Please tell me if this is a fair price for a 2016 BRANSON-backhoe/loader

Welder Dave said:

You're comparing apples and oranges unless the Branson uses the exact same components. That's like saying my old Ford 300 six went 500,000 miles without a problem so my Yugo should as well. Sometimes a clutch and gearbox is a better option than a hydrostat especially when it comes to repairs. Depending on the machine if a hydrostat goes out it can be worth more than the machine to fix. Hydrostatic transmissions are very pression components and 1 spec. of dirt can destroy them. If it's hard to find a filter, how hard is it to find other parts or people who work on them?

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Ty....I assumed that hydrostatic transmissions were much simpler then those that used clutch, gears. The hydro pump on my Terramite seemed to be very simple and reliable.

Ya never know, that hydrostatic transmission might be used on lots of garden tractors and other small equipment, and be made by a hydraulics company, or it might be a one off "Sum Ting Wong" that fails quick and you can't even cobble another on in there because there's no room. If you're expecting to do a lot of transmission work (loader work, dragging stuff, long hours mowing up and down or high heat) then you could find out which other models used that transmission, how long they've been out, and what the internet says they have for problems.

You can try to baby it as much as possible: adding a temp gauge and watching it, adding additional filtration, not lugging the transmission in high range, etc. But that won't make up for a poor design.

dirtfever said:

Could you give me a link to that price quote ? Ty

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Google search for the model brought results. I looked at the Machinery trader results.

Delmer said:

Ya never know, that hydrostatic transmission might be used on lots of garden tractors and other small equipment, and be made by a hydraulics company, or it might be a one off "Sum Ting Wong" that fails quick and you can't even cobble another on in there because there's no room. If you're expecting to do a lot of transmission work (loader work, dragging stuff, long hours mowing up and down or high heat) then you could find out which other models used that transmission, how long they've been out, and what the internet says they have for problems.

You can try to baby it as much as possible: adding a temp gauge and watching it, adding additional filtration, not lugging the transmission in high range, etc. But that won't make up for a poor design.

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It could be a common hydrostat and that would be great. The reason I brought it up is because I have to put a new wheel motor in my skid steer that is no longer made. Luckily it uses an Eaton Char Lynn so I was able to find a replacement motor. It wasn't cheap but was available. Otherwise I might be hooped.

In reference to the original question of $12.5k price reasonable on a low hour machine, I would reserve judgement until I operated it.

Definitely operate all functions and put the machine to work before you would buy, as potentially there is more to the story why the previous owner is selling the machine.

For example, reference the pictures in the $19.8k link Tinkerer provided back on post #19. (Thanks Tinkerer) Is it just me, or does that loader not have an anti-rollback? Looks like the bucket on picture #2 is rolled-back about 90 degrees with the loader in the air. If so, it would be dumping material right on the hood and the operator. Ouch! Sorry not for me and my family members to use. If you are the only operator and can deal with that type of functionality along with uncertain parts & support availability discussed above for $12.5k, put on your hardhat and go for it.

https://www.kenotractors.com/product/branson-2400h-tractor-with-front-end-loader-and-backhoe/

Ty for replies. I think I may wait to see a decent deal on a T5C terramite or Ingersoll 6018-6020-7020 come around.