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Read articles →This is a homeowner's step-by-step walkthrough of detaching and reattaching a JD 385A backhoe from a 3039R, filmed by an owner who'd just learned the process himself. It covers positioning the stabilizers and bucket, switching hydraulic hookups between the backhoe and three-point arms, pulling the retaining pins, and realigning the mounts on reattachment - a full cycle done in under ten minutes. Best for new 3039R/385A owners wanting a practical reference before trying it themselves.
Posted by a self-described homeowner tractor owner (Dan Wagner, Danimal's House) sharing his own hands-on experience rather than professional or dealer expertise.
Lower stabilizers and bucket into park position, switch hydraulics from backhoe to three-point arms, lift to release tension, then pull the two large retaining pins and set the backhoe down.
Shut off the tractor, disconnect the backhoe hydraulic lines, then connect the three-point arm hydraulics to lift the machine, or reverse this when reattaching the backhoe.
The homeowner in the video says the whole process, start to finish, took under ten minutes once he understood the steps.
With tension applied, shake the backhoe slightly and the pin will go in; if it does not go in, something is likely misaligned, so avoid forcing it with tools.
