Backhoe L4560 Backhoe

[rbargeron]

Glen: Bradco's older model numbers were 6,7, 8, 9 etc. followed by LD, MD or HD (light medium or heavy duty)

The Bradco 9HD and 11HD were developed for the Kubota L3 chassis tractors (L3750 & L4150) and continued to be promoted with the L4350, L4850 and L5450 through about 1996. The HD's were in addition to their LD and MD models, the lineup ranging from 6LD up to 13MD

Bradco's model numbering has switched to a 3-digit system where the 400 500 or 600 indicates light, medium or heavy duty (roughly 2" 2 1/2" or 3" cylinder bores) and the last 2 digits indicate 8' 9' or 11' nominal backhoe size. A 509 and a 609 have similar size (reach) but the 609 has bigger cylinders, higher digging forces, and stronger components. You are right that the 609 is more massive.

BTW (you probably know this) the hoe size doesn't really mean the reach distance from the pivot - it is the depth at which you can make a 2 ft flat bottom in the hole. (a 9-foot hoe may have a max reach over 12')

 

[hayden]

That's fast digging I think, but my experience is limited. I just dug a 400 foot trench between 3 and 4 feet deep and it took me 2 full days with a 4690. I got slowed down in a bunch of places due to ledge, but 125 ft per hour still seems high to me even with a bigger hoe and clear soil.

 

[JerryG]

Using a 12” bucket and using the numbers that Bradco supplies for capacity for that bucket (1.83 CF heaped) and assuming that every bucket is heaped. The amount of material for a ditch that 12”x 4’ x 125’ is 500 CF. With these givens, the amount of time that you would have to make a single dig, dip out, dump and return to the ditch would average 13.2 seconds, which would include moving the tractor up each time, needed. I would say that it couldn’t be done.

 

[radman]

jerryG and hayden

I also agree with you. My wishful thinking was hoping for 125 ft/hour. Probably not possible. Thanks for the info and help. I am still new to the backhoe world. At the current time the tractor hydraulics seem ok but I believe as I become more efficient they will seem slow. I might consider a pto pump. I currently have available a 12gpm pump which is probably ideal.