Backhoe removal and install procedure.

There is a backhoe attachment installed 5hrs away from me on a MF40 Industrial that I am wanting to remove and install on my MF40 Industrial. Before making the trip, what are the things I need to inspect on the backhoe if the tractor is not working or if I can get it started? Also, what is needed to safely remove the backhoe attachment, transport and reinstall on my MF40?

I have a MF222 backhoe on a 203. Hopefully, the hoe you're interested in can be operated. I'd check for visual play in the big lower pivot bearing and smaller upper bearing. Look for play where the boom attaches to the pivot assembly. The large pin that holds them together was broken in half on mine. Check to see if there is excess travel in the rotary cylinder. The cylinder shouldn't rotate side to side without moving the hoe. There's a long, large bolt that "pins" the cylinder to the mast. Mine had that bolt replaced but with one that was smaller in diameter so that allowed a lot of side to side slop in the whole hoe. I got the correct one in but still had some play so I installed a sleeve in the hole then put the bolt in and that took care of the play. My understanding is that parts for the cylinder are hard, if not impossible, to find. The rest is just looking for wear, beat up items, leaky cylinders and hoses. Try it out before buying.
To remove: remove the left and right "links" and remove the two "rod" assemblies. Then start the tractor, lower the two stabilizers and use them to lift the whole hoe off of the tractor. Block up the hoe and it'll free stand provided the stabilizers don't leak down. Pull ahead enough to clear the hoe. Shut the tractor off. Disconnect the two hydraulic hoses to the hoe and reconnect both sets of hoses to themselves or you'll lose all the fluid. Reverse the procedure to assemble. That's my experience. Good luck! Oh yeah....you'll need a heavy duty trailer. Drive the tractor up on to the trailer first, then do the disconnect is the only way short of having a crane lift it on and off. Maybe someone else has some ideas.

It goes without saying but you'll need the mast assembly from his tractor. It's massive and wicked heavy. There's four huge nuts that hold it to the tractor.

Just got a MF52 Backhoe for my MF40. When hooking back up to my tractor, will the hydraulic system flush out any air in the lines, or is there a procedure for reconnecting the hydraulics?

When properly connected the hoe will purge itself of air as you operate the controls. I suggest you take pictures of how the hydraulics are connected, draw a sketch of it (include the hose diameters) as well and mark the hoses as to where they connect on the tractor you are removing it from. You may find you will need to make changes to your loader hydraulics to hook it up.

If the tractor the hoe is being removed from is running, not a salvage tractor, be aware the hoses being unhooked need to be re-connected properly, usually not just plugged or capped, on that tractor so as not to damage the pump.