Another newbie question.

[gitrdone]

Hey guys, thanks for the great responses. This really helps.

I'm going to check out the 3215 at the local Mahindra dealer next week. Also, there is a used Branson 4520 in the area with approx 500 hours. Anybody know anything about this brand? They are asking $18,000...includes loader, backhoe, scraper and post hole digger.

Is there a guideline for number of hours before a used machine will begin to require significant, periodic maintenance?

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

500 hours should mean nothing to that tractor if they did their scheduled PMs. 4520? or 4720? and where did you see it? Either way, that's a very good deal if it's in any kind of decent shape. I was quoted $17k for a used 4720 w/loader at the closest dealer to me and $16,100 for a demo model with 16 hours on it from a dealer in Iowa. Backhoe would add $7k to the price from the "local" guy. New PHD runs about $500-700. not sure if by scraper you're talking box blade or back blade, but either way it's another several hundred. Branson is a good machine - my Century was the same as a Branson 3510. Good luck!

 

[BigD23]

That's not always true across the board.

So, please let us know what Is always true across the board.

 

[DavesTractor]

Hey guys, thanks for the great responses. This really helps.

I'm going to check out the 3215 at the local Mahindra dealer next week. Also, there is a used Branson 4520 in the area with approx 500 hours. Anybody know anything about this brand? They are asking $18,000...includes loader, backhoe, scraper and post hole digger.

Is there a guideline for number of hours before a used machine will begin to require significant, periodic maintenance?

Branson's are good tractors. The 4520 had a Yanmar engine, and it starts well and has at least 45 HP. 500 hours is nothing really. I would check the clutch for freeplay to make sure it is not on it's last leg. Gear type tractors will consume a clutch quickly with a bad operator, or will last for 2000 hours or more with a real careful user. It should have the 8620 backhoe, but some of the early ones had the 7620 hoe, which is sort of small for the tractor. The price seems good considering the attachments that come with it.

 

[gitrdone]

Does the Branson come with an hour meter somewhere? The person selling it said that it had "about 500 hours." To my amateur eye, however, some cosmetic aspects looked pretty worn out.

 

[Soundguy]

Hours are not always a good determining factor of usage.

A good operator that maintains his equipment can put a couple thousand on a machine and hve it still loocking new. A bad operator can ruin a 30,000$ machine before it runs an hour up on the clock.

soundguy

 

[DavesTractor]

Does the Branson come with an hour meter somewhere? The person selling it said that it had "about 500 hours." To my amateur eye, however, some cosmetic aspects looked pretty worn out.

It's on the dash, it looks like a car odometer. Some fading is normal, perhaps a torn seat, etc. But if it has lots of dents, a broken grill, lights that don't work, etc, that would show a lack of care when operating.

 

[mbohuntr]

From My experience, I've ran a few full sized 580 series hoes, I rented a 'Bota L30, and from a weight to power ratio, nothing I've ran comes close. I dug a couple of water lines 4' deep, and pretty long. What a beast! Now comes the catch... Tried to pop out a couple of 12" stumps, and it wouldn't touch em. In softer soil, It would likely be great, in that soil (HARD clay), it was impossible. The contractor I hired to clear the land told me his BIG Kobelco didn't like it either. The 'Bota was also very top heavy, and with a narrow wheel base gave me some scares. Now I own a Mahindra 2615, no hoe, and I'd say it should have plenty of power.

 

[Botabill]

I don't subscribe to the bigger is better theory at all but for what you want I'd go for it. In fact a real backhoe like a Case 580 would be my choice unless you have transportation issues and need a smaller machine.