Backhoe need a backhoe

[jasonf]

In my neck of the woods the Bush Hog and the Woods, were priced around the same about $5700 plus tax. That included a PTO kit, a subframe and a HD 16 " bucket. Please note that this was a 'Crate' price. I was happy to take it away on my trailer and assemble/install it myself... For me that was the best way to go as I am very fussy about my stuff, and wound up disassembling the subframe and Body Schutzing the whole thing so it will last forever...

 

[BWS]

i am going to get a price on the woods 7500 frame mnt monday, i think it was 5500.00 instld[no pump/res] will get a new price not instld.sure like the bradco's the 3375 3pt @ 3800 not instld is a great price.i was wondering since i weld if i could fab a heavy duty mount mysefl.i dont think any backhoe manufactur makes a frame mnt kit for the kubota 30 models yet[talked to bradco yesterday].bradco makes a 3509 which is a 3pt and i was thinking if i used this carefully for a while i could either fab a mnt myself or order the kit when bradco makes one?

 

[JohnMiller3]

Well since Bush Hog owns Great Bend... those backhoes will be the same along with John Deere that are all OEM'd by the same mfr...

I'd pick the one with the best price, with all else being equal... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[jasonf]

The subframe that I have is pretty basic. I don't see why you could not create one to fit on your tractor. I feel that the best way to go is with a subframe. After installing the backhoe and having it bounce the tractor around when driving it to the work site, I am glad I have the subframe. I just feel that the 3pt hitch is not the best way to hang a implement such as this. If you have a Kubota and you are going to go ahead with the 3pt hitch setup anyway, make sure you have the Heavy Duty bracket that Kubota sells. The original backet attaches to the case with 4 bolts, but the HD bracket wraps around the case and is much more secure...

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I don't know why Kubota doesn't offer a quick connect/disconnect system for the backhoes similar to the ones on the BX, B21, L35, and L48. With so many people wanting backhoes this would be an excellent option to purchase.

 

[jasonf]

Yeah, I agree. The subframe on the backhoe I have is not too back to connect/disconnect. You have to use the stabilizers to hold the weight of the backhoe and then pull the 2 pins at the front of the subframe. you then use the bucket to direct the foward end of the subframe down to clear the tractors mounting brackets and then drive away from the backhoe a few inches then disconnect the PTO pump. A faster quick disconnect system would be nice. I guess that it takes me about 10 Minutes to detach the backhoe now.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

jasonf, what you describe is pretty similar to how the hoe comes off my BX-22. If I manage to move all the levers in the correct direction <G>, it takes about 5 mintes for "on" or "off".

I'm not knowledgable about the hoes on the larger machines, but I suspect that the locking mechanism on the BX is a bit more refined so that non-pros like me can get it on and off more easily...so you are right, it would be nice if the larger CUTs would have some improvments that make loading and unloading the hoe easier and quicker.

 

[jasonf]

BTW what sized buckets do they offer for the BX22 and how deep is the 'reach'. On mine it is 7.5 foot deep, what is it on the BX-22? Does your seat swivel around and move so you can use the same seat for tractoring and then Backhoeing?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You can get either a 10" or 12" bucket...I opted for the former as I'm just a homeowner and digging with the smaller bucket is more versatile for me. Yes, the seat swivels (and raises up a little in the process) when you're using the hoe.

Here are the specs of the hoe direct from the Kubota site:

SPECIFICATIONS:
Digging Depth 6.0'
Swing Arc 140 Degrees
Loading Height 64.4"
Reach from Centerline Swing Pivot 97.8"
Swing Pivot to Rear Axle 28.6"
Transport Height 64"
Bucket Rotation 180 Degrees
Angle of departure 19 Degrees
Hydraulic Stabilizer Spread (Down/Up) 88"/51"
Digging Force Using Bucket Cylinder 1936 lbs
Digging Force Using Crowd Cylinder 1137 lbs
Boom Swing Mechanism Single Cylinder

So far, I'm very happy with this rig. Folks with a lot of heavy work would probably do better with a larger machine, but for "estate" use for someone with a few acres like me, it's peachy!

 

[jasonf]

It really is amazing what you can do with these sized backhoes. I have dug out trees, fixed a well point, cleared the ditches around my driveway, and repaired my septic system. In my mind this hoe as already paid for itself !

I can't wait until spring. I have the Barn footings to fix up and need to clear around the stream at the front of the property. These hoes are great. I'm sure that people who have Cats or Case big sized equipment will laugh at ours, but for my uses it is just perfect. I know that I can't excavate a basement, my backhoe does have it limits, but for what I do I have not come up against them yet.....