I'm interested in a backhoe attachment that can be mounted on a garden tractor (john deere 420). I think that I found one made by Koyker Manufacturing but I think it's a little pricey.

-- mark guzik (msguzik@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002

Answers

I doubt your going to find any backhoe for a garden tractor. The smallest Koyker is the kb60 and that requires a reasonable size tractor. 15 (diesel)hp or better. You need hydraulic system and PTO to power teh backhoe. The KB60 also weights around 600lbs. Thats not a whole lot less than the tractor. Then there is cost, NO backhoe is going to be cheap. Are you going to be doing that much work with such a little tractor to cost justify the purchase. Would a rental be a better bet. For the price of a new hackhoe and retrofitting your tractor (if you even can) you might be able to find an older larger tractor with a hackhoe already on it.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 13, 2002.

I had the same thoughts a few years ago!! I ended up trading my garden tractor on a Kioti tractor with a loader and backhoe!!! Best move i ever made!!Look into them!! You wont be disaponted!! Grizz!!

-- grizz ney (southerneagle@yahoo.com), January 13, 2002.

Mark, for what it's worth, John Deere doesn't even recommend a backhoe on their 4100 compact tractor, which is 20 HP and well over 2000 pounds. The problem is the strength (or relative lack thereof) of the frame of the unit. I'd sure check with my local Deere dealer before I wrote a check. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

I have a 14 hp Bolens garden tractor that I built a Backhoe for using plans found at http://www.cadplans.com/ . I had to modify the plans a little to fit the tractor, but it was well worth it. The only drawback that I've found to this unit is that it can only dig to about 6 feet. 14 hp is plenty to run the hydrolics and with counter weights on the front end you shouldn't have any problem with tippiness. I've made lots of attachment for my tractor that people said couldn't be done, but you should see me out in the field bailing hay with my "big power machine"

-- Sheane Meikle (sheanem@telusplanet.net), January 18, 2002.