Question about installing a sub frame on my L3301 with a 4672A backhoe already mounted to the tractor

[torch]

Here's a video by a fellow who uses a very similar Woodmax brand on the L3301:

There is an angle in the video showing the top link bracket. To my eye, that bracket is heavy steel, but insufficiently mounted. All Kubota's HD brackets wrap over the top and into vertical bolts. They don't rely on horizontal bolts that could be stretched or the casting stripped out. He does mention the issue near the end of the video, and comments on how heavy the bolts are, but a chain is only as strong as the weakest link -- heavy steel brackets and strong bolts are great, but don't address the limitations of a cast housing.

The B4672A backhoe is much smaller, lighter and will apply less force on the tractor than the BH77 that machine is designed to accommodate. Perhaps one might get away without any reinforcement. But if it was my machine, I would want to beef things up a bit. The BH77 subframe might be overkill for the B4672A, but it certainly would be easy enough to fabricate some sort of additional reinforcement between the axle and FEL mount. And if Kubota does not offer a HD top link bracket, I'd be fabricating something for that, too.

(I could not source an original HD bracket for my tractor, and so fabricated my own. Here is how I personally went about that:
https://www.orangetractortalks.com/...need-a-hd-top-link-bracket.46855/#post-408538 )

 

[Henro]

The manual I have for the B4672A predates the L3301, so that tractor is not mentioned. But it does list the L3300, which was very similar in size and weight. The L3300 required a heavy-duty top link bracket to be installed, together with a FEL.

[ snip]

As the L3301 was intended to be mated to the BH77, which attaches via subframe, I suspect there is no HD bracket available.

For reference, L3300 HD top link bracket hardware:

 

[ChiefKubby]

Thanks for all your advice, I have to do more investigation. I wish I knew for certain that the sub frame would fit the 4672 backhoe.
When I talked to two dealers and their service and parts dept. they couldn't guarantee that the subframe would fit the B4672A backhoe on my L3301. They also did not want to order the subframe just so I could see if it would fit. The backhoe is in great shape so I may have to sell it and order BH77 backhoe for peace of mind.

 

[old and tired]

So do you already own the B4672A backhoe???

If you already own that backhoe and you are thinking that "for sure" you'll be buying the BH77 backhoe (if the sub-frame and the B4672A doesn't work together). You might as well buy the sub-frame and see if it works for the B4672A. You'll need it for BH77 (if you are for sure getting that). Then sell the B4672A and get the BH77.

 

[ChiefKubby]

So do you already own the B4672A backhoe???

If you already own that backhoe and you are thinking that "for sure" you'll be buying the BH77 backhoe (if the sub-frame and the B4672A doesn't work together). You might as well buy the sub-frame and see if it works for the B4672A. You'll need it for BH77 (if you are for sure getting that). Then sell the B4672A and get the BH77.

I finally found someone at the local Kubota dealership that knows whether or not the sub-frame for my L3301 would fit my B4672A. Backhoe. It DOES NOT even come close to fitting. So I will post my B4672A for sale and look for or order a new BH77 backhoe. There is a 3-4 month wait for the BH77 so I may be looking for a used BH77 or Woods. I would welcome any suggestions or recommendation regarding the best backhoe to purchase. Thanks

 

[torch]

Ok, I'm confused. I thought you knew that the BH77 subframe was for the BH77 and just wanted to know if it would interfere with fitting the B4672 backhoe to the 3ph? The dealer is correct that the subframe won't fit your backhoe itself. Two very different questions, IMHO.

 

[Henro]

I finally found someone at the local Kubota dealership that knows whether or not the sub-frame for my L3301 would fit my B4672A. Backhoe. It DOES NOT even come close to fitting. So I will post my B4672A for sale and look for or order a new BH77 backhoe. There is a 3-4 month wait for the BH77 so I may be looking for a used BH77 or Woods. I would welcome any suggestions or recommendation regarding the best backhoe to purchase. Thanks

Just a thought, but I have a couple short brackets of some sort that were removed and replaced by something else, and I do not know what it was. It could have simply been something removed when the loader was installed, or something that was replaced when the 3PH backhoe was purchased.

So if you find a buyer you may want to suggest they look into whether something needs to be added to their tractor to make the 3PH backhoe less likely to damage their tractor. And mention the need for a heavy duty top link bracket too.

OR you could just follow the "let the buyer beware" philosophy. NOT sure what I would do...but would think I would at least give the buyer some warning, even as an after thought worst case.