JD 790 Backhoe

[Buck]

Wife says get a backhoe for my 790! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Any advice, links or other matter useful to a lucky soul as myself?

Owners of 790 with 7 backhoe... Would you buy the 7 again?

Thanks

Buck

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm kind of surprised you received no replies on this...

RobS has a #7 'hoe on his 790...you might want to PM him for some info.

I looked at one..used machine...but I'd just bought my 790 and wasn't really too interested. Lot of money to be spent on something I'd use very little. Sure would be a blast having one though.

Anyway, give Rob a message...he's had his hoe for more then a year now.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I love my 47!!!

My only suggestion is consider quotes two ways. One as an add on for your 790 and one as trading in on a new machine, as a package. If you don't want to trade, that;s OK, but if you aree a little leaning that way, doing both at onse will likely be much cheaper than one at a time.

 

[rjp444us]

Personally I would stay away from the #7 hoe and look at a
Bradco or anything but something from JD! I own one and I can tell you thy are not a very well made attachment.

 

[Tractors4u]

Just curious, what is wrong with the Deere hoes?

 

[rjp444us]

It is not all of there hoes it is the #7. Not rugged enough for the 790 tractor it is alright for the lower HP tractors such as the 755 and such.
It is not strong enough to move the tractor around for the most part, it will move it around some.
After owning it for 2 years I would not buy another JD impliment, the tractor has been ok the impliments are cheese at best.

 

[SteveH_CT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( After owning it for 2 years I would not buy another JD impliment, the tractor has been ok the impliments are cheese at best. )</font>

Shhhh... don't say that too loudly or my 48 Bh will hear you /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. Seriously - that's quite a statement. I've never heard a blanket condemnation of Deere implements like that before, typically it's the opposite.

Regarding the original post - I have no experience with a #7 BH, I've never seen one actually. However, the 48 BH on my tractor has proven to be extremely strong - to the amazement of my neighbors. One has rented larger BH's and has never been able to accomplish much of what I've ended up doing for him. My other neighbor has a much larger TLB, and he's been suprised at how much I've done with it. Cheesy - that's a description that's never come to mind regarding my tractor or the implements I've bought.... now that tilt wheel mechanism on the 4310... it has a definite odor of Havarti about it /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

 

[rjp444us]

<font color="blue"> </font>

Sorry about not being clear about which impliments I was refering to
. I meant for the 790 only. I have used other JD impliments and tractors extensively and THERE GREAT! I am just not pleased with the 790 impliments AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THEM.....

 

[BigEddy]

Okay - so I disagree - I have a #7 hoe, and it works great for what it is designed for. I've done a ton of work with mine, and while there are things I haven't been able to do with it, there are things I couldn't do with a Cat 416 either.

The 47 is an improvement - a little different, a higher relief valve setting, and therefore higher overall forces, but essentially the same design.

If you are looking at other makes, be sure to check out all the specs, not just the bucket forces.
Higher force means slower speeds for the same flow rate, or requires higher pressures. The pressure is limited by the tractor, regardless of what the backhoe limit is set at, as is your flow rate. The aftermarket backhoe may be rated for double the force, but if you can't develop the pressure or the flow, then it is just slower.

I like my #7 hoe - I'd buy it again. Cheesy is certainly not the term I would use to describe it.

 

[RobS]

As Roy mentioned, I have a JD7 hoe on my trusty little 790. I love it and find it well matched to the 790. It's a blast to use (the little smiley icon doesn't do my face justice when I'm operating it) and I've gotten several projects done that I could/would not have tackled without it. My only reservation in the recommendation is to be realistic about your expectations. Since you have had your 790 for a while, you know it's capabilities. The 7 hoe has "similar" capabilities. In other words, if you want to dig basements or swimming pools you'll be disappointed.

If you're doing landscape projects and such, the 7 will work just fine. If you are looking at something more than that you may want to go for an overall bigger package to get you into the 47/48 hoe. It's a judgement call, difficult to answer on the internet /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Another big plus for the 7 over an aftermarket is the mounting. It's not quite as slick as the 47/48 but it's quick, easy and solid.

