Backhoe shopping... frustrating

Rick Kr · Jan 16, 2012

Found a JD210C backhoe. Salesman said they were going over it, had to look at the reverser. He called and said it was fixed. Drove 65 miles. Ran the hoe, once it got hot forward wouldnt work. Salesman said, mechanic added a 1/2 quart to the trans, it should be fine. Well, it was sitting in the yard, and wouldn't move.

While I was there, ran a 410D, same thing, once it was warm, the parking brake wouldn't release, which is ran off pressure from the reverser. Asked the guy a few questions, he really couldn't answer in detail. Didn't look like he had spent too much time on the seat of any type of machine. Found it odd based on the size of this JD dealer. Probably the biggest JD construction dealer in Michigan.

Told them to call me if the get them fixed, 3 weeks later no call. I just found it odd that these guys would have machines on the lot that don't operate right. Really makes me wonder what kind of surprises people get buying backhoes/dozers/excavators on ebay sight unseen.

Oh well, I'll keep looking.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Jan 16, 2012

what kind of bachoe are you looking for and how much are you looking to spend?

Pete76NY · Jan 16, 2012

Uhhhh...reading between the lines in his post...looks like he may want a Deere!

ridgelane · Jan 16, 2012

Do you have a backhoe that you would part with?

NCWayne · Jan 17, 2012

Don't be suprised at the lack of quality people at the dealerships nowdays, especially in the service department. Being a mechanic by trade I know a few guys in the shops at some of my local heavy equipment dealers. From what they tell me they are hiring guys that have never worked on anything but cars, guys that have done nothing but small/lawn equipment, and even some that have done very little mechanic work at all beyond tinkering around in the back yard.

It's sad really but the way society is nowdays the kids are being taught that they don't need to really work for a living, all they need to do is get a degree and then set behind a computer screen to make their fortune. Funny thing that someone like myself that works as an independent can easly make 6 figures on a good year. Granted in hard times like '09 and '10 I did good to make ends meet but thankfully things seem to be coming back.......Knock on wood.....

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2012

I have found that dealers do very little to get a machine ready to sell, oil change(buyers like to see clean oil) maybe, if it will work a little sell it. They will act like they are fixing something as soon as you buy it. Sales people are experts on the equipment you are tradeing in but strangely know little about the machine you are buying! Do you think 12 quart of oil will fix a reverser, neither did they. You better look somewhere else.

Bob Bancroft · Jan 17, 2012

I am not an auction fan, but I've had two TLB's purchased at auction, and had good luck with both. Seems like there are always a lot of municipal/surplus/etc. type auctions where you find construction equipment. It certainly looks like you'd have better luck anywhere other than this dealer.

mkirsch · Jan 17, 2012

Don't be surprised. A salesman knows how to sell things. If he knew the first thing about backhoes, he would be running them for a living.

Rick Kr · Jan 17, 2012

Lyle,

I was looking mainly for a JD since my dozer is a JD too. But, I have looked at a Cat416 also. Another guy bought it the day before I decided to.

Not real firm on brand, but would prefer a JD. 4x4, cab, x-hoe. Price, as cheap as possible. I have found that I really need at least a "D" series Deere. I have a very hard time fitting in the cab of a B or C series Deere. The CAT cabs are huge in comparison.

Rick

JML755 · Jan 17, 2012

(quoted from post at 03:48:48 01/17/12) ...... kids are being taught that they don't need to really work for a living, all they need to do is get a degree and then set behind a computer screen to make their fortune. .....

:lol: :lol: I'll mention that to my attorney daughter who worked her butt off through 4 years of college and 3 years of Law School and who now routinely puts in 10-12 hr days, 7 days a week sometimes.

Not disparaging those who have skill sets such as yourself and do manual labor that requires technical education, experience, know-how, etc to fix things. Just that there's certainly something to be said for higher education. Used to be that you could graduate from HS and and just go get a job. Nowadays a college degree is like a HS diploma used to be in the general job market.

I do agree that not everyone is cut out for college. Friend of mine has 2 sons who either quit or didn't go to college and are plumbers and doing just fine.

The most important things I taught my girls are that a) life's not fair, so don't whine about it, b) don't expect someone to hire you without you bringing something they want to the table, c) your ability to withstand the ups and downs of the job market is in your hands. I.e. make sure you are marketable. Few people go to work for a company for 40 yrs nowadays.

BTW,
I bought a 25 yr old Ford backhoe 6 yrs ago that still runs well (knock on wood). Lot to be said for that old iron.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2012

(quoted from post at 15:01:32 01/17/12) Lyle,

I was looking mainly for a JD since my dozer is a JD too. But, I have looked at a Cat416 also. Another guy bought it the day before I decided to.

Not real firm on brand, but would prefer a JD. 4x4, cab, x-hoe. Price, as cheap as possible. I have found that I really need at least a "D" series Deere. I have a very hard time fitting in the cab of a B or C series Deere. The CAT cabs are huge in comparison.

