Backhoe M59 Backhoe buckets - What are compatible pin on or QA buckets

[lhansman]

You have the Kubota backhoe QA setup rscotty. The pin on ones require you to remove the bolts securing the two pins that attach the bucket, drive the two pins out, align the new bucket with one of the pins, drive the two pins in again, reinstall the two bolts in the pins and then grease the two pins again.

Regards,

Lauren

 

[rScotty]

You have the Kubota backhoe QA setup rscotty. The pin on ones require you to remove the bolts securing the two pins that attach the bucket, drive the two pins out, align the new bucket with one of the pins, drive the two pins in again, reinstall the two bolts in the pins and then grease the two pins again.

Thank you for pointing that out, Lauren. Our M59 was one of the first "introductory specials" back in 2008 and came as a package with a specific package of accessories from Kubota- but the manifest didn't call out the accessories individually so I've always wondered if it had QA. Now I'm wondering if I've ever seen one without the QA. How is yours equipped? What do you see as the advantages both ways? Does the Kubota QA involve extra linkage? I suppose it must, but not having seen one without, I don't see exactly how it would be affixed.

On a similar theme, our high-hour John Deere 310 TLB has its original factory QA linkage which is composed of a parallelogram of additional linkage parts - parts which have gotten a bit sloppy at 5500 hours. Still strong and quite usable, but there is a little side slop in the Deere's QA pins and bushings now. Of course that is a lot of hours of rough use on an exposed portion right out at the end of the backhoe on an industrial tractor. I call that simply normal and expected wear....surprisingly good life in fact.

The reason I bring it up is it looks to me that on the JD, one can simply remove the QA link assembly in total and just move the bucket up about 3" onto the end of the dipper stick. It looks like it will lose a few inches of reach, but the geometry seems to be the same with and without QA. Is that the case on the Kubotas as well?
rScotty

 

[lhansman]

Hi rScotty

The quick attach on your M59 appears to be the same as what I had on my B26. You remove the snap ring, pull the bucket locking pin on the curl mechanism and then you can hop on the seat and remove the existing bucket. You then swing the hoe over between the ears on the new bucket, pick it up by the hooks and then curl to the point that you can insert the locking pin. Get off the seat, install the locking pin and snap ring and you are done. The only disadvantage to this setup is that while digging in roots with my B26 once the snap ring got caught, released and removed. Fortunately I noticed before the main pin came out and I carry extra snap rings but after that I started using a bolt to secure the locking pin rather than a snap ring. The big plus with this setup is no tools are required and I think you can probably change hoe buckets in five or ten minutes.

Unfortunately in Canada Kubota has decided to use a Canadian supplier for their hoe buckets on the L45 (and presumably the M59) and they use a QA with a wedge and a bolt. This means that in order to remove a bucket you have to remove the large bolt, drive out the wedge with a drift and small mallet and then change buckets as with your setup. Once you have installed and curled the new bucket, you must insert the wedge, snug up the bolt with the wrench, pound the wedge with the mallet, tighten the bolt and repeat until the bolt and wedge are really tight. I did not get it tight enough shortly after I got the L45 and while doing a lot of loader work one day lost the bolt and wedge. Fortunately I have a friend with a metal detector and in about forty-five minutes we were able to find them. The down side to this setup is you need tools and you have to ensure the wedge is tight which takes a few more minutes than your QA but the plus is that the wedge ensures the bucket is tight to the QA mechanism so there is no play.

I don't know why but I can't seem to upload photos anymore. I can browse and select them but when I click "Upload" nothing seems to happen for several minutes and there is no indication on screen that anything is happening either so I can't show you a clear photo of the difference. However, I found the photo below on my existing uploaded photos and if you zoom in you can see the different components. My 12" QA hoe bucket arrived painted black so you can see the front ears wrapped around the thumb pin and then the bucket portion of the wedge receiver near the curl linkage. You can then see the orange of the boom and the wedge in between but the bucket is curled enough that you can't see the bolt in the middle of the wedge.



