Mcconnel 3 point linkage digger

[Greythundercloudys]

Are these any use, see one up here for sale, buckets etc, 650£, have they any power, this one has own pump.??.

 

[nick...]

You will do far more with a mini digger.id imagine the McConnell woukd be a pain to attach to tractor and it would have its own pump.woukd need mounting rigidly too.they were fine 40 years ago as we knew no different but times move on.
Nick...

 

[Greythundercloudys]

Yes, maybe l should just hire a digger for a day or two, all ways good to have your own machine.

 

[Boohoo]

It all depends on what you want to do. I've no experience of the McConnel but I wouldn't be without our David Brown digger. If I've got a lot of digging or draining to do I'll get someone in with either a 3 or a 13 ton digger but for hanging gates, clearing a blocked ditch or drain and digging big stones out I'll put the digger on before I'll reach for the spade.

 

[X344chap]

Are these any use, see one up here for sale, buckets etc, 650£, have they any power, this one has own pump.??.

Depends on how much digging you have to do. For odd jobs then its money in the bank compared to the cost and depreciation of a mini digger - plus they are not likely to get stolen.

£400 will get you a good one depending on how many buckets it has. 3 point linkage and doesnt require a frame. Can either run direct off tractor or some have tank and pto pump for smaller tractors. Bought mine about 30 years ago and i'll get my money back on it when it goes - even if i have to part it out - 5 hydraulic rams plus the weight of the scrap. Its done a huge amount of digging over the years.

 

[Greythundercloudys]

Depends on how much digging you have to do. For odd jobs then its money in the bank compared to the cost and depreciation of a mini digger - plus they are not likely to get stolen.

£400 will get you a good one depending on how many buckets it has. 3 point linkage and doesnt require a frame. Can either run direct off tractor or some have tank and pto pump for smaller tractors. Bought mine about 30 years ago and i'll get my money back on it when it goes - even if i have to part it out - 5 hydraulic rams plus the weight of the scrap. Its done a huge amount of digging over the years.

H

Depends on how much digging you have to do. For odd jobs then its money in the bank compared to the cost and depreciation of a mini digger - plus they are not likely to get stolen.

£400 will get you a good one depending on how many buckets it has. 3 point linkage and doesnt require a frame. Can either run direct off tractor or some have tank and pto pump for smaller tractors. Bought mine about 30 years ago and i'll get my money back on it when it goes - even if i have to part it out - 5 hydraulic rams plus the weight of the scrap. Its done a huge amount of digging over the years.

What is yours, tractor or own pump?

 

[Jameshenry]

Had one mounted on the front of a tractor once, post driver on the rear, all i can say is it's a damn sight better than a shovel, but if you got much to do hire a mini digger !

 

[kevindb880]

Have a McConnel Pa8, which is 3pl mounted, it has its own pump and is very handy. Just this week we put in a couple of 4in land drain pipes in with a 5in v bucket which saved a lot of stone. It takes 15 minutes to hook on we find we do a lot of little jobs having it sit there which wouldn’t get done if we had to hire in.

 

[Nearly]

@JLTate

 

[X344chap]

H
What is yours, tractor or own pump?

It has a separate tank and pump not unlike the hedge cutters. This means you can operate it with 40 hp or above - the limiting factor being keeping the front wheels on the ground. Also if you have a burst hose with the close coupled - it can empty your tractor hydraulics by the time you get off the seat to shut the engine off. The pto pump can also regulate the pressure - mine runs fine at tractor just above tick over. Too much pressure and you can tear the digger apart with the size of the rams. Mine is almost permanently attached to an IH 276.

 

[Mursal]

No experience, just be careful with a modern cab and the seating position for the operator.

 

[Nearly]

No experience, just be careful with a modern cab and the seating position for the operator.

Chain the implement end of the top link down to the drawbar. People were killed as diggers rode up into those new fangled safety cabs.

 

[Boohoo]

Chain the implement end of the top link down to the drawbar. People were killed as diggers rode up into those new fangled safety cabs.

Those unfortunate accidents were the main reason why David Brown diggers were all bracket mounted.

 

[v8willy]

Chain the implement end of the top link down to the drawbar. People were killed as diggers rode up into those new fangled safety cabs.

Used to take the rear window frame off the IH 484 when we had the digger, think that was after he broke one tho...

 

[kevindb880]

Mines on a CIH 895xl, must admit I did break the back window one time I left it open!
They no JCB 3cx or mini digger but I paid £800 years ago and at £300 a day for a 3cx and operator you soon get your money back.

 

[Heathland]

@Greythundercloudys
Thought Id post a couple of pictures of what I've just

done to a McConnell,I've made it so it will fit on the front of my telehandler.
You do need a constant flow on the headstock.
Handy for digging gate post holes,bit of ditch cleaning etc tho wouldn't want to be on it all day.