Experiences with non-Kubota backhoes?

[Logginsteve]

As a soon-to-be new Kubota owner I decided to skip out on a Kubota backhoe option because the price puts it way out of my justification range. But there's a fair number of used ones out there that are inexpensive enough to be worth getting. The problem is I can't tell what I need to look for to know if it is "compatible" with my L3240. So two questions:

1. can a 3pt backhoe be used without mounting brackets for light to medium duty digging (i.e. not trying to wrestle boulders or stumps out)?

2. will Kubota's mounting brackets fit John Deere, New Holland, Woods, Bradco, etc. backhoes, or is it far more specific than that?

Any advice welcomed!

Steve

 

[Texas Fella]

1. I would not suggest running any backhoe with out subframes. I have seen too many of them brake the tractor housing. I am sure there will be several people on here that tell me that I am wrong because they have one and it never did that. I know that often times they work, but it only takes 1 opsy like hitting a rock and you have one massive repair bill that is not covered under warranty.

2. Subframes are very specific to tractor and BH. Not to say that you would never find 2 the same, but I would not bet on it.

Hope this helps!

 

[UWAdventurer]

I just bought a used L3400 with FEL and Woods 7500 frame mounted back hoe. I don't think from what I have read that I would want to go with the PTO mount. I did a lot of web surfing and talking to people. I can't tell yo any more that Texas Fella did, mounts seem to be specific to the tractors. Good luck in finding what you want.

 

[Logginsteve]

OK, so confirmed that it's a bad idea to use without frame mounting. I figured that, but always good to check I was expecting the framing brackets to be tractor specific, but what I'm curious about (and probably didn't phrase well) is if the various backhoe brands have universal mounts to mate up with the brackets. In other words, if I call up Kubota and get the correct brackets for a 3240, can I put a JD, NH, Bradco, Woods, etc. compact tractor sized backhoe on it? Or is it a mess of "it depends" that comes down to specific backhoe makes and models?

Thanks!

Steve

 

[aczlan]

OK, so confirmed that it's a bad idea to use without frame mounting. I figured that, but always good to check I was expecting the framing brackets to be tractor specific, but what I'm curious about (and probably didn't phrase well) is if the various backhoe brands have universal mounts to mate up with the brackets. In other words, if I call up Kubota and get the correct brackets for a 3240, can I put a JD, NH, Bradco, Woods, etc. compact tractor sized backhoe on it? Or is it a mess of "it depends" that comes down to specific backhoe makes and models?

You would get (from Woods for example) a subframe to install a Woods x9000 (made up model) backhoe to a Kubota L3240.
The subframe adapts from the tractor to that model backhoe quick attatch system.

Aaron Z

 

[IslandTractor]

I can highly recommend the Woods BH 70/80/90x line of backhoes. Really well made. They have a four point subframe mount which is compact though just a tad fussy with regard to mounting. I'd imagine the BH80x would be the right size for a L3240.

 

[Grandad4]

OK, so confirmed that it's a bad idea to use without frame mounting. I figured that, but always good to check I was expecting the framing brackets to be tractor specific, but what I'm curious about (and probably didn't phrase well) is if the various backhoe brands have universal mounts to mate up with the brackets. In other words, if I call up Kubota and get the correct brackets for a 3240, can I put a JD, NH, Bradco, Woods, etc. compact tractor sized backhoe on it? Or is it a mess of "it depends" that comes down to specific backhoe makes and models?

Thanks!

Steve

The backhoe company makes one standard model of backhoe (Such as a Woods BH80x) and then fabricates the mounting frames to put their backhoe on various tractors. But the Woods backhoe doesn't have the same attachment geometry as a Bradco backhoe or a factory Kubota hoe... each company has their own design, so it's not like a 3 point implement which uses standard dimensions.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

there is nothing universal, easy, or cheap about backhoes. If you've got the work for one, you just gotta bite the bullet and do it.

 

[Jeff Lary]

I have woods 7500 with a subframe. I can tell you that in my opinion if mine were 3 pt mounted the housing would definetly be broken by now. There is a lot of torque involved twisting left and right up down ect. Subframe is a must if you are gonna work it .

 

[Jay4200]

As a soon-to-be new Kubota owner I decided to skip out on a Kubota backhoe option because the price puts it way out of my justification range.

Any advice welcomed!

I don't like the Kubota branded backhoes - they seem to have some inherent engineering problems. I have a Woods 9' backhoe - it's a real beast and built WAY heavier than the equivalent Kubota 'hoe. I would suggest staying away from a 3pt mount - my backhoe can throw my L4200 around like so much tissue paper. I think a 3pt mount wouldn't last long (although the hoe does use the same mounting points in the back) due to the lateral stress created by the 'hoe.

As far as getting one or not....just look at my avitar pic - pretty cool eh? That could be you

JayC

 

[kcender]

I have an L3240 with a Kubota BH 90 backhoe.It will dig up to 9 feet and the tractor easily handles the weight of the backhoe.Because backhoes never seem to be strong enough or have enough reach I would recommend getting the biggest hoe that the tractor can handle.As a point of interest the Kubota hoe uses heavy brackets bolted to the tractor to mount the backhoe that also run to the front to attach the FEL.This makes for a very strong subframe in my opinion.:2cents:

 

[newbury]

Much smaller tractor, B7610, w/ a Woods BH70-X, but I could not imagine digging w/ a 3pt mount. I've almost damaged my FEL by thrashing the tractor around. I think I could grab on to an overhead limb and lift the entire tractor up.

