Backhoe New 2310 - Tweaked backhoe mount?

DeFens · Mar 1, 2009

This weekend I took off the backhoe on my new (9 hours) 2310. Followed the directions in the owner's manual and it was off in about 5 minutes. Both of the removable pins were nice and loose when I put a bit of strain on the boom - they slid right out and I was able to tilt the hoe away with the boom, etc.

I set up the 3-point, attached my box grader and played around with it for an hour or so, and then decided to hook the backhoe up again.

I was able to get one of the pin holes to line up for an easy slide fit, but for the life of me, there was no way I could get the other pin to slide in easily. I tried every gyration I could with the hydraulics to tilt, swing, etc. the mount into position, but it always was just a bit off. Eventually I tapped the pin in with a hammer, but it sure didn't require that when I took it off in the first place.

Now, the one pin that slide easily still slides, but the out-of-alignment one is still tight as heck.

Any ideas of what might have been tweaked? Is there some adjustment in the backhoe mount that I need to make?

Any assistance would be welcomed!

BTW - I just got this tractor a couple of weeks ago, and totally love it. We're clearing some trails on our property, and the little backhoe is MUCH nicer than using a grub hoe to manually remove blackberry vines and roots.

Thanks!

Mike

rayban1 · Mar 1, 2009

Hey sorry to hear that. I am getting my gc2410 in about 2 weeks. Also getting it in Stanwood Wa Valley Repair. I would call Karl over there and ask him. Very helpful and know's massey's very well. How do you like your tractor so far. Also getting a thumb attachement. Any pics? would like to see the canopy you talked about. Did you see the post i posted about bxpanded dollys, wonder if it would make it easier to load and unload. I am getting a few attachments with my tractor will post pics when I get it. Again call Karl he will help you out........Ray ...........

irvingj · Mar 1, 2009

DeFens-- you should definitely contact your dealer, as new as the tractor is.... the only thing I can think of is that many folks have discovered bolts/nuts that needed re-torquing; I know the manual says to check everything often for tightness.

I've had my BH off several times, but have no 3-pt hitch implements... and each time the BH has gone back on with no problems. I was just wondering if there were sections of the additional support/frame for the BH that are bolted on rather than welded...? (It's cold & dark outside where my tractor is!)

Another possibility-- Is there any chance the tractor can't sit squarely due to low tire pressure on one side?

Bever22 · Mar 1, 2009

Is the 3ph folded up all the way, I had that problem once. It may look like it is but sometimes it hangs out a little too far.

Tompet · Mar 1, 2009

Defens, Bever22 is right about checking that both 3pt arms folded up correctly. I had my BH several times with no problem, but last fall in a cold rain and a hurry I had one of the lift arms just rotated slightly out of position and that was enough to cause about 45 minutes of frustration figuring out what was causing the difficulty. I twisted arm slightly and bh slid right in place.

Rob2310 · Mar 1, 2009

Be certain that nothing is on the bottom of the mount and the pin on the backhoe. The smallest piece of dirt or rock can cause your problem. Also, make sure that you have plenty of room between the lift arms and the backhoe frame, as I bent my left arm the first time I put my backhoe on. The tab on the PTO guard had to be "tweaked" to allow the arm to go backk far enough to miss the backhoe. Good Luck and let us know what the problem was.

DeFens · Mar 2, 2009

Thanks for the advice, guys!

I drove the one pin back out and took the BH back off this afternoon. Since the tractor was a demo and had been parked outside for close to a year, there was a bit of rust in the cradle on the side that wouldn't line up properly. I scraped and wire brushed the rust and some other crud out of both cradles, and everything lined up perfectly. Tractor and owner are happy campers again!

irvingj · Mar 3, 2009

OK--Something to watch for. Glad you got it figured out, and I've made a note of it, too--- thanks!

jaybrad · Mar 3, 2009

It gets a lot easier with practice, and I can attest to how those 3PH arms look like they are in the right place, but are just a touch off - and that makes all the difference.

I have found that if I get the tractor properly aligned with the BH, it goes on nice and smooth. There is also a trick to using the right combination of stabilizer arms and bucket hydraulics to get everything aligned. I was pretty good at it during the summer when I took the BH on and off several times to attach other implements, but now that I have had the snow blower on for what seems like an eternity, I'm sure it will take a few tries for me to get back into that groove.

One suggestion for when you take the BH off and lower the trailing arms - watch where you stand. Last summer I removed the rubber cord that holds them in place and one of the arms fell square on my toes. Of course, since this was only going to "take a minute"

, I was wearing sandals at the time. The result? 2 broken toes and a complete absence of sympathy from both my wife and daughter.

Enjoy your 2310 - it's a great tractor.

Jay

Paystar · Mar 4, 2009

Next time one of you is taking your bh on or off can we see some pics of how the 3pt arms fold up? I'm just curious, all the GC's I've looked at either had the bh on. I'm just curious to see the procedure as I still have a bit longer before I purchase.