priced out a L47 and M63

[workinallthetime]

1 was surprised to see that the L47 equipped with a thumb, 39" tilt BH bucket, and front Hydraulics was
$72,316.97
and the M63 outfitted the same was
$86,806.38
My L45 has exactly the same specs as the L47 and with less than 1500 hours I am rethinking the decision. I could use the capacities of the M63 but I feel selling a kidney is not a wise decision at my age.

the salesman mentioned the RTV1120's will not be available again until late spring and the pre-government fluid L45's are selling like gold right now. he posted one for sale on Friday and had it sold in 2 hours the following Monday.
needless to say, I have an RTVX1120 I am going to try and sell for more than what I have in it and buy the CFO a really nice Christmas present in hopes next summer there is a new M63 in my barn.
Has anyone had any experience with these new tilting BH buckets? Curious how it activates and if it is easier to use than my thumb. I have worn out several shoes using the heel to pull back on the pedal to retract the thumb. another dealer used some cheap 22 awg wire on my 3rd function for the loader that I had to replace completely after it kept breaking inside the insulation.

the delivery date for either unit is a guess, my RTV took 3 months.
my only other option seems to be a full size used 310 Deere, I climb hills and move large rocks quite often for landscape improvements, dig stumps, grapple brush, and use the 3 point to disc and maintain 1000' of gravel drive.

good luck all

 

[4570Man]

Previous M59 owner here. I don’t think that machine would benefit from a tilt bucket very much. It’s too slow to do much with it. I’ve got a Kubota KX-040 now and it’s way better at digging then the M59 was.

 

[rScotty]

For the thumb on the M59, I made a wooden insert for the heel&toe pedal so it would fit my shoe better, and then bolted an upright lever to the side of the pedal so the thumb can also be worked by hand. Now it's easier to operate - but still needs lots of improvement.

For 3pt we use an old farm tractor. As for big construction size TLBs, there are deals on older Case 580 and JD310s with everyone buying new ones now.

Especially good deals if you don't mind shifting gears.

 

[workinallthetime]

I am truly torn, 50% of the time a mini x or a 310 would be great. Problem is I climb a steep grade and work off the side of a hill quite often around here gathering rocks or firewood. The Mini x I am afraid would take me an hour to get to the hill and might flip over and the 310 is just big and no 3 point. I like the idea of the old ag unit for 3 point work. Find a old Massey 265 with some weight

 

[rScotty]

I am truly torn, 50% of the time a mini x or a 310 would be great. Problem is I climb a steep grade and work off the side of a hill quite often around here gathering rocks or firewood. The Mini x I am afraid would take me an hour to get to the hill and might flip over and the 310 is just big and no 3 point. I like the idea of the old ag unit for 3 point work. Find a old Massey 265 with some weight

I know nothing about miniX. But any machine goes straight up and down OK. It's side hills where I get into trouble.

Our 4x4 JD310SG with good tires the front end slides way too easily on side hills. That's NOT the answer. If working slopes I take the M59.

Right on the 3pt. An old Ag tractor is the ticket there.

 

[4570Man]

I definitely understand your concerns. That’s why I used to own a M59. The 310 is big, strong, durable, and fairly economical to buy. The downside is they’re not very versatile. I also used to own a 310 and I just bought another one. The mini x also isn’t very versatile although it’s better at stuff besides digging than you might think. The biggest downside is it’s slow to travel. It’s stable though. It might take an hour to get to the top of the hill but it won’t flip. It’s probably the most stable of the 3 machines. The 310 definitely wins last place for for stability and driving through mud. The M59 is versatile and compared to tractors it’s a great machine. But compared to construction machines it’s durability left room for improvement. Also it’s controls left room for improvement. I was never happy with that aspect of mine. I ended up selling mine in fairly short time and getting a mini excavator and skid steer and I’ve never been happier. I ended up buying another 310 but that was mostly a want vs something I couldn’t do without.

