Backhoe Removing BH77

[redsox1]

New tractor owner, recently purchased an L3800 w/ FEL and BH77. I also bought a couple of attatchments I'm itching to try out (bush hog and chipper). The BH came attatched to the tractor via the sub frame and is supposed to be fairly easy to take off and put back on. When the tractor was delivered they talked me through the process quickly but by then I was in sensory overload :confused2:. Can anyone walk me through the process of removing the BH, especially the part about disconnecting the hydraulic hoses and then how they are hooked up while the unit (BH) is disconnected. Also anything to watch for in reattatching it back later. What I'd really like is a checklist, do this , do this, do this & bam you're done.
Having a ball w/ the tractor so far (if it'll ever stop raining), five hours in the seat and no problems, well OK I did ding the mailbox a little w/ the FEL moving mulch around but my wife didn't see it so I don't think that counts:laughing: thanks in advance for any help.

 

[paulwestski]

Didn't the dealer give you all of the operators manuals??

 

[redsox1]

Thanks for the valuable feedback. My mistake, I thought this was a tractor forum to exchange views and provide help to members. Next time I'll stick to the manuals and hope for the best.

 

[johnrex62]

Thanks for the valuable feedback. My mistake, I thought this was a tractor forum to exchange views and provide help to members. Next time I'll stick to the manuals and hope for the best.

Don't get so prickly son. If I knew I would tell you. I don't have one though.

The point was that the procedure is outlined in the manual and you should not rely on second hand info when you have the official guide in your possession as it might differ a tad from other models and we may not know that.

This forum is great for tips, tricks and warnings and best for a wide range of opinions. You manual is best for procedures. Maybe if Paulwestski did not get prickly too he will describe what his manual says if you still need it. :thumbsup:

 

[paulwestski]

Thanks for the valuable feedback. My mistake, I thought this was a tractor forum to exchange views and provide help to members. Next time I'll stick to the manuals and hope for the best.

No need to be short......In order to write a accurate detailed step by step checklist for removal of the BH77 for you I'd have to get my operators manual out and review the manufacturers reccomended procedure.
Perhaps if you posted your interpretation of the factory step by step checklist procedure others could post with comments, tip and tricks.
A couple of tips:
Have a rag ready when you uncouple the hydraulic quick disconnects, they'll dribble about a teaspoon of fluid from the female end when disconnected.
Make certain you shut down the tractor and relive hydraulic pressure before you disconnect the hydraulic lines.


John
I wasn't being "prickley" just curious what info the OP has already. If he didn't have the manual we could have taken the time to scan our manual to PM to him.

 

[redsox1]

Sorry. it's a little stressful removing the Bh for the first time, I don't want to screw something up right off the bat. I will review the manual some more and see how detailed it gets for the procedure.

 

[paulwestski]

The hardest part is putting it back on. Take your time and make certain you back the tractor up to the backhoe exactly centered and square to the BH.

I think that the manual tells you to lower the BH to the ground once you pull the tractor away before you disconnect the Hydro lines.
My method. I cut a chunk of 8x8 to fit under the BH (Right where the boom and out riggers attach to the removable frame) so that the BH sits a 1/2" higher than it was when I pulled the tractor forward. The 8x8 will keep the BH from settling/lowering, accidentally lowering on someones foot. This way when you go to put the BH back on you can back the tractor all the way up to the BH so that the lower pins are in the slots but not down in the hooks. Set the PB, shut down the tractor, relieve hydro pressure, reconnect the BH hydro lines, restart the tractor, and then just manipulate the boom to lower the BH into the lower hooks, raise the BH to align the upper pin holes and slide the upper pins into place.

Pay close attention to which holes the upper pin sliding retainer locks go into. They need to go into the lower holes so that gravity keeps them in place.

Good luck and enjoy, Again the hardest part is backing the tractor up to the BH PERFECTLY ALIGNED!!!!!

 

[kcender]

I know it won't help you now but a dolly will make the job way easier.If you will be removing the BH on a regular basis it is certainly worth the effort to make one or have one made.I have a dolly that I made for my BH90 and it makes the job almost effortless and very quick.Also the dolly allows the outriggers to stay up which requires less space in your garage and the whole unit can be wheeled out of the way.

 

[paulwestski]

Kcender
Could you please post some pictures of your BH dolly??

 

[UWAdventurer]

Yes please, we want pics!

 

[sxs191]

You can go to YouTube and type in; 'removing Kubota backhoe' and get dozens of videos demonstrating how to remove and attach it. Not all tractors will be the same as yours but it should be the same procedure. Scott

 

[redsox1]

Thanks for the tip on YOUTUBE. I'm always suprised that every single thing you can think of is on there somewhere. I could only find examples of removing the BH on BX25's but that was close enough to get me comfortable with the process. I think a dolly is the way to go eventually but I'll try it without first to get an idea of the size/height dolly to build. Wish me luck, I'll probably take the BH off later today. Thanks for the replies.

