Need Info on JD 310 loader/backhoes

[rScotty]

I'm working on a 5 acre site and looking at getting a used John Deere 310 to share the chores. Only trouble is that I'm pretty ignorant about commercial machines. Is there a website for commercial machines.... Or is this it?
For example, what's the difference between a plain JD 310, a 310 SE, and a 310 SG? And others? Do I want a turbo? Given reasonable maintenance, how many hours are too many? Most used machines seem to have 5000 or so.
thanks, rScotty

 

[hhsco]

The letters after the "310" are a fairly common naming practice. Starts with A and goes to Z, so an SG would be a newer model than an SE (I don't think there is an F for some reason). The S indicates that the machine has a turbo.
With a backhoe it could be running fantastically at 10,000 hrs....or it could be beaten to a pulp at 2,000. They (JDs and Cases) seem pretty bullet proof to me till 2,000-4,000 hrs, at which point lots of construction folks get rid of 'em due to increased maintenance and whatnot. I wouldn't have any problem picking up a machine w 5,000 hrs if it was in good shape. You could probably sell it for the same amount you paid for it when you are done with your "chores."