3 pnt backhoe on Ford 641

I have been trying to figure out a way to do some road-building in some forest and wetlands I have in a remote area of the
Michigan upper peninsula. I built a mile-long road last year with my little Oliver HG dozer and a chainsaw. I can drive it
now (just barely) with a 4-wheeler. I need a way now to get some fill in for some of the spots that are under a foot of
water.

Note - this place is 120 miles from where I live full-time and requires crossing the Mackinac Bridge. I first tried to hire
some locals up there to bring some fill in but no good. I have not been able to find anyone to do anything.

So I now figure I need a backhoe there, whenever I need it. I have two backhoes here in the lower peninsula (one at each of
two houses I live in). I need them here too, so cannot just leave one up there. If I had a way to truck one back and forth
myself, I might consider it. I have an IH 3414 hoe/loader and a Deere 300B hoe/loader. Either one likely weighs 12,000
lbs. and a decent trailer able to carry them likely weighs 3500 lbs. empty. So that comes to over 15,000 lbs. to tow. I am
not sure I want to try that with my 3/4 ton Ford F250 diesel, although it does have a gooseneck hitch.

So, now I have been in a search to buy another backhoe and leave it on site. Again, no good. I am amazed the prices people
are asking. I looked at two backhoes priced around $6000 with all sorts of problems. Last night I looked at a Deere 310
and the guy started out asking $14,000 and then gave me a bottom-dollar price of $9000. Tires have lots of cracks, pump
leaks, injection pump likely due for a repair soon, leaking hoses all over. water-pump on the engine is loose, etc. I think
$9000 is crazy. I bought my Deere 300B for $3500 in better shape and all new tires maybe 10 years ago. I was thinking I am
so desperate I'd pay maybe $5500 for the 310, but did not even bother to offer it. The seller thinks I'd be "stealing" it
at $9000.

So now I am on to the idea of three-point backhoes. I have a Ford 641 that runs perfect, has a front-end loader, and has
all new tires. I hate the tractor due to the lack of a live PTO and a 1st gear that is too fast. But with a hoe on the back
- it might finally become useful? So yesterday I found a three-point hoe made in Italy for sale near me. 10-15 year old
maybe and weighs 1100 lbs. Has its own PTO pump. The seller told me it was like new and only had 10 hours of use. He wanted
$4200. So I went over and looked at it. Has two leaking cylinders and many pins from the hydraulic cylinders are missing
and have grade 5 bolts jammed in. That tells me this thing has a lot more then 10 hours of use. It has an 8 foot digging
depth. He finally gave me a bottom-dollar price of $2900, but I passed on it.

I now found a guy in Indiana who sells three-point hoes brand new cheaper then what locals have for sale beat up and used.

I am now considering buying one. I can get an 8 foot (depth) hoe that weighs 950 lbs. for $3800 (no tax). Or a 9 foot
model that weighs 1150 lbs. for $4400.

Note - I will be digging in some pretty soft sandy soil. No shale or hard-pan. Mostly to dig from the sides of a new road
and dump fill into the middle of it. I am hoping this idea might be the best way to go.

One concern is lift capacity on the Ford 641. Does it really matter? It is supposed to have a 1250 lb. lift capability.
Can't say I ever tested it but it lifts a 5 foot brush-cutter easily. I am kind of wondering - once the hoe is mounted - I
never have to lift it anyway, do I?

I have never used a three-point hoe and thus the questions.

The other thing I wonder about is the PTO pump. I have used the big Prince PTO pumps that are simply three times the size
needed so they can run at 1/3 speed and make good flow. This new PTO pump is smaller with a step-up gear box that makes the
pump spin three times as fast as the PTO. I am wondering if these pumps are reliable?

In 2000 I bought a Woods Model 7500 to go on my 1980 2600 Ford diesel and never looked back. Never had a problem and parts are available at the local Ford dealer.

Well your tractor won't likely lift it, also a real good chance your toplink bracket will soon part ways with your lift cover. If you do want to do this I highly recommend building a subframe to mount it to the tractor

At that price, must be pretty lightly built (the welds you can see are nothing that you would take to the fair), but if you don't abuse it, would probably work for what you're doing. I grew up with some pretty ramshackle equipment, and am living proof that you can use stuff without breaking it all the time. Guess I'd sure want to see one in person before writing the check.

Seems like your tractor would need to be capable of lifting it, because you wouldn't want to leave it up when not using it- too hard on the hydraulic system. Maybe figure out what your bushhog weighs, then weigh and add some scrap on it until you've got 1,250 lbs. total, then see if the mighty Ford will lift it.

You may be able to tie into the loader frame, fenders might be an issue, but the subframe to stiffen is a good idea. The casting where the top link mounts onto the rear end housing, the thick tab with the hole in it, can fracture if it takes some abuse.

The other thing is, watch your legs when raising the outriggers, they come mighty close on some of them, watch your extremities when raising. If you have someone to sit in the seat on the tractor, it may work well if you want to move along while on the hoe.

The photo is of a dearborn or factory mount, not something you see everyday.

I've never used a 3 pt hoe, but I do have a Jubilee. My lift arms can't lift that much. My lift arms only have up force, no down force. So if I attached a hoe to the 3 pt, it would be a rough ride with no down force.

Old said, (I think) his hoe on an 8n. He said his loader can only lift 900#. Most people don't think about this, but FIL puts a lot of stress on front wheels and front axle. The small front wheels on my Jubilee would do down in lose dirt if I tried to lift something heavy.

There isn't such a thing as a good cheap backhoe. It sounds to me you are looking more at price instead of getting a good hoe. Remember, you usually get what you pay for. Bite the bullet and buy a good one you can safely haul.

I would recommend finding a factory built hoe, then finding a place where you can safely store it when you're not there. We have a place in town where you can store your boat or motor home.