Can i take the backhoe of my mf203?

Hi guys,so i want to remove the backhoe
on the massey ferguson 203 for when i
don't need it on so i don't constantly
have to worry about hitting something
with it,and i would like to put the 3pt
arms on since it has a pto,so i was
looking at it today,and boy am i
confused,i only bought it a couple months
ago so I'm still getting to know it,but i
noticed that there are four feeder lines
all together,one is coming from front
pump going to inner side of the mf200
loader frame/reservoir,second is going
from backhoe to front pump,third is going
from backhoe to rear of loader
frame(before it bolts to axle),and fourth
is going from backhoe to bottom of loader
control valve,but what i was trying to
figure out,is can i take backhoe off,just
plug the ports,and use the loader?its
strange because it almost seems like its
going to backhoe first and then loader.
Thanks,Rock

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Instead of saying 4 feeder lines it would be best to properly ID them, it will help figure out how to re-plumb it with the hoe removed.

I expect the line you say comes from the front pump to the inner side of the loader frame is the pump suction line. The second from the front pump to the backhoe valve is likely the pressure line. The third from the backhoe to the rear of the loader frame is likely the return to reservoir from that valve. The fourth may be the pressure supply hose bringing pressurized oil from the backhoe valve to the loader valve. You need to determine if my thoughts are correct. You also need to determine how your loader valve returns oil to the reservoir, some did that through the valve mount on the loader frame. It maybe as simple as running the pressure line to the loader valve, if it has a relief valve built into it, and plugging the others. If you plan to remount the hoe you should use LARGE (so as not to restrict flow) quick disconnects instead of plugs and caps. To me this hinges on figuring out what your valves are. Do you have the service, operator's, and parts manuals for the tractor, loader, and backhoe? Those may have some clues.
 
Hey jim,thanks for your response,i don't
have manuals for it YET,but i had thought
of maybe installing quick connects,but
since i just replaced all hoses on
tractor/loader,I'd have to wait till
summer to spend $1000 on more hoses,but i
was wondering about similar
setups,industrial loader tractor,without
backhoe,how are they plumbed?
Thanks,Rock
 
(quoted from post at 22:47:29 11/24/19) Hey jim,thanks for your response,i don't
have manuals for it YET,but i had thought
of maybe installing quick connects,but
since i just replaced all hoses on
tractor/loader,I'd have to wait till
summer to spend $1000 on more hoses,but i
was wondering about similar
setups,industrial loader tractor,without
backhoe,how are they plumbed?
Thanks,Rock

Basic plumbing on any loader would be as I described above of how yours might plumb up without the backhoe. A suction line from the reservoir for the pump, a pressure line to the loader valve from the pump, and a return to the reservoir from the loader valve (either through a hose or the valve body mounting). A system must have a system (main) relief valve, often located in the loader valve. That is basic. Steering, brakes, etc. may be tapped of the hydraulic system of some. Some may use multiple section pumps. Yours is likely an open center system using a gear pump that supplies only the backhoe and loader.

You can't just block off the suction, pressure, or return lines of a system, unless you disable the pump. The pump, if it is turning, needs oil for lubrication and the oil passing through it has to have a place to go. Deadheading a pump pressure line without a relief outlet can split a pump housing and/or cause other damage.

You say you just replaced the hoses. You may not need to buy all new hoses. If you had a shop make the hoses they might cut them, and add fittings, so you can attach quick disconnects. It won't hurt to ask them; some places won't put fittings on used hoses, but it in this case if they supplied the hose and fittings recently they might.

You have identified your tractor as a MF203. Have you identified the models of the loader and backhoe? If you have you might study the parts catalogs for them on the AGCO site to get an idea of how the loader was intended to be plumbed without a backhoe.
 
had thoughts along the same lines with my jd 2010 loader/backhoe.looked it all over.nope.way to much work/changeover.realistically way easier/cheaper/lot less headaches just to buy a used loader tractor..
 
Hi,Would i be able to install "T" fittings on it,and then cap/plug the ports while not using backhoe,then it shouldn't interfere with loader right?and all i'd have to do is buy a couple hoses and t fittings.
Sorry if these are stupid questions,I'm new to hydraulics.
Thanks,Rock
 
If you want to use the backhoe it will need to hook up and flow just as it is now. Without being able to see and study your system; I doubt it will work if you try to tee the loader off the hoses. I am guessing the hoe valve may have something for a power beyond arrangement in it. If so, the loader teed into the hoses would rob hydraulic from the hoe and the hoe wouldn't work. Also you will lose more oil, capping and plugging hoses, than you will using quick disconnects. Quick disconnects arranged properly should make it a plug and play with the hoe on or off.
 
