Backhoe B2920 BH65 Install and Removal ?

[Kelsir66]

I traded my BX2660 in on a new B2920 TLB so I had the backhoe for some home projects. I took the backhoe off for the first time a couple weeks ago. I have about 8 hrs on it now. When I started to remove it, the pin on the left side came out with no problem at all. The one one the right would not move. I had to use the stabilizers to move around to get the pressure off and a pair of channel locks to remove. Putting it back on was worst. After getting it back on, I took it back to the dealer and they adjusted which didn't solve the problem. I noticed that the bottom right side pin is not sitting in the saddle completely. It's up about 3/16" from bottoming out. This puts all the pressure on the pin and not the saddle. Has anyone else had this problem? I tried loosening all the subframe bolts on the right side only and used a floor jack on the subframe but this had no effect. Thx.

 

[KennyV]

The 'saddle' is there to assist in mounting & dismounting... The Pin is is what is designed to support the attachment.

 

[sandyc]

I have a 2620 with the same BH. The first time I removed the BH I had much the same problem. The next couple of times it got better although I still have to fiddle with the stabilizers from time to time. I made a dolly out of a wood (30" x 6' king pine) plank and two furniture dollies from Loews. The dolly allows me to position the bottom pins against the sub-frame and just use the boom control to lift the BH into position. Both of the bottom pins are in contact with the sub-frame when the BH is installed. I think all four of the pins must be weight bearing in order for the BH to be installed properly. IMHO the dealer needs to look over the installation and make sure that the sub-frame is correctly installed. Something doesn't sound right. There was an thread that I read somewhere that mentioned that some sub-frames on one of the models wasn't made correctly. Don't know if that might relate to your problem. Hopefully your dealer will get it sorted out.

 

[fdcapt50]

I have the 2920 with hoe also. The first time I dismounted the hoe it was tight as you described. Have not had any problems after that. I can dismount and reinstall in about 5 minutes. It takes longer to place jack stands under hoe to support it so it doesn't leak down and make for hard mounting. I also have to manipulate the dipper and stabilizers to adjust to fit pins. Good luck, play with it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Looking at the Kubota website, the 2x20 series backhoe mounts the same as my B26 and should have full contact in both saddles and pins. If not something is wrong. If you set the backhoe in the saddles, then the pins should line up perfectly when you raise the back hoe up by using the boom. It should be like putting on a QA bucket, drop the ears in the saddle then bring up the backhoe till the pins holes align. IF you are on uneven ground, it will be very difficult to get everything to align and you would need to use the stabilizers and the boom to maneuver it to align. You need a place to hook and unhook that is perfectly level like a driveway that is big enough for tractor and hoe to set on and be on the same even planes.

 

[Kelsir66]

 

[Kelsir66]

Thanks for all the replies. I finally had a chance to go and take a pic of how the pin does not bottom out in the saddle. All the weight on the right side is on the pin itself. Just wanted to say that i really enjoy reading all the valuable information that each and everyone posts.

 

[sandyc]

Been thinking about your situation and I would guess that the right side sub-frame is too high. If you can get the tractor on an even surface you could use a level to see if one side or the other is off.

 

[deathtoblackberries]

Just got my B2920 with BH delivered yesterday, I'll compare mine to your photo.

 

[Kelsir66]

Thanks again. I work weekends and hope to be able to take have some decent weather this coming week to be able to work on it again. I think I'll loosen all bolts on the subframe and start from scratch. Hopefully that's all it is. I don't have a garage so I'm at the mercy of the weather which has been rain or snow about everyday I'm off or just to cold.

 

[Delphicoder]

My B2920 with BH65 has the same gap as your does on one side. I don't think raising the sub-frame on one side will help will it, since it is all one piece (where the bottom pin rests, and where the top pin threads through). I always put by backhoe on and off in the driveway, which is NOT level (it is gravel with a slope). Never too much of a hassle, I just have to fiddle with it. Never noticed it until I read this post.

Let me know if you fix it and if it makes a difference. I am leaning towards a previous posters comment that the top pins are what actually hold it on, and the bottom ones are for alignment and such. Looking forward to your answer.

