1990 Ford 555C Backhoe - Should I buy?

[Martian]

from Machinerytrader index seems the opposite is true, with Cat backhoes having 10 times the volume of listings.

Where I live now we often have to dig through granite and other difficult rock materials, in Louisiana most of what you dig through is silt and clay. I grew up in south La.

So would you suggest looking at another hoe?

 

[milkman636]

If I can only save just one tire with that story........

You just never know what you are gonna find when you start diggin. That's part of the fun. My dog was especially pleased with the find. We had cow bones turning up in the yard regularly for a couple of months.

 

[jenkinsph]

It isn't that I think Ford is bad but I don't think it measures up equally to Cat, Deere and Case. A few years ago before I bought the 110tlb I looked into a new Terex 760B with extendahoe, cab and AC. At the time about 2003 the new Terex was selling for $47,000 brand new. I had several of my friends go with me to look the Terex over and while we all thought the price was good the rear axle housing looked weak. I waited another two years and kept looking at equipment and finally decided the 110tlb was a better fit for me.

One of my friends bought two of the 760B's and another friend has 2 Ford 555. Both of these guys have a multitude of backhoes and they both have more problems with the Terex and Ford hoes holding up. There is a good reason the pro's buy Cat, Case and Deere with their own money.

 

[Martian]

One of my friends bought two of the 760B's and another friend has 2 Ford 555. Both of these guys have a multitude of backhoes and they both have more problems with the Terex and Ford hoes holding up. There is a good reason the pro's buy Cat, Case and Deere with their own money.

I do agree. If I was out looking at a new backhoe I would look at a Cat first. But the Cat 416s were just ugly. Looked like the mid 70s Cases. Wouldn't buy a Cat until the 416B and they are just to much. As for the Cases I hate the 4 stick controls. The Deeres are good but they are also expensive. You also said that you would look at a new Case before you looked at a new New Holland. I hope you know that New Holland and Case are designed made and manufactured by the same company, CNH Global.

 

[RollingsFarms]

while I don't know much about backoe's, i do know this. when shopping used, if you aren't 100% SURE about what it is that you're looking for(ie. certain brand....for instance say you will ONLY buy a John Deere 310c and NOTHING else no matter what) be patient....VERY patient. you might like that 555 now, it may look good, the price may be in your budget, BUT i can almost promise you on everything i own, you WILL find something you like better down the road. you'll be kicking yourself wondering why you jumped on the first backhoe that "you could live with", when the one that has EVERYTHING you want(good tires too btw) at a price you could have afforded. take it from me, be patient when buying used.

right now I'm looking for an older tractor to use strictly for bush hogging. i don't want to spend over $11,000. i've passed on more tractors then i would like to admit. while the one's i passed on "looked good", had hours i could live with, would have probably done the job very well, none of them screamed to me "take me home, i'm the one you want!". there was always something i didn't like about the tractors i looked at. i WILL find me a good'n oneday though, i don't know what brand it'll be but i will know it's the one i want when it comes availible. Just keep looking, don't be in a rush, and you'll be happier in the long run.:thumbsup:

 

[Monster5601]

This is an interesting answer about the population of backhoes in your locale.
Just look at the page from Machinery Trader for sale listings,

Caterpillar 1354 machines listed
Deere 1143 " "
Case 1010 " "
New Holland 224 " "
Ford 134 " "

Loader Backhoe, Used Loader Backhoe, Loader Backhoe For Sale At MachineryTrader.com - Manufacturers


from Machinerytrader index seems the opposite is true, with Cat backhoes having 10 times the volume of listings.

You can't make that conclusion because in order for the number of used units for sale to have value, you would also need to know the total number of each sold.

 

[milkman636]

............................What I've used it most for is plowing the driveway and the thing is so light it slips and slides all over the driveway. Went down a hill in my driveway thing slid right around backwards and I was going back up the hill. Also my neighbor has a smaller New Holland (smaller frame but same size motor) and his tractor goes through the snow better because of the weight distribution....................

Have you added any ballast to the 3120?


RollingFarms also had some good advice. It is worth waiting for one that feels just right and you KNOW that you want.

 

[Martian]

Have you added any ballast to the 3120?

I have a backboard on when I plow, dealer said the weight of it will make up for the ballast box.

