[AT] Re: Off topic but greatreading ---- Somewhat back on topic - backhoes

[Mike Sloane]

While that is a great price, I would be very cautious about such a 
machine. The 580CK is one of the first of the 580 series and probably 
has a LOT of hours on it. While the 580 is an excellent machine, in 
general, repairing it enough to make it usable can be very expensive. I 
saw many similar TLBs come in to our shop, and the estimates for repairs 
shocked the owners. The expensive items were pins & bushings in the 
boom, dipper, and swing posts. Then there were items that were not so 
obvious: valves and hydraulic pumps. Many times the loader and backhoe 
buckets had been welded so many times that there was no more material to 
hang a weld on. Replacement new buckets, when available run $1500 and 
up; used are about half that, if they are any good. And that all assumes 
that the tractor is good; tires, engine repairs, clutch or torque 
converters (figure $2500 for a TC), cooling system, etc. all add up 
quickly. (Think about how many gallons of hydraulic fluid at $5/gal will 
be needed to flush water out of the system.) Sure, there are sometimes 
the great deal from an older guy who has had a machine around for a 
while and just wants to get rid of it so he can move to Florida or 
something like that, but most of the older machines are going to need 
lot of work to make them really dependable and usable.

And the 580 is not a small machine. Rob's original post was in reference 
to a compact tractor with backhoe. They have been around only for the 
last 15 years or so, and only the strongest have survived. We had a 
couple of Ford 2120s (1990-5 era, 42hp diesel, shuttle shift, 4WD, 800 
hours each) with loader and 7' backhoe priced at around $20,000. And we 
got that price. But they were in "ready to work" condition, not "ready 
to be worked on". :-)

Mike

Cecil E Monson wrote:

>> Look for a Case 430 or 530 Construction King backhoe/loader tractor. A 
>> guy
>> around the corner has one that I've used a couple of times and I'm
>> considering buying one of my own. They are easy enough to operate and old
>> enough to be easy to work on. I've seen a few around here in the last 2
>> years in the $4500-$8000 range.
>> Mark
> 
> 
>     There is an ad in our local paper this morning advertising a
> Case 580CK backhoe with new tires and starter. "Asking $6500". To me
> "asking" in an ad means the seller will talk on the price. There is no
> doubt this would be well used but could last for many years when used
> on a personal basis just as our old tractors do.
> 
> Cecil
> 

-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
Email: (msloane at att.net)
Website: <http://www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Tractor images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>
Work: none - Retired!

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