2520 with 46 Backhoe

[BethesdaEC]

I am getting ready to buy a 2520 or possibly a 2320 with a 200CX and 46 backhoe. Looking at the 2520 it appears that the 3 point hitch has to be removed to mount the backhoe but the not all of the links on the hitch have quick releases, the lower turn buckles in particular seem very difficult to remove. Is there something that I am missing that would allow me to quickly switch from a box blade to backhoe and back again quickly.

 

[FastPauly]

Correct...the draft links, sway links and lift arms need to be removed to intall the hoe....no big deal once you do it a couple of times.
Below is a link to the 46 hoe manual....see the section on mounting/dismounting the hoe. This should clear things up for you.

OMLVU17729_F6

 

[FastPauly]

Update; I guess the hoe manual does not show how to remove the draft links very well. Each side (draft arm, lift rod and sway link) is removed as one unit by removing pin that attaches the lift rod to the rockshaft arms. The draft arm and sway link is detached from the tractor by removing pin and sliding shaft "D" outward. This shaft slips through the draft arm and sway link. I marked each draft arm unit with a paint stick signifying Right/Left....helps me quickly get things back together when putting the arms back on the tractor.

Hope this helps........

 

[BethesdaEC]

Thanks, I knew that there had to be an easier way.

 

[jc21]

How much would I-Match and a MMM complicate hooking up the backhoe on a 2520?

 

[BethesdaEC]

I think that the I-Match would be a waist of time with the backhoe since I will probably only use the blade box a hand full of times a year. As for the MMM, I don't need one, I have a Bob-Cat Fast-Cat Pro zero turn for that duty.

 

[BethesdaEC]

Do you think that I will need to ballast the tires? The BH is going to weigh in at about 900 pounds. I believe that it should be well balanced, but opinions are welcome, utility tractors are new to me.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I had a 4115 w/46 hoe and did not have ballast in the tires...never had a problem.

 

[wooden]

My problem with all this is, I watched the JD video before buying my 2720 and in the Video they showed the operator backing up to the backhoe and picking it up, got off to connect the hydraulics and drove away. This I come to find out is not so, With any backhoe that I may buy, I'd have to remove the MMM brackets, Remove the draft arms to mount the Hoe brackets . Since the most use is grass cutting and bush hogging, i find this is just too much work to go from one implement to another. I am angry with my dealer for not pointing this out to me when he knew full well that I intended to buy a hoe later on for that machine. As I see it , It's almost easier to buy a whole machine with a backhoe than to hassle with the work involved in this type of installation. Of course I have not researched the possibility of a 3PT hitch Hoe that runs off the PTO. Would appreciate any input on this subject.

 

[pdp11]

If you have the independent lift for the MMM, the whole lift mechanism has to come off to allow the BH to attach. That is, unless you modify (notch) the under-frame of the BH, as I saw pictures of someone doing here in another thread.

I only briefly thought of adding a BH to my 2520 when I first spec'd it. I quickly realized that it would be non-trivial to get it on and off, and it would take up way too much storage space when not in use. I figured I could rent a machine for the number of times I'd actually use the BH.

IMHO: I think there are certain combinations of attachments that work well together on the 2520. I think the BH would be fine if left on most of the time, or even in a setup where no MMM was used. But certain combinations make it a chore to switch tasks.

What you really need is two 2520's. One with the BH and FEL attached all the time, and the other with MMM, along with 3PH and front mounted implements.