Hi-would appreciate any suggestions on what are the main areas to check, or the most frequently damaged areas to look for, to determine how many hours a backhoe really has on it. Am looking to purchase a late 80's early 90's 4x4 Case, J.D. or maybe Cat with cab, around 4 to 5000 hrs. Also- do the prices drop some during the winter months? I am familiar with operating a 3 pt version backhoe which has minimal capacities....and is basiclly is a toy compared to industrial hoes. I know you guys who live on these units all day, have a lot of expertise and knowlege on these machines, and say a big "Thanks" in advance for sharing this with me, as this will really allow me to make a more educated and profitable purchase decision. Good day.
Look for weld patches; the more of those, the more beat on it will be. Other thang is the transmission. If you count the subject matter of posts, 'it won't move' is probably the most popular. The shuttle and torque convertor are the main oily bits, if the hoe's been back and forth 8 hours a day, and it's 25 years old, those parts are going to be the dicey bits. Go look at one that's cold; hasn't been warmed up before you get there. Lots of problems are worse when cold and gradually go away. Other end, run it long enough to really get everything hot; maybe an hour of shuttle and general driving around. Of course operate the bucket and hoe, but those tend to be easier to fix a bad cylinder or valve problem, compared with splitting the unit....
What El Hombre said, and take someone with you. Someone that can sit in the cab and move the loader and bucket while you watch the pins. Just put the bucket on the ground and move the levers just enough to make the cylinders move. Same thing with the backhoe. You'll know right away if everything is slopped out or reasonable. Also, while its running and hot, pull the dipstick or the cap where you fill engine oil. See how much blow-by. You can also do it when you first start it. If it has a little when cold, then goes away, that's fine. If it has a fair bit, and gets worse as it warms up, that's a little less desirable, especially with less than 5000 hrs. If it's smoking like a car in the winter, run away, fast.
You may have heard of people needing to split the tractor when they have transmission problems. That is a huge job on a backhoe. The older models are built with the engine and transmission bolted together in one unit. The newer models have frame rails and the engine, reverser/shuttle, and transaxle bolted to the frame. It is much easier to repair the newer models with components bolted to the frame. No need to spilt them.
Thanks to all who responded so far....and Deon, do you know apx. what year Case Deere or Cat began this newer style frame rail? Sounds like a much better alternative for repair. Thanks
Case was in the 70's. I think all Cats are built this way. Deere probably 80's?
The Case C model was the first full frame . I would really have my doubts on a 30 year old machine with only 5000 hrs
I will add that you should check and see how easy it starts. I just bought a case 590sl with 5400 hours. She fires right up and doesnt smoke. You can tell allot about a machine by its paint. It will give you a history of how the machine has been used. I would look for leaky cylinders. I would also lift the machine with the loader and stabilizers and then shut it off if it stays put you know your valves aren't leaking.