calling all BH77 Backhoe owners...

[ccs]

calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

So Im pretty set on ordering an L3901. With have an FEL and etc.

Pretty sure I'd like to add the BH77 backhoe with mechanical thumb as well. My question is: Just how capable is this BH77 backhoe..?

Is it heavy duty and capable enough to do "real backhoe" work...want to dig out some decent size stumps...dig drainage ditches..use thumb and pickup logs...

Just how capable is it...or do I need to skip the BH77 and look for a used mini-excavator or a TLB.....

I dont intend to use the backhoe a tremendous amount - but when I need it and want to use it..I certainly want it to be capable and not seem like a "toy backhoe"....

thanks to all that own and use it for feedback and your experiences with it..

 

[yoteantidote]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

I have the same tractor and backhoe. It’s no toy, I have dug out some very large stumps but it’s no mini.
Ditches and logs are no problem. I have more hours operating the backhoe than I do on the tractor .

The first stump I ever dug out was rather large and I couldn’t believe the size of the root ball. It was big enough that I had to dig a ramp out of the hole to roll the stump out.

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[jryser]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

I'll be following this thread for exactly the same reason!


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[afret]

I used the BH77 on my L3901 to dig up a whole bunch of stumps. It worked great for that.

Ended up giving the tractor to my nephew since he needed it so I ended up getting a MX and a mini ex to replace it. The mini ex is a bit faster at digging stumps but the BH77 did OK.

 

[bluelou212]

I used the BH77 on my L3901 to dig up a whole bunch of stumps. It worked great for that.

Ended up giving the tractor to my nephew since he needed it so I ended up getting a MX and a mini ex to replace it. The mini ex is a bit faster at digging stumps but the BH77 did OK.

Is that a landpride grapple in the pic?

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[afret]

Is that a landpride grapple in the pic?

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Yes, it's a LP grapple. I still have that one. Had a EA grapple with longer jaws but gave that and a WR Long snow blade to my nephew along with the L3901. It was nice having both types of grapples but I like my new snow blade more than the WR Long blade for use on gravel.

 

[bluelou212]

Yes, it's a LP grapple. I still have that one. Had a EA grapple with longer jaws but gave that and a WR Long snow blade to my nephew along with the L3901. It was nice having both types of grapples but I like my new snow blade more than the WR Long blade for use on gravel.

afret,
I've got a very similar looking LP grapple on order - to go with an L3901 TLB.

How do you like it? Any major pluses or minuses I should be aware of?

Thx,
Lou


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[yoteantidote]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

Like this one?

I wouldn’t own a tractor without one.



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[Mike.O]

I have the BH 77 on my B2650, I believe the smallest machine the BH77 fits on.

It a pretty great unit. I have 110 hours on my tractor and I'd guess 60 of them on the BH.

Dug out tons of stumps. My most recent project was two (42" and 40") pine stumps. They were absolutely HUGE. It took me probably 25-30 machine hours but it did it. No way was I getting them out of the holes, so I dug the holes deeper and buried them.

Here it is after its broke free. I held them up against the side with a chain and my truck. Dug out below them and laid them back down in the hole.



Things take time for sure but it can do it. And it's even more handy for that pesky rock on your trail or the little stump on the edge of your yard or the electric line you want to trench in or the posts you want to set.

Couldn't imagine having a tractor without it.

 

[ccs]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

I have the same tractor and backhoe. It***8217;s no toy, I have dug out some very large stumps but it***8217;s no mini.
Ditches and logs are no problem. I have more hours operating the backhoe than I do on the tractor .

The first stump I ever dug out was rather large and I couldn***8217;t believe the size of the root ball. It was big enough that I had to dig a ramp out of the hole to roll the stump out.

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What size buckets are you guys running ?? 12***8221;, 16***8221; or 18***8221; ? And are you happy with whatever bucket you have ?

 

[bluelou212]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

Like this one?

I wouldn’t own a tractor without one.



Yep, like that one. Looks like we have the same set up. What tractor is it on? I'm waiting on delivery. I've got 100s of tons of fieldstone and plenty of other things to move with it. Anything worth noting both positive and/or negative?

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[dirtydeed]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

What size buckets are you guys running ?? 12***8221;, 16***8221; or 18***8221; ? And are you happy with whatever bucket you have ?