 

[deathtoblackberries]

Okay I removed my backhoe this weekend, had to tap the pins out with a hammer, they were snug but I was able to turn them by hand. Tonight I reinstalled the backhoe, 5 minutes to line up the tractor, maybe 5 more to connect the hydraulics, hoist it up on the lower mounts, raise it up and put the pins back in, fairly easy. I did grease the pins and pin holes as they were dry and had very light corrosion. I was able to put the pins in about 3/4 of the way by hand then tapped them the rest of the way in with a hammer, light taps it didn't take much.

Now here's the deal, I tested the pin fit with the backhoe off on the floor, the pins fit loose in the backhoe and they fit loose in the backhoe frame so any tightness would be due to alignment not paint.

 

[sandyc]

My pins fit tight sometimes. I find that if I raise the stabilizers very very slowly (engine idling)while keeping one hand one the pin I can feel when the pin is loose and is ready to come out or go back in. I am guessing that we have to finesse the pins in and out. You might also try raising the bh by lifting it up by rolling the bucket.

 

[Kelsir66]

I just wanted to post that i finally had a chance today to loosen my subframe completely and tried several different things to see if the right side would set down completely in the saddle. I mounted the backhoe with the subframe loose and also used the backhoe with down pressure to raise the subframe. Each time i tighened it in any position, it was the same result. A gap still appears on the bottom right. Left pin pulls with ease like the ones on the front loader but the right one is stubborn. I use the stabilizers and then I find the happy spot. Once the pins pulls loose from the outside edge of the frame, it slides the rest of the way with ease. I think i may try to put just a little up pressure with a floor jack tomorrow at the pin area on the backhoe and see if that allows the pin to pull free without binding. If that works, I may fit the saddle on the side with some shim material to build up the difference. If it works, I'll post the result.

 

[deathtoblackberries]

Is the lower backhoe pin bent or welded on crooked? One of mine looks straight, the other not so straight.

 

[Kelsir66]

I didn't think to look at the backhoe itself. I'll check it tomorrow also. I'll take a tape measure and measure each side from pin to saddle and see if they are the same. Right side pin just pulls out so easy. I'll keep on working until I find a simple solution to make the right side pull just as easy. Lol. Im not sure where the pin is binding, top or bottom, or maybe on one side. I'll take a sharpie and color the end and tap it lightly and remove to see where i am binding. I did notice one thing. Where the backhoe has been removed several times now, i have a small spot on the right side that has rubbed the paint off. Other side has no rub marks.

 

[Kelsir66]

 

[Kelsir66]

I went over today to where I store my backhoe and I had thought about an idea to try and see if it would work. I put the backhoe down with pressure and the left pin pulled with no problem at all. The right one was binded tight. I got my floor jack and put under the backhoe where it sits in the saddle. I took the jack and added just enough pressure to the backhoe as if was bottomed out in the saddle. I checked the pin on the right side and it pulled with no problem at all. The problem is the subframe is off about 3/16's of an inch. I took a picture and sent it to the dealer to show that gap in the saddle and the pin to see if Kubota will do anything about it. I just bought it August 24th of 2012. I hope to get an answer sometime next week. I know that is just a minor issue that I can live with but at $30,000+, I just want it to right. I'll post what I find out ASAP.

 

[tractchores]

On mine I've had to tap a hammer at first, though with age it got loose (I did have a tight fit originally even w/o the BH on). Now when taking it off I do find that the down pressure needed to remove the pins is different. The left one comes out easily and then I slowly ease the down pressure by raising the boom as I pull on the right one until the right one comes out. I suspect it's just due to the BH being slightly out of line or not level.

I do use a dolly that I built and described in the below thread. That helps a lot to line it up and I do not use the stabilizers at all to mount / dismount. You probably know this, but you want it supported entirely by the saddle when mounting / dismounting VS having weight on the stabilizers.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/236155-bh65-backhoe-dolly-build.html

 

[Kelsir66]

I like the dolly you built. I had seen it before and sent the thread to my brother which has a B3030. I thought he would like the dolly since he had talked about making something so he could move it around when he removed his backhoe from his tractor. I contacted Kubota about the BH65 weight when I bought the tractor. They gave me weight of 1400lbs. Do you know if that is about right? Do you have any flex in the wooden dolly as you move it around? I would of guessed it around 800 to 1000lbs maybe.