What Ford Backhoe model is this?

777funk · Dec 10, 2019

My son just picked uo this backhoe and we're trying to find the model. Looks to have been painted Ford Blue long ago over top of the industrial yellow.

It's 23' long and 80" wide. It has a 3 cylinder diesel.

David Wayne · Dec 11, 2019

Hard to tell without more pics. Looks like maybe a 4500, 1960's vintage.

777funk · Dec 11, 2019

Thanks, was sold as a 550 (he was going by an old manual he had), but I am sure it's not now.

It's all clutch and mechanical trans. No hydrostatic.

I will get a few more pics loaded.

777funk · Dec 11, 2019

David Wayne · Dec 11, 2019

I think it is older than a 550, I had a 4500 and yours looks like it. I can tell you if your boom swing is leaf chain driven, that is the weak link
in the otherwise good machine. And there are (2) grease fittings on the center of the front axel, one greases the pivot, the other that is often missed greases the steering bushing. I had a thread on it back in 2011. If I wasnt computer illiterate I would post a link.
I will follow along in this thread and hope I can help from time to time.

Diggin It · Dec 11, 2019

David Wayne said:
I had a thread on it back in 2011. If I wasnt computer illiterate I would post a link.

Three:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/construction-equipment/201148-no-power-steering.html

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/201260-power-steering-not-working.html

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/220229-ford-4500-steering.html

David Wayne · Dec 11, 2019

I forgot to mention and you may already know, your loader frame is the hyd. reservoir so dont drill or weld on it.

777funk · Dec 11, 2019

Good to know and thanks! I guess it wont rust from the inside then!

ovrszd · Dec 11, 2019

I believe you'll find the numbers you need on the upper right front corner of the transmission. There's a horizontal flat surface with all the ID numbers stenciled into it. If you find those numbers post them all here and someone will tell you exactly what the tractor is right down to the day/shift that it was built on.