New guy no clue

[HarleyHappy]

^^^^^^ That’s kinda what I was alluding to. If that was to repair a crack, it will be a complete fail job.
Reasonably certain, that’s why the machine is at auction.
That and a manual thumb, why would someone do that?
I understand, adding a thumb but for what that machine is, that’s a bad upgrade.

 

[LCA078]

That 315B is the little brother to my 325B and is a clean looking machine for being 25yrs old. The body is in good shape without major damage from swinging into rocks, trees, buildings, or other machines. Looks like a new turbo and fairly well taken care of engine. I really like is it has Cat filters and possibly a couple Cat replacement hoses. As far as a hydraulic thumb, it's possible the machine is already plumbed for a tool as there are two thin hoses that run down the dipper and into the bucket quick disconnect. There are two other hard lines on the dipper that end in a connection block with a short piece of hydraulic line. Maybe someone here can pinpoint what those hoses are far.

If the machine has acceptable blow by and the hydraulics are functioning well, it seems like a decent purchase. Especially in that it comes with all those buckets and a quick disconnect. I acknowledge the folks here know way more about potential boom crack issues but that might be a good starter hoe for you. I don't think it was abused as a typical contractor machine run by non-owners. Looks like someone cared for it....except for that 'repair' if it was a repair.

 

[LCA078]

For what it's worth, I only saw 2 other 315B sold in the last couple years on RB. Interestingly both sold for $16.5k. Also note the stick lengths are different for all three (the two sold and one for sale). Looks like the one for sale has the shortest stick which may be beneficial if you do more removing trees and rocks instead of lots of digging. Again, the experts here will weigh in more than I can.

 

[Buffallobull]

Well I’m locked in on the TB2150 until someone outbids me. If they do I may gamble on the old 315. It’s in PA but 4 hours away and I’m stuck in Chicago right now. Probably won’t make it home until 4 am. Don’t think I’ll be able to go see it. Might be worth a 10k gamble? Both auctions close at the same time so my luck someone will drop a 50k bid in last second on the TB and I won’t have time to bid on the 315.

 

[LCA078]

Best of luck with the auction. Hope all works out for you!

 

[Buffallobull]

Roll of the dice…. For anyone considering traveling and starting it in Atlanta… don’t do it! I spent 24 solid hours trying to get from ATL to EWR yesterday!! Started at 0500 got in at 0500! Brutal.

 

[HarleyHappy]

Flying right now is out for for sure. We were scheduled to go to a Fastenal conference next week and almost positive going to cancel.
Good luck on the Tak.

 

[skyking1]

As a general rule, I don't recommend buying from Ritchie bros unless you really know what you are looking at, and are competent to repair whatever is wrong with it.

I'm not saying that this particular machine is bad, just that you really, really need to be a good buyer at auction.

If I'm sending something to auction,as a seller, it's generally because I don't want my name associated with it after it's gone.

I have bought from Ritchie Bros before, and have had success, but I feel like I can probably fix whatever is wrong, and buy cheap enough, that I can afford to fix it. But I have a full shop to do it in, and other equipment to tear stuff apart with.

I see enough in the photos to chase me away. The scab patch on the boom is not near as concerning as the fresh black goo pond around the swing motor. A few thousand to the right welder can fix that bad repair.
Most any other machine is going to be dusty or full of debris from logging around a swing motor, not looking like the Exxon Valdiz did a drive by.

 

[LCA078]

Yes, as SkyKing alludes to, you really need to look a machine in person to best understand it. While RB does a much better job of posting photos than most auction sites, it's hard to tell what condition a machine is just from photos. For instance, that black goo that SkyKing refers to assumes he's concerned about a major accumulation of oil or grease. To me, it's just water from the RB pressure washing and the ripples are caused by wind. We could argue all day on who's right by looking at the photos. But in the end, only seeing the machine in person will be the real understanding if it's an issue or not.

 

[BC Placer gold]

Yes, as SkyKing alludes to, you really need to look a machine in person to best understand it. While RB does a much better job of posting photos than most auction sites, it's hard to tell what condition a machine is just from photos. For instance, that black goo that SkyKing refers to assumes he's concerned about a major accumulation of oil or grease. To me, it's just water from the RB pressure washing and the ripples are caused by wind. We could argue all day on who's right by looking at the photos. But in the end, only seeing the machine in person will be the real understanding if it's an issue or not.

Fully agree, must inspect in person!