I too subbed to this thread and I'm interested to hear others responses as well. I got a 16" bucket with mine but I'm thinking a 12" would come in handy. I had a 12" on my bx23 which worked great for trenching but was pretty small when digging holes. Was wondering if the 12" bucket capacity for a BH77 is the same as for the 12" BX series hoes?

I'd like a 12" but with greater capacity than the BX had.

 

[NCUndertaker]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

I have it on my 3301. It is great and you won’t regret it. You Absolutely want the mechanical thumb. I have picked up some extremely large logs with it.


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[afret]

afret,
I've got a very similar looking LP grapple on order - to go with an L3901 TLB.

How do you like it? Any major pluses or minuses I should be aware of?

Thx,
Lou


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The dealer sold me the 72" wide grapple which is probably too wide especially with a 3901. I would get a narrow one. I found the extra width wasn't helpful, in my case anyway. The EA grapple I had was only 54" wide and worked well. The EA single lid root grapple had much longer jaws so it could grab more logs at one time but the LP grapple is better at holding a single log and you can use it to rake the ground. It was nice to have both types depending on what I was working on.

 

[bluelou212]

Yeah, I got the SCG 1060, the 60" grapple. I didn't want the force distributed so much wider than the tractor width. Hopefully that was the right choice.

 

[yoteantidote]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

Like this one?

I wouldn’t own a tractor without one.



Yep, like that one. Looks like we have the same set up. What tractor is it on? I'm waiting on delivery. I've got 100s of tons of fieldstone and plenty of other things to move with it. Anything worth noting both positive and/or negative?

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Mines on a 3901.
I’ve used mine mostly for clearing brush and trees after I’ve bulldozed them over. And for moving large logs that I cut for firewood to a central area for processing.

No negatives yet however I have tried using it as a root grapple and my control is not the greatest yet. I usually end up going to deep.
The positives are to many to list. Just remember your tractor is not a dozer and you will be fine.


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[bluelou212]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

Mines on a 3901.
I’ve used mine mostly for clearing brush and trees after I’ve bulldozed them over. And for moving large logs that I cut for firewood to a central area for processing.

No negatives yet however I have tried using it as a root grapple and my control is not the greatest yet. I usually end up going to deep.
The positives are to many to list. Just remember your tractor is not a dozer and you will be fine.


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Yoteantidote,
I saw the pic of your lot in the background and guessed your location within a 100 miles or so, lol. I've got family west of Toledo, farm country.

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[ccs]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

I have the same tractor and backhoe. It’s no toy, I have dug out some very large stumps but it’s no mini.
Ditches and logs are no problem. I have more hours operating the backhoe than I do on the tractor .

The first stump I ever dug out was rather large and I couldn’t believe the size of the root ball. It was big enough that I had to dig a ramp out of the hole to roll the stump out.

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YOTEANTIDOTE — forgive me if I missed this - but what size bucket are you running on your BH77 backhoe ??

 

[ccs]

Re: calling all BH77 Backhoe Users..L2501/L3301/L3901 / B2650

So Im pretty set on ordering an L3901. With have an FEL and etc.

Pretty sure I'd like to add the BH77 backhoe with mechanical thumb as well. My question is: Just how capable is this BH77 backhoe..?

Is it heavy duty and capable enough to do "real backhoe" work...want to dig out some decent size stumps...dig drainage ditches..use thumb and pickup logs...

Just how capable is it...or do I need to skip the BH77 and look for a used mini-excavator or a TLB.....

I dont intend to use the backhoe a tremendous amount - but when I need it and want to use it..I certainly want it to be capable and not seem like a "toy backhoe"....

thanks to all that own and use it for feedback and your experiences with it..

So I think I am going to say heck with it and skip ordering the L3901 and just go right to the Grand L in an L4060 configuration -- similar HP and PTO power as the L3901...just lots more creature comforts and options..will allow me to get the BH92 backhoe with greater capacity and even a hydraulic thumb if so choose.

 

[Eldubya]

I've got the BH77 on a B7800, (30hp) which I think is a pretty good match. Like the others, I can't imagine having a tractor without a BH. I'm not doing any agriculture, it's all pretty much digging, trenching, hauling. Use the backhoe way more than anything else.
I have the Bro-tek mechanical thumb which is alright, but a hydraulic one would make life SO much easier.
I have a 12" bucket which is sometimes too wide for simple trenches, but it sure beats a shovel!