448 backhoe on to a 4020 90 HP tractor?

L3akaL3

New User
I had read that I could mount a 48, 448 or a 49 backhoe on to my 4020 tractor. After months of looking, a 448 showed up on Craigslist. It doesn't have a subframe so I called the local Deere dealer and he said that backhoes won't go on an "AG" tractor and people here are talking about a different kind of 4020/4000 series tractor, not my 1960s era 90 HP 4020.
I'm confused.
I need to run water lines to pastures, run electric and water to a pole barn, improve some ditches along my lane and hopefully someday run a trench so I can run a gas line from the highway to the house so I'm not dependent on only electric anymore.
I would rather not buy a full blown backhoe as it is just another engine/transmission/hydraulic pump to maintain and more property tax to pay. A backhoe attachment seems the most economical choice.
Am I out of luck or should I just find another dealer that can find a subframe to fit this 448 on to my rig? Backhoe attachments don't show up cheap around here very often so I hate to miss out if I can make this work.
 

Even if if 448 BH would fit which I agree it won't without the aid of a cutting torch & welder BUT another problem is the hyd valves would be open center which is incorrect for a '64-'72 4020.
 
I have a 3 pt hitch backhoe on my 2755, closed Centre hydraulics, works great, handy as a pocket in a shirt. Backhoes with pto driven pumps were meant for smaller compact tractors, your 4020 would be too big for that. There should be lots of 3 pth Backhoes that will fit your tractor, just get the right sized one, no subframe is needed. Get one the has a stabilizer attached to the drawbar for better stability. Ben
 
Thanks for the clarification. I was trying to stay away from the 3-points since I have heard horror stories about breaking tractors in half with them. I know I should be careful but I also know myself and that one stubborn rock or stump will tempt me and I will give it a try hoping I'll get lucky and then snap, collapse, foul language etc.
Thanks again.
 
(quoted from post at 18:23:44 08/27/17)
How about salvaging a big old backhoe from a industrial version of the 3020 or 4020 ?

One could absolutely do that, probably wouldn't be too difficult. But consider you could probably buy the whole machine for fairly cheap and it would likely be usable. Last two backhoes we sold were IH 3514's, basically a 504 industrial for $2200 each. Both were running driving need a few things here and there, but would dig and push dirt as is.
 
I have a 60 john deere with an after market 3 point and I use a 3 point backhoe that has its own pto driven pump and reservoir. I've dug 3 ft deep ditches and dug out stumps with it. A little slow but no problems. I'm not at all worried about that backhoe damaging the Model 60 tractor.
 

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