What tractor or backhoe do I need?

I currently have a diesel 841 that is not running all that well but I do not think it is anything major yet although I know little about tractors and engines. Basically just from what I read in the last 4 days. (leaks oil, smokes, fuel pump issues maybe, etc.) This tractor has some sentimental value as my great grandfather bought it new, my grandpa drove it and tore it up, my Dad kind of restored it, and my grandma gave it to me. I don't really want to get rid of it but I also do not need a tractor and a backhoe.

My problem is I have a 1.5 acre tract in a spread out neighborhood just outside of town. That seems like nothing but I have this creek/spring running through my lot that is 9' deep in places as the previous owners didn't build a retaining wall for 30 years. Everyone else's lot looks amazing with a 3' deep creek and St. Augustine. I want to fill this in for 100' and put culverts in it. Then cover it flat and have an awesome yard. I am a HVACR contractor so I have crane buddies to lift culverts in place (not an issue).

I want to move about 300 yards of red dirt clay and sandy loam top soil around to achieve this goal. Is there any way possible to attach a front end loader to this tractor and be happy with it with no power steering and it not have an undue stress on the tractor? I am 30 yrs old and in shape so just hard to turn is not an issue.
Or should I bite the bullet and go get a newer backhoe? I'm not rich or anything so I am thinking maybe 15k for a small backhoe in East Texas market. What are my options? Is this the best option? Will I regret selling the tractor? Should I talk my wife into letting me have both for awhile then sell the backhoe when I don't need it anymore? Any suggestions on how to do that?

Stumped all of you on that last one huh. Thanks, Scott.

If you have just that one major job to do, plan it out well, schedule your crane
and help for when they can be there then rent a backhoe for the day/weekend.
Way cheaper than buying and maintaining one that you may never need again.
There's also no stress on your tractor that way.
As for the loader, same deal if you only need it once.
Problem is, once you have a loader you'll find a use for it every time you turn around!
Counter weight hung off the 3 PT hitch helps with steering.
Such as a 55 gallon barrel full of cement, or a 3 PT hitch backhoe. LOL

No issue with your intent, I must warn you thast what you plan may be illegal. Your soil and water conservation district will guide your decision if you are in Rural zoning (probably). the incorporated municipality that governs your location will be the regulator is you pay city or town/village taxes. Open creeks with flowing water are very difficult to get permits to bury (at least in the locations I have lived) I recommend you discuss it with local conservation officials, or zoning department. Undoing it might be 3 to 4 times the cost of the installation. Sorry if I sound pessimistic, I would rather see you tolerate the creek than be devastated by regulators after the fact. Jim

This is far more work than could be done in a week or weekend, at least with my driving skills. I would rather spend the money and maintenance to keep up a backhoe and do it when I have time to work on it.

Would ballast in the tires and a weighted blade not be enough for the loader on the 841? My whole reasoning behind debating the loader is that I would always find odd jobs to do with it like you said. Not to mention the neighbors bugging me to do things. People keep mentioning why would you wanna tear up a nice tractor or use a 3 point scoop to move dirt. I only see the loader as "tearing up the tractor" if it is in fact going to tear up the tractor. The 3 point scoop is more of a joke to me for what I am wanting to do, unless there is a 3 point scoop I can raise and extend 8' in the air like this 3 point backhoe you speak of.

I would keep the Ford! You will always be sorry if you sell it. I am the kind of guy who would do the project and keep quiet about it. Renting a backhoe or track hoe makes the most sense. This is coming from a guy who has a Case backhoe, and two other tractors and loaders.

This spring only runs in the fall so it's more of a rain water drain than anything. The day I can't match the culvert size on the little road that is not even maintained by the city in rural East Texas without jurisdiction from some form of government is the day I'll renounce my citizenship and move to Switzerland. I already pay taxes on this property I supposedly "own" that I already paid for every year. But all joking aside the road is not even maintained by the county as in they are not responsible for maintenance. I will have to propose it to the HOA board of the 23 home subdivision which I am president of but other than that the authorities can kiss it. We are talking about natural water not crude oil, I will go down guns blazing.

