JD46 BH on 2520 a toy? BH loading height spec??

[hemiguy]

Hi,
I'm a newly registered forum user, but have been lurking for quite a while. Please forgive me if I spill my guts, but here goes... I've been searching for a new tractor to replace my old 755 for a few weeks. I have decided a 2520 with 200CX FEL and 46BH might fit but a couple of things have me thinking twice. The first is the long wait for 2520's (my local dealer says end of August). I have a buyer waving $4800 cash for my 755&70FEL with 2200+hr which is $1300 more than the dealer will give me. I'd be tractorless for maybe 6+wks so a friend convinced me to look at orange tractors (yuk!). But I gave in and looked at the BH specs first since the only 46BH (even rarer than the 2520's) I've seen looked really SMALL. Couldn't find any BH specs on the JD website so I asked the dealer the following(hypothetically): If I wanted to buy a 1 ton dump truck could I load it with the 46BH (ie what is the loading height spec?). He said 60" for the 6 1/2' 46. The LH spec for the orange 26hp tractor BH is 81"!! I measured a new 1ton dump and the sides are 60" off the ground (zero clearance)!! Has anyone done this with a 46BH? Please convince me that the 46 is not a toy so I can stay green!!

Thanks all.

 

[gunmaker]

Welcome, I'm sure you'll find an invaluable wealth of info, and a bunch of nice people!
I recently purchased a 2520 with the 200cx loader and the 46bh, a move up from a kubota 2250 w/loader and Woods bh. I am more than pleased with this unit, and found it to be more than capable in all aspects, and it feels smoother and much more refined than I was used too.
I find I can load into my 4wd Ram 2500 with either the loader or bh, but would probably gone up to the 3000 series JD if I had the need to load into any dump truck.
My second choice, if the 2520 hadn't been perfect for my needs, would have been the 3120 with the 300cx loader, and 448 backhoe. The cost of moving up to that series was only about $3000, outfitted similarly. You might consider this option if your needs dictate a wider range of loading capabilities, and this also moves you into the 'full-size' range, allowing larger, heavier duty and multi-function buckets, and an 8 foot digging depth for the bh.
I am convinced that the 2520 is more than capable, and not a 'toy'. I have removed stumps, dug out boulders larger than the 13" bucket could hold, and used it to excavate my rocky soil for a driveway. For my needs, I feel I purchased a unit which is larger than what I felt was needed, and feel I made a good choice. I have used a 755 in the past, and think that the 2520 is a step up in capability, but you may find the 3000 series suits your needs even better. Good luck...have fun shopping!

 

[hemiguy]

Thanks for the info gunmaker.Since I posted I've done something I should have done first which is a forum search on the 46BH.Found several good posts (I think some were yours) and all pretty much positive on the 46. Sounds like what you're using it for is some of the same as I'll be. I don't expect to be digging basements and swimming pools with the thing. However I'm doing some landscaping gigs on the side but have had to turn down a few that would have used the BH and a couple where I would have had to haul away a few yards of dirt. Now I'm thinking (maybe) I could just as easily load a small truck (or a sweet low profile dump trailer) with the loader. But alas, no specs for the 200cx online either. Any idea where to find JD attachment specs w/o asking the salesman? One more 46BH question is bucket size. Looks like you have the 13. I was considering the 16 but not sure how it will handle the cobble rock infested clay here in upstate NY. Wadayu think? As far as the JD3000's, they're just too big for me. Some of the places I've had to work are pretty tight. There's folks out here building 4000+sqft homes on 1/5 acre lots. City folks building a "country home" I suppose. Anyway, I have other 2520 ?'s so I'll probably do more searches, and maybe post a new thread if still confused.

Thanks again!!

 

[hemiguy]

Thanks for the info gunmaker.Since I posted I've done something I should have done first which is a forum search on the 46BH.Found several good posts (I think some were yours) and all pretty much positive on the 46. Sounds like what you're using it for is some of the same as I'll be. I don't expect to be digging basements and swimming pools with the thing. However I'm doing some landscaping gigs on the side but have had to turn down a few that would have used the BH and a couple where I would have had to haul away a few yards of dirt. Now I'm thinking (maybe) I could just as easily load a small truck (or a sweet low profile dump trailer) with the loader. But alas, no specs for the 200cx online either. Any idea where to find JD attachment specs w/o asking the salesman? One more 46BH question is bucket size. Looks like you have the 13. I was considering the 16 but not sure how it will handle the cobble rock infested clay here in upstate NY. Wadayu think? As far as the JD3000's, they're just too big for me. Some of the places I've had to work are pretty tight. There's folks out here building 4000+sqft homes on 1/5 acre lots. City folks building a "country home" I suppose. Anyway, I have other 2520 ?'s so I'll probably do more searches, and maybe post a new thread if still confused.

