Backhoe Need help on backhoe swap woods 7500 to bradco 408

tradeshowdude · Jun 29, 2002

Greetings all,
I am using a woods 7500 on a kubota 4310 with frame mount and pto kit. I was accustomed to a more powerfull 3 pt hitch hoe prior so was a bit disapointed with how easily I was able to dead head the hydraulics on the woods 7500. The dealer has offered to sell me a new {several years old, still sitting uninstalled} bradco 408 and plumb it to the tractors hydraulics for an additional 1500 {1000 more for the hoe and 500 off the tradein on the new hoe {used less than an hour}
Total out of pocket cost about 7200 plus tax {this is with a 10" and 24" bucket}. I paid roughly 5800 for the woods 7500 with an 8" and 24" bucket.

Basically, there was no way for me to preview the woods or for that matter the bradco but I can see the bradco 408 is a heavier built machine, the cylinders are 1/2" larger all the way around than the woods it weighs about 300lbs more and is just tougher looking and will dig to 8 feet. Since all I have to go on is specifications I can see that it is not quite as beefy as the woods 9000 {dipperstick and bucket curl are more than the 7500 but less than the 9000}

This will be my last option and there won't be any going back. I really wish I could preview the dumb thing as specifications aren't everything.

If cost were not a major concern, should I try to sell the woods myself and go for the 9000?
Any thoughts/oppinions welcome.

John

Kodiak · Jun 29, 2002

Have you considered plumbing the Woods 7500 straight in to your L4310 hydraulics.
I have the same hoe on my TC29, plumbed to the tractor hydraulics. I find it has lots of power. The only time I've stalled the hydraulics were on a rock that turned out to be 4 ft in diameter and a 6 in. tree root. I'd think that even that bradco would have trouble there.
You might also have your dealer check out where the Woods releif valve is opening, maybe theres a problem there.
The Bradco is a good option, lots of them in commercial use around here ( with the landscape installation companies ). I considered the 408 myself, but the $6800 versus the $5500 that I paid for the Woods was the convincing factor for me.

BX22Captain · Jun 30, 2002

The Woods 7500 is a great hoe, but as you’ve discovered when put on a larger machine it will go into relief quickly because you have plenty of machine weight anchoring it to the ground.

The Bradco hoe is the best on the market and the 408 is twice the hoe that the 7500 is. You will feel a significant difference in power from this set up on your 4310. My biggest concern at this point would be reach not power. The 408 is only going to give you a little bit more reach and depth than the 7500. If you do a lot of deep trenching go for the Woods 9000 or a Bradco 509 or 609. This will give you both the power and reach one would be accustom to with a large tractor like the 4310.

The one good thing about the Bradco is that I believe you don’t have to take off the 3 point arms to install the sub-frame.

Good luck, You can’t go wrong with either of your choices.

Tinmann · Jun 30, 2002

I have the Bradco 509 on my 3710. I have found it more than strong enough to lift or move my tractor without any problem! I have to be careful at times since it has more power than I could ever use. My problem would be the counter balance weight of the tractor. Just some info help make your decision.