Weighted tires will help with traction, but not steering.
You need to have the weight behind the rear tires so it attempts
to lift the front end. That takes the weight of the loader off the
front tires so you have a chance of steering it with a load in the bucket.
The wear and tear of a loader on the Ford non-industrial front ends
can really get bad.
They can completely destroy a tractor when guys think they're bulldozers.
There's a post in the archives from forum member "4020" where he
broke a John Deere 4020 in two using a loader, and others with
similar sized Internationals.
I still think it would be best to plan and rent or hire out for a big job.
But here'a pic I got from Google of a the backhoe attachment.

You'd be better off hiring it out. A contractor with a dump truck could move 300 yards in about 25 loads. It would take you about 600 loader buckets to move that much.

Dave, You said the same thing when we were repairing our dozer. We can sell it if we wished for more then we have in it not counting the work it already has accomplished plus were using it again, with a spade to trench a power line to the tractor shed.Since you don't know how far he is "moving"the dirt, or the terrain he is using it on, why not just let other people who have more knowledge on tractors and loader tell him their opinion on such things, instead of your generic answer to all other poster of "hire it done"? Why don't you take your own advice for you using your worn out dozer,sell it and "hire it done" for you? Why couldn't he not buy a small skidloader with a backhoe,or a small endloader,etc.Seeing as to how he is in Texas,there are a lot more machines there that can be had,or rented long term,unlike Canada,where you are.
LOU

Is it just me or does that clutch pedal look unusually high?

Lou, honestly... if you think you can sell your loader for more than you have into it.... I need some of what you're on. What you paid for it is about what you'll sell it for never mind what you have into it. You never get your money back out of repairing old gear, ever.... unless mabey you wear it out again.

So the suggestion that he simply hire the work done to move 300 yards of mud is a fairly relevant one given that a contractor hungry for work will probably do it for little more than the fuel and labor... which is probably about the same as the fuel someone would feed into that old tractor to do the same work.

To the OP... another consideration here... if I understand the idea correctly you want to place a brook inside a box culvert? If so... tread VERY carefully here. You'd be extremely well advised to contact the local authorities on that subject and make sure you're properly permitted, etc. Around here you'd have your balls clamped in a vise pretty quick if you did that. Then they'd make you restore it back to original condition after they let you crawl away with a big fine.

I would say if you really want to do this project yourself, go buy a dozer or 4WD backhoe with 4in1 bucket. Really... if it's just shaping and grading type work and not long pushes, get a dozer. If you buy it right and don't have a pile of trouble with it... you can mabey sell it for what you have into it... so the job would cost you your time and fuel. Just don't get caught in the trap of buying a 10K machine for 15K because you want it... then put 5k more repairs into it to make it workable... then find out you still have a 10K machine when you try to sell it. The local consignment rags are full of machines owned by people like you who did exactly what you want to do... and had happen exactly what I just said... and now want to recover their money from the machine because that can't afford to let it go for less... or refuse to admit that it would have been cheaper to hire the job done in the first place. I see this every day locally on Kijiji...

Rod

When I hired people to do hoe or bobcat work, they did more damage to my yard than they did work. 4 Years ago I bought a Terramite T5C for my yard work. It has power steering, only weighs 3100 pounds. I can lift about 1000 pounds which puts too much weight on the front wheels and removes it from the rear. I'm not a fan of putting ballast in a tire which will someday rust my rims. No wheel weights made for my tractor. My solution, which works like a variable ballast is making bar bells. Each wheel or bucket weighs 75 pounds. All I want to move. As you can see, moving the ballast all the way back, takes a lot of weight off the front wheels. But a load on the scoop and it's sweet Don't forget to pull the weight in before you dump a heavy load or you will go for a ride.

Make a bar bell or grab a log for ballast. Works well for me.
George

As these guys say get the permits first or get your passport and buy your tickets to swit now. As proven around here the feds can and are real jerks when it comes to moving dirt and diverting anything with water running thru it.

The others are correct. It's rare that any
government agency will let you bury a stream.
I'm almost 30 myself but I also know who
comes after you. Why not remediate the
stream and make a pond?

No homeowner association should be so
willing to let someone who is foolish to flaunt
the law as their president.

