Backhoe Best backhoe for B7500

VT_Kioti · Jan 14, 2004

Good Evening TBNer's
I need some ideas and advice. I am going to purchase a backhoe for my B7500 this spring and am getting all kinds of conflicting information about this.
First--I am told to be sure to get a sub frame mount. Then I am told don't bother with the sub-frame, it just costs more money.
Next--I am told I MUST get a PTO mounted hydraulic pump. Then I am told if the tractor hydo pump is with in the limits of the backhoe specs, I can just plug into the tractor since it will not be doing anything else but running the hoe.

Lastly Kubota? Landpride? Woods? Which will be the easiest to use and mount?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

Al

LateBloomer · Jan 14, 2004

VT Orange, I went through this agonizing decision when I bought my B7500. You can read lots on this forum on the subject. I vacillated between subframe vs 3ph over and over. Finally I was convinced by the salesman and others on this forum that the 3ph is safe and stable. The B7500 mount system is pretty beefed up to handle the 3ph attachment. I think the biggest issue for me was putting the thing on and taking it off. I consider myself somewhat handy but the first time I put the 4972 back on it took 2 hours and more colorful language than I would like to admit. The second time was about an hour ordeal and third about 30 minutes. I can probably do it now in about 20 minutes predictably. I'm still learning nuances so hopelfully I can get it down quicker with more experience this summer. The other main reason I went with the 4972 was to maintain the clearance of my tractor. I almost bought the BX 22 but I have pretty bumpy property. The subframe for the B7500 would have limited my clearance to almost the same figure of the BX 22.

art · Jan 14, 2004

The Kubota hoe was built for that tractor by the people who know the tractor best.

cbh · Jan 14, 2004

Ditto everything that LateBloomer said, plus, if you or a potential future owner ever decide to use a mid-mount mower deck, some of the subframe mounts are not compatible.

GregJ · Jan 14, 2004

Boy, it sounds like we're loading the deck with Kubota 4672 fans. This is really unusual to get 4 responses in a row that agree..... Kinda makes me nervous /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. I agree with all the above. I have used mine extensively over the last year and a half and love it. I leave it on the tractor all the time and remove it about twice a month to move a pallet of firewood. With this much practice, I have it down to about 3 minutes to drop it and 5-10 to reinstall it. It's just like anything else, practice makes it a lot easier. Personally I like the PTO pump. To me, it is a lot cleaner and it really is very simple to install.

Just one more opinion. Have fun shopping.

Greg

VT_Kioti · Jan 15, 2004

Thanks for the help. Part of my confusion, I think, is coming from dealers. I have checked with Kubota dealers in the area and all agree that the B4672A is as good as it gets, BUT all want to sell it with the sub-frame mount and PTO hydraulics.
Other dealers (non Kubota) in the area offer the other makes and one tells me that vibration and stresses from a 3PT mount will cause transmission cracks and other problems (loose bolts, etc). Another tells me that while the B4672A is a great hoe, the Landpride is as good and can be 3PT mounted and use the tractor hydraulics. This would cost less. The question came about with the Landpride hoe. It uses pressure between 3.5 and 4.5gph. The B7500 produces 4.4gph. So it seemed that this might be a possibility.

Art, I liked your answer “The Kubota hoe was built for that tractor by the people who know the tractor best.” That certainly made sense to me.
I am not asking any one to endorse a product, just help me see through the Mounting and Hydraulics issues.

I am definitely going for the Kubota B4672A hoe and it looks like if I do I will not have a choice on the mount or PTO hydraulics.

Al

garbageman · Jan 17, 2004

Being a newbie and having only 15hrs on my 7500, take it for what it's worth. I went with a Woods 6500, frame mounted, 12" bucket ,using the tractors hydro's. I also went back and forth with what to buy. The dealer and many people who visit TBN recommended the frame mounted unit. Woods makes a "4" point, frame mounted unit which will not decrease your ground clearance, so I been told. However the backhoe is sitting in the dealers wherehouse, no need for till the spring. This set up was 5,700. I bought it with the tractor.
Have Fun
Ray

PondKeeper · Jan 19, 2004

Al,

I went through the same as you and everyone else. On any day I thought I had it decided, but then I could just as easily flip.

I finally went with my dealers opinion thinking he is the guy I will be calling, not just for problems, they are rare, I need him for the everyday help until I have enough experience.

So I went with a Woods 6500 but that was the easiest decision, the mounting and hydrulics were the tougher decision. Mine is 3 pt mounted and uses the tractor pump.

After one season of use, I have no complaints at all. The pump is absolutely adequate (can't use the BH and FEL from the BH seat at the same time) and the mount is solid. BTW, besides the ground clearence being more, the 3 pt is also shorter (I believe). In any tight spots the extra tail can do some damage banging trees, fencing /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif, and garage door. NOT that any of that has happened to me /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

BTW, the backhoe has got to be the best attachment in my book, just expensive, if you think you have enough projects to justify one, just wait until you have it, it does so much more.

Mike

Rick Jay · Jan 19, 2004

VT_Orange,

Welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I have a Woods 7500 with subframe and separate hydraulic pump on my B2910. I personally don't think you could go wrong with either the Kubota or Woods hoe. I think the subframe mount gives a bit more "beef" to the mount to perhaps add an extra layer of "oops" protection, but that's just my opinion.

If you want to read about another option, try this:

Woods 7500 on Kubota B7500!!!

I don't know if I'd recommend this set-up, but it seems to work for the few that have tried it. If your dealer is supportive of backing you up on it I might try it.

I think the only reason Woods doesn't recommend the 7500 on the B7500 is because Kubota only recommends the smaller hoe for this tractor. But if the Woods hoe is subframe mounted, where Kubota uses a 3 pt. mount, wouldn't the subframe give an extra margin of strength to use the larger hoe?

Or...if you really want the 7 1/2 foot hoe, use that as the excuse to get the bigger tractor. That's pretty much what I did. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good Luck,

~Rick

art · Jan 19, 2004

Just a note of caution on the contained hydraulic system. It does get contaminated from moisture and should be changed with the filter once a year. The tractor systems keep the oil interchanging with tractor system which is good as long as you use it on a regular basis so it doesn't get to bad.