 

[workinallthetime]

what is the maintenance like on the 310? I can dig around the interwebs to see what a thumb addition will cost and i really want the tilt bucket which is around 5k

 

[4570Man]

what is the maintenance like on the 310? I can dig around the interwebs to see what a thumb addition will cost and i really want the tilt bucket which is around 5k

When you’re running a 20-30 year old 310 you put diesel in it and change the engine oil when you feel like it and everything else will sort itself out.

 

[4570Man]

I think you’re going to be disappointed trying to do much besides dig holes with a backhoe. Especially a little backhoe. I mini x is WAY better.

 

[rScotty]

When you’re running a 20-30 year old 310 you put diesel in it and change the engine oil when you feel like it and everything else will sort itself out.

That's about right. JD310s don't wear very much or very quickly. Grease counts for more than oil changes.

Lots of old style tractors were durable in the same way too.

 

[4570Man]

That's about right. JD320s don't wear very much or very quickly. Grease counts for more than oil changes.

Lots of old style tractors were durable in the same way too.

There’s a few industrial tractors on the same level but tractors in general won’t survive what a 310 will. A 310 is very excessively built designed to survive for a long time. My M59 wasn’t even close to the same durability.

 

[rScotty]

That's about right. JD320s don't wear very much or very quickly. Grease counts for more than oil changes.

Lots of old style tractors were durable in the same way too.

I see your question about a thumb. For the 310 the price of adding a thumb depends a lot on whether you have accessory hydraulics to the rear and also if those hydraulics are 2 way or 1 way. JD offered both as accessories. So It could be either. Anyway, the answer to the thumb question is in the $7500 to $12,000 range.
Of course with the thumb comes the ability to do a lot more that just dig with the backhoe.

As far as digging goes, the JD 310 will out dig the M59 by about double....but you may not need that much capacity. I don't. About the biggest thing I ever build is a pond or an irrigatio trench. For small homeowner jobs on our own land like those, either machine digs at about the same rate. The accuracy and ease of use of the M59 makes it equal to the brute strength of the 310.
If I was doing foundations all day everyday then the 310 size would make a difference.

BTW, the 310 is 4x4, 90 hp turbo, cab with everything, biggest bucket (410 tilt option 1.3 cu. yd), stereo, counterweights, air seat, rear hydraulics, comfort ride, and extendahoe. I'm making a buddy seat for it.

The M59 has a canopy.... and a thumb.
We usually use the M59.
rScotty

 

[4570Man]

I see your question about a thumb. For the 310 the price of adding a thumb depends a lot on whether you have accessory hydraulics to the rear and also if those hydraulics are 2 way or 1 way. JD offered both as accessories. So It could be either. Anyway, the answer to the thumb question is in the $7500 to $12,000 range.
Of course with the thumb comes the ability to do a lot more that just dig with the backhoe.

As far as digging goes, the JD 310 will out dig the M59 by about double....but you may not need that much capacity. I don't. About the biggest thing I ever build is a pond or an irrigatio trench. For small homeowner jobs on our own land like those, either machine digs at about the same rate. The accuracy and ease of use of the M59 makes it equal to the brute strength of the 310.
If I was doing foundations all day everyday then the 310 size would make a difference.

BTW, the 310 is 4x4, 90 hp turbo, cab with everything, biggest bucket (410 tilt option 1.3 cu. yd), stereo, counterweights, air seat, rear hydraulics, comfort ride, and extendahoe. I'm making a buddy seat for it.

The M59 has a canopy.... and a thumb.
We usually use the M59.
rScotty

My last 310 had a manual thumb. My current 410 I just bought doesn’t have a thumb. My mini x has a hydraulic thumb. It makes a huge difference in the capability of the machine. Even an easy like loading extra buckets on the truck is hard without having a thumb. I would rate a 310 at 4-5x the dirt moved over the m59 vs double though. The buckets hold more dirt, the boom has more reach and the hydraulics are faster. The full size hoe really lacks In versatility is the main drawback. Adding much needed features like a grapple, pallet forks, quick change backhoe buckets, and a hydraulic thumb add up to more than the 310 is worth the start with. Those features are much more affordable on other equipment.

