3-Point Hitch I can't figure this one out....

[kooljets]

Last year I bought a b3300suhsd with a bh 76 backhoe and a 3 pt hitch. Yesterday took the backhoe off and was going to put on the 3 pt hitch BUT the frame that the backhoe connects to is blocking me from attaching the bracket of the check chain to the pin (lower link). Maybe I am missing something but I can't figure a way to get the rod (pin - lower link) to slide over far enough to allow the bracket for the check chain to slide onto the pin (because the frame is blocking it from sliding over far enough).

Now, if the frame for the backhoe wasn't there, there would be no problem sliding the pin over as it would slide into the cavity of the rear wheel.

Am I missing something or is this one of those secrets that everyone knows (except me)?

Right now, I see the only solution is to unbolt the frame from one side (looks like a major task) and slide the pin over, hook everything up and put the bracket back on. Not very handy if that is the case. Of course if this is the solution, I would just get a 1.25 hole drilled in the frame so that I could slide the pin through it.

So, to be clear, the backhoe frame mounts to the tractor frame and stays in place when the backhoe is quick disconnected from the tractor. The frame that the backhoe attaches to is VERY securely mounted on the tractor frame and I suspect that it would take several hours to take it off and put it back on (would need to do it from just one side).

I'd appreciate any help on this matter.

 

[Grandad4]

Sorry I can't give you specific advice but if you are the original owner, if he's any good at all, the dealer who sold it to you ought to be all over a question like that from a good customer. Even one who is far away and you're dealing over the phone should give you all the time you need for something like that. Are you still on speaking terms with them?

 

[paulwestski]

Please post a photo

 

[IvanS]

The only way to connect the check chain is to remove one side of the backhoe frame - you only need to do this once. I'm surprised the dealer did not install the end portion of the check chain on the lower link while installing the backhoe frame. Once you have the check chain installed, it's a simple mater to unscrew the turnbuckle and leave the base bracket for the check chain dangling from the lower link. Next time you install the 3 point - just screw the turnbuckle back together.

I need to do this to install my telescoping links pretty soon, I will do that when I'm installing my wheel spacers.

 

[kooljets]

Thank you for your counsel in this matter. The dealer is about 100 miles away. I don't think they will do anything other than tell me what IvanS (below) is suggesting. It just irks me that this engineering error (in my opinion... reminds me of a car that chevy put out and they then found that you had to pull the engine to change the spark plugs - however later they did provide dealers with a special spark plug wrench) was not addressed prior to last July. At least the dealer should have been notified. A 1.5 inch hole would have solved the problem. Anyway, I will take your advice and see what they have to say.

Many thanks

 

[kooljets]

Even though that is not the answer I wanted, I VERY much appreciate your advice and recommendation. Tomorrow I will get started with the backhoe frame removal. Thanks again IvanS!

 

[Leejohn]

Can the pin go in from the tire side in or does it have to go in from the frame side?

 

[Grandad4]

That's a bummer! Sounds like there is a proper way to put it together so everything works (the factory installation instructions might even include details), but that wasn't done when the dealer added the BH to your machine. That's more of an installation error by the dealer than a design flaw. You no doubt paid him a pretty penny to install the BH correctly on your machine and he messed up. Now you - his customer - have to disassemble the subframe to fix his mistake. I would rub his nose in it some at the very least.

 

[IvanS]

You should only need to remove one side if I remember correctly. The lower link pin will slide from side to side (may take some serious effort to do so) allowing you to put the check chain end on one side and then move the pin to the extreme in the other direction to put the second one on. This is not a an engineering flaw, it's an assembly error. If the dealer had installed those pieces before assembling the backhoe frame it would now be a non issue for you.

 

[kooljets]

The pin is already installed and cannot be removed (or moved right or left far enough) to allow the eyelet of the check chain to be "threaded" by the lower pin because the backhoe subframe is blocking it from being removed.