Limitations of a Mahindra 3616 backhoe?

[flusher]

Sysop,
What did you use to set the 1500 gallon tank in the hole? Was the tank concrete? My 6520 with a KMW 275 loader could barely lift a 750 gallon concrete septic tank. We had to take the bucket off and the lid off of the tank.
hugs, Brandi

Hi Brandi.

No problem setting the 1200 gallon septic tank in the hole when you have the right equipment on the delivery truck. Cost is included in the delivery.

 

[Agvg]

That was a strange crane on that truck, wire?

 

[Gator6x4]

Here is my suggestion. Get estimates on the cost of stump removal, digging footings, and other hole digging needs for construction. Then price the backhoe and compare the cost of each. Remember commercial stump removal comes in stages. Dig stump up, Dig stump up and remove, Dig stump up and remove it and the tree and all limbs and debris. You will probably find if you do a cost analysis it will be cheaper to have the stumps dug up and removed and the footings dug than buy the backhoe. Now the tractor with a front end loader and a ballast box, not scrape blade or box scrape will be something that you can and will use almost daily during construction. Not saying you will not need a scrape blade or box blade when it comes to landscaping, just that a tractor feels better from an operational point to me with a ballast box on the rear instead of a scrape blade.

 

[DavesTractor]

Here is my suggestion. Get estimates on the cost of stump removal, digging footings, and other hole digging needs for construction. Then price the backhoe and compare the cost of each. Remember commercial stump removal comes in stages. Dig stump up, Dig stump up and remove, Dig stump up and remove it and the tree and all limbs and debris. You will probably find if you do a cost analysis it will be cheaper to have the stumps dug up and removed and the footings dug than buy the backhoe. Now the tractor with a front end loader and a ballast box, not scrape blade or box scrape will be something that you can and will use almost daily during construction. Not saying you will not need a scrape blade or box blade when it comes to landscaping, just that a tractor feels better from an operational point to me with a ballast box on the rear instead of a scrape blade.

But also consider when you are done if it is hired out, you do not own a backhoe. Even if the jobs at hand will not pay for a backhoe, if you do it yourself and you are all done with the job, you get to keep the backhoe. And in theory you could even sell the backhoe when you were done and recover much of it's cost. In the cost analysis we need to figure that in I think. And depending on how much time a guy has, there is some satisfaction in doing the work yourself. Let's face it, we like to play in the dirt.

The 3720 is a very well sorted out backhoe. We have seen the changes to it over the last 10 years (as it migrated from the 2710/3710) and about every "weak" spot we could identify has been fixed with production changes over the years. For example, they previously used a single cylinder for the swing, with a chain. That was a wear item, they now use the more conventional dual swing cylinder. They used to mount the valve down low and use linkages....the linkages would sometimes break with a heavy handed operator. So they moved the valve up and got rid of the linkages. You used to have to get under the tractor to undo the hydraulics and pull some pins to remove. Not anymore, it is all in the back, much like the JD110 and others that use the 4-point mount system. They also have a blow-off pressure relief on the bucket circuit, which you do not see often on small backhoes. This is my favorite of the smaller backhoes. No doubt it has it's limitations, but it is a very good backhoe.

 

[Sysop]

View attachment 420094

That looks nearly identical to the system our tank delivery guy had setup. That crane beam would raise the tank an inch or so off the flatbed of the truck and then the entire beam slid straight out the back over the hole, then lowered the tank into the hole. He had to come in at my hole on an angle, so we had some wrestling to do to get it turned and placed right. As stated, getting it in the hole isn't a bad job when the tools are on hand to do it. The guy running the truck was pretty slick at it and knew exactly what to do, that helped a lot. It only took about 15 minutes from the time he arrived to have it level in the hole and be standing around shooting the breeze while handling the bill.

 

[moparrob]

I've done some rough estimating of these jobs, and one contractor i asked to bid the jobs wouldnt give me a dollar amount for each job, but rather, he said he charges $800 for a 10 hour day. Since the ground is all rocky and steep in some parts, i couldnt nail him down on a time for each part (fence posts, grading driveway, foundation pad and footings, terracing, septic etc.). He's a good guy and I trust him, but it seemed like the jobs were likely to be pretty costly, and even when its all done, I can see how having a compact tractor would be handy for maintaining the yard and our livestock.

 

[Agvg]

Its a lot cheaper than a large truck mounted crane, have never seen this type of equipment before.

 

[Sysop]

I think my guy had made his himself. It is made to do exactly what it does and nothing more. The frame of the crane/winch that sat on the flatbed over the tank seemed like it was just perfectly made to set over the tank and raise it just a few inches off the deck and extend it out the rear over a hole. It was a very heavy truck (military type more than industrial) and the entire crane and frame assembly was built very stout.

 

[bindian]

Hi Brandi.

No problem setting the 1200 gallon septic tank in the hole when you have the right equipment on the delivery truck. Cost is included in the delivery.

View attachment 420094

Down here we use 750 gallon or 500 gallon round tanks. If you need more.............you use two of these tanks about 1-2 feet apart.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Here is my suggestion. Get estimates on the cost of stump removal, digging footings, and other hole digging needs for construction. Then price the backhoe and compare the cost of each. Remember commercial stump removal comes in stages. Dig stump up, Dig stump up and remove, Dig stump up and remove it and the tree and all limbs and debris. You will probably find if you do a cost analysis it will be cheaper to have the stumps dug up and removed and the footings dug than buy the backhoe. Now the tractor with a front end loader and a ballast box, not scrape blade or box scrape will be something that you can and will use almost daily during construction. Not saying you will not need a scrape blade or box blade when it comes to landscaping, just that a tractor feels better from an operational point to me with a ballast box on the rear instead of a scrape blade.

I keep my backhoe on all the time. Until I pull the disc or brush hog. I am always finding more ways to use it.........instead of Armstrong power. For the cost and life uses of a backhoe............they are priceless. You really need to have a backhoe around awhile to appreciate it.
hugs, Brandi