Rick

have bought lots of used const eqip. I found to buy anything half decent you gonna end up payin bout 40 K, even then your gonna end up fixin something on it. Sometimes you get lucky and find something for less money thats in good shape. Good luck in your search.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2012

Just because they are the largest dealer certainly doesn't make them the best!

RodinNS · Jan 17, 2012

They're not going to fix them either. Your cue here, if you are handy... is start jewing. If they put that in the shop to fix it... with parts and labor they could dump 10K into what will will never be more than a 15-17K machine and in reality probably a 10-12K machine. This before you get into whatever other problem it might have.

You might just be looking at a dirty charge filter or intake strainer... or you might be looking at a bad charge pump or leak in the clutches somewhere. They likely know enough to suspect the worst.
Start dealing. HARD. You might find yourself a 3K machine.

Rod

oldtanker · Jan 17, 2012

My 3rd son's high school pal got a 2 year degree in marketing and went to work at a Cat dealer in sales. Town kid. Had never beeen on anything bigger than a lawn mower. Now the place that hired him spent about 6 months training him and he now knows something about equipment.

Must have went to a bad dealership, round here they make sure the stuff on the lot is ready to go before parking it out there. You may want to ask them before you "hear it run" if they will rent it out for a day so you can use it on a job site and knock off the rental price if you buy it. If they know something is wrong they are not going to go for it.

Rick

nickg · Jan 17, 2012

I can tell you on several occasions Ive went to pick up something from the dealer taht is suppose to be field ready and spent a week workin on it and findin out it hadnt been greased or serviced. I like to buy from individuals myself. YOu can ususally get a better price and talk face to face with the guy who has owned it. Takin in consideration they mite not be tellin you the complete truth always tho. But a good dealer can take really good care of you or rip you good too. I wont buy anything sight unseen. I kno used equipment is just that. Used.Or used up.lol.Onlything Ill buy off ebay is something i can look at first. I personally not a fan of Cat I like Deere and Case. I kinda feel like the cat"s didnt operate nearly as smooth and were under powered. Didnt care for the cab set up very much either.

Jim in N.M. · Jan 17, 2012

Hey, I've got just what you want! a Loaded JD 310 SG, 1200 hrs, cab heat/air,air ride seat,pilot controls,turbo,two doors,4X4,pattern changer,quick change bucket,always garage kept,forks,power shift,tilt steering,deluxe lighting package,return to dig,tires are like new,.Did I forget anything?. .......Jim

RodinNS · Jan 17, 2012

" Did I forget anything?. "

I'm thinking the 'cheap' part....

Rod

Rick Kr · Jan 17, 2012

Sounds great, minus the distance to Michigan, and I am sure the price is a little higher than I am looking for.

Would you take 15K for it?? No, not as a downpayment, for the whole thing.

I am more into a little older machine due to what I can spend.

Rick

RayP(MI) · Jan 17, 2012

I would tend to believe that any construction equipment on the used market might well be used up or thoroughly abused. Construction isn't an easy life. Buyer beware, make seller show you it works properly.

Jim in N.M. · Jan 17, 2012

Rod, You only get what you pay for!! You can't find a descent/good, backhoe for 15 K. you know it and I know it!!! Jim in N M

RodinNS · Jan 17, 2012

You can if you look hard enough... There's a certain number of older machines... mid-late 80's and even into the early 90's now with reasonably tight cabs, MFWD and not completly worn out that sell in the 15k range when the sellers wrap their heads around what they're worth.
One needs to be very selective about what they buy... but you can find a decent 580K, 410D or newer, 416 Cat or 675D Ford for that money around here. All higher hours... but reasonably tight and functional. Sometimes that's as good as more for occassional use. If I was working a hoe every day I'd want a newer machine like yours... but around here that's probably going to hit 65K.
It's just too much coin to tie up if it doesn't work every day.

Rod

Rick Kr · Jan 17, 2012

Jim,
I have to agree with Rod. I have looked at every machine he has listed. Multiples even. All through the summer those machines were every where. As I got my money together, most if not all of them got sold. All the machines were 12-20K range. Now it seems the bottom of the market around here is 25K and up.

I won"t be putting this machine in service every day. I can stand a few repairs here and there and long as the machine as a whole wasn"t destroyed. I saw a fair amount of junk too while looking. That is why I am taking my time.

I do have one project that may not be able to wait 1st thing in the spring, so I may end up renting the neighbors machine.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2012

Don't think you should limit yourself to only a Deere if you find the right machine. A good dealer will go through their used machines and give a fairly accurate assessment of them. If you find a trade in from a town or public works department, you could get a good machine that's had all the proper maintenance done. The county I'm in still has a couple of pup start D8's (bought new)from about 1968 that run as good as new. They used one pulling a cable scraper as well as a 1970 627 scraper to work on the road to my land. The Cat dealer was only going to give about $10,000 trade for a D8/scraper combo. The undercarriage is better than 90% and worth twice the trade in value. The machines are direct drive and were only used with scrapers so didn't have blades. The county figured they'd be better off keeping them for times they could use them. The new D6N was a pretty nice machine though.

Backhoe shopping... frustrating

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