I just did a 1400km round trip to Nisku (Edmonton) to inspect 4 ‘identical’ Cornell water pumps. What looked like the best one at home turned out to have a cracked volute (water not drained in freezing weather!). That pump went for $11,000…The new owner will be in for a very big disappointment…

That trip saved us a lot of money. Currently headed home with the best of the bunch at at a very good price…

 

[LCA078]

Glad the pump worked out for you and the trip wasn’t wasted. I will say that RB does a decent job of giving folks the ability to inspect pretty thoroughly. Just short of an actual field trial. They will even jump start most vehicles when asked. Much better service than most local auction houses.

 

[BC Placer gold]

I will say that RB does a decent job of giving folks the ability to inspect pretty thoroughly. Just short of an actual field trial. They will even jump start most vehicles when asked. Much better service than most local auction houses.

I agree, they are very helpful that way.

 

[Buffallobull]

No luck on the Auction lost both…next time…

 

[crane operator]

No luck on the Auction lost both…next time…

There's no harm in that. I've bid on three different semi trucks in the last three months, and didn't get any of them bought.

In just bidding, I feel like it gives me a better idea of what current used pricing is, and I think it also helps me decide what I really want to purchase.

I do think that you should spend some time in a Ritchie Bros yard and run 10 different machines. You may find you really want a komatsu, Hitachi, or a Volvo. Or that you prefer a cat or deere, because that dealer is close.

I used to buy strictly based on price, because I knew exactly how much I could afford spend (not very much). I've bought machines in the past, that I would never buy now, but it was what I could afford at the time.

I've got a little more equipment now, and I still have a monetary limit, but I m a lot more fussy about holding out for a machine I really want.

If you plan on living with this machine for the next 10 years, go look at a bunch, and talk to as many guys as you can about what they like and don't like about different brand and size of machines.

The right machine is out there, at the right price. Just keep looking - good luck!

 

[HarleyHappy]

Just make sure you do a list.
A list of wants and a list of have to haves.
If you settle on a machine without a thumb, unless you hit the lottery, you’re never going to get that thumb.
You know what work you will be doing and what you think you will have to have.
So many times I have settled because of money and I thought it was a good deal.
My first 2 backhoes were 2 wheel drive.
For the way i use a backhoe and where I live, that will never happen again.

 

[Shimmy1]

Just make sure you do a list.
A list of wants and a list of have to haves.
If you settle on a machine without a thumb, unless you hit the lottery, you’re never going to get that thumb.

I don't agree totally with this statement. If you want a hydraulic thumb, and you buy a machine without aux hydraulics, then I agree completely.

But, if it's plumbed right down to the bucket, it's no big deal to add it. We bought a brand new machine without having the dealer install the thumb, and a machine with 2500 hours without a thumb. I actually used my 290 for a month without a thumb until it worked out to bring it in the shop and put it on.

 

[LCA078]

Lots of by great advice above by both Crane and Harley. But also understand that looking for the perfect deal in older used equipment is about as productive as playing the lottery. There's a chance it will happen...but....well, you understand.

 

[LCA078]

But, if it's plumbed right down to the bucket, it's no big deal to add it. We bought a brand new machine without having the dealer install the thumb, and a machine with 2500 hours without a thumb. I actually used my 290 for a month without a thumb until it worked out to bring it in the shop and put it on.

That's what I was saying about that Cat 315B. To my understanding of the pictures, it was already plumbed for aux hydraulics but only an inspection would verify the reality. Since the machine already came with a manual thumb, just use it and learn the benefits and limitations of a thumb so you could make the decision to toss more money at it or not. Welding a cylinder mount on the dipper may have been the only "mod" needed to add a hydraulic thumb, even progressive.

What's more productive: Owning and operating a machine with a manual thumb or not owning a machine with a progressive thumb?

 

[skyking1]

Location does make a difference. Out West, you can throw a stick and hit a bunch of good candidates with progressive thumbs on them. It was the way they got equipped out here.
I got used to that.
I took a look around machinery trader etc and I was really surprised about the lack of progressive equipped machines, the farther east you go looking.
Crawler loaders are the opposite. Thinner out West.

 

[Buffallobull]

Thanks for all the advice! I had made an offer on this link belt that was turned down. They reached out this morning wondering if I was still interested. I said no seems like it has too many issues.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/205671937380?nordt=true

They did share this bit of information
Oh okay, so it drives and runs and we put new batteries in it. But the AC is not working, it shows “service engine soon”light, shows check engine light, shows “electrical problem” light, heavy hydraulic leak around valve bank. We had a tech come out and confirm, and this is all that we know of.

No thumb no blade….no deal.