Backhoe Removing/Storing BH46 Backhoe

[Strangerover]

Just wondering if anybody has a good solution for removing and storing the BH46. I have a 2520 and have never removed the backhoe. I was curious if anybody had made a dolly with casters that facilitates moving that evil thing around, once removed. Or has anybody fabbed up a stand, or something that makes removing it easier/safer. I'll admit; it intimidates me a little. I have a decent sized concrete floor, and want to be able to move it; kind of like a car in a body shop.

 

[ricklman]

Search the forums for "Moving Dollies"... This one came up
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/225703-48-448-485-dolly-build.html

 

[C-Range]

Hi Strangerover,

The center of gravity is just about right under the valve body. I don't have a cart for my 46 but it sits on a block under the said location with another support block under the bucket (fully retracted dipperstick) to keep it from teetering. If you build a cart for it, you should only need to bridge those two areas.

And if you are going to build a cart, one piece of advice would be to construct it so that the height is just right so it slides right onto the shafts at the rear of the tractor (Accomplishing this is probably the hardest part of attaching the 46). However, you will want to orient it with the front of the subframe tilted down a bit to get it under the tractor. It's probably not that hard to achieve.

If you build something, please circle back and share pics!

 

[HeyPops]

I know this is a very old post but...

I'm planning on building a storage cart for my 46 and am assuming 80+% of the weight (approx. 700 lbs) is contained in the back half of the implement (bucket thru seat) and the front portion of the frame is the remaining 20% (approx. 200 lbs).

My plan was to use a 2x6 frame with doubled 3/4" plywood base glued into dadoes in the frame using 6 heavy duty 5" swivel casters (600 lbs capacity each) for mobility. I assume that would be more than strong enough to support the 900 lbs weight of the 46.

I was planning on using a floor jack under the cart (positioned under the shaft hooks) to lift the frame (with cart) off the shafts so I didn't have to fret over the final height of the cart so long as it was close. I would just roll the cart under the 46, remove the drift pins at the front of the frame, jack the cart to lift the 46 off the shafts then roll the tractor forward and lower the jack. Sounds straight forward but I'm likely being extremely optimistic...

Am I in the right ballpark with my assumptions on weight distribution? Does my floor jack idea sound like it would work?

 

[dickfoster]

I know this is a very old post but...

I'm planning on building a storage cart for my 46 and am assuming 80+% of the weight (approx. 700 lbs) is contained in the back half of the implement (bucket thru seat) and the front portion of the frame is the remaining 20% (approx. 200 lbs).

My plan was to use a 2x6 frame with doubled 3/4" plywood base glued into dadoes in the frame using 6 heavy duty 5" swivel casters (600 lbs capacity each) for mobility. I assume that would be more than strong enough to support the 900 lbs weight of the 46.

I was planning on using a floor jack under the cart (positioned under the shaft hooks) to lift the frame (with cart) off the shafts so I didn't have to fret over the final height of the cart so long as it was close. I would just roll the cart under the 46, remove the drift pins at the front of the frame, jack the cart to lift the 46 off the shafts then roll the tractor forward and lower the jack. Sounds straight forward but I'm likely being extremely optimistic...

Am I in the right ballpark with my assumptions on weight distribution? Does my floor jack idea sound like it would work?

Why not use the stabilizers to lift the hoe. I just built a dolly for my backhoe. I get it close using the dolly casters, then hook up the hoses, start the tractor so the hydraulics on the hoe work. I use the hoe itself to rotate and hook up and use the stabilizers as necessary to lift the tractor end. A dolly makes putting it back on much easier than it was when I just dumped the hoe on the ground. I used two fixed and two swivel casters, each rated at 600 lbs on a hoe that weighs about a half ton. I got the 6" casters at Harbor Freight. Since the floor of my shed is just gravel I had to lay down a couple of sheets of 3/4" ply so the dolly would roll easy and smooth. I put the swivel casters on the bucket end and the fixed casters on the tractor end.

 

[HeyPops]

I've used the stabilizers in the past when I've just dropped the hoe on the floor but they are not very precise (at least mine aren't; very difficult to raise just 1/2" for example; very easy to overshoot). I was thinking of the floor jack just for ease and lift height precision when reattaching the hoe. I have a poured concrete floor so I can easily roll the cart into position then lift it onto the shafts.

Glad to hear that 600 lb capacity casters carry the load well

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I built a somewhat similar sounding base for the BH on my 3320. Not exactly how yours attaches, but a possible problem with the floor jack is sometimes not only is up / down movement needed, but sometimes it is only one end or the other. I found that sometimes the stabilizer arms leak down a bit during long storage, so now use a ratchet strap pulling the two into a stabilized up position. Also last winter had a bit of leak down on the bucket / boom, with the result the bucket slipped off the base.
I use the Stabilizer arms / bucket / boom to remove / install / position the BH.

 

[bspeedy]

Yeah - don't fool with the floor jack.

Just suspend the hoe with the stabilizers and bucket, move the tractor slightly forward / detach the hoe from the tractor, and raise the stabilizers to lower the heavy part of the backhoe onto the dolly. Use a ratchet strap to keep the stabilizers up. Mine rolls easily in this configuration and is simple to re-attach by reversing the steps.

Good luck.