looking to buy first tractor with loader and backhoe

[Egon]

View attachment 782566

Be aware of the Five gallon overhaul.

 

[rScotty]

Be aware of the Five gallon overhaul.

What's a 5 gallon overhaul? It's not a term I've heard before.

Usually when buying an old piece of machinery I just talk to the person to find out exactly what shape it's in. Usually they are real helpful.

I've bought old machines my whole life. Nobody has ever lied to me or AFAIK attempted to misrepresent old tools or machinery. The older they are, the less likely it is. The first thing I look for is just overall appearance. The second is a reasonable price. The third is how long they have owned it. After that we just talk for awhile....

On old stuff the basic operating condition is pretty easy to tell. I've bought a number of machines on nothing more than a telephone conversation and a photo.

rScotty

 

[sd455dan]

Exactly what I'm recommending. I wonder if it could possibly run anywhere near as good as it looks? What it looks like for that price is if it runs and works it is pretty close to a steal. A guy could use that 580 for a couple of years and sell it for same. Both the Case 580 and JD 310 of that vintage are very similar. But if you aren't the kind of person who enjoys tinkering with old machinery I'd give it a pass.

A lot of times the work to be done doesn't depend so much on how much land it is, it depends on what kind of work it is. An old Case 580 or JD310 can scoop and move close to a cubic yard of soil and and kind of rock at a time and handles it without stress or damage. The loader can push snow like a champion, and literally lifts tons. The bucket alone weighs a thousand pounds. We used the backhoe on ours to turn over the soil on a 20x40 garden plot. A tiller could have done it better, but no easier. Trenching? No problem... Trees? Rocks? all the same.

rScotty

Add in the industrial backhoes ability to lift around a ton with a chain from the backhoe bucket and its ability to place it wherever wanted as well.

With all the rock digging being proposed an older "good" working TLB sounds like a perfect fit.
Until a new prospective buyer that has not had a fair amount of experience, actually gets to use a full size TLB and utilize its mass and hydraulic power, It is hard to really understand just how much difference there is when push comes to shove versus a brand New and Shiny CUT.
I agree with rscotty and finding a decent Case 580, that way if a problem does develop everything is modularized and should be easy to service.

What's a 5 gallon overhaul? It's not a term I've heard before.

Usually when buying an old piece of machinery I just talk to the person to find out exactly what shape it's in. Usually they are real helpful.

I've bought old machines my whole life. Nobody has ever lied to me or AFAIK attempted to misrepresent old tools or machinery. The older they are, the less likely it is. The first thing I look for is just overall appearance. The second is a reasonable price. The third is how long they have owned it. After that we just talk for awhile....

On old stuff the basic operating condition is pretty easy to tell. I've bought a number of machines on nothing more than a telephone conversation and a photo.

rScotty

I think he is talking about a cheap fast repaint, to make a machine look new when they could have spent the paint money on actual repair that might have been needed.

 

[rScotty]

SNIP...

I think he is talking about a cheap fast repaint. to make a machine look new when they could have spent the paint money on actual repair that might have been needed

Oh, you may be right. Actually I'm glad you brought that up. The one thing that will cause me to walk away without even looking at an old machine is new paint - especially if they have painted the wiring and the hoses. Do that, and I'm not even going to waste our time.

What I am impressed by is old paint....old original factory paint. Never mind that it is faded and chipped - the older the better. An old original hard-oxidized factory paint job is best of all.

 

[Egon]

5 gallon overhaul: ( common term for a pressure wash and paint job )

I did notice that one older unit shown had a nice recent paint job!

 

[PreacherM]

It would be nice if the OP would visit again. Is a large old backhoe what he's envisioning? Or a newer SCUT? or?

 

[Torvy]

Seems for that size property and project(s), you have two good options. They will come down to your skills and free time.

A) If you have minimal mechanical aptitude and/or minimal blocks of time to operate, I would go with the rental option. Rent what you need for the time you have available. The equipment you need in the short run is much different than what you will need later.

B) if you can (and enjoy) doing your own maintenance and/or have lots of free time to work when the mood strikes, take Hay Dude's advice and buy a more capable construction type unit. Sell it when you are done and replace with a machine suited to your long term tasks.

I decided that for the extra $7-$11K to add a backhoe to any tractor, I can rent a mini-ex many times.

As to brands and such...remember that nearly everyone here is a fanboy of certain brands or types of brands. Some run under the assumption that more cost equals better, others are bargain hunters. We all have bias toward our own viewpoint.

 

[hornett22]

Oh, you may be right. Actually I'm glad you brought that up. The one thing that will cause me to walk away without even looking at an old machine is new paint - especially if they have painted the wiring and the hoses. Do that, and I'm not even going to waste our time.

What I am impressed by is old paint....old original factory paint. Never mind that it is faded and chipped - the older the better. An old original hard-oxidized factory paint job is best of all.

For once we agree. Paint covering everything is a big NO. Hate when there is paint on hydraulic lines and tires. Or over spray between two colors. That tells me they are lazy and equipment is abused.

 

[rScotty]

It would be nice if the OP would visit again. Is a large old backhoe what he's envisioning? Or a newer SCUT? or?

Yes, it's pretty rare for an OP to stay with a subject once started. He did stick with it for awhile. Maybe he will digest some of this and come back with more info and thoughts.

This TBN group has a lot of knowledge but too often we end up talking to ourselves - and like you say, a lot depends on what he is envisioning.

After all, every bit of the work the OP has lined up can be done by a guy with a pickup truck, a shovel and wheelbarow - and the PU is optional. So a little tractor can do it - and a larger one more easily.

Luckily he listed his tractor budget. Regardless of size or make, $13 to $15K automatically means used - which implies he is mechanically inclined - and that opens up a lot of doors.

rScotty

 

[Doz]

For putting in the power rent a walk behind trencher if the ground is to rocky if it is rent a Mini excavator and then use it to put your covert in as well. Buy a riding mower for cutting grass and a subcompact tractor with bucket third function valve to the front for a grapple and a box blade on the back. If you hire the right person to haul your gravel they should be able to set there spreader chains and dump spread the material so it’s not in a big pile good luck with your project!