Maybe there is a seasoned mechanic that could check out a possible prospective unit for a fair fee locally, Somewhat like the service is offered for inspecting used vehicles before money changes hands.
I was not really suggesting that you but a bottom dollar rough but functional machine like I did. Had to have it to get a few time critical jobs done.
Had that not been the case I would have spent at least 3 times the money and bough a 4x4 lower hour and better cared for unit.
as it was had I called a couple hours earlier I would have an under 3000 hour 2003 JD 310 4x4 TLB for 32 K I also almost bought a JCB with cab and 4x4 for 19000 but had some reservations on parts availability
Lexus are nice cars, but sometimes their design for servicing baffles me. We still have an LS400 in the extended family and I dread the day a starter problem arises.
Great design there...
Burying the starter UNDER the Intake manifold
and throttle body. One of the first things on that job is draining the engine coolant.
For serviceability a Case 580 makes a lot of sense. They are built in a modular fashion after I believe the B models.
Cummins BT engines and any drivetrain parts can be serviced individually.
On the Ford I bought if anything in the power shuttle needs service it means the whole front end of the TLB must be removed including the engine.
Talk about deals, a few years ago I missed an older basic cabbed JD310 with 600 hours. Retired guy had bought it and kept it in his garage just for his own use. Basic machine, but like new. 4WD & extendahoe, plastic still on the seat. He wanted what he paid for it - which was around 50K. Back then they were clutched 4 speed with shuttle.
I hear that a lot about the Case 580s - that they were designed to be easily serviced and maintained. Nice to know something was made that way. Are they still in production? As is, I've never worked on a Case, but servicibility was also how the older JD310s were built. Not as much now, though.
Our 2007 JD310SG is a bit newer and I wouldn't say that it has particularly easy access throughout. Some things that were once easy now require a mechanic with double-jointed arms and disassembly of a lot of pieces before accessing the part. Still, the little bit of removing parts I've done I've noticed that everything is very well made. Fitted, made to last, and with a finished surface. And sometimes when working along I see the same part that has evolved from earlier JDs and notice it has gotten better rather than cheaper. That's encouraging. Hope they go back to that.
It's even good for the environment. Repair is a way better use of material and energy than replacement or recycling.
For awhile the JCB's were common rentals locally. Like many, I was impressed by the small size and heavy build components. And as you say they were priced so low I almost went that direction. Glad I didn't. Haven't seen one at any job for years now. What happened to all those JCBs?
Back to the original topic, if the OP was to find a nice older TLB, what would he do for a 3pt hitch? He has 100 acres to do something with.
rScotty
