Congratulations Matt. I love my T6, it is a tough little machine. Biggest issue I've had was about half the hydraulic hoses were original to the machine so they all started blowing out. The original hoses have "Terramite" on them, so if you see that label, plan on replacing those hoses. Biggest drawback to the T6 is the reduced swing angle on the backhoe.
The go pedal feels awkward on mine, plus the seat tracks are no longer adjustable, so I stuck a bolt in the tread to give me a better angle.
Common failure point is the U-joint behind the motor, because a lot of owners don't know it's there and don't grease it. I've been giving mine one squirt of grease every couple of days and that seems to keep her happy.
Terrys Terramites will send you a T6 manual for the cost of copying it. His manual is mostly for a T9 with edits to cover the T6.
Common issue is the motor mounts going soft, allowing the motor to vibrate too much, and damage the radiator. I was able to tighten mine up by adding some right-sized washers into the motor mounts, but plan to replace soon (purchased from Terrys).
Common mods are -
-convert to electric fuel pump - already done on mine, makes it much easier to bleed
- handle extension on the pedal - see MODS string - mostly handy for moving the machine when you are in backhoe mode
- double bucket cylinders - Watch out for cracks in the FEL arms, apparently a common issue. Look under/inside the reinforcement plate at the change of angle for a crack in the FEL arm. I will post a picture. The only time I've wished for more curl power though is when I was lifting something too heavy.
- add a block heater if you need to start it in the cold - makes all the difference for me
Enjoy!