George I love that little backhoe, that's about what I need to do my work. I think I am sold on just getting this tractor running well and keeping it with no loader for various jobs. Maybe I will want a garden someday. I think I will go get something like this little backhoe pictured to "destroy the water world" with my evil poisonous culverts.

Seriously though guys I think y'all are making a bigger deal out of this governing body crap than it really is. For instance I installed a 10 ton rooftop AC unit about 3 months ago on a restaurant. I have left 5 messages with the permit inspection people and they have never called back. They just wanted their $30 for the permit, I doubt they ever actually show up to the jobsite. Anyways, I am talking about burying some concrete culvert for 80-100' and the water will run out the other end just like it did when there wasn't one there. It is a large French drain basically. You're telling me that my culvert would be a no-no but the treated wood these other people use to build retaining walls is ok? Regardless of if I ever even lay culvert in I still need to raise the height of this creek by about 4'. So I need this backhoe either way. If it will make y'all happy though I will look into the stupid EPA rules or whoever is in charge of fake spring / rain water division of culvert laying in no Post Office East Texas before I do the work, I promise.

Renting is out of the question I just do not hire people to do things for me. Not to mention y'all are trying to take all my fun away, what am I suppose to do watch other people get to play with toys in my yard? I am thinking if I can get the backhoe then I can tell my wife we should get a tract of land and build a shop to park it in. Then I will be on my way to building a house on land one day. HAHAHA! Evil laugh.

So now the question is what size / make / model backhoe is easiest to work on and has the most support and bang for the buck?

I am not sure about any HOA's you know but at this one being president means.....

You had too many beers before the annual meeting and could not come up with a better excuse than anyone else as to why you could not be president for the year.

No, they're not making more out of it than there really is.

Retaining walls to maintain a creek bank, and completely burying a creek underground are two completely different things.

EPA has nothing to do with this. You will want to consult your state CONSERVATION department.

One thing they frown upon is changing the natural course of a waterway. Burying the creek in a culvert is most certainly changing the course of the creek.

...and all the silt and sediment that you'll kick up, that will end up in your neighbors' yards... They'll be blowing the whistle on you faster than you can say "Everything's bigger in Texas."

I grew up with an IH H and an add on loader. It was very slow. One way hydraulics. Trip bucket. NO POWER STEERING. We cracked the farmall in half with the loader.

In my opinion, you could damage the front axle with a loader. You don't have power steering. I was told it cost people a pant load to operate a ford with loader and hoe. My toy is about a gallon/hour gas. I love hydrostatic tranny when loading the front bucket with dirt or mulch. You will most likely burn out the clutch trying to put dirt on it. I helped a guy who had a massey with after market loader. His was very slow. He couldn't scoop dirt. He would spin his rear wheels. His had a bad clutch too. I would put 2 scoops on his bucket and he did the long runs for me.

Ask people which is stronger, after market loaders/hoes or a loader/hoe built from the ground up? My little guy is stronger than you think.

The bigger you go, the heavier, the deeper the ruts in your yard.

Best advice, is find a friend who will let you operate what you think you want before you buy. See what it's going to cost to operate and how much does it weigh.
George

Rod, truthfully you think the dozer is worth a little over a $1000.00 as that is what I paid for it?Funny I have seen them go anywhere from 4-8k unfinished around here.The only thing I am on is reality, you should try it sometime.

Now as to having a contractor really wanting the job for just a little more than fuel and labor, you are on something.I have never heard of such.If a contractor is that hard up for work, he will always make more than just a "little more than fuel and labor". It"s like saying I will only pay you for 1/4 of what you are worth,I"m sure you would just jump at that chance to make a little money after your fuel and trucking cost,insurance,and all the rest,just to have something to fill your day. The bigger the equipment, the more costly it is to operate.If they don"t figure on breakdowns and parts ,they will be out of business in a heartbeat.Something else for you to ponder. The cheapest way for him would be to import some workers south of his location and hand them some shovels for a few bucks,that way there would be no DOT requirements,license plates,fuel, insurance,and a host of other incendentals that go with the business of earth moving.

