Looking to buy a backhoe loader. Ford 550 price?

[TomSeller]

How difficult is the hose removal install? Does it require any special tools or knowledge? Or is it something that i could possibly do myself?

You can do it yourself with basic tools. Probably the hardest part is getting the new hoses through the tunnel in the boom and connecting to the boom cylinder. The exposed lines are a piece of cake. I drain the machine, then take everything off, measure the hoses after they are off or take them to a hose shop and they can measure and select fittings. Make SURE you get a price you can live with beforehand, some of those guys in the hose shops should be wearing a mask. Or buy on line. Think through the hose removal, I extend and lower the boom and support it beforehand. The cylinder seals are a little more involved depending on the cylinder manufacturer. Some are easy, some not as easy. Bushings are of benefit if you want to tighten everything up.

I need to redo one of mine next summer.

 

[Alexp08]

You can do it yourself with basic tools. Probably the hardest part is getting the new hose through the tunnel in the boom and connecting to the boom cylinder. The exposed lines are a piece of cake. I drain the machine, then take everything off, measure the hoses after they are off or take them to a hose shop and they can measure and select fitting. Make SURE you get a price you can live with beforehand, some of those guys in the hose shops should be wearing a mask. Or buy on line. The cylinder seals are a little more involved depending on the cylinder manufacturer. Some are easy, some not as easy. Bushings are of benefit if you want to tighten everything up.

I need to redo one of mine next summer.

Oh good, that shouldnt be to hard.

I guess i should have asked this first. But is finding a usable machine under 10k possible?

 

[TomSeller]

Oh good, that shouldnt be to hard.

I guess i should have asked this first. But is finding a usable machine under 10k possible?

Yes, but you might be looking for a while. City and county ones are worth looking at since they often maintain their units better than some contractors do.

When looking, I always make sure I extend and lower the boom to a few feet above the ground, then uncurl the bucket about 75% Then grab the bucket by the teeth and see how much movement you have up and down and side to side. Look for where the slop is coming from and that will tell you what bushings might need to be replaced. Check the smoothness of movement as you stroke the spool valves. Check to see how well the outriggers lift the back end off the ground, etc. Check for fluid leaks, etc.

 

[Alexp08]

Yes, but you might be looking for a while. City and county ones are worth looking at since they often maintain their units better than some contractors do.

When looking, I always make sure I extend and lower the boom to a few feet above the ground, then uncurl the bucket about 75% Then grab the bucket by the teeth and see how much movement you have up and down and side to side. Look for where the slop is coming from and that will tell you what bushings might need to be replaced. Check the smoothness of movement as you stroke the spool valves. Check to see how well the outriggers lift the back end off the ground, etc. Check for fluid leaks, etc.

Thats understandable. We dont expect to find one tomorrow. And we're in no rush, we went and looked at one the other day and walked away.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[David Wayne]

One thing not mentioned yet, park on a level surface preferably concrete floor. Lower the loader flat to the floor and see if it hits square. Loaders take a lot of abuse. Make sure it is square north, south, east, and west to the tractor. I had one that wasnt and it makes alot of jobs a real PITA

 

[Alexp08]

One thing not mentioned yet, park on a level surface preferably concrete floor. Lower the loader flat to the floor and see if it hits square. Loaders take a lot of abuse. Make sure it is square north, south, east, and west to the tractor. I had one that wasnt and it makes alot of jobs a real PITA

Will do! Thanks

 

[Alexp08]

Well i wont be getting this one. I was messaging the guy and i told him that before i really got a chance to check it out, we could start negotiations at 5k. Apparently he got offended. As he just said "thanks for your interest" and wont message me back.
So thats fine if hes going to act like that, probably not a good person id want to buy something off if

 

[fried1765]

Without seeing the land ita hard to understand. I had a excavator for 3 days and didn't even scratch the surface. Of what needs done. Plus like i said my dad made up his mind and theres no changing that. He wants to also use it for snow removal. Yes i know it is way over kill for snow removal but we live on a private road and thatll make sort work of it

With no changing your dad's mind here is where you likely are with your TLB quest:

Assuming that there are no major issues with that 550 (or a similar one) you should conservatively estimate $4000 for necessary repairs.
(hoses, fluids, filters, tire/ wheel replace/repair, battery, power steering cyl. repair, stabilizer repair, plus ... many other possibilities)

If 10K is your absolute maximum then you would be limited to a $6000 initial purchase price.