Another 7 user to try is rjp444us. I think he uses his in a landscape business. (oops, just saw that he had posted already)

Let me know if there are any specific questions I can answer. I'll post photos if you want and I also have all the manuals /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rjp444us]

like my #7 hoe - I'd buy it again. Cheesy is certainly not the term I would use to describe it.

First thing i'm going to clear up is RobS asked if someone that owned a #7 hoe would buy another one.
NO I would not buy another one.
I use mine for commerical use yes RJP444US. I have a landscape business this does not discount the fact I still don't feel (and I have a lot of experiance ie operator and mechanic of heavy equipment) that this hoe does not meet the expectations for a 30HP tractor!!!
Now as for uses I don't feel that a home owner aplication is a good test for an honest opinion. Most of these users spend more time waxing then sitting in the seat. THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION I ONLY HAVE 30 YEARS EXPERIANCE!!!

OH AND BY THE WAY IT IS CHEESEY AT BEST.

 

[RobS]

<font color="blue"> It is not strong enough to move the tractor around for the most part, it will move it around some </font>

Are you referring to repositioning the tractor? If so, I'll agree but one reason I feel the 7 hoe is well matched to the 790 is that it already will move the tractor around some while using it. If it were any more powerful it would really jack the tractor around or perhaps damage it.

I don't think any of these backhoes are designed for repositioning the tractor like a full TLB can. Three point or subframe, neither will be as strong as a full frame mount like a 110. I use my hoe to ease the tractor along forwards/backwards but not side-to-side (OK, not much anyway).

A friend of mine refers to my little rig as a "power shovel" and I actually think that's a pretty good description. Most of the work I've done with it could have been done with a hand shovel but the hoe takes an all day dig down to an hour. On top of that, I'm not too tired to do the rest of the project once the digging is complete.

My biggest complaint about the 7 is the short reach. It makes for a lot of repositioning, depending on the project. If I were using it to make money for myself I'd have traded up a long time ago but as a personal time saver (over hand digging), it's long paid for itself /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BigEddy]

I'm not going to argue with rjp444us as to how he likes his hoe. Obviuosly it isn't what he needs for his business.

I use mine on an 855 for home / farm and some landscape contracting. But I use it on jobs for which it is suited. A lot of my work is decorative ponds and retaining walls, and I've found the #7 well suited for those jobs. Foundations, pools, farm ponds, I'd rent an excavator or a larger backhoe.

I don't have 30 years experience, but I have close to 20, including time spent working for the largest Cat Dealer in Ontario. And my hoe has never seen wax.

If I had unlimited funds, I'd buy a JD110. Different class, different $, different machine. But looking back at my decision, I'm happy with my 855 and the #7 hoe. It does what I expect it to. I'm sorry rjp444us is disappointed with his.

My advice - understand what your needs are, what the options are, and buy the best compromise between your needs and your budget. And if you can find a unit to borrow, rent or try first - do that.

 

[rjp444us]

What's so hard to understand here I have all the equipment I need to do the jobs! This is not my only piece of wquipment I have larger equipment.
If I need a cerrtian piece of equipment either I buy it or rent it. It is that simple!!
All I am trying to say is in my opnion I don't feel that John Deere did there home work on the match up with this tractor and impliment .
There should have been a choice to opt for the #47 on this unit

 

[BigEddy]

That I can't argue with. Now that the better 47 is available, I don't understand why JD would not engineer the brackets etc. to make it mate with the 790.
Maybe a marketing reason, or maybe due to the 790 being based on the older 770 that the #7 was already designed for, and a limited design budget when developing the 47 that left the 790 requirements out.

 

[Buck]

Maybe they want to sell some higher priced hydro model tractors.

 

[Buck]

Thanks all for your input. I'll research these issues over the winter and let you know what I've decided come spring!

Best of luck,

Buck