Georgia Iron
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2012
- Messages
- 878
- Location
- USA - Georgia
- Occupation
- Concrete building slab and grading contractor
Hey Guys,
Yesterday I went and ordered my first new skid steer. Actually it is my first new piece of earth moving equipment. I have always bought used. I have been looking for a replacement for my beloved Case 440 series 3 machine for a few weeks. I attempted to get a Case SV300 like I wanted but it seems my old school mechanical controls are not being ordered much anymore in the H pattern.
The SV300 is being phased out. Now its the 280 or the 340. So I have been lifting logs a lot and I decided to go ahead and get the heavier machine.
If you are wondering why I am replacing the Case 440, it is due to a number of reasons. 1. Repairs were going to be needed soon. In the whole time I owned it , the 440 only once broke down with a broken hydraulic hose. But several hoses were about to rub through. It also was just aging. The work I have been doing lately is about all a skid steer can handle. So it was starting to take a toll on the machine. A couple of metal lines sit on the bottom under the engine and they rot over time. The machine was more or less getting ready to need some major R and R, which I do myself and I don't have time to do it now due to work load. 2. The trade in allowance for it was very fair, more or less what it cost me, minus the AC system. 3. I wanted a tighter cab since mine was still letting in some dust. So you figure the repair cost plus trade in allowance and difference between that number and the new cost plus higher value of a machine that will be 8 years newer with 1250 hrs less on it.. Plus a 3 yr warranty on the major parts Made it seem like it was the only smart choice I had.
I have been going back in forth between the Kubota SSV75 and the case sv300. Kubota offered me a very nice deal on a fully loaded hi flow machine with pilot controls and cab and a very fair trade in allowance for the 440. I went and tested the machine and it was nice. In the end I could not see going back to a 75 hp machine when I have been using the 90 hp 440. The entire time I owned the 440 I never once killed the motor due to overloading while operating it. So 90 HP is what I wanted.
I glanced at CAT but they did not seem to like to trade on other brands and they have put just as much electronic crap that they can get china to make inside the machine so you are sure to come back often... HENCE electro hydraulic controls... I believe a steel control rod is better than a small copper wire that is made most likely with some thing less desirable than copper and 1/2 as thin as it should be so you cant even solder on to it. Which to be honest is about how all of them do it on wiring. Dont fix it replace it...
The SV340 is a tier 4 machine that uses DEF and it does not use a DPF muffler and fuel to burn off exhaust. Which is a complete scam if you ask me. Lets waste fuel to burn off some emissions. Makes you wonder if in the long run it is worse for pollution since it burns MORE fuel. But not to get off track. In a few instances I have worked in close quarters with the machine on the outside or inside a building. The exhaust will quickly get to you. So in this case the DEF machine should be better for our health.
Here is the list of what I knew I had to have on my new machine -
Hi Flow
Cab / AC
Hydraulic Coupler
Mechanical joystick controls
At least 90 HP
Wheels
A simple strong machine with a nice sealed Cab for improved health along with a coupler to speed up my work. I did not buy it based on the ROC of 3400 lbs which is cool. I really was looking for a quality machine in the 8000 pound weight range since I run 14k trailers and the machine, trailer weight and attachments add up fast on the weight. This brute weighs 9100 lbs. so it will be a chore to carry it, a grapple, an auger, possibly a rock hound... maybe i will need a 3 axle trailer now.. anyway
I am nervous about my choice. It was hard parting with the 440... I have not seen anything like it since I have owned it. The lift arms and linkages where super strong, never bent them or broke a pin. I was always carrying very heavy logs and stumps.. The last job I was on we were loading dumpsters. We had a cat 262c on site. I could load a dumpster twice as fast with my case. So I know how good the 440 really was. It was light in the rear end but it could work and respond quickly to your control inputs.
The new machine is heavier with the same power so I hope that it does not slow me down on my work. I am also worried about the DEF system and how long it will last till it starts acting up. And I am nervous to see all the computerized engine controls in the belly. And the new machine does not even have a key. I could not even order it with a key. Push button start. Dammit man.
Actually I was looking in the belly of a 300 because I did not even get to see the 340 yet.. I noticed the engine has changed to a FPT F5B FL413 E*B002 i wonder what the difference between that and the FPT F5H FL413 E*B002 is which is what is in the sv300.
Case says I should get 10% better fuel usage with the tier 4 motor vs the Model type 445T/MMC Engine model F4GE9454C*J which was a tier 3 in the 440..
