Backhoe Is this backhoe worth it?

[Shastapk]

Hello-
First post- looks like a great site. I just bought a Massey Ferguson 1552 tractor and am looking at backhoes. A new MF backhoe would set me back around $9,000 which is not in my budget for awhile. I came across this backhoe on ebay-

ebay link removed

Seems awfully cheap. The company is local to me, but I see they import these from China according to their website. Do you think this would be worth getting or more like a piece of junk from the beginning that would be constantly breaking and hard to find parts for? I like cheap, but maybe I should wait until I can afford a better backhoe and not be fighting with this one. Any opinions? Thanks.

 

[8934]

I would not touch it.

1) 3 point backhoe's are hard on machine
2) Made in China
3) No name
4) Would be concerned about metal shavings in hydraulic lines.

My 2 cents

 

[LBrown59]

Hello-
First post- looks like a great site. I just bought a Massey Ferguson 1552 tractor and am looking at backhoes. A new MF backhoe would set me back around $9,000 which is not in my budget for awhile. I came across this backhoe on ebay-

Stay away from 3 points.
They are week and can get ya hurt or killed.

Seems awfully cheap. The company is local to me, but I see they import these from China according to their website. Do you think this would be worth getting or more like a piece of junk from the beginning that would be constantly breaking and hard to find parts for? I like cheap, but maybe I should wait until I can afford a better backhoe and not be fighting with this one. Any opinions? Thanks.

Stay away from 3 points.
They are week and can get ya hurt or killed.

 

[pat32rf]

I'd wait as well. Found an almost new hoe for my JD at a dealer. It fit, it works, he installed it. Still cost a lot less than new.

 

[knute_m]

I too would suggest staying away from a 3-point hitch backhoe. I've got a little 20-horse 4WD tractor with a factory frame-mounted backhoe. My next door neighbor has a good name brand 40-45 hp 4WD tractor with an American made 3-point hitch backhoe, and there is no comparison. We both have 18-inch buckets. When I've used his, I always feel like I'm really stressing his tractor, and I'm going to break something. Maybe because his pump runs on the PTO it does not have enough volume, but his also seems much slower than mine. We've done a few property line clearing projects together, and we use mine for digging, and his for the bigger and heavier FEL.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Keep your eyes open for a used name brand frame mount. Just remember you get what you pay for.
Bill

 

[Shastapk]

Thanks for the quick responses!!! That answered my question right away- makes sense- all that force directly on the 3 pt hitch doesn't seem good. Will pretty much any name brand backhoe fit my MF tractor or are there some I need to seek out? I bought my tractor used from a private party, so I didn't get to ask a dealer these questions.

 

[LBrown59]

Thanks for the quick responses!!! That answered my question right away- makes sense-
all that force directly on the 3 pt hitch doesn't seem good. ****Will pretty much any name brand backhoe fit my MF tractor or are there some I need to seek out? I bought my tractor used from a private party, so I didn't get to ask a dealer these questions.

One thing not good about it is people have been crushed between the back hoe and the ROPS when something broke.

 

[KYErik]

If you don't mind doing some repair on an older backhoe/loader, you can likely get the whole machine for under $5K (used of course). I bought a 1960's era diesel Case 530CK loader backhoe for $3500 a few years ago from a used equipment dealer. Sure it has a few leaks/minor problems and the starter needed some work/tires are very worn, but it serves its purpose and is a heavy duty, built to last 10,000 pound machine.

Not a good choice thoiugh it you want/need to trailer it around- too heavy.