Looking at a JD 1010 Crawler Loader

In a couple weeks, I'll be taking a look at a JD 1010 Diesel Crawler Loader. We just finsihed building a house, and I'm in the market for a smaller machine to do some light clearing and grading around our place. A friend brought this particular machine to my attention. The owner has had it for twenty years, using it for light work around his 5-acre property. He says the machine runs and operates fine and has a few newer parts he replaced to get it ready to sell.

Up to this point, I've done all my clearing and sitework, using a rented rubber-tracked Bobcat and a light excavator. These machines are great, but the rental fees will start to pile up considering the landscaping we want to do over the next few years. Buying one of these newer machines is definately beyond our budget. I figured if I can only have one machine, a small used track loader would be most versitle especially if I can fit it with a 3-point hitch backhoe.

Anyway, what I'm looking for is an affordable machine that with reasonable care and maintenance will do light work for the next few years. I've restored old cars, motorcyles, and even a 1970 JD 112 garden tractor, but never anything as big as this. This being said, I'm mostly after a working machine right now versus a project.

Like I mentioned, I'm a newbie, so the inspection has me a little intimidated. I can measure the tracks for undercarriage wear, but I don't know what else I should look out for. The owner did note one potential problem. He said one of the hydraulic cylinders that lift the loader is somehow worn or out of adjustment. The result is the bucket droops slightly to one side as it is lifted. He indicated though that this hasn't hindered operation so far, so he hasn't bothered to fix it.

I don't know at this point if the machine has a reverse gear or not. Reading old posts, it sounds like the reverse setup makes the machanicals quite a bit more complicated. Then again reverse would be nice. I understand the previous owner had a ripper and a backhoe, but the current owner chose not to buy them from him. I'm crossing my fingers that this means the machine has a 3-point hitch.

Any tips...Am I crazy...Thanks in Advance!

Rich Johnson

Thanks for the replies. My understanding is the previous owner had a ripper and a backhoe for this machine, but I'm not sure if he either one attached. I understand each implement attched to the 3-point hitch (and not at the same time!)

I'll look for cracks in the places described and any place else for that matter. I can weld, but as I mentioned, I can't get into any major projects at this point.

Lavoy - thanks for putting me on to your JD Crawer site. Looks like an active and helpful forum.

Rich

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