Least complicated used loader backhoe

[gabtrac]

Hi everyone,
I've been in the market for a used loader backhoe for quite a while. I'll be doing a lot with the machine. Foundations, stump removal, road making, clearing and levelling.
I'd like to find a deal in the 12-15k range so...
I'm mechanically minded and capable. But I've been warned away from certain used machines because reapirs are crazy complicated for a guy like me.
So I'm putting it out there - what used loader backhoe would you recommend that has relatively easy to obtain parts and repairability by a non mechanic ?
I've been mostly looking at anything Case, but am completely open minded. Something over 45hp, and under 85hp. I understand there will be compromises.
Thanks for all your help - I love this forum!

Best,
alex

 

[Bob Rooks]

FREE SHIPPING — NorTrac 35XT 35 HP 4WD Tractor with Front End Loader — With Ag. Tires | 35 HP Tractors| Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[LD1]

How big are you looking weight wise??

The case 580 (older ones) and Ford 555 seem to be pleantiful. But they are full-sized and at the upper end of your HP range.

And ALL of them can be harder to work on at times. Just depends on what and where.

 

[gabtrac]

Thanks for your reply.
The 580C ia a nice size. But have also considered a 580 SE. The SE would probably be on the upper end for weight... but I'd be happy to go a little bigger if it's, easier for parts and maintenance.

ak

 

[LD1]

I am not really familiar with all the 580's and what the letters all mean. About all I know is the newer ones have higher letters.....

 

[gabtrac]

That's quite a compromise... but thanks. I didn't know they sold that stuff. Looks like they assemble it too.
Cheers,
ak

 

[jagyzf]

Deere by far and away is the one with the best parts support. There are a couple of 1960's Deere back hoes not far from me still used today. One is used by a septic installer and he uses it all the time. The other is used by a farmer.

I don't know about parts support today but there are a lot of ford 555's around. Case and New holland (Ford) are under one company now, so if one is hard to get parts for, the other probably is also for older units.

I ran a 1980's Case backhoe for a short time. Didn't like it much. The controls were just to jerky for me, and I know of a few other machines that I was told were the same way. Of the older machines, again I liked Deere, but Ford was very close.

Cat would probably not be in your price range. They seem to hold their value way beyond the others and I'm not sure why other than, it's a Cat. Yet the early ones were sourced with Case and Ford parts from what I have read.

Some Kubota's might fall into that range, they would be on the lower end of the HP and not a full sized machine.

Of course I don't know any machine that can be repaired 100% of the time by a non-mechanic. They all have points that can be hard to repair.

 

[gabtrac]

Ya LD1 I hear ya. I've been trying to make sense of the naming system. Still can't figure it out completely.

Cheers,
a

 

[gabtrac]

Any particular Deere model you would sugest that fits my "bill"?

Thanks,
a

 

[jagyzf]

Any particular Deere model you would sugest that fits my "bill"?

Thanks,
a

Almost any will do. The ones not far from me I believe one is a 300B the other a 500A. They are old though, from the late 1960's.

Any 310 or 410 would do what you would like done. Those were the 1st true backhoes, the 300 and 500's were really industrial tractors with backhoe parts. Still good machines but not as well built as the newer backhoes.

 

[jinman]

Gabtrac, just consider that any $10k-$15k full-sized backhoe is gonna have problems/wear. Expect to need things like hoses, brakes, and maybe engine coolant issues as well as lots of random electrical issues. Nobody sells a late-model problem free backhoe for $10k-$15k. Expect to pay $25k plus for a relatively new machine with few problems. If you want 4wd (a VERY handy feature) and a cab, add another $10K to the price. Any machine can have problems, but most $10k-$15k TLBs have lots of little nagging problems and maybe even some serious ones.

The first thing you'll need is some BIG wrenches to work on these machines and BIG jacks if you have to lift them. You cannot get by with automotive grade tools. Visit Harbor Freight and buy their big tool sets. Just consider what a flat tire will take to fix. These industrial tires on big TLBs are brutes compared to most compact tractors. My best suggestion is to get a machine with a close-by dealer and pay as much as you can afford to forestall big problems. I can assure you that a couple of blown hoses on the backhoe near the swing point can kick your butt big-time if you don't have the correct tools. Do everything you can to buy a trouble-free machine and prevent having to do work on it. If it does break and you get caught a quarter mile from your shop/barn/house, what will you do then? Sometimes with the best of planning, you end up getting caught with your "pants down." Having a good dealer close-by to come do on-site repair can be a big big plus. Lots to consider. . . but also lots of fun, so don't get scared away. Just do what's best for your situation.

