Backhoe fixed backhoe for FEL qa? seeking opinions...

[DavidVT]

Hi,
For a Kubota 3430 with woods 1009 FEL w skidsteer style QA:

I am thinking about a 'fixed backhoe' skidsteer attachment.
$900 fixed backhoe FEL QA..

My uses would be:
1) to do some trenching for wires and waterlines around the farm.
2) to pick at several hundred stumps in a pasture I am slowly trying to reclaim from 40 year old trees that were cut down 3 years ago. No rush but I know the FEL alone will just not get the same bite an 8 inch bucket will.

Please look at that website and then offer me your opinion. I am open to ideas, especially if they save me money!

Thanks,
David
ps: sunday was a good example of why I want something like this. Our hydrant in the horse barn let loose from freezing at it's base. It just thawed out and clearly has a major hi pressure leak at it's base. The ground around is partially frozen and I have no tool to dig the 5 feet of material to reach the break......

 

[ksmmoto]

Wow, I checked out the link and have never seen anything like this before. Will be interesting to read others thoughts.

On a skid steer it would be a lot easer to see than a tractor. Also skid steers have much stronger loaders than tractors. Not saying it won't work, just didn't see any tractors at the web site.

ksmmoto

 

[DavidVT]

I asked the company about using it on a tractor.
Their reply spoke to visibility and speed issues.

It would be great if one could try some of these things we see on the internet.....

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

Without being able to try one on for size, I'd be reluctant to buy this product.
Most of these skid steer type implements are designed for high flow hydraulics and I'm not sure your tractor would have enough digging force to make it really useful.
You are planning on using without hydraulics right? I'm sure it would be useful to a point, but how well does your loader do now in the digging force area? It won't be a lot better with this hoe, except that with an 8" bucket (too small to my notion) it won't be getting the resistance of a loader bucket and may do better. I doubt it would be really effective in frozen ground, but I don't know.
If you could just get a chance to use one, or see someone use one with a similarly powered tractor, that would be the ticket.
Contact the MFG and see if you could get someone near you who has one to show you theirs. John

 

[gav64]

I built one of those for my skidsteer (pre tractor days) bought a plate and used bobcat excavater bucket (12") $300.00 and a 3x16 cylinder in a 4x4 1/4" beam. It is a real beast, i do not know what the rip out force is but I am on my second mounting plate, I shoul probably put a relief valve in. As others have previously posted I would be leary of damaging
the loader arms on the tractor, i have never damaged the skidsteer's arms but there is no comparison, visibility goed to the skidsteer. Now the positives, when using it with the skid tou do alot of ground damage manuevering, with the tractor it would be easier on the lawn. The glacier stopped at my front door and cannot dig a post hole with anything but this, it is better than the tractor backhoe at this. what it is really good at is rock walls, i can pick up a thousand pound rock an place it on a precisely on a wall, and can loosen up a side hill so it is easier to dig out with the loader bucket and rip out small stumps with ease. I have not used it on my tractor (i do not have front remotes) I just wanted to give you and idea of what it can do. It will not take the place of a true hoe but i started with it and it saved my back! glenn.

 

[notamustang]

I would say no, if it was the unit that had the hydraulic bucket curl than maybe. I think that you would be doing a lot of standing up to see what was going on. I would lean towards renting a BH for a week. JMO

 

[DavidVT]

Here is another idea: Grubber bucket for FEL QA ??

Thanks for the feedback / opinions.

Being a neubie to the tractor thing, I imagine I fall into a predicatable trap. That being the one where we feel are investment in our tractor has placed an infinitely capable earth moving machine in our garage/barn.

Most probably feel that way until we put our FEL into that first immovable mound of earth or under the first boulder that is too heavy to lift.

Reality is a tough thing to deal with sometimes.

Ah well, the upside of this is finding the TractorByNet site and others. These sites are where I can read how folks have and do some amazing things with tractors smaller than mine.

There is hope that I can do much with this tractor.. I just have to learn how to do it right..

Again, thanks folks for your insight and opinions!

David

In this case, I really want to figure out how to bust out 40 year old balsa and spruce stumps that have been cut for 3 years. I am reading about chain and truck tire ideas, etc etc

 

[MMM]

You can find used 3ph models for that price that might need cyl rebuild, pin, or hoses. I'm getting rid of mine for $1250 as soon as I replace bucket pin and bushing.