Looking for backhoe/loader tractor and need your opinion

KristofMI

Member
So I'm on the hunt to purchase older backhoe/loader tractor. I will post links , pictures , videos here of what I found. Please let me know what your opinions are on them.
So here is a John Deere backhoe video. At the end of video I can here what it sounds like a clunking noise. Can anyone check it and see if this is what they hear?

[video play=false:cb6b5f6ad9]https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/videos/mvvideo103932.mp4[/video:cb6b5f6ad9]
 
Sounds like a noisy Detroit Diesel to me. That thing has a 2-53 Detroit.

While it looks decent for a backhoe old enough to collect Social Security, I think I'd lean toward something newer. Parts availability is
bad enough on something made in the 70's and 80's. That rig was last built in about 1960.
 
Is that the one you said on the Deere forum was a 2010? I don't know that they ever put a GM in a 2010 did they? As
far as I know, they only put them in the 435, which is what I think that is. I might be wrong. Wouldn't be the
first time.

If it is a 435, they're a valuable collector item. If you can buy it cheap, take off the loader and hoe, find the
ag grill and sell it to a collector.
 
Just found another one which is smaller then other backhoes so it should fit perfectly for what I need it. Its 1958 Case 320 what's your thoughts on it?
 
The problem is it looks flimsy in the picture. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
If you intend to use the unit much buy one that's newer and heavier.
 

My only comment is ''starting a tractor from the ground KILLS''.

As much as I've preached that over the years and tried not to ever do it myself, a 4020 nearly ''got me'' several years ago, ending up with the loader bucket stuck in the wall of my polebarn.

If anyone cares to make any snarky comments about this post, if you ever have (and survive) a near hit like that you will more than likely change your opinion, it happens VERY fast!
 
(quoted from post at 07:17:01 03/30/23) Are aftermarket attachments a bad thing? Should I look for one with all original?

An addon is never going to perform as well as an attachment that is designed for the machine. Of course you are not going to find a lot of that in 50's and 60's machines. Most everything was an addon even if it was made by the same manufacturer as the tractor. Everything was just a farm tractor with stuff bolted on. Better than a shovel, but far from what came later.
 
You'd be a lot better off renting a backhoe or mini excavator than buying an old backhoe. Or hire someone for the work. Having owned backhoes, I just can't see where a 50 year old backhoe would be a joy to own and maintain!
 
I tend to agree with this. Unless you are going to use it regularly owning one and expecting it to work decently when it waits a year between operation is pretty optimistic thinking when it comes to something that old. Renting or hiring would be the way to go.
 
(quoted from post at 10:13:31 03/30/23) I was thinking about that. But it will be really nice to have one on the spot so

[b:5b97a7b83a]I could use it anyday.
/b:5b97a7b83a]

It's the using it any day that will soon be problematic. As someone who's spent most of my life making do with broken down old junk, I have something of a platform to speak from.

I understand the appeal of the old backhoe. But did you ever have a girlfriend, someone you knew wasn't right for you, but you kept going out anyway? Even your friends were starting to say things. But you stuck together. It's like that with an old machine. You start out expecting the impossible, then quickly get sucked into a rabbit-hole of endless repairs and lost time. Maybe not exactly like the girlfriend but similar. After all the time and money, it gets harder and harder to admit it was a mistake.

For support and parts, there will be none. Zero. Only it gets worse. You'll be laughed at for having such a machine and expecting it to do any work. Women and small children will cross the street to avoid you. Do you want that? The old-timers who might offer some kindly advice will be puzzled as to why you're trying to do anything with this backhoe. A "toy" is one thing, there is some allowance for picking up a rusty old relic and fooling around with it in your spare time. But turning it into a dependable machine? No.

I've made the mistake--more than once--and generally came out whole if you don't count my lost time and efforts. Rent something as others have suggested. IF you have that money burning a hole in your pocket right now, set it aside and forget about it and add your nickels and dimes to it until the backhoe of your dreams comes along. This isn't the one. That's my contribution to the internet today.

Gerrit
 
Neighbor wanted a TLB to play with, dig out hedge, trees, old concrete foundations, local Deere construction
dealer had a former construction company owned Deere #700 or 7000 TLB, biggest Deere built, wasn't cheap but
showed it had decent maintenence and repairs as needed and no signs of abuse. The specs say it can lift 4000-
5000# with the hoe totally extended as far as it can reach. The loader capacity is equally impressive. My
cousin loaned My DAD his Case 680 Construction King to rip out a half mile of line fence that was 50-60 years
old, mostly all hedge posts. Something in the rearend didn't like digging all that dirt, not sure what
exactly broke, I remember 680 parts that vintage were really hard to find. Never did hear how that mess
ended! But the new fence was built.
 
When I was looking for a backhoe over 15
yrs ago a tractor pulling friend had a few
for sale. He had a good looking Ford and a
jcb. He didn't have a case. He flat out
told me to buy a case 2 wheel drive. Said
most used 4x4 ones probably had front end
troubles. Said to buy a Case new enough to
be a componant tractor. Means has a short
drive shaft between the transmission and
rear end. Means the forward and reverse
plus the torque converter will come out
without splitting the tractor. Plus the
hoe stores over center. Plus will have a
Cummins engine. So I got a 480E. Just
weights 10000 lb.
 

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