How do I hang a backhoe: suggestions please.

[newbury]

New BH70-X (~900lbs) on my B7610.
I've presently got a small < 1.4 acre lot which I'm NOT going to build a garage on or put down a large concrete pad.
I'd like to build (out of wood preferably) a frame to "hang" my backhoe on a hook & chain, thus making it easier to "mate" with my tractor. See pic.

I don't weld yet, so don't go there.

My concept is to have a winch so I can lift it up to a required height, or lower it down to blocks on a level wood frame. And with the chain be able to jiggle it around for easier hookup.

Plus the frame will act as a frame for a canopy for the backhoe.

I'm thinking 4x4's for the uprights and a 6x6 for the crosspiece, does that sound strong enough?

In a year or so I plan on a pole barn in Mississippi.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Standard practice is to have the backhoe hydraulics operational and use the hoe and outrigger controls to mate/detach the backhoe. I must be missing something because I don't see how hanging the backhoe from a stationary hoist is easier than that. 900lb is a lot to jiggle around plus the center of gravity of the attachment really depends on the orientation of the moveable parts.

If the subframe attachment procedure is too finicky about how you back up to the hoe, putting it on a dolly on a small level platform should allow you the freedom to get it just right before you engage the hydraulics.

 

[newbury]

I did not want to build much of a platform for the BH, I've got the pallet it shipped on.
The reason for the hoist is that I'm pretty sure I can move 900 pounds hanging a couple of inches back and forth, but not sure I could push it around on casters very easily.
Plus I figured with a moveable 4 piece frame plus the hoist I could use it for hooking up my box blade and a yet to be purchased PHD.

The more I think of it I believe I've seen metal engine hoists that may do the same.
/edit - HF sells them for $360, which would buy a lot of wood.

 

[BarryinMN]

I have to second the don't hang vote. I have a QT Deere backhoe - plug in the hoses & 2 mins to attach & pin. The problem I see with an uncontrolled suspended load is pinching or even knocking the thing over, crushing whatever it falls on.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I'm not sure what your connection looks like but let me show you what I did. On each side I added an angled bar that guides the connection into place as I back up. With the backhoe at the appropriate height I back into it far enough to push it a little and the guides slide it into place. My attachment weighs about 1500 lbs and it is sitting on dirt.

3RRL Rob suggested it and it works good. Mine are welded on but they could be made to bolt on. I'm sure your attachment mechanism is different than mine but the concept should still be doable.

The guide is angled to the right in this pic.

 

[bobodu]

I thought only Texas still used hanging...

 

[vic4news]

I suggest you try the procedure for mounting and unmounting the hoe as described in the woods manual. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
The woods subframe already has the angled guides built into the subframe.

Vic

 

[Ductape]

I'm with Vic. My Woods hoe goes on and off in a few minutes. Maybe I'm missing your ultimate goal, but I can't grasp why you'd want to hang it.

 

[tommu56]

I'm in the set it down group.


I set mine down with the outriggers and hoe.

I do set it on a couple pieces of 6x6 to make it easier to hook hoses back up so it can lift it self back up to tractor.

tom

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Taking my BH off only takes a few minutes....Unhooking & hooking the hoses back up is what takes the most time i think.

If i take my backhoe off & know that it will be off for a couple days, then i take wood and block it up, so when the jacks leak off it won't tilt backwards where i have to back in to mount it back up.....and that saves me a lot of time.

When i first bought my tractor and took the BH off for the first time, i didn't block it up and when i went to mount it back on, i had to take a floor jack & jack it up because it was tilted backwards & i couldn't get lined up right on it.

I have a concrete pad fixed so when i take it off it will be level, and it won't sink up in soft ground....Once you get use to taking it off & putting it back on, then its easy.

 

[newbury]

I suggest you try the procedure for mounting and unmounting the hoe as described in the woods manual. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
The woods subframe already has the angled guides built into the subframe.

Vic

I saw the little angled guides, but I'm thinking I'm going to be doing this all alone. When I took my boxblade off and put it back on it wasn't perfectly level (couldn't find a level place to drop it) and it was a bear to wrestle back on.

Maybe I'll just drop it on my trailer if y'all think it's that easy to hook up.