Thanks again!!

 

[hemiguy]

Oops. Sorry for the double post reply. I'd use the excuse that I don't know how to use a computer, but I'm an Electrical Engineer and use one all day at work!

 

[JasonL]

One more 46BH question is bucket size. Looks like you have the 13.

Hi and let me also welcome you to TBN! I also have the 46BH. For its size it does a good job. As with any tool, it works best when you use it correctly. I had not had much BH experience prior to purchasing mine and at first I was concerned about just how much I could do with it. I am now digging out 12" and bigger trees (hackberry/cherry/ash) I have found it is much easier to dig out trees rather than stumps. (leverage!) I also dug a small pond (10'x15'x3' deep). I asked here about bucket size also. I think you'll find most guys have the 13" (unless you can afford 2 buckets) The 13" works for me. Jason

 

[gunmaker]

Jasons right, the 13" seems to have a universal following for this size bh. I have rocky soil with a clay sub-base, and have found through experience that the 13" works best for my needs. If I had some loose change, I'd pick up a 9 incher for trenching/laying electrical lines other underground plumbing. You might find a 16" hoe works well in a landscaping situation, where you are moving about previously excavated soil, and loading it into a dump.
I do like your idea of a dump trailer alot, and have been watching the want-ads for one. My idea is to find a dump trailer large enough to be able to haul the 2520 with attachments to a work location, off-load to function as dump, then move the equipment home. Keeps the insurance lower too as trailers are covered by the tow vehicles ins.
46bh specs in the owners manual are: 78" digging depth, 180 degree arc, 896 lb, loading height with the bucket at 60 degrees ( tooth area parallel and closest to ground) is 60 inches,101" reach, transport height 60", bucket rotation 180 degrees, loading reach (bucket at 60 degrees) 38", stabilizers lowered-78" width, boom lift capacity-348lbs, dipperstick digging force-1250lb, bucket digging force-2450lb.
200cx has 800lb capacity at pvot pin, 560lb 20 inches forward of pin, lift height at ppin is 78 inches, reach at max height is 33 inches, breakout force is 1728lb, dump angle is 40+ degrees, rollback angle is 25 degrees.
Hope this helps!
Upstate is nice...I go up to Black Lake, in St.Lawerence County frequently...great fishing! We used to have more cows than people here, where I've grown up and settled...miss that. Best

 

[Dutch445]

I looked into the specs and noticed that their 60" dimension, is with
the bh pivot pin at 12" off the ground. IF somebody can measure theirs,
and see where that is in relationship to the wheels being on the ground, you may be able pick up a few inches with your stabilizers. If that was the case,
you would be ok to load the truck.
There is quite a difference in tractor hydraulic systems,, I would think the
46 hoe would perform quite a bit better than the one on the 2630 bota.. but
I haven't used that hoe first hand.

 

[2nstonge]

I have the 46BH on a 4110, I think if you're doing landscape work the 46 will be more than adequate. I can't believe the stuff this thing pulls out of our VT clay/glacial til/boulder strewn bog soil.

13" bucket seems to be the bucket of choice. There was a thread a while back; the guy had a 4115 and a 20 or 24" bucket and he was pissed - it had trouble just breaking the ground, let alone scoop any material. He changed to a smaller bucket and life was good.

For what it's worth I haul mine with a 14ft dump trailer (not a low profile) and use the trailer as my material hauler as well - the sides are 4 1/2ft tall. I find it much easier when using the BH to just create a pile and then use the FEL to load the trailer.

-Norm

 

[hemiguy]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on this subject.
My original question was if the 46BH could load a small dump truck and have decided it doesn't matter. I have come to the same conclusion as many of you that a dump trailer big enough to haul the tractor plus haul away "stuff" from a dig site seems like the hot setup. Plus I really don't think I want to replace my daily driver pickup (which i also use to pull my camper, get groceries, haul stuff for my wife's craft business, etc) with a dump truck. I recall this spring unloading a pile of tree limbs and brush from my current 16ft trailer at the local landfill and being envious of the guy next to me with his dump trailer doing the same. He was done and gone before I was half done yankin' and pullin'. Does anyone know of places that rent them???

For now though I need to decide on the new tractor and equipment and you have convinced me that the 46BH with 13" bucket is a worthy choice. Now I need to work out some issues with my JD dealer. I'll do a separate post with my current purchase options and the sticking points.

Thanks all!