Ok,i will have to think about this
now,but anyhow,if i did put quick
connects on,then i guess i have to
connect the hoses from pump to loader
since it seems to go to the backhoe first
right? Looks like its staying on.
Thanks,Rock
 

You can study this further when you get your manuals, but I think this would likely be the way it would be connected if the back hoe is removed:

The suction line from the reservoir to the pump would not change at all.

The return to reservoir hose from the backhoe valve would not be needed. Just unhook quick disconnect, no harm in it being dead ended.

The pressure line from the pump to the backhoe valve would uncouple from the valve and couple to the hose going from the backhoe valve to the loader. For the pressure hose use a female end on hose from pump and a male end on backhoe valve.

The hose from the backhoe valve to the loader valve would couple to the pressure hose from the pump. Use a female end on the backhoe valve and a male end on the hose to the loader valve. That way it will couple to the pressure hose.

You need to confirm your loader valve has a main relief valve and the oil passage to the reservoir, it likely does. As I noted before, you may be able to have your 3 existing hoses cut at a convenient place to work the quick disconnects and ends installed, to avoid having to buy new hoses. At worst you would need to purchase short hoses to get the quick couplers away from the backhoe valve for easier connections. The pressure hose and the hose to the loader would use the same series quick couplers. I would use a different (larger) one on the return from the hoe so it doesn't get mixed up.
 
Hi,it's a mf200 loader if this makes a
difference,and only thing i can make out
on backhoe is it says mark 4,but now i
understand what your sayin as for quick
couplers,to put them on to not only make
it easier to remove/install but also swap
them around once backhoes of so the pump
still circulates and loader works,
I greatly.appreciate your help,i would've
just been lost and probably blew the pump
up like you said could happen,without
your help,have a good night,
Thanks,Rock
 
You likely have this information but here it is if you don't.

AGCO has the manuals (parts, service and operator's) for your MF203 tractor and MF200 loader. There were a couple models of 200's and I believe the bucket tilt linkage is the biggest difference (standard or 4 bar).

Your hoe is likely a Henry Mark IV. Post a few photos of it from various angles and someone may confirm that. The less than good news is there doesn't seem to be a lot of information/manuals for those around. My understanding is Henry Manufacturing made some hoes and loaders for a time which were available for mounting on various manufacturers equipment. At some point (in the 60s maybe) it appears they were purchased by Allis Chalmers.
 
you should have two lines going into the control block for the back hoe. one is pressure and one is return line which usually is a little larger. just hook them together so it will be a continuous flow. the loader should not be affected but if it is it will be because your pressure relief valve wont make up for the lost pressure of the back hoe so you will need to cap those lines. so the answer is yes it can be removed very easily. putting disconnects on your backhoe is a must if your planning on a 3pt.
 
(quoted from post at 10:39:38 11/26/19) you should have two lines going into the control block for the back hoe. one is pressure and one is return line which usually is a little larger. just hook them together so it will be a continuous flow. the loader should not be affected but if it is it will be because your pressure relief valve wont make up for the lost pressure of the back hoe so you will need to cap those lines. so the answer is yes it can be removed very easily. putting disconnects on your backhoe is a must if your planning on a 3pt.

Pinball, please check his post near the top where he tells of the 4 lines and the related discussions after that. Pressure goes from the pump to the hoe valve and from the hoe valve to the loader valve, the loader valve is not fed from the pump; unless I totally mis-read his post. Since that is the case, he needs to remove the pressure line from the hoe valve and route it to the loader valve, as I posted. From the way he described the lines (hoses) I think I told him correctly. If my thoughts are wrong please let us know, I don't want him to damage his machine..
 
he needs to be sure cause if he does block the flow the positive displacement pump will probably bust a line. I have never seen 4 lines coming from a pump. only a suction and discharge line. his may be different. my mf 30 has a discharge line that goes to the control block for my loader. there is a line from it to the back hoe that is the supply to it. the return line goes back into the loader frame that is the reservoir for both the loader and back hoe. there is a relief valve on the loader controls to reg pressure. if he does have four lines on his pump then I have no clue without seeing it myself.
 

He doesn't say 4 lines from the pump, he said "but i noticed that there are four feeder lines all together,".

"one is coming from front pump going to inner side of the mf200
loader frame/reservoir"

"second is going from backhoe to front pump"

"third is going from backhoe to rear of loader frame"

"fourth is going from backhoe to bottom of loader control valve"

Yours has four lines as well, the difference is his goes to the hoe before it goes to the loader; yours goes to the loader then the hoe.
 

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