3 PT backhoe - do they work?

This message is a reply to an archived post by Dan in North Houston on April 22, 2011 at 19:35:19.
The original subject was "3 PT backhoe do they work?".

I know this is an old thread but when I was wondering about 3 pt backhoes, I read this with interest. Not that I have one, I'll comment for the next guy.

I bought a Woods BH1050. 10'6" digging depth and very well built. A local Woods dealer told me they are more stout than the current largest one Woods offers (BH950) and easily the heaviest, most well-built 3 pt hoe made by anyone. I'd have to agree.

I have mine mounted to a Ford 6600 with a FEL. Great combination. The hoe, with patience, will do some serious work. I attached a photo of a stump I removed using it just the other day. Frankly, if you need to do more than this unit can do, you need to buy a real backhoe or excavator.

In short, I'm very pleased and use the machine all the time. Takes about 20 minutes to hook it up after I learned the drill and "optimized" it for my tractor. The Ford is a regular farm tractor so the hoe does come off regularly. Another very nice feature is I can store the hoe in my barn and it takes up very little space. Has its own hydrualic pump, too, which works perfect. I would not want a smaller hoe for farm duty. For residential use, I would not turn away from the smaller stuff. You'll still be pleased with what they can do. The little bitty ones might not be useful but anything that would mate to a 30 hp and up tractor should give good service. I would buy my 1050 again, no question about it. Very nice not having another whole machine to maintain and repair, especially since older backhoes tend to be money pits. They don't live easy lives and parts are expensive. These 3 point machines are, in my opinion, an excellent solution if you've got the right tractor.

I agree. I bought a Wallenstein Rancho 950 a couple of years ago, just a bit smaller than yours. Has an 18 inch bucket which is real handy for digging up and repairing field tile. Mine uses tha tractor hydraulics; I have it on a JD 2755 with loader and the tractor only runs about 1000 rpm to get good control response. About a 15 minute job to mount, a bit less to take off. Handy as a pocket in a shirt!

Ben

I had a neighbor dig a grease pit for me before I built my shop about 10 or 12 years ago. He had a 3 point hoe on a Deere 2940 if I remember right. I was amazed by the wasted energy as the hoe moved all over the place due to the slop and slack in the mounting on the tractor.
I don't know if the tractor had a way to lock the 3 point arms solid or not. 45 years ago we had to lock the Fast hitch solid by moving the top of the vertical arms to the fixed bracket on the rear end on our Farmall 706 when we connected the manure spreader, as when it got near empty, the tongue weight went negative and would cause distress to the pto shaft.

Father-in-law had one on a MF 180, forget the brand - not one of the big names. I would give it a C+ grade. Was pretty heavily bracketed to tractor, and still wiggled around a bunch. PTO driven hydraulics, and tractor had to be barely idling or movement was still fast and hard to control. OK for occasional farm work, but if you're serious, get a real one!

I've seen 3 pt backhoes break parts off tractor, top link and arms. Notice from pic, If you are digging a trench or footer, you have to get off tractor, walk around to back, climb over dirt, and get on hoe seat. To move tractor, get off hoe, back on tractor, move it, and do it all over again. NO WAY, TOO MUCH TIME GETTING ON AND OFF. I like pulling a lever, spinning around, not getting off seat. Easily change engine speed if needed too. Not to mention, most don't have enough hydraulics to operate like a factory hoe.

Not if you know how to run a backhoe.

I have a woods 750. I wouldn't consider letting it go. It digs to about 8ft. I have 2 buckets for it... one narrow and one wide. It runs off the pto. It has done septics, foundations, electric and water lines, ditches, post holes, tree stump removal, and lots of drainage. It may not be the prettiest girl at the ball, but it's done everything I've ever asked of it.
I couldn't justify the purchase of a full time backhoe, but the one I have is easy to justify.

Yes 3 point backhoes can and more than likely will eventually break something since they are not attached directly to the tractor. In reality it just depends on how durable of a tractor you have.

If they didn't work they would have stopped making them years ago. I do have to agree that if you have serious digging a dedicated backhoe is very nice to have. It matters little what you wind up with. There is a learning curve.

Rick

How many times do people want to do something the hoe can't do and push the limits? Again, a lot of
broken tractors by people who don't know how to operate them. They aren't for me. I use mine all
the time.