Okay guys, me and my father-in-law took a chance on an old JD 410 backhoe that supposedly had a rebuilt engine 140 hrs ago. Was hard to crank, but it ran good when cranked, so we took it. Had a JD mechanic do fluid and filter changes for us and give it a test run. Diagnosis not good. He says it barely had the power to pull itself, is losing oil out the middle, and the front bucket will not pick the tractor up. He says it needs a rear main oil seal, a clutch (which is getting oil dumped on it by the faulty seal), a radiator, and a new hydraulic pump (or rebuild).
We don't have a ton of money in it, but can't afford to pay a dealer to do the clutch and seal, so I am contemplating doing it myself. I'm pretty sure I can handle the radiator and hydro pump. I have rebuilt a few motorcycle engines, and do some tinkering on our vehicles, but splitting a backhoe is taking it to a whole new level. Here are my preliminary questions.
1) Is this job doable for a very amateur mechanic?
2) Is there a place to get step-by-step instructions on this job without investing $350 in a service manual?
3) How many hours are we looking at to take the front bucket off, split the machine, replace seal and clutch, and put back together?
4) Anything else I should watch out for while I am in there?
5) What grade of floor jacks do I need, and where do I get supports that bolt to the frame?
6) Is there an entire clutch pack in there that will have to be replaced, and what am I looking at spending on parts?
Any advice from those who have been there is appreciated.
We don't have a ton of money in it, but can't afford to pay a dealer to do the clutch and seal, so I am contemplating doing it myself. I'm pretty sure I can handle the radiator and hydro pump. I have rebuilt a few motorcycle engines, and do some tinkering on our vehicles, but splitting a backhoe is taking it to a whole new level. Here are my preliminary questions.
1) Is this job doable for a very amateur mechanic?
2) Is there a place to get step-by-step instructions on this job without investing $350 in a service manual?
3) How many hours are we looking at to take the front bucket off, split the machine, replace seal and clutch, and put back together?
4) Anything else I should watch out for while I am in there?
5) What grade of floor jacks do I need, and where do I get supports that bolt to the frame?
6) Is there an entire clutch pack in there that will have to be replaced, and what am I looking at spending on parts?
Any advice from those who have been there is appreciated.