Subframe backhoe and top link

amarsh64 · Aug 16, 2018

When my LS G3033H was delivered The backhoe was on the tractor and the top link was hooked up . The guy that delivered it made a point of telling me to make sure that it stayed good and tight . Check it lots . I saw some pictures not long ago on TBN of a top link sheared in half while connected to a backhoe. pretty sure I also read somewhere about someone breaking the mount on the tractor as well . Anyway , I figured I would ask the people that surely would know. I e-mailed LSTractorUSA asking about this and here is their response .

"Hi Andrew,

There is no need to attach the top three point hitch when the backhoe is install.

Thank you.

Gille Fortier "

Nuff said for me . I will be taking the top link off next time I go out to the tractor . I am sure it will be a bit shakier but that's better than breaking something . Cheers.

mslisaj · Aug 17, 2018

That certainly was an interesting response. Being I have the baby LS tractor and hoe I don't know what yours looks like but I agree with your assumption. Leave it off so you don't break things. Keep the email too just in case.

Diggin It · Aug 17, 2018

mslisaj said:
That certainly was an interesting response. Being I have the baby LS tractor and hoe I don't know what yours looks like but I agree with your assumption. Leave it off so you don't break things. Keep the email too just in case.

How well does it dig? Really, in practice. If I decide to get one, I need to know it will dig a hole or trench. There have been some posts here saying it doesn't do well. Yeah, I know, the ground you're trying to dig matters a lot.

Do you have the MMM? If so, how stable is it on inclines? I see a post saying to drive up, then mow while backing down. That doesn't seem safe.

mslisaj · Aug 19, 2018

Diggin It said:
How well does it dig? Really, in practice. If I decide to get one, I need to know it will dig a hole or trench. There have been some posts here saying it doesn't do well. Yeah, I know, the ground you're trying to dig matters a lot. Do you have the MMM? If so, how stable is it on inclines? I see a post saying to drive up, then mow while backing down. That doesn't seem safe.

Well "Diggin It" we're hijacking this other gentlemen's thread here but it's way more machine then the 25 hp Kabota. It will dig a good 6' hole and trenches well too. I haven't used it a whole lot but for what I have done with this machine it's amazing and well worth every penny. No I don't have the MMM and the backhoe does make it kind of top heavy and I'm extremely careful driving it with the hoe on very uneven ground but then again that could be my inexperience too. PM me if you want more information.

Sorry "Amarsh64" for taking your thread.
Lisa

SGTCap · Aug 20, 2018

FWIW My XG3025H was delivered a few weeks ago. Backhoe was attached. Top link is not hooked up.

majorwager · Aug 20, 2018

The frame on my hoe is really straight channel iron lower link arm substitures that U Bolt to the axle then extend forward and connect to the first holes for the loader bracket, transmission casing holes. It may operate w/o top link connected but it would NOT transport unless top link was attached. Not likely to attempt this shortcut.

Supraman0614 · Aug 20, 2018

I asked the same question on here a couple times and nobody seemed to know for sure. I appreciate the letter from LS stating that it is not needed, but then why are there provisions for it on the backhoe frame? I have tried it with and without the top link and I find that it is much more solid with the top link in place. The geometry of the subframe is not sufficient to handle the forces by itself. There are a handful of large bolts and two relatively small gussets at the base. The hardware on mine loosened after digging a few trenches, and it was definitely noticeable when digging. It the operator recognizes that it is not a full-size, commercial backhoe, and treats it as such, I believe that any amount of rigidity is better than putting a lot of force on some small gussets and bolts.

ning · Aug 20, 2018

Supraman0614 said:
I asked the same question on here a couple times and nobody seemed to know for sure. I appreciate the letter from LS stating that it is not needed, but then why are there provisions for it on the backhoe frame? I have tried it with and without the top link and I find that it is much more solid with the top link in place. The geometry of the subframe is not sufficient to handle the forces by itself. There are a handful of large bolts and two relatively small gussets at the base. The hardware on mine loosened after digging a few trenches, and it was definitely noticeable when digging. It the operator recognizes that it is not a full-size, commercial backhoe, and treats it as such, I believe that any amount of rigidity is better than putting a lot of force on some small gussets and bolts.

My guess is that the backhoe is made to be used either with a subframe mount or with a 3ph mount. With the 3ph, you obviously use the top link, but with the subframe it's not needed.

amarsh64 · Aug 23, 2018

After reading some of the responses from other members There are still some grey areas for sure about the top link being hooked up so I decided to e-mail LS tractor one more time with more specific questions
My question and his response .

"Hello Gille . Thanks for the backhoe info. I noticed that the backhoe was a fair bit shakier without the top link hooked up. Could it possibly break something on the tractor if it was hooked up ? The extra stiffness is nice but not if it could damage the tractor.
Thanks again . "

"Hi Andrew

It was not made to be hooked up.
Could you damage the unit, yes.

If it get to big of a shock and it's hooked up it will damage the tractor. "

Sounds pretty cut and dried to me . I will keep it off .