picture today of the ports , I appreciate your help. J

johnierotten · Oct 10, 2009

here is the photo of the supply and return ports,there are three hoses comming out of the bottom of the block ,there is a quick disconnect going to the two outside ports on the top of the block, and then the hose going to the center of the top of the block, Im stil unsure which is the supply and which is return. Any help would be great! thanks. J

johnierotten · Oct 11, 2009

If your sitting in the tractor seat there is one line going into the right side of the actual valve body and ther is two lines on the left. does this help at all?

kennyd · Oct 12, 2009

Sorry John, I missed your picture before...

I am not sure why here are three hoses...there are usually just two. I would "assume" the single line is the feed but I am just guessing on that. I am also not sure of the purpose of the block at the rear either.

johnierotten · Oct 12, 2009

Thanks for trying, I was able to get a hold of ditch witch and they gave me the info I needed. The supply was the one in the middle on top and the other two that were tied together were return. I hooked it up and all is good. I was able to pick up a subframe not for my tractor but I can make it work with some modifications. Now I just need to see where the correct mounting points for the subframe are so I can not be scared about using the hoe. Does anyone have any pictures of their sub frame on JD 4310? Thanks to Kenny all.

kennyd · Oct 12, 2009

Good news John-glad to hear you are making progress. You should start a new thread titled something like "4310 Backhoe Subframe" and see if you get more visibility from other members...