Posted by JDEM on June 29, 2017 at 07:13:38 from (70.194.18.242):
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?
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