To me a Backhoe is not a possession, it's an obsession!

 

[Logginsteve]

Thanks for the advice. Man, nothing is simple with these things EXCEPT ordering brand new and having the dealer install. Bah... it's just too much money. I think I have to give up the dream.

Option one is I can buy a used Case backhoe from up the road, with cab, that was recently overhauled for just $6000. Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know... a whole 'nother machine to maintain and house, but I could so so much more with that than any tractor mounted rig ever could.

The other option is to rent from my local equipment guys. They deliver for free because I'm close. At $375 a day that's about 24 full days (10-12 hours) of solid digging before hitting the break even point with a tractor mounted rig.

Dang, I had hoped there was a clever way around the price problem.

Steve

 

[IslandTractor]

The other option is to rent from my local equipment guys. They deliver for free because I'm close. At $375 a day that's about 24 full days (10-12 hours) of solid digging before hitting the break even point with a tractor mounted rig.

Dang, I had hoped there was a clever way around the price problem.

Steve

Don't rent a backhoe for your tractor, rent the whole excavator instead. It will do ten times the digging in a day that a tractor mounted backhoe can do.

 

[Logginsteve]

The $375 is for a small Case excavator (tracked). I can also rent full backhoe, or I can have my friend come out with a mid-sized excavator and do in 2 hours what would take me 2 days to do.

Still wish I could have a backhoe for my tractor, but for the money I could get a 3pt snow blower, mower deck, *and* a 10,000# utility trailer. Or a small log trailer with grappler.

The more I think about it the more my mind is blown by how much the backhoe attachments are when you start comparing it to other bits of equipment.

Steve

 

[IslandTractor]

Backhoes are useful and pricey. I think it only makes sense to actually own one if you have ongoing needs that cannot be met by periodic rental of a mini excavator or subcontracting out big excavator work. The investment is reasonably secure if you do buy a BH as they retain value if well maintained and can be transferred from one brand to another (especially Woods, Bradco, Rhino etc where new subframes can be easily purchased). However, the 7-9,000 bucks you tie up in the backhoe is, well, tied up and that is surely a big consideration for anyone. Is it better to invest in the BH or to spend a couple of thousand to do what you need done NOW via rental or subcontracting? It would be silly to tie up funds in a BH to do part of the project and be stymied because you don't have the bucks to buy the other appropriate implements to make progress on your land. For most folks, either subcontracting the excavator work or periodically renting a miniexcavator makes a lot of sense.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I don't like the Kubota branded backhoes - they seem to have some inherent engineering problems.

FYI. I sell both Woods and Kubota. I would not say we see more problems with one over the other. The few that crop up on TBN are anomilies in my mind. I'd say which is better really depends on your application. There are times when one has better subframes than the other, and times when one can be a stronger option.

 

[IslandTractor]

FYI. I sell both Woods and Kubota. I would not say we see more problems with one over the other. The few that crop up on TBN are anomilies in my mind. I'd say which is better really depends on your application. There are times when one has better subframes than the other, and times when one can be a stronger option.

Is the Kubota subframe easier to hook up? I found my old Kioti BH subframe much faster to hook up than the Woods 4pt subframe even though the Kioti one was much bigger and took up way more storage space.

 

[keyman1808]

Is the Kubota subframe easier to hook up? I found my old Kioti BH subframe much faster to hook up than the Woods 4pt subframe even though the Kioti one was much bigger and took up way more storage space.

Are you talking about putting the subframe on or hooking the BH itself upto the tractor and subframe. My subframe stays on the tractor. Never comes off.

Now hooking the BH itself up to my tractor is very easy. Back up, connect the lines, lower the boom, insert 2 pins and away you go. Its a kubota BH. The tractor is a BX24. Not sure if some of the other kubota BH are as easy.

 

[IslandTractor]

Are you talking about putting the subframe on or hooking the BH itself upto the tractor and subframe. My subframe stays on the tractor. Never comes off.

Now hooking the BH itself up to my tractor is very easy. Back up, connect the lines, lower the boom, insert 2 pins and away you go. Its a kubota BH. The tractor is a BX24. Not sure if some of the other kubota BH are as easy.

That is similar to the Kioti subframe. There are two parts to it. A relatively small part is permanently attached to the tractor and the larger part is attached to the BH. Line up, back over it, connect and use hydraulics to lift into the "locks", drop the pins and you are done. With the Woods four point subframe there is also part on the tractor and part on the BH but it is much much shorter (easier to store by about five feet) BUT the lining up process is a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle as all four points need to be lined up simultaneously and you need to insert threaded bolts not tapered pins to hold everything together. I could mount the Kioti BH in five minutes but I routinely spend 15-30 minutes dicking around with the Woods trying to get everything lined up. If I did it daily it would be easier but doing it three or four times a season is harder.