 

[Piston]

I have a JD 410B with 2WD and cap/power shift. It has just over 4k hrs on it and is in good condition. It has a lot of power in a relatively compact package. I think a 310 might suit you well for what you want but don't pass up a good deal on a 410. I've had this backhoe for maybe 5 yrs now (maybe less, I don't recall) and purchased it from a homeowner who owned it close to 10 yrs using it on his 200acre piece of property. I have not had an once of trouble with it. My father uses it once in a while for his snow removal business when he needs to push banks back.
It is a great and capable machine, I can't see why we would ever sell it.

You could pick up a 310 and maybe 410 with no cab in your price range, but it may be fairly beat up with high hours and a lot of slop. Add 5k to your budget and you could get a nice machine with no cab or a pretty nice machine with cab.

Although the 410 does everything we need, and I've never been stuck in snow or mud, if I were to do it all over again I would probably take 15k and put that down on a newer machine with 4wd and extendable dipper stick and get a 15k dollar loan or so to make up the difference. I prefer to run nice newer equipment though and that is mostly personnel preference.

 

[gabtrac]

Jinman and Piston,

I truly appreciate your input. All very good points, from clearly experienced guys.
My biggest concern is a major problem $$$ with an older machine... Perhaps my budget needs to be a little bigger.
Thanks!

 

[gabtrac]

I know the following question is kinda like "how long is piece of rope?"... but.... what kind of hours would you say are the border lines for a good used machine before major rebuilds?

Thanks again.

 

[Piston]

I would stay away from anything over 6k hrs, not because it is necessarily ready for a rebuild, but unless it's been really well maintained, there are probably some things that will go soon. Also, not so much the engine, but the bushings/pins/hoses/fitting and possibly hyd pump could be pretty worn.

I think it's worth the money to spend to get something with lower hours, around 3k-4k if possible, as you will typically have less breakdowns, repairs, and have a higher resale. The problem with buying a machine with 8k hrs on it, even if in good shape, is that you wont' get much for it when your ready to sell it.

This is just my opinion when I look at used equipment, because your right, like so many things, it just "depends".

 

[gabtrac]

Thank you Sir.
Back to the "books" for me I suppose.

Best,
a

 

[Bocephous]

I just saw this on the local C.L. here, though I don't know where you are. Looks to be a good deal and has a phone number so I doubt it's a scam. '06 110, 1500 hours, $18,000.

BACKHOE/LOADER...06' JOHN DEERE 110 4X4

 

[gabtrac]

Thanks for this.
Now the 110 TLB! What do you think of it?
I took a long look at these a while ago, but moved on because they all seemed over priced. Owners love them. Nice size.
But for the same price I was seeing good, bigger machines.
I was also looking at, and comparing the 110 to the Kubota L45, Kioti DK45, Yanmar CBL40.
Maybe I'm thinking too much...

ak

 

[jinman]

I think you have to compare the 110 TLB like a compact tractor with a backhoe or a Kubota L48. A machine that weighs 20k lb with a loader lift of over 3 tons is in a class above the 110 TLB. My 2005 New Holland LB75B with 4wd was $21.5k with several repairs and a full cleanup. Even so, I had to send it back to the shop for a shuttle lever ($400) and an injector pump seal because it was leaking. I've since replaced 4 hydraulic hoses at over $450 and a brake dual master cylinder at $660. I need to spend a couple thousand on bushings and pin replacement because the former owner didn't grease properly. It had 3769 hours on it and had been owned by a septic installer. Everything mostly works, but I've had to do a couple of electric repairs and am replacing a few missing lights. You can spend a lot of money really quickly on these machines. I love my TLB and don't know how I ever got by without it.

 

[2458n]

Worked for a pipline company that used 580 case machines. They were considered to be a lighter machine that worked well in the mud because of their weight. They bought 50 machines at a time and sold them in bulk to a company in India. There they rebuilt and resold into that market. The Hoe operators liked them because they were getting "new" every couple of years.