All QA adapters I have seen are installed using the pins for bolt on buckets so as you point out there is usually a few additional inches of reach with the QA. This means that the standard linkage setup on the hoe does not have to be changed for the QA.

Regards,

Lauren

 

[doelake]

Hi all,

My L-39 had QA on the backhoe, but no thumb....the change out for buckets was quick and smooth as Lauren has mentioned....when I upgraded to the M-59 with hydrulic thumb, I neglected to order QA and received a model with pin-on..... I had to get the dealer to swap out the buckets as they were not interchangeable.....pin-on takes more time and patience, everything has to be aligned perfectly and spacers and washers placed in their proper location to ensure smooth operation of the bucket and thumb.....

I think next time I will specify QA.....currently I work with my trenching bucket, complete all rough work and then swap to my ditching bucket to smooth out my projects....

Regards,

Anthony

 

[rScotty]

Thanks for the very complete write up Lauren. After your story, I'm glad for the pin&clip QA system that came with mine back in 2008. But do see that the wedge would have advantages when it begins to age. The JD at 5500 hrs could certainly use some way to tighten its QA, but the Kubota at 700 hrs is still tight.

You're right about that silly clip and ring that they use to retain the pin on the US style QA. One day when backhoeing I noticed that the clip was gone and the pin had already slid about half way out. If it had gone any farther something would have bent the next time I curled hard against a load. As it was I pushed the in pack in and preplaced the missing clip with a double-nutted bolt, figuring that anything on the BH bucket made to be removed by hand could not fail to be removed in operation. The bolt makes it much more secure, but does require tools - and the Kubota doesn't have a tool box. Wish it did. The whole right side of the machine just east of the throttle is available for mounting a nice big steel tool box with an opening lid...The JD has one like that - but on the other side. Easy to design it big enough for tools, a selection of chains, and still have space for whatever.
Maybe someone will market one.
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Hi all,

My L-39 had QA on the backhoe, but no thumb....the change out for buckets was quick and smooth as Lauren has mentioned....when I upgraded to the M-59 with hydrulic thumb, I neglected to order QA and received a model with pin-on..... I had to get the dealer to swap out the buckets as they were not interchangeable.....pin-on takes more time and patience, everything has to be aligned perfectly and spacers and washers placed in their proper location to ensure smooth operation of the bucket and thumb.....

I think next time I will specify QA.....currently I work with my trenching bucket, complete all rough work and then swap to my ditching bucket to smooth out my projects....

Regards,

Anthony

Anthony, do you have any photos showing the M59 bucket in place without the QA? You may have a unique M59! I've not heard of anyone else not having QA on theirs. Would like to see what it looks like.

Between the you and Lauren and myself we sort of even things out. You wanted QA and forgot to order it. Lauren ordered what he thought was one type of QA and got another type altogether - another type that even uses different bucket attachment. And I'm the guy who deliberately didn't specify a QA....didn't ask for it and still not sure if or how much I paid for it - because mine came with QA anyway.
Now I'm glad it did. But I'd probably have been just as happy the other way too.

What do you mean "next time"? Is there an upgraded M59 in the works? Regardless of brand, there doesn't seem to be anything else out there that even comes close to being competitive....The closest is probably Kubota's own L45. Or am I missing something again?
rScotty

 

[TomSeller]

If there is a website that cross lists backhoes with bucket manufacturers, I would appreciate knowing about it.

 

[TBarD]

Mine also has the bucket quick-attach, and I'm very glad I have it. Yes there are ears that you can get to weld up custom attachments. I have both the snap-link and bolt for the backhoe bucket QA. I am still using the snap-link, although I can confirm that I already lost one! But it is rare enough that I am still using it. I have heard rumors that other Kubota models (L48?) may support the same bucket - but since one can never find them used, where I am at least, it hardly matters.

 

[TomSeller]

Mine also has the bucket quick-attach, and I'm very glad I have it. .

Original or retrofitted with the QA?

 

[TBarD]

Original or retrofitted with the QA?

I bought mine used, but I am sure it is original and came with QA. QA could possibly be added with parts however. Otherwise you would have to pull pins.