backhoe purchase old or new

ford farm boy · Sep 20, 2010

I have a year old kubota mx5100 that I am thing of purchasing a backhoe for. ($8000 kubota dealer ) . But I have found a 1980 something case 580e 4 wheel drive in pretty good shape for $10,000. I don't know the hours . So the question is by new and know what I got or take a chance on the old backhoe.
It will just be used on my small farm for stumps and ditches.

IslandTractor · Sep 20, 2010

How many hours on the Case? Are you comfortable evaluating it mechanically and assessing the hydraulics? Nice to have a dedicated BH as a second machine and you won't need to dork around mounting the BH on the Kubota everytime you need it.

I have a neighbor who bought an older JD BH. It has seen better days but with a little tlc he keeps it running and it definitely earns it keep. It's no beauty queen but it still digs better than any tractor plus BH attachment.

ford farm boy · Sep 20, 2010

I don't know hours but machine seems to be tight no leaks has cap good tires and no smoke. Its been holding back bucket up off of ground for about 2 weeks now in fold up position.

tommu56 · Sep 20, 2010

Unless there is a sub frame for the Kubota hoe I'd look harden at the Case

just from what i have read that is why I got my 23 bigger would be better but I got time

kbotaman · Sep 21, 2010

ford farm boy said:
I don't know hours but machine seems to be tight no leaks has cap good tires and no smoke. Its been holding back bucket up off of ground for about 2 weeks now in fold up position.

The fact that the bucket has stayed up for an extended period of time is not a solid indicator of the condition of the backhoe hydraulics. This machine like many others is equipped with a system that locks the boom in the upright position eliminating the possibility of leak down.

wlk · Sep 21, 2010

I was faced with the same dilemma. Already had an old 60's something 580ck. Had a chance to buy a bushhog 8' hoe for $3K + cost of sub-frame. The Case digs better (I find closed center systems easier than open on a BH), and 12' vs. 8' hoe clinched it for me. Money was better spent on a hydraulic hose crimper to redo all the lines on the case.