 

[Martian]

while I don't know much about backoe's, i do know this. when shopping used, if you aren't 100% SURE about what it is that you're looking for(ie. certain brand....for instance say you will ONLY buy a John Deere 310c and NOTHING else no matter what) be patient....VERY patient. you might like that 555 now, it may look good, the price may be in your budget, BUT i can almost promise you on everything i own, you WILL find something you like better down the road. you'll be kicking yourself wondering why you jumped on the first backhoe that "you could live with", when the one that has EVERYTHING you want(good tires too btw) at a price you could have afforded. take it from me, be patient when buying used.

right now I'm looking for an older tractor to use strictly for bush hogging. i don't want to spend over $11,000. i've passed on more tractors then i would like to admit. while the one's i passed on "looked good", had hours i could live with, would have probably done the job very well, none of them screamed to me "take me home, i'm the one you want!". there was always something i didn't like about the tractors i looked at. i WILL find me a good'n oneday though, i don't know what brand it'll be but i will know it's the one i want when it comes availible. Just keep looking, don't be in a rush, and you'll be happier in the long run.:thumbsup:

Great advice, and I definitely have been shopping around. What I've been looking for mainly is a 4 wheel drive hoe with a cab (The cab isn't as important as actually having a cab but I feel better knowing if the previous owner had all the components covered and out of the weather), extend a hoe, and a 4 in 1 bucket. My orders are tall and this is one of the few that fulfilled it. I've been looking for a couple months now and it was for sale when I started looking, I have to admit there was some that came and went that were probably better, like a 1994 Cat 416B that had all that I wanted, but it came and went, I've always like the 555C though scrolling through the lists on Machinery Trader it has always caught my eye. Don't know what it is about it but it just looks like a good machine.

 

[whodat526]

I do agree. If I was out looking at a new backhoe I would look at a Cat first. But the Cat 416s were just ugly. Looked like the mid 70s Cases. Wouldn't buy a Cat until the 416B and they are just to much. As for the Cases I hate the 4 stick controls. The Deeres are good but they are also expensive. You also said that you would look at a new Case before you looked at a new New Holland. I hope you know that New Holland and Case are designed made and manufactured by the same company, CNH Global.

give you a little insite on a cat bachhoe it is a case motor and trans and a newholland rear end so how can they be much better than the others

 

[RickB]

give you a little insite on a cat bachhoe it is a case motor and trans and a newholland rear end so how can they be much better than the others

Decals & paint, the same two things that make Deere so good.

 

[Martian]

Decals & paint, the same two things that make Deere so good.

It is so true... the main difference between backhoes is the dash and that's about it...

 

[whodat526]

Decals & paint, the same two things that make Deere so good.

that is exactly why i am thinking of painting a ford 3000 johndeere green and yellow so that people can get a good tractor but have the color everybody seems to like and i might even get a little more money for the tractor

 

[Martian]

that is exactly why i am thinking of painting a ford 3000 johndeere green and yellow so that people can get a good tractor but have the color everybody seems to like and i might even get a little more money for the tractor

Haha, most people would have no idea.:laughing:

 

[Equipmentlocatorman]

Also, remember that we typically see a 2% to %5 premium on case and cat equipment. That has been our experience anyway. I think it has to do less with quality and more with brand recognition.

 

[jml755]

Can't speak specifically about the 555, but I bought a Ford 755 TLB about 6 yrs ago. Tires were in worse shape than the one you're looking at. Replaced the fronts over the last couple of years, few hundred bucks each, mounted, IIRC. Easy enough to call a tire place and get a price. Have had tubes put in the rears due to flats and there's not much tread but..... this machine cost me under $10k. I put my own driveway in with it which paid for the TLB by itself. I've used it to transplant trees and have dug countless stumps, reworked my property, dug ditches, etc. Yes, it's a tired old machine (1980) and the pins are a little sloppy, but I'm not making my living with it. One of the bad things about heavy-duty construction equipment is the price of repair parts. But I've been able to find the things I've needed online and avoid the pain of the NH/Ford dealer pricing. I've replaced a fair number of the hydraulic hoses due to leaks and I can even get a complete engine rebuild kit for around $500 if I need/want to do it. The scariest ($$$) thing would a failure of the shuttle transmission, but a Ford mechanic told me they're pretty bullet-proof. Not sure if it's the same design as on the 555.

I also own a Ford 3600 tractor which is a great machine. Cost me under $5k. Yeah, Case is a real popular b/h and Cat makes great equipment but for what I use it for and what I've got invested in it, the Ford TLB does me just fine.

 

[Martian]

Alright guys, salesman still hasn't gotten back to me and its starting to tick me off so I've been looking around a lot lately and I think I've found a pretty good tractor. It says its a 1996 Case 580SK (Super K) but I've looked around and can't find any others that new so I think the guy is either not aware of what he has or its a typo but heres the link:

1996 Nice case 580 super K.

Looks like a pretty good machine, haven't called the guy yet but for that price I think I could do it. Especially since the Ford I was looking at was 6 years older and a couple grand more. I would hope he would trade but I will have to see.

Can anyone tell me what that actually might be (I don't think its actually a 580SK because I can't find any others that new) and also if anyone has had a good or bad experience with them:thumbsup::thumbsup:.

 

[whodat526]

from what u can tell from the pics it seems to be a decent price if it is how they described it

 

[Martian]

from what u can tell from the pics it seems to be a decent price if it is how they described it

True, hope it doesn't have the four stick cause that will be a deal breaker!

 

[Martian]

I also found another Case, a 1994 590 Turbo. Real close to me which is another huge plus. You can look in the cab and see it is the Case controls... which is really disappointing. Anyone think its worth the shot? How long does it take to adjust?