Hello everyone, my 1st post. I'm buying my ford tractor tomorrow and am very interested in adding a thumb to the back hoe and getting something like a 8" trench bucket. What options are available and what type of things do I need to know. Thank you for the add and any info you can provide for an excited 1st time tractor owner, thanks again
- Thread starter Dr D
- Start date
![cMa4D3Dl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com"](http://"https://i.imgur.com/cMa4D3Dl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /)
![YpA3knQl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com"](http://"https://i.imgur.com/YpA3knQl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /)
Sean in PA
Well-known Member
If it's the HD 4000 then it most likely has a 723 backhoe which, according to the parts pages, the 12" was the narrowest bucket available. No thumbs from the factory either, but you can find generic bolt on thumbs out there, both manual and hydraulic, but if you go hydraulic you'll have to plumb in an extra valve.
Sean in PA
Well-known Member
That looks like a light industrial. I'm not sure what model backhoe it would have, but the only one I can find for the time frame it was made is the 723. The only other one I can find is the 713, that was only made for one year and was replaced by the 723 and the 713 used the same buckets as the 723.
Once you get it, look for a metal tag on the backhoe itself. There should be a number stamped into the tag like I9-xxx where the xxx is a 3 digit number. Post that number back here and we can help yo figure out which backhoe model it is and whether any narrower bucket might be available. I'm pretty sure that none of them back then had thumbs available.
Once you get it, look for a metal tag on the backhoe itself. There should be a number stamped into the tag like I9-xxx where the xxx is a 3 digit number. Post that number back here and we can help yo figure out which backhoe model it is and whether any narrower bucket might be available. I'm pretty sure that none of them back then had thumbs available.
I wish I had read it before I left. I paid for it and now have to arrange a way to get it home. Once I do. I will look for that tag and report back. In talking to the now previous owner, he says that the 18" bucket is a good one for one of my early projects. I have a pasture that gets alot of water in the winter and plan to dig a drainage trench to a dry well to intercept the water, so if that is the case, the need for a smaller bucket can be move back on the priority list. I did see that Titan has thumbs that can be welded on, which I can do, and then I have to figure how plumb it. Thank you for the replys
They made a crane boom to switch out the bucket but they are very rare. You might be able to mount a snow blade on it for pushing snow. Do you have a 3pt on the tractor? You can always add the 3pt
system drop the hoe using a quick disconnect. I depends which frame you have weather it will be easier to drop the hoe off. Something to consider if going with the 3pt is if your tires are filled
because you will need a weight counter balance for your loader. Some guys use the hoe to counter balance other guys will also load the tires even with the hoe. I have 3 HD backhoes and none of them have
loaded tires. Some model used a diverter valve for the flow to hoe. Does your tractor have this?Some hoes will run off a pto pump. Does yours have this? You will have to decide for what use your tractor
will be doing. Most guys with backhoe don't switch out for 3pt they just buy a 3pt tractor with no loader for 3pt work.
<a href="https://imgur.com/RmxGUY3">
![RmxGUY3l.jpg" title="source: imgur.com"](http://"https://i.imgur.com/RmxGUY3l.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /)
</a>
system drop the hoe using a quick disconnect. I depends which frame you have weather it will be easier to drop the hoe off. Something to consider if going with the 3pt is if your tires are filled
because you will need a weight counter balance for your loader. Some guys use the hoe to counter balance other guys will also load the tires even with the hoe. I have 3 HD backhoes and none of them have
loaded tires. Some model used a diverter valve for the flow to hoe. Does your tractor have this?Some hoes will run off a pto pump. Does yours have this? You will have to decide for what use your tractor
will be doing. Most guys with backhoe don't switch out for 3pt they just buy a 3pt tractor with no loader for 3pt work.
<a href="https://imgur.com/RmxGUY3">
Andy Wickiser
Member
The 723 backhoe used the Wain-Roy quick-connect mounting system so
it's fairly easy to take off. Once off, if you have a three point,
PTO, and draw bar provision you can use the tractor as a general-
purpose utility tractor. Most common attachments are bush hog and
back blade but pretty much anything that fits a class one three
point should work. You should give us the model number. This is
stamped on the transmission bell housing on a flat spot to the rear
of the starter. It will be something like 40303. This will tell us
how your tractor is configured. The serial number is there too
which will tell the year.
it's fairly easy to take off. Once off, if you have a three point,
PTO, and draw bar provision you can use the tractor as a general-
purpose utility tractor. Most common attachments are bush hog and
back blade but pretty much anything that fits a class one three
point should work. You should give us the model number. This is
stamped on the transmission bell housing on a flat spot to the rear
of the starter. It will be something like 40303. This will tell us
how your tractor is configured. The serial number is there too
which will tell the year.
Andy Wickiser
Member
And this too. If you are talking about attachments specifically for
the Ford 723 backhoe there were a variety of buckets, a variety of
stabilizer pads, and a backfill blade.
<img src = https://i.postimg.cc/nVPzxWrG/723-Buckets.jpg>
<img src = https://i.postimg.cc/ncSq6Tby/723-Buckets-Backfill-Blade.jpg>
<img src = https://i.postimg.cc/XJDVVZjY/723-Stab-Pads.jpg>
the Ford 723 backhoe there were a variety of buckets, a variety of
stabilizer pads, and a backfill blade.
<img src = https://i.postimg.cc/nVPzxWrG/723-Buckets.jpg>
<img src = https://i.postimg.cc/ncSq6Tby/723-Buckets-Backfill-Blade.jpg>
<img src = https://i.postimg.cc/XJDVVZjY/723-Stab-Pads.jpg>
Thank you all for the replies, there is a lot to know. I will not have my tractor home till next week, but this is what I know now, it has a quick disconnect, not a 3pt, hydraulic PTO that has a switch from loader to hoe. The 12" & the back-fill buckets are interesting, currently has an 18". I would be interested, possibly, for a mower attachment, if such a device exists. Currently mow the 1 1/4 pasture with a riding mower, it works but not ideal. Is there a 3pt conversion attachment or can one be fabbed up? Thanks again for the help
Andy Wickiser
Member
Well ... if it doesn't have a three point hitch you probably should
buy a second tractor for utility use that does have a 3PH for mowing
and whatnot. Sometimes tractors originally configured with a
backhoe didn't have a 3PH because of cost and lack of need. Adding
one would involve adding a complete lift cover, engine-mounted
hydraulic pump, pump manifold, and possibly internal tubing and
other stuff.
The hydraulic PTO you describe is not the "real" PTO. Your unit has
a front-mounted hydraulic pump to power the loader and backhoe. The
selector valve you describe simply sends the hydraulic output to
either the loader or the backhoe but not both at the same time. The
real PTO is mechanical and, if present, has it's splined output
shaft on the back of the tractor. The PTO may or may not be present
on your tractor depending on original configuration. Good luck!
buy a second tractor for utility use that does have a 3PH for mowing
and whatnot. Sometimes tractors originally configured with a
backhoe didn't have a 3PH because of cost and lack of need. Adding
one would involve adding a complete lift cover, engine-mounted
hydraulic pump, pump manifold, and possibly internal tubing and
other stuff.
The hydraulic PTO you describe is not the "real" PTO. Your unit has
a front-mounted hydraulic pump to power the loader and backhoe. The
selector valve you describe simply sends the hydraulic output to
either the loader or the backhoe but not both at the same time. The
real PTO is mechanical and, if present, has it's splined output
shaft on the back of the tractor. The PTO may or may not be present
on your tractor depending on original configuration. Good luck!
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