Buying Advice Ford 555D Backhoe

[Martian]

For all of you that have followed me through the different backhoe woes I went to the dealer to try and test drive the John Deere 310D yesterday, to find it was sold. I'm now going to go more after a 4x4 backhoe. I found this Ford 555D on Machinery Trader and from what I know Ford just isn't as good of a backhoe. Not to say their bad, just not a Case, Cat or Deere. I was wondering how people like them. Seems like a pretty reasonable deal - its 4x4, std. hoe, no cab, but it's only 12,500.

FORD 555D Machines - Loader Backhoes For Sale At MachineryTrader.com

Tell me what you think. I've seen some others but they are more. I really want to be as close to 12500 as possible.

 

[Ford tractor]

The Ford 555 series is a solid machine. Not as modern as the others, but still solid.

I would look at condition more than brand for used equipment. Especially the pins and bushings. You can go broke in a heart beat if you need to replace them! Then the frame and other structure. BH's will crack. All of them. Then the engine, trans, diff etc etc etc.

 

[Martian]

The Ford 555 series is a solid machine. Not as modern as the others, but still solid.

I would look at condition more than brand for used equipment. Especially the pins and bushings. You can go broke in a heart beat if you need to replace them! Then the frame and other structure. BH's will crack. All of them. Then the engine, trans, diff etc etc etc.

Would you happen to have any experience on them compared to another machine. I just have not been able to find much on them as they weren't as popular as the other makes.

 

[Opti-Mist]

I would kind of differ with your assessment, they sold pretty well and were quite a productive machine.

 

[crashz]

My father had a 555C. While it was only 2wd, it was by far the most reliable machine he ever had. He built his business, and supported our family with that machine.

Don't believe that Ford / New Holland is a 2nd tier machine. It is right up there with the rest of them for quality machines.

I agree with the last posters though, buy for condition, not name. Service records, clean fluids, tight & well greased pins, clean paint, decent tires, ect. The tractor should drive well in each gear, all hydraulics work crisply, gauges and electrical system works, ect.

 

[whodat526]

ford 555c and d are the best backhoes made if they wasn't why would cat use ford rearends in there back hoes and case transmission i have ran many ford 555c's and d's and love them i have also driven case and dont like the controls in the models made during the same time as a ford c's and d's and the deere is hard to get parts for execpt from the deere dealer which means lots of dollars

all the major contractors around my area has ford and newholland backhoes i know of about 20 c's and d' running in construction still to this day in my area

 

[D7E]

I'd be putting the ford before a case or deere too !

 

[strum456]

What do you guys know about the Ford 345d? I just bought one. It is 4x4 with a cab and loader. I don't have much time on it yet, but I like it for the most part. It is a true industrial tractor; is built like a tank. It is nice to operate with most of the modern features. I am a bit concerned that it might be a little underpowered for working ground (pulling a disc, for example). It is so heavy that it has to work just to move itself.