In my opinion, if you buy a TLB for $6000 you are buying a piece of equipment that could potentially need $10,000+ worth of repairs (your then $16,000 TLB will likely only be worth 8-9K if you decide to sell it)

If you must buy at that $6000 price, at least warm up the engine, and send in an oil sample for analysis, prior to purchase (sample kits are less than $30)

You should, do an oil sample for the transmission too, if you can get that fluid warm, and moving.

Now that I have struck fear in your heart: I must say: Having your very own TLB is a wonderful thing.
Mine was 16 years old when I bought it, and had only 1350 hours. It is now 46 years old, and I just went completely through it, and ADDED A MECHANICAL THUMB. I painted it as well, and it looks like new!
It only has 1850 hours now. I am probably much older than your dad. I jokingly tell my friends that my TLB will dig my grave. The real truth is: My kids may sell it but...NOT ME!

 

[Alexp08]

With no changing your dad's mind here is where you likely are with your TLB quest:

Assuming that there are no major issues with that 550 (or a similar one) you should conservatively estimate $4000 for necessary repairs.
(hoses, fluids, filters, tire/ wheel replace/repair, battery, power steering cyl. repair, stabilizer repair, plus ... many other possibilities)

If 10K is your absolute maximum then you would be limited to a $6000 initial purchase price.

In my opinion, if you buy a TLB for $6000 you are buying a piece of equipment that could potentially need $10,000+ worth of repairs (your then $16,000 TLB will likely only be worth 8-9K if you decide to sell it)

If you must buy at that $6000 price, at least warm up the engine, and send in an oil sample for analysis, prior to purchase (sample kits are less than $30)

You should, do an oil sample for the transmission too, if you can get that fluid warm, and moving.

Now that I have struck fear in your heart: I must say: Having your very own TLB is a wonderful thing.
Mine was 16 years old when I bought it, and had only 1350 hours. It is now 46 years old, and I just went completely through it, and ADDED A MECHANICAL THUMB. I painted it as well, and it looks like new!
It only has 1850 hours now. I am probably much older than your dad. I jokingly tell my friends that my TLB will dig my grave. The real truth is: My kids may sell it but...NOT ME!

Hahaha well its my fathers money, so you haven't struck fear into me hahahaha. Were now actually looking at a case 580k.
And im not sure how old you are but my dad is 58 lol.
Anyways are these kits something i can buy online? If so could you link me to one please?
Lastly how much did it cost you to add that thumb? Thats the number one things we'd like to do first.

 

[fried1765]

Hahaha well its my fathers money, so you haven't struck fear into me hahahaha. Were now actually looking at a case 580k.
And im not sure how old you are but my dad is 58 lol.
Anyways are these kits something i can buy online? If so could you link me to one please?
Lastly how much did it cost you to add that thumb? Thats the number one things we'd like to do first.

Yes, you can buy the oil analysis kits on line, at motorchecklab.com, or at any local Cat tractor dealer.
I am 76 years old, so am likely 90+% already worn out, and I certainly am not rebuildable.
My "oil" samples are done yearly, and in a tiny glass jar ( I don't do oil samples on my tractors since I have owned them for a while)
You may be able to find a mechanical thumb that will work for you on E-Bay, or perhaps from Titanmachinery.com.
For a GOOD mechanical thumb (I think the Titans look flimsy in their photos) you might expect to pay at least $800, plus having it welded on your machine.
For a hydraulic thumb it would likely be twice that.
I had one custom made (mechanical), and it cost me $900 installed, I thought that was a bit pricey, but my hoe bucket is very large.
Do not buy the cheapest thumb out there. It may fit, but you will bend or break it!