Of course I'm sure if I have ANY difficulty y'all will email me some help

 

[Scotty370]

I agree with the others! But that said, If your dead set on a lift, I'd opt for the "Engine-Picker":
2 Ton Foldable Engine Hoist - 0116746 | Tractor Supply Company

I bought my hoe attachment on E-Bay in Jersey, and picked it off my small utility trailer with it. It would give you more versatility for your $, But they don't work on mud/grass!

EDIT: Beautiful unit, by the way!

 

[Ductape]

newbury, trust me on this one......... it doesn't even need to be perfectly level where you drop it. When re-attaching it, you back up close to it and shut the tractor down. Connect the hydraulic lines and start it back up. Just use the hoe and the two stabilizers to get the hoe level, if you need to slightly adjust your tractor left or right you can (just watch that you aren't pulling the hydraulic lines tight). Back into the hoe, and use the hoe to get the pins lined up. It will probably be frustrating the first time (or three) you do it, but I assure you you'll get better at it each time you do it. You will soon realize you have no need to hang it.

 

[Reg]

Yep, the outriggers lift mine into position, I back up a bit more to engage the two rear attaching points, then extend the boom to swing the front of the sub frame up and attach the two front points, secure the safety latches - DONE.

Such a pity to not have an excuse to buy the engine crane, maybe you could;
a) Buy a post hole digger, those are worth hanging.
b) Get a different set of tires - as well as whatever you have, then you can swap them over with the engine crane and get on BOTH sides of the Ags vs R4s argument the next time it comes up.
Seriously, I do use an engine crane for this, loaded R4s can be 1,000 lbs. EACH and it is SO NICE to also have an unloaded set of turfs.

 

[dillo99]

Taking the backhoe on and off can be very easy or a total pain. It takes practice and as everyone said - proper parking to begin with. I don't park mine on concrete pad - it is on gravel. I use blocks to avoid settling but it can still be difficult to get everything lined up the next time around. The more you do it, the better you will get at it - so just go for it. I will admit that one time it took me 2 hours and more than a few choice words to put it back on. I'd like to think that I have learned enough never to have that happen again! Now I can mostly take it off in 10 minutes and put it back on in 10-30 minutes.

 

[pat32rf]

I throw a chunk of 6x6 under the hoe frame in case it settles then I use the landing gear and boom to line things up for re-attachment. JD says to use the 3pth to lift the hoe into place but its easier to use the hoe hydraulics once the lines are connected.
I can drop or re-install my JD hoe without leaving the seat but putting the 3pth arms and ballast back on is a major job.....
I once had a kid play with the levers so the hoe tipped forwards (no block under frame) and it still only took 10 minutes to install. Backing the tractor up straight to the hoe is the biggest challenge....and secret of making the job easy

 

[geneP]

Hey Newbury, where in Mississippi are you moving? I'm on highway 49 south of Jackson.

 

[tutorbell]

When I took my boxblade off and put it back on it wasn't perfectly level (couldn't find a level place to drop it) and it was a bear to wrestle back on.

With few exceptions, a box blade is not a backhoe. A backhoe has the hydraulics to move it in almost every direction you could need to. A box blade is a bear to hook up because you have to wrestle it's weight around with a pry bar or something similar. Backhoe has the pry bar built in.

Front end loader is another story, that is something you definitely want to drop on as level of a surface as possible. Those are a PAIN to line back up if you didn't put it somewhere level.

 

[BigE_]

Took mine off and put it back on twice today. It probably took 5 minutes max each time. This is only my 4th time on and off... Between the stabilizers, 3pt, and the bucket, you can easily attach it back on. The trick is backing up to it properly... Oh, and mine has a pump on the PTO, and that part takes the longest to get on/off.

Same deal with the box blade. I don't have any flat areas to drop it off in, so it can get tricky at times, but just use your 3pt to raise / lower as needed.

If you are backing into it and both 3pts don't line up exact, back up so that one is past and you can connect the other. Then pull forward until you can connect the first. Finally, put in the top link, and raise / lower the arms as needed.

 

[newbury]

Thanks people.
You've reassured me.
I had viewed some of the Utube videos of hooking up a BX to BH too much.
I might go ahead and make one because I do plan on getting a PHD.