I looked at a different 931B back around 1999/2000 and he was telling me you can just re-shell the rollers for about $100ea. at Cat. Cat doesn't re-shell D3 rollers, maybe they used to. He had another with a backhoe but someone bought the machine without the backhoe. I looked at the backhoe that was in really good shape but I think he wanted 10K for it. Looking at what was needed to hook it up required figuring some things out because it wasn't real straight forward. He had a shop set up for awhile selling used machines but I don't think it was even open for a year. I think he worked or may have owned a smaller excavation business but I don't believe the machines he's selling all came from there. I think he may have imported some of them. He seemed kind of the used car salesman type. Wouldn't offer info unless it was specifically brought up. Premium condition was his go to description. It may be a great machine but I wouldn't take his word for it. If I recall he placed an ad looking for used track loaders and/or backhoe attachments for them. If it's in Edmonton maybe someone at Brandt Tractor (JD construction dealer) could inspect it for a few hundred bucks. If it was his machine and he bought it new, that's where it would have came from. Also if it was his machine ask for the service records. If he can't provide any may be sign it wasn't his or maintenance records weren't important to him. I'd ask that if you see him in person so he can't make something up. It may be a fantastic machine but the price seems too good to be true. A premium 1998 555G with 3900 hours, new undercarriage and a backhoe attachment I think should be in the 50K+Cad. range and perhaps more. If you're real interested I think it's worth a look but make sure everything checks out.
Just spoke to Brandt - 225/hr - they figured an hour travel time and two hours to look over the machine - OUCH!
That looks like a nice machine except it appears to have been painted and/or doesn't have original decals. 3900 hours sounds about right for undercarriage replacement but who knows if the hour meter is correct. Does the seller have the receipts for the undercarriage? Hoe uses swing cylinders which is very desirable. I found the machine you're looking at but the asking price almost seems too low for only 3900 hours compared to other 555G's for sale. Premium condition should have original decals in my opinion. I think the guy selling it dabbles in used machines (track loaders) and I've talked to him before. Could be a good machine but would pay to have someone experienced check it over really good. Looks like it could be missing some parts for the return-to-dig function. Again premium condition shouldn't be missing anything.
I have 931B with a backhoe that is slightly smaller. The front loader will push 4" posts in like they aren't there. I had to put some 6" posts in for gate posts and there were some roots on one. I had the post pushed down about a foot and it lifted the front of the machine. I lifted the bucket about 2" and gave the post a couple bumps and it went down. I could have put the stabilizers or hoe on the ground but didn't want to mess up the driveway. I bumped it at the back of the bucket on the skid shoe close to the pin and only lifted it slightly. I have 4 in 1 bucket so it's like a 1300lb hammer. I know on a backhoe if you bang the bucket you can bend the stick cylinder so that's why I only lifted it a couple inches. It pushed the post about 4" with each bump. The other post pushed right in.
For some things a 4 in 1 is nice but for others is more of a hinderance. If you're clearing any heavy brush and tree's you don't want a 4 in 1. Branches go everywhere and will wreak havoc on all the hyd. lines no matter how careful you try to be. A 4 in 1 doesn't fill as easy or dig as good as a standard bucket. They are nice for fence posts though because if you need to pull one out because of a rock or it's crooked, you can clamp on it lightly and out it comes. Works on smaller stumps and for picking up rocks too.
Well, I asked a few more questions and the seller is saying all his maintenance records went when he sold the company. This is kinda odd since you would think you would keep the records for the machines that you didn't sell, unless it was an oversight. There are also no receipts for the undercarriage as he is saying it was replaced prior to him purchasing it and he put on very little hours.
Brandt wants 225/hr to go look and said a minimum of 3 hrs - Ouch! So I left a message with another outfit.
It looks like a good machine but pictures can be deceiving. The more I look into this type of machine in general, the more I realize it would be the best to meet my current needs. Hopefully I can get a good mechanic to go have a look for a decent price.
I looked at a different 931B back around 1999/2000 and he was telling me you can just re-shell the rollers for about $100ea. at Cat. Cat doesn't re-shell D3 rollers, maybe they used to. He had another with a backhoe but someone bought the machine without the backhoe. I looked at the backhoe that was in really good shape but I think he wanted 10K for it. Looking at what was needed to hook it up required figuring some things out because it wasn't real straight forward. He had a shop set up for awhile selling used machines but I don't think it was even open for a year. I think he worked or may have owned a smaller excavation business but I don't believe the machines he's selling all came from there. I think he may have imported some of them. He seemed kind of the used car salesman type. Wouldn't offer info unless it was specifically brought up. Premium condition was his go to description. It may be a great machine but I wouldn't take his word for it. If I recall he placed an ad looking for used track loaders and/or backhoe attachments for them. If it's in Edmonton maybe someone at Brandt Tractor (JD construction dealer) could inspect it for a few hundred bucks. If it was his machine and he bought it new, that's where it would have came from. Also if it was his machine ask for the service records. If he can't provide any may be sign it wasn't his or maintenance records weren't important to him. I'd ask that if you see him in person so he can't make something up. It may be a fantastic machine but the price seems too good to be true. A premium 1998 555G with 3900 hours, new undercarriage and a backhoe attachment I think should be in the 50K+Cad. range and perhaps more. If you're real interested I think it's worth a look but make sure everything checks out.
Thanks Dave. Well, I asked a few more questions and the seller is saying all his maintenance records went when he sold the company. This is kinda odd since you would think you would keep the records for the machines that you didn't sell?. There are also no receipts for the undercarriage as he is saying it was replaced prior to him purchasing it and he put on very little hours.
Brandt wants 225/hr to go look and said a minimum of 3 hrs - Ouch! So I left a message with another outfit.
It looks like a good machine but pictures can be deceiving. The more I look into this type of machine in general, the more I realize it would be the best to meet my current needs. Hopefully I can get a good mechanic to go have a look for a decent price.
If he sold his company why would he buy another machine and only put a few hours on it? Why would he get rid of maintenance records if he was keeping it and would eventually be selling it? Why didn't he get the receipt for the undercarriage from the previous owner? Does he have receipts for the oil and filters and everything else from when it was "apparently" fully serviced or did those go when he sold the company too? All of these things missing could affect price as well.