 

[workinallthetime]

dealer says the L47 does not use Government fluid for regen, that is a plus.
got 1440 hours on my L45, its is good for everything but not the best for anything. I got the tractor bug, started with a BX23, then a B3030 (broke the dipper stick), then moved to the L45.
a typical day is to climb a steep grade - sometimes backward depending on the moisture level, traverse a slipe through the trees, dig out a large rock - spin around pick it up with either a grapple or pallet forks.
clean up storm damage with the grapple
transport soil from one area to another
dig oak saplings and replant them
maintain a 40-foot creek crossing
disc the garden
1000 foot of gravel driveway maintenance, including drainage on both sides - I live in a flood plain area,
310 worries me about the weight around the place and the damage it will cause.
wheel loader, ag tractor, and a mini x would be great but I can't sell a kidney at this point in life. another option would be a skid steer and a mini x. just not sure about the skid steer on the side of the slope or traveling up a grade to grab a tree or rock.
used modern 310 with less than 1000 hours is about the same price as the units I am looking at on tractorhouse.

 

[workinallthetime]

https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/brochure-sheets/full-line-construction-equipment.pdf?sfvrsn=8b78cf72_4

pretty informative doc about Kubota construction equipment

 

[rScotty]

what is the maintenance like on the 310? I can dig around the interwebs to see what a thumb addition will cost and i really want the tilt bucket which is around 5k

You already have a good L45. You could just add to it.
Why replace it with something roughly the same?

First thing on my list would be some rear remotes. I think you already have SSQA and front remotes.
You can sell me that front 4n1 bucket if it will fit SSQA.
Get yourself a good full size round back bucket with replaceable edge.

Then change the BH bucket attachment coupler to the K7543 type quick connector ($1000). You do that because the K7543 is the same quick coupler used on Kubota CE series Excavators and once you are coupling with that you have all kinds of options you can run on the hoe, including the tilt and rotating buckets.

You can use your old BH buckets with the K7543 coupler by welding on Kubota's conversion ears.

Be nice to add an air seat plus "comfort ride" to store energy in the loader arms.
Have you thought about a fold out windshield?

There you have it; a much more capable - & interesting - L45 for way less dollars.
rScotty

 

[workinallthetime]

You already have a good L45. You could just add to it.
Why replace it with something roughly the same?

First thing on my list would be some rear remotes. I think you already have SSQA and front remotes.
You can sell me that front 4n1 bucket if it will fit SSQA.
Get yourself a good full size round back bucket with replaceable edge.

Then change the BH bucket attachment coupler to the K7543 type quick connector ($1000). You do that because the K7543 is the same quick coupler used on Kubota CE series Excavators and once you are coupling with that you have all kinds of options you can run on the hoe, including the tilt and rotating buckets.

You can use your old BH buckets with the K7543 coupler by welding on Kubota's conversion ears.

Be nice to add an air seat plus "comfort ride" to store energy in the loader arms.
Have you thought about a fold out windshield?

There you have it; a much more capable - & interesting - L45 for way less dollars.
rScotty

Interesting. I have the quick coupler BH bucket but I believe it is different than the Kubota excavator buckets. Love the air ride seat idea, never understood why they put such a cheesy seat on something someone spends hours on. My ZD326 mower has a lazy boy feeling seat compared to the folding chair feel of the L45.

 

[4570Man]

Interesting. I have the quick coupler BH bucket but I believe it is different than the Kubota excavator buckets. Love the air ride seat idea, never understood why they put such a cheesy seat on something someone spends hours on. My ZD326 mower has a lazy boy feeling seat compared to the folding chair feel of the L45.

The factory TLB coupler is different from any excavator lineup. But if you’re adding the coupler you can use an excavator one to get more freedom with attachments.

 

[RichardMeyer]

Jcb makes the 3cx compact that is comparable to the m62 just a little bigger and more capable. Everyone looking at a m62 should research the jcb. Only issue is that their order book is 12 months out right now. Good luck

 

[workinallthetime]

Jcb makes the 3cx compact that is comparable to the m62 just a little bigger and more capable. Everyone looking at a m62 should research the jcb. Only issue is that their order book is 12 months out right now. Good luck

Interesting, however, I do not see anything in their propaganda about being able to use 3 point also. Wonder how their pricing is?