Buying Advice JCB 1550

[ducation]

Newbie question. Looking at a backhoe to do some site work and came across a 1987 JCB 1550 sitemaster 4x4 exhoe, clamshell and 2way snow plow for $10k. Looked ok (not that I really know what I am looking at), few small leaks, one decent leak on one of the hoe pivot cylinders (not sure if it is the seal or the cylinder is cracked). Says 3700 hrs but the owner wasn't sure it was accurate, none of the ones I have looked at have been). It's in better shape than a few I have looked at, my questions are:

How hard is it to find parts
Are these good machines
If the pivot cylinder is bad what are my options
Anything else I should be looking at

Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated

 

[Kernopelli]

Newbie question. Looking at a backhoe to do some site work and came across a 1987 JCB 1550 sitemaster 4x4 exhoe, clamshell and 2way snow plow for $10k. Looked ok (not that I really know what I am looking at), few small leaks, one decent leak on one of the hoe pivot cylinders (not sure if it is the seal or the cylinder is cracked). Says 3700 hrs but the owner wasn't sure it was accurate, none of the ones I have looked at have been). It's in better shape than a few I have looked at, my questions are:

How hard is it to find parts
Are these good machines
If the pivot cylinder is bad what are my options
Anything else I should be looking at

Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated

Since no one has jumped in, I'll give it a go. I am not really familiar with the 1550 but I personally like JCB's. They tend to be well built machines. I believe an '87 has a 4-236 Perkins so it might be just a little light on HP at around 65-70HP but should be a good reliable engine. Parts shouldn't be a big problem. An Extendahoe, 4 in one bucket, snow bucket, 4 wheel drive, halfway tight(?) unit for $10,000 sounds like a good deal to me. JCB's don't tend to bring Case, Cat or Deere prices generally but that's a lot of options for the money...couldn't begin to touch a similar machine for that money in my area that's for sure. The cylinder isn't a big issue at all if its a rebuild issue ( seals)...which is most likely. If the cylinder body is cracked, you can either have that rebuilt at a hydraulic shop or buy a replacement cylinder but either way expect to pay a little bit. I have had exceptional luck with buying hydraulics on Ebay. The larger specific brand cylinders are going to cost big money but if you can find a comparable "generic" cylinder spec'ed the same as the OEM you can get away with spending a lot less.

 

[ducation]

Thanks Darryl. Its a Perkins turbo diesel and the owner thought it put out somewhere around 80hp but wasn't sure. In either case it should be enough for what I need to do with it. Rebuilding cylinders doesn't scare me, its getting them off the machine that's a little intimidating. I don't see allot of local dealers for JCB and not a ton of resources online.

 

[Kernopelli]

Thanks Darryl. Its a Perkins turbo diesel and the owner thought it put out somewhere around 80hp but wasn't sure. In either case it should be enough for what I need to do with it. Rebuilding cylinders doesn't scare me, its getting them off the machine that's a little intimidating. I don't see allot of local dealers for JCB and not a ton of resources online.

Actually, I think if it's a 1550B, it probably is 80 HP. They are not as popular in the U.S. as in Europe or probably especially the UK but there are certainly dealers and parts suppliers here. I was doing a little reading on the machine and have to say that other than reading they have Lucas electrics ( which I'm sure are much better than they were back many years ago) they sound like a very durable, heavy duty machine with a very reliable and smooth running engine with plenty of power and hydraulics. As I mentioned before...lots of features for $10K! Around here, that's about what I'd expect to pay for a similar hour late '70's Case 580C 2 wheel drive.

 

[ducation]

Ya I think it's a 1550B. I pulled the trigger on it so the next step is to find someone yo haul it the 80mi from Mass to NY

 

[ducation]

Any idea how to figure out how much Hydraulic fluid is in the tank? No sight glass (at least where the manual says it is) and it has a curved fill neck so you can't use the "stick method"

 

[D7E]

Any idea how to figure out how much Hydraulic fluid is in the tank? No sight glass (at least where the manual says it is) and it has a curved fill neck so you can't use the "stick method"

Should have a plastic sight glass on the side of the tank ..?

 

[ducation]

Yup, found it. Someone painted over it.

 

[D7E]

I hope she's good for you. My first choice of any brand of that era ! One of the best machines i had was a gray cab turbo ..4inone bucket....14000 hrs when i sold it...dig circles round a case

 

[ducation]

So I was out digging with it for the first time tonight, about 30min into it I stopped to move it into another position. I put the outriggers out and that was it, no hydraulics front or back. Checked the fluid level and it was full. No strange noises or draw on the motor when I move the sticks. Any ideas?????