JD 300 series loaders

[GreatWhitehunter]

The salesman didn't mislead me at all. If you look at my first post you will see that the loader was already on the machine. I asked the dealer if he could swap the 300x with the cx as I knew that was the loader I wanted. But since the machine already has the x he didn't want to swap it for me as he wants to deliver it to me and doesn't want to wait for the cx to come in. I'm
simply going to call my local dealer and buy the cx. I want all the lift cap. I can get and I also plan on getting a grapple,forks and an HD bucket. As I mentioned previously I'd like everyones thoughts on the 447,448 Backhoes.
Good,Bad,Indifferent, give it too me straight like,dislikes etc. Does anyone has a mechanical thumb on there CUT? I plan on getting one when I get the BH. And info or pics would be super helpful.

Thanks
Matt Traficante

 

[JasonMac]

I would have to say he was trying to mislead you by saying the 300x is the best match for the machine.

I would have asked him, how is lower lift capacity and lower lift height a better match for a machine that can handle the superior loader with no problems at all.

I think many would agree the 300cx is the better match for the machine, and the 300x is the better match for him because he wants to get rid of a loader most people don't want.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Just to reply because of the group I am one of the few that own the 300X.

I bought a 36 hour used 3320 with the 300X from my dealer. No choice on the 300CX.

So far I have used the 300X like it was a CX and even found a way to add the hard oil lines for my 72" Front Loader mounted JD Blade.

Get the CX if possible - $500 is change with the price of these machines. If not possible to get a CX, get the 300X and don't look back.

Not one person here has ever owned a 300X and then took just the loader back to get a 300CX. Most have never seen or used a 300X and likewise most dealers have never compared the two side by side as well.

I fill my bucket heaping full with rocks, dirt, etc - no problems on the 300X. Also (please sit down for this one) I just use the regular 61" general bucket with no tooth bar. Imagine the thought.

People here have beautiful Machines - Jason makes great advice. Just wanted it to be posted that the 300X and standard buckets do just as much work as the 300CX and HD buckets - in fact lifting faster I believe but could be wrong, but suffer an inch or two in lift dump height.

You will love whatever FEL you end up with. I would venture a 300 loader is also equally as nice if we could here from an owner.

Now the 200 series loaders are all - junk --- Just kidding everybody!!!
My next FEL upgarde will be to the 400 series loader!!

 

[JasonMac]

300cx on a 3000 Twenty Hinge Pin Height of 102.5"
300x on a 3000 Twenty Hinge Pin Height of 90"

about a foot difference on clearance.

Lift Capacity to full height

300cx (1598 lbs)

300x (1360 lbs)

238lb difference in lift capacity.. not a huge difference there.

 

[JasonMac]

However in the Sae Carry Position (59" above ground line)

300cx (2125 lbs)

300x (1700 lbs)

Now that is a pretty substantial difference... especially when lifting solid objects with bucket hooks and chains.

The difference is 425lbs more you can lift off the ground and lift to a height of 59"

 

[slaveToHorses]

...As I mentioned previously I'd like everyones thoughts on the 447,448 Backhoes.
Good,Bad,Indifferent, give it too me straight like,dislikes etc. Does anyone has a mechanical thumb on there CUT? I plan on getting one when I get the BH. And info or pics would be super helpful.

I have the 447 on my 3720. You can see pics of it in my gallery I think...
I looked at 447s and 448s side by side at the dealer and saw them both mounted on 3x20 machines. The 447 is targeted at the 3x20 and the 448 is targeted at the 4x20s. But the 448 will fit on the 3x20. The difference is the reach. I felt the 447 was the better match in terms of size and flow rate. Also the 3x20 had a bit more trouble loading the 448 than the 447.
But a lot of folks here felt different and have 448s on their 3x20s.

It is a nice little backhoe. It fits very snug with the tractor and that is good from every perspective except access. It's a pain to get up in the seat and off. Since you can't spin the tractor seat around like a real TLB, you have to get on and off the tractor and backhoe alot. The "step" they provide in the backhoe frame is useless, at least on my tractor (with the large R4 tires), because it is obstructed by the tires. I have the stabilizer guards on my backhoe and they protect the hydraulic hoses almost completely, but are slick and they didn't bother putting a step on them, sigh.

The controls are nice and the visibility is pretty good.
It is very solidly built.
Access to the grease fittings is far superior to most tractor mount backhoes, much better than previous versions.
Travel lock is very solid and easy to engage/disengage, no pins! But you only have the option of locking both swing and dip, you can't lock them independantly.

You probably can find more info from a search on this site and/or make another post that has something about backhoes in the title

Have you looked at the 110 TLB? From what you are describing it sounds to me like this might be a better fit, though more expensive...

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I'd love the 110 but I can't afford that and it's also way too much machine for my property. I really feel the 3320 with the 300x and 447 backhoe will be more than enough for anything I may need. I really researched this before I purchased and considering I was locked on getting a NH TC30 this JD is definatly a step up. I'm sure I'll be happy with my choice. I looked at your pics
and was impressed with the stumps the hoe was removing. I appreciate all the feedback I've recieved. Now I have to decide what type of trailer to get. I'm torn between a 5k flatbed and a 7k dump trailer. I'll be posting that in the trailer discussion forum.


Thanks
Matt Traficante

 

[slaveToHorses]

... I looked at your pics and was impressed with the stumps the hoe was removing.

Hey Matt, don't jump to conclusions Those pieces I was carrying with my hoe were cut just above the stump. The actual stumps are still in the ground. I could dig them out with my hoe (I have before) but it takes quite a bit of time. It can't just lock onto a big root and pull it out of the ground. The 3x20 series doesn't have the flow rate or the weight to do that. It takes a D-9 size track hoe with the help of a very large cat to get the bigger ones (like that maple) out of the ground. I know this from experience yanking up old growth fir and huge maple stumps. With a 447 or 448, you have to dig out around them until you get out to the smaller roots. It can be done but it takes a while. Just don't expect to lock onto a stump and yank it up or you will be dissapointed.

You will enjoy your 3320/447 though. You will never regret purchasing it. They are really great. I also was all set to get a NH (a TD45) until we did a working comparison. Both are great machines, neither perfect, but the JD was the clear winner.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Slave, I didn't think you were pulling them up from the ground. I'm new to tractors but not equipment. I previously had a cat 310 excavator with a thumb and even with that you couldn't just grab a stump and remove it. But anyways I'm super happy with the purchase. I plan on buying a some acrage in NY in a few years so I'll be using the JD to do some light clearing and probably mowing. The only drawback I 've seen so far is JD's lack of info (online) for their attchments and the high prices at my local dealer. I think I may try another dealer in the area.

Matt

 

[slaveToHorses]

OK good, you know what to expect.
Yeah, shop around for sure!
I found a 110 advertized across the country for low price for a friend of mine.
He figured that even with shipping it was WAY less than what the local dealer wanted. The local dealer ended up matching the price!

The JD website used to be MUCH better. They have taken all the good info off the site. I am not sure why. Even the dealers have a hard time getting info. The new site seems to be run completely by marketing wankers that have no idea what it is they are selling. The configurator is a nice idea but it isn't complete.