So what do you guys think... I have seen mixed stories about the new case and new holland machines on here...
Yesterday I went and ordered my first new skid steer. Actually it is my first new piece of earth moving equipment. I have always bought used. I have been looking for a replacement for my beloved Case 440 series 3 machine for a few weeks. I attempted to get a Case SV300 like I wanted but it seems my old school mechanical controls are not being ordered much anymore in the H pattern.
The SV300 is being phased out. Now its the 280 or the 340. So I have been lifting logs a lot and I decided to go ahead and get the heavier machine.
If you are wondering why I am replacing the Case 440, it is due to a number of reasons. 1. Repairs were going to be needed soon. In the whole time I owned it , the 440 only once broke down with a broken hydraulic hose. But several hoses were about to rub through. It also was just aging. The work I have been doing lately is about all a skid steer can handle. So it was starting to take a toll on the machine. A couple of metal lines sit on the bottom under the engine and they rot over time. The machine was more or less getting ready to need some major R and R, which I do myself and I don't have time to do it now due to work load. 2. The trade in allowance for it was very fair, more or less what it cost me, minus the AC system. 3. I wanted a tighter cab since mine was still letting in some dust. So you figure the repair cost plus trade in allowance and difference between that number and the new cost plus higher value of a machine that will be 8 years newer with 1250 hrs less on it.. Plus a 3 yr warranty on the major parts Made it seem like it was the only smart choice I had.
I have been going back in forth between the Kubota SSV75 and the case sv300. Kubota offered me a very nice deal on a fully loaded hi flow machine with pilot controls and cab and a very fair trade in allowance for the 440. I went and tested the machine and it was nice. In the end I could not see going back to a 75 hp machine when I have been using the 90 hp 440. The entire time I owned the 440 I never once killed the motor due to overloading while operating it. So 90 HP is what I wanted.
I glanced at CAT but they did not seem to like to trade on other brands and they have put just as much electronic crap that they can get china to make inside the machine so you are sure to come back often... HENCE electro hydraulic controls... I believe a steel control rod is better than a small copper wire that is made most likely with some thing less desirable than copper and 1/2 as thin as it should be so you cant even solder on to it. Which to be honest is about how all of them do it on wiring. Dont fix it replace it...
The SV340 is a tier 4 machine that uses DEF and it does not use a DPF muffler and fuel to burn off exhaust. Which is a complete scam if you ask me. Lets waste fuel to burn off some emissions. Makes you wonder if in the long run it is worse for pollution since it burns MORE fuel. But not to get off track. In a few instances I have worked in close quarters with the machine on the outside or inside a building. The exhaust will quickly get to you. So in this case the DEF machine should be better for our health.
Here is the list of what I knew I had to have on my new machine -
Hi Flow
Cab / AC
Hydraulic Coupler
Mechanical joystick controls
At least 90 HP
Wheels
A simple strong machine with a nice sealed Cab for improved health along with a coupler to speed up my work. I did not buy it based on the ROC of 3400 lbs which is cool. I really was looking for a quality machine in the 8000 pound weight range since I run 14k trailers and the machine, trailer weight and attachments add up fast on the weight. This brute weighs 9100 lbs. so it will be a chore to carry it, a grapple, an auger, possibly a rock hound... maybe i will need a 3 axle trailer now.. anyway
I am nervous about my choice. It was hard parting with the 440... I have not seen anything like it since I have owned it. The lift arms and linkages where super strong, never bent them or broke a pin. I was always carrying very heavy logs and stumps.. The last job I was on we were loading dumpsters. We had a cat 262c on site. I could load a dumpster twice as fast with my case. So I know how good the 440 really was. It was light in the rear end but it could work and respond quickly to your control inputs.
The new machine is heavier with the same power so I hope that it does not slow me down on my work. I am also worried about the DEF system and how long it will last till it starts acting up. And I am nervous to see all the computerized engine controls in the belly. And the new machine does not even have a key. I could not even order it with a key. Push button start. Dammit man.
Actually I was looking in the belly of a 300 because I did not even get to see the 340 yet.. I noticed the engine has changed to a FPT F5B FL413 E*B002 i wonder what the difference between that and the FPT F5H FL413 E*B002 is which is what is in the sv300.
Case says I should get 10% better fuel usage with the tier 4 motor vs the Model type 445T/MMC Engine model F4GE9454C*J which was a tier 3 in the 440..
So what do you guys think... I have seen mixed stories about the new case and new holland machines on here...
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