 

[redsox1]

Took the BH off yesterday, went pretty well but I'll tweak my technique a little next time and it should be even easier. Also attatched 3 pt arms and then put on chipper (Wallenstein BX42). Some trouble lining up lift arms but I guess thats normal. Chipper ran well on branches but then jammed on saplings w/ lots of leaves attatched. I'm going to check the factory blade gap setting to see if that was off a bit. Thanks again for the advice, so far so good. Later I'll see how the reattach of the BH goes.

 

[hill]

You put it down on a level firm spot, right? You don't want it sinking to where you can't get things lined up when reinstalling.

The main thing is not to unhook the pressure lines until you've got the BH down and unpinned. Otherwise you can't use the controls to dick it around level and aligned for easy pin removal. Same goes when putting it back on - position the tractor to let you hook up the hydraulics and then WITH PRACTICE you can pretty well walk the hoe into place making minor adjustments with the hydraulics. Saves a lot of headaches and even maybe a squished finger or two.

Agree about youtube - it's great! Amazing how many 'instructors' come out of the woodwork to put up a tape on how to do every little thing.

 

[Verdemont]

A little late as I see you already got it off. I had the same dilemma as I bought a B3300SU with BH77 and also a PHD and a blade. Luckily the dealer had to come back to my place a few weeks after delivery to fix a problem with the PHD as delivered. The service guy showed me in real time how to remove the backhoe. It is quite easy as you learned. What I really learned is to find a level/almost level place to drop it that is not close to the edge of anything else. I also put 6x6's under mine on the front and back of the main platform. My backhoe was off for about 10 days.

When I put it on I was by myself and I was a little worried. Not bad. What I learned again is to back up the tractor EXACTLY in line with the BH. I was slightly off to one side, like 1/2". Try to get it just right. Then turn the tractor off. Connect the hoses. Turn the tractor on and using the stabilizers and boom lift the BH up until the pins are ready to go on the tractor. I actually scooted my BH up to the tractor and onto the lower pins w/o moving the tractor again. Then move the boom more until the top pins are ready to go in.

I had no issue reattaching the hoses despite the fact that it was hot and sunny outside.

On my B3300SU, I of course had to remove the 3 point arms and store them. Then there was a little "other" metal piece that I was told to put above the metal plate and then put a pin back in. Not sure why. I can take a picture of that helps. All in all the reattachment was a 15 minute job but I bet I could do it in 5-10 next time.

Tom

 

[redsox1]

I put my BH in one of my garage bays (concrete floor). It takes up a car space but its nice and level. Between having to take off the 3 pt hitch and reattatch BH, its enough of a hassle that I don't want to have to do it all the time. I'll leave off the BH for awhile (a week or two) while I get in some chipper and brush hog time.

 

[ChuckinNH]

It is as important to get the tractor itself in a place that is as level as possible before you remove the hoe. The first time I did it, the rear tires of the tractor were very near the edge of my paved driveway. I applied the parking brake, and it was no trouble at all to take the backhoe off. Putting it back on was a bit of a hassle though because I just couldn't stop the tractor in just the right place, and I was too nervous to think about using the backhoe itself to move the unit ahead. One other thing rarely mentioned is to just go to the dealer where that is possible, and have them show you again in real time. They can be understanding about the excitement, and overload of getting your first new tractor, and backhoe. Usually they would rather help than face repairs if you damage the unit in the process while learning. Sometimes just the way you are thinking about the task can make more difference than you would think. For example, the first few times I put mine back on I viewed it as a process of "lifting it on", and had some trouble with little things that sometimes took a few tries to get right. Once I started thinking about it as a process of pivoting it back on using the bottom two pins as a pivot, it went consistantly much easier. Of course getting the bottom two pins in the sockets is more of a lifting process. There were times that I wished the hydraulic hoses were just a hair longer though! That 4 point mount sure is one of the nicest Kubota designs though, and I would have a hard time buying a tractor / backhoe where the full subframe had to come off each time. Have fun!

 

[redsox1]

The sub frame design does seem very sturdy but I wish they could have figured out a way to keep the 3 pt hitch on w/ the BH attached. It'll get easier w/ practice (I hope) but what a hassle to put the 3 pt back on/off everytime I want to use an attachment. I really wanted the BH but it really complicates things. (there, I'm done venting)

 

[fredhargis]

I don't have the L3800, so it may be slightly different for me, but the 3 point arms are the easiest part of mounting the hoe..:laughing:. The first time you try to put it back on, choose a day when everything is perfect, you're bothered by nothing, and have lots of time to waste. Having the manual on the seat is good, and don't forget your dictionary of bad words....they really help:thumbsup:. Seriously, for me the first time was actually easier than the second time...go figure.

 

[kcender]

Kcender
Could you please post some pictures of your BH dolly??

I finally got some pictures of the dolly,been kind of busy.It is made of one and a half inch square tubing with three sixteenths walls.The casters are four inch because I already had them but they could have been six inch.There are different ways to make a dolly but this is my version which seems to work fine.