(TLBs) Have some shavings with your Hyd. oil . . .

[HKSawyer]

On 12-4-01, I go, I go to look at some TLBs. One is a JD 310C, don't know the year. There were several Fords, only the one Deere. This gentleman who owns the tractor lot explained his views on Case, Deere, Cat, Ford, JCB. Case is overpowered for its rear end. Cat really doesn't make a backhoe, they just combine other people's parts. JCB is British -- so there you go. Ford is simple, and the engine parts and hydraulics have generally been unchanged for many things for 30 years. Now we get to Deere. Oh my, you better sit down, gentlemen! This man, whose integrity is not questioned, tells me the Deeres use the rear end housing to double as a hydraulic reservoir. A pump circulates it. Something about the way the closed system is designed on a Deere won't allow it to hold pressure constantly, and the pump has a sensor that tells it to pump when it detects movement of the fluid. Result: the pump is constantly switching on and off. Wears out. Not only that, but because the oil is derived from the rear end, it naturally picks up the metal shavings that flake off and then of course circulates them throughout your entire system. Nice . . . /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
He says Ford is the only way to go for most bang for your buck, as I understood it. So, hmmmm . . . what to do? Certainly won't be a Deere after that divulgement, will it!!
So, I'm outta here guys, but thought I would pass this along to jazz you up!!/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif My flamesuit is donned and activated, and I'm totally sealed!

 

[PaulinSD]

Well, I'd start questioning his integrity ( or lack of same). We have a 310C at work, 4x4 with extendahoe. This hoe has a hydrauilc tank on the right side, just ahead if the rear wheel. this feeds the front mount, crankshaft driven hydraulic pump.

My first hoe was a Ford 4500 TLB. While an older model, served well to get me going. That was traded for a Case 580D, another excellent product. I cannot comment on Cat and JCB, since I've never owned one of their products.

I'd encourage you to look around, there is a lot of used iron on the market in all parts of the country, and a lot more intelligent people than your man. Everyone can get in the "who's product is better that who's" game, and everyone has their likes and dislikes of products. Just find someone who knows what they are talking about.

It will take more than that moron to jazz me up!!

Good luck in finding the machine you need. It's out there. learn as much as you can about it, and don't let someone sell you a boat anchor.

Paul

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Interesting (but flawed) perspectives... Firstly, regarding the comment about Cat using other's components... Interestingly, Cat owns Perkins... JCB (and many other manufacturers in many industries) use this engine. Secondly, regarding the comment of using the rearend fluid for hydraulic fluid... it's common...get over it... there's nothing wrong with that method (if done correctly, naturally) Interestingly, many manufacturers are working on single fluid machines - Diesel for fuel, cooling, steering, hydraulics, drivetrain... if done right, think of the simplicity that that would offer to design, manufacturing and maintenance. Finally, on the comment on the hydraulic oil pump... Any of the good hydraulic systems will cycle, based on demand for oil. Generally, this is not done by turning the pump "on and off", but by the use of a variable displacement pump... during periods of low demand, the pump is adjusted (generally with the same hydraulic pressure that it generates) to pump less fluid. Only the cheaper systems run constantly (and bypass... waste power...) when demand is low.
For purposes of most people in this forum these two comments are generally true:
1. Cat makes a great BHL, however as they have not been in this business for all that long (15 years give or take), there are not that many older (and cheaper) machines out their. If you do have a need (or a large wallet), try out the new Cat 420... In the words of MCHammer... Can't Touch This.
2. For us folks that do not have the application/need or deep pockets, any older machine is great... depending (primarily) on how it was maintained up to this point. Naturally, the inverse is also true (any machine can be garbage, if abused by it's first (second, third, etc) owner.

Good luck.