Time to sell the backhoe, or think it is...

[crane operator]

Guess I am headed to Georgia, found this for $3,000.

You do see all the welding, extra steel on the cross brace, and rewelding of the extra steel where it cracked again- on the front end loader? And that the top of the bucket is caved in from the chains they likely had over it- lifting whatever it was that's cracked the front loader arms? If they busted up the front loader that bad, what did it do to the front axle and the rest of the loader structure? Surely you can find something closer and in the extra traveling (fuel and wear and tear) saved, give a little more $$$ to get a better loader?

 

[DMiller]

Was gonna say are you just digging a Deeper hole$$$$?

 

[Spud_Monkey]

You do see all the welding, extra steel on the cross brace, and rewelding of the extra steel where it cracked again- on the front end loader? And that the top of the bucket is caved in from the chains they likely had over it- lifting whatever it was that's cracked the front loader arms? If they busted up the front loader that bad, what did it do to the front axle and the rest of the loader structure? Surely you can find something closer and in the extra traveling (fuel and wear and tear) saved, give a little more $$$ to get a better loader?

Was gonna say are you just digging a Deeper hole$$$$?

Actually what I am going for is the hydraulics, the steering ram and such, the valve controls maybe spare engine parts, the boom on the back and it's controls. I tried few places and been looking past two months, found a dismantling place that had whole one they wanted $6k for it whole with small tree growing through it or $500 for the controllers each and $1250 for the roll cage. I don't want to toss a backhoe cause I can't find parts or buy another one of different brand trying to find parts for it too. Actually minus the bucket it looks in better condition than mine.
https://www.machinerypete.com/detai...lass-search-highlight-ford-span/4500/20245575
Here is the ones I have found so far that were either sold, dismantled and sold or didn't have parts
https://www.equipmentfacts.com/listings/construction-equipment/auctions/online/204270851/ford-4500
https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/204187067/1976-ford-4500
https://spokane.craigslist.org/hvo/d/elk-1978-ford-4500-industrial/7292068276.html
https://skagit.craigslist.org/grd/d/oak-harbor-ford-tractor-backhoe-4500/7299879870.html
https://skagit.craigslist.org/grd/d/oak-harbor-ford-tractor-backhoe-4500/7299879870.html
https://www.equipmenttrader.com/Salvaged-Equipment/listing/1970-FORD-4500-5005017593
There is more to this list but you get the idea and they are all over 1000 miles away.

 

[Spud_Monkey]

Not trying to discredit anyone, just I'm at my wits end, either I
A. Do what I am doing
B. Attempt fixing it enough to not drop 5 gallons of hydraulic fluid a day (almost like cartoons where a hole pops in the boat and you stick your finger in the hole to plug it only for another hole to pop up) or wag the boom around after each bump or it go all the way one direction going sideways across a hill.
C. Consider the backhoe total loss and spend $10k plus to get another backhoe make/model that has issues of some sort.
D. Say fuq it I had enough stress.
I'm sore after running it for a day and it's not cause I'm weak, it's there is no power steering and I "might" get 3 loads a day loaded up in the rinky dink grain truck to dump it only a mile down the road (across 3 properties) 2.5 to 4 tons of gravel.

 

[Tinkerer]

I bought a T/L/B in about the same condition although it didn't have a steering problem.
I repaired the worse oil leaks as soon as I got it home.
After that I just kept fixing one thing at a time as my budget and time would allow. Eventually I ended up with very decent looking and dependable machine.
Spud; I had to replace every hose on it. I replaced every hose on the backhoe all at once with hoses made up by a a CNH dealer's shop.
They were sorry ass poor quality junk ! I replaced all of them with Parker and Aero-Quip hoses.
You are not alone in the misery you are dealing with.

 

[Spud_Monkey]

Got a call from the guy this morning he is 78 years ago with him asking where I was it's been a week since talked with him when I just called him yesterday This could go sideways in so many ways it's not funny.

 

[Tinkerer]

Go see him.Tell him that he told you could have it for FREE ! LOL !

 

[Spud_Monkey]

Go see him.Tell him that he told you could have it for FREE ! LOL !

Wife said same thing!

 

[crane operator]

Sorry spud, I'm not trying to be rough on you, I just think that with your location, I'd be looking for a better piece of equipment. Replacing hoses is no fun if you have to travel 6 hours to get a hose.

If you have to give $3,000 for this one, and if I remember right you had to give something similar or more for the one you have. Then by the time you figure the fuel and wear and tear on the hauling vehicle- and you have to count that- look what you've spent fixing truck and trailer. I'm thinking you could have been better off buying a $20,000 one that's close and in much better shape, and it would have been cheaper in the long run. Buy something you can use on the property for the next 20 years, not something "just to get by" for a little while.

