Front end loader for ford 3000

[romanerin2011]

Alright got more info on this 4400. The guy called me and wants sell me the whole tractor for $2200. They did pull the engine to have it rebuilt, so I'd have the backhoe attached the the tractor an engine and FEL. He said they had the head rebuilt and the crankshaft isn't bent but is probably scored. He said he was quoted $3000 to get the engine up and running. I'd absolutely love to take on a project like that but afraid I lack the skills and tools. I don't even know what a head and crankshaft are, but I want to learn. Should I walk away from it and start with a smaller project?

 

[farm boy00]

Alright got more info on this 4400. The guy called me and wants sell me the whole tractor for $2200. They did pull the engine to have it rebuilt, so I'd have the backhoe attached the the tractor an engine and FEL. He said they had the head rebuilt and the crankshaft isn't bent but is probably scored. He said he was quoted $3000 to get the engine up and running. I'd absolutely love to take on a project like that but afraid I lack the skills and tools. I don't even know what a head and crankshaft are, but I want to learn. Should I walk away from it and start with a smaller project?

Go into YouTube and you will learn most of what you need. What do you think?? Or do you have the $$ to have someone fix it?? Any backwoods mechanics near by??

 

[GManBart]

Alright got more info on this 4400. The guy called me and wants sell me the whole tractor for $2200. They did pull the engine to have it rebuilt, so I'd have the backhoe attached the the tractor an engine and FEL. He said they had the head rebuilt and the crankshaft isn't bent but is probably scored. He said he was quoted $3000 to get the engine up and running. I'd absolutely love to take on a project like that but afraid I lack the skills and tools. I don't even know what a head and crankshaft are, but I want to learn. Should I walk away from it and start with a smaller project?

That's a pretty ambitious project. You're looking at $5500 to start out, and there's a good chance you'll spend nearly as much on parts, tools, and paying other folks to fix stuff you can't tackle.

For example, when I overhauled the RF planetary on my backhoe, I had to pay a shop $200 to remove the two bearings, one seal and replace them. I didn't have anything large enough to handle 8" (approx) bearings, and neither did the mechanic at work. With the bearings, seals, ball joints, and King pins I did myself it was a $500 job....and that's a minor repair.

I'd look for something else. Here's a backhoe under $10k that would work, and an industrial Ford with loader that looks decent for under $8k.

Case 580C Diesel Backhoe & Loader

Ford 340 industrial tractor with loader

 

[Ultradog MN]

Alright got more info on this 4400. The guy called me and wants sell me the whole tractor for $2200. They did pull the engine to have it rebuilt, so I'd have the backhoe attached the the tractor an engine and FEL. He said they had the head rebuilt and the crankshaft isn't bent but is probably scored. He said he was quoted $3000 to get the engine up and running. I'd absolutely love to take on a project like that but afraid I lack the skills and tools. I don't even know what a head and crankshaft are, but I want to learn. Should I walk away from it and start with a smaller project?

I would say don't walk away, Run.
As said, even changing the engine in one of those is a big project as you would first need to remove the loader, then the whole front axle and then get the engine out to have it rebuilt.
But worse than that is the likelyhood of huge repairs to the backhoe. Swing cylinders, and all the other cylinders can be very costly to repair. Like a grand or more for the dipper cylinder depending on what it needs.
I know these 3 cylinder Fords very well and there's not much I wouldn't take on on the tractor.
But even I wouldn't take on a non running old backhoe like that - even if they gave it to me for free.

 

[Dave M7040]

Absolutely agree with Ultradog.
The only way to consider it is if you could afford to hire an experienced backhoe mechanic to work along side you and then the costs would not make sense.
Dave M7040

 

[romanerin2011]

K regarding to FEL I found for a 3000, guy said it needs a front pump that runs off the pulley or if I have remotes I can use that. What are remotes? And is installing a front pump all that hard. What type of pump would I need. He said installing it isn't that hard to do. I just really need a FEL of some kind. He wants to sell it for $1000. Said it worked great until tractor went down. Other question, did they ever make small backhoe attachments for the 3000 or would that be a little too much for a 3000.

 

[GManBart]

K regarding to FEL I found for a 3000, guy said it needs a front pump that runs off the pulley or if I have remotes I can use that. What are remotes? And is installing a front pump all that hard. What type of pump would I need. He said installing it isn't that hard to do. I just really need a FEL of some kind. He wants to sell it for $1000. Said it worked great until tractor went down. Other question, did they ever make small backhoe attachments for the 3000 or would that be a little too much for a 3000.

Remotes are the hydraulic line attachments most frequently found on the back of your tractor, near the 3pt hitch. The problem is that your tractor doesn't have enough hydraulic pump flow through the remotes to operate an FEL at anything other than a snail's pace.

 

[romanerin2011]

Ok so I'll need a front pump. What type would I need? Does this pump have it's own reservoir or do you need to run line from hydraulic tank to the pump? I'm guessing I'd need to mount the loader joystick somewhere. Sorry for all the questions just trying to learn what I can. And did the 3000 ever have a small backhoe attachment? I've seen several homemades, May could got that route one day.

 

[romanerin2011]

I'm buying a Great Bend 330 loader that came off a ford 3000. Went to look at it Monday and it looks brand new. Guy is selling it to me for $2200. It looks like you just bolt the brackets to the tractor and drive into it not real sure. Are there any manuals here that show you how to install it? My main concern is hooking the main lines to the pump. I'm not real sure how that goes. Any suggestions?