You'll have already spent over 10k between your old one and this other one in georgia, I'm going to say closer to 15 if you figure your hauling and repair work. Good luck.

 

[crane operator]

4x4 Cat - so parts are at least available. I don't think the cat ones are the most popular because they are kind of slow, but I think they are pretty hard to hurt. Under $10,000.
https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/204310863/cat-426

If you could stretch the budget a little, you could end up with cab and a real horse of a machine. This is 100+ hp and almost 20,000lbs. 4x4 at $14,000

https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/204375543/2001-cat-446b

 

[DMiller]

MULTIPLE Pluses on that even if is 'Rough', 4/1 bucket, ROPS, 4x4 and CAT with parts available.

 

[Spud_Monkey]

Nice backhoe in first listing though look at picture of back boom hydraulic ram, looks to be welded right above the pivot point.

Anyways here's the dilemma, got here when we did in middle of winter ran backhoe far as possible till enough is enough and won't go any further without replacing and rebuilding tons of parts with the backhoe I am going to get. We are talking rams, steering ram, boom, and other stuff you can not universally get to replace and can't be repaired and for any future repairs.
Would love to afford one of those you have listed but that would require about 6 months of savings and a pole barn needs to go up in next 90 days or less (main atrium) if possible which requires excavation of about 40 by 32 feet for whole project of 5 to 6 ft down to make it level enough, it's about halfway there. At latest I need this done before first frost hits here.
Also have a gravel pit that I am moving rock from that is precarious on time frame of anything can go to shut it down before I am done i.e. they decide to sell the place, that I am taking too long, their son wants to move in and doesn't want anyone there list goes on.
This will not jut be a grab a parts backhoe either, between the two I will decide which one gets all the parts that I am getting, the one that doesn't get the parts will be stripped down to basic tractor format, which FEL and backhoe will be taken off along with all hydraulics except the hydraulic motor, at which point I will convert the tractor to a hydraulic driven bush hog with other implements to run by hydraulics. I can always drive a tractor with no weight on the front without power steering that's easy and won't be mowed much, might get one or two cuttings here a season just enough to keep fuel from any wildfires away.
Not going to spend my whole summer and next winter in a truck camper with nothing to do cause backhoe went down and all my projects are shutdown. Somethings you can't put a price on out here especially when it comes to my sanity.

 

[Willie B]

You have a no win dilemma. Parts backhoes like Jeeps & Power Wagons are certain to have the same failed parts as the beloved one. You spend several thousand buying & transporting. Then you still need to buy more parts to fix.
Meanwhile, the jobs you NEED to do with the machine go undone 'cause you are occupied working on a backhoe that won't be very valuable repaired.

I have owned four backhoes, those I sold, I sold at a profit as long as I don't factor labor. I'd have been better off to buy a nice one first.

 

[DMiller]

Been down said road with my own orphan, derelict donor was to be runner, was in worse condition than runner and had to rebuild anything coming off it except rails, where shoes were the epitome of crap anyway.

IF need to get it done now or over a few months are going to be wasting much time swapping repairing and hammering on second unit rather than running it or first unit. Trust me, been there done that, be less expense renting one now from a rental shop, getting the work done needing done and then working machines LATER.

 

[Tinkerer]

One aspect of buying a decent reasonably priced machine is that it can be bought with a smaller bite out of your finances.
All the while you are repairing and replacing parts, it slowly becomes a very nice and (hopefully) dependable machine.
That is what I did and i would not hesitate to do it again.
Naturally I had hoses burst at the worse possible times, but It was never a disaster as far as getting something done.

 

[skyking1]

Spud your time is worth lot more than you are paying yourself.
you have a goal before first frost, and your plan has you wrenching and fixing old iron through the prime working time. If you are backed into a corner by this decision, go rent something for $1200~$1800 and knock out all that work with nice working iron, and focus on goals done rather than money spent on a rental.
It is in your budget now and gets the important job done and right.

 

[Spud_Monkey]

There is a method to this madness, insanity for sanity.

 

[skyking1]

I would make #1 priority getting that pole building up, so you can work on old iron in the winter by making a tarp ball around it and heating with some propane.

 

[Tinkerer]

"There is a method to this madness, insanity for sanity."
Awesome, Spud !!! LOL !!!!

 

[Spud_Monkey]

"There is a method to this madness, insanity for sanity."
Awesome, Spud !!! LOL !!!!

Thanks as I have just passed your house (Illinois)and I know for sure I have passed @DMiller house and @crane operator house (Missouri) as I sit here typing this in Kentucky.
BTW got the part in Friday for the Subaru hub/stub assembly, CV axle all installed with new brakes and the car is on the back of the trailer right now, plus I have driven 1500 miles so far in past 48 hrs be there before noon tomorrow...
Maybe I can get lucky and sneak it out of there for $2000, hold my drink watch this...