Now as for our pieces of equipment,we can work them for years because the machines are well kept.Then if we ever sell, we"ve made more than we have in it. You on the other hand have never restored any equipment for your own keeping,that I have seen, I would think from your writing, your equipment, if you own any, is badly worn out, and in dire need of repair. Which to you is too expensive to undertake, and cost prohibitive.
Better to research than to comment on something you know nothing about,but rather suspect.
LOU

George, I like your assesment,and fortitude.Why pay for someone elses screw up when you can do just as good yourself.lol. Most people feel the need to give in to the temptation and hire someone else, at least part of the time, the hired person turns out to be more unskilled and unwilling to do the job to your liking. Plus you get the added benefit of cleaning up their mess.Seems most(not all) of the newer generations have lost pride in doing their own work.It's one of the things that made this country great.Now it's "here you do it,I'm too lazy to try it myself". So to you Sir, I say GOOD FOR YOU!!.
LOU

Rod, it wouldn't matter what I said, Lou would try to call me out. LoL He lives in some dream world where you shouldn't have any kind of budget when fixing up a truly worn out machine but when questioned about how much it cost to fix, gets all huffy and bent out of shape. Then he tries to compare his machine, that doesn't even have the paint worn off the bucket, to my machine that I've put a couple thousand hours on. A lot of them in adverse conditions.

Machines that get used do break down and need repairs, hyd. hoses, etc. This applies to all machines whether they had regular maintenance or not. How can you tell when an almost new hyd. hose is going to blow? It was estimated, by the owner of a large gravel operation, that it would have cost about $50,000 to hire out the work I did. In that case, it makes sense for me to own the machines and I have ongoing work to do as well. To spend thousands on used equipment to dig a ditch and move 300 yds. doesn't make sense to me. Maybe the OP could rent a machine(s)? You also have to factor in that you don't just buy a machine and you're an instant operator. I've done a few jobs where I had to fix up someones mess and it would have saved them a lot of money if they would have just hired it out in the first place.

Yeah... about 1K is what a bloody old oliver crawler is worth, regardless of what you've got stuck into it. Weigh it and weep.
I'm not saying it's not worth more than that to someone who collects... but in terms of a realistic, attainable, value if you had to sell it today... 1-2K is going to cover it. Like I said before... there is all kinds of that stuff in the classified adds around here with guys looking for 2-3 times what some of this old gear is worth simply because that's what they've got into it... and it never sells. Asking price and sale price are two different items.

In terms of contractors looking for work for little or nothing... it happens all the time. When you've got a payment due at the bank... you'll do what you got to do to cut someone else's throat. Rob Peter to pay Paul today... someone else will float your fuel bill for another week until you get another job. Most of them go broke fairly quickly. I didn't say it was right... but they're out there. Cheaper than most homeowners can do the job by far.

As far as my gear goes... you don't see pics of it restored because it's not restored. It's still out working... in it's work clothes... and when you hear about something of mine being broken it's because it's been working hard, all of it's life... or someone did something stupid and had a mishap. Regardless, it's still out working rather than posing for a camera.

Rod

Used it's anybodies guess. Parts for backhoes aren't cheap and they can all breakdown. I think you should first get a permit for the work you want to do and then get a quote from an experienced contractor. If you have no experience running equipment, you could make a big mess! Seen it too many times.

Well said Rod! I'd like to see Lou put a couple thousand hours of real work on his little toy. I do agree his machines are well kept... in a garage! LoL Did you see his 5 minute video of how you can bend bucket cylinders?

Lou,
I retired 9 years ago. Old tractors, IH C and Jubilee are part of my hobby. Difference is I use them to mow, push snow, dirt, level dirt and drives.

Then I bought a dump trailer, implement trailer and of course the terramite. Bought it used for my 59th birthday, 5 years ago, with 435 hours on it. The hour meter has 1230 hours of the most fun any retired person can have on a tractor.

It is amazing what it can do. And yes I'm too old to do these things by hand. But it's a lot of fun on the seat.

BYW, before I got the toy, it was hard, if not impossible, to hire some one to do something and then screw up your lawn in the process.

Recently, my tree trimmer made another mess in yard, ruts. But I fixed them with the loader, dirt, Jubilee with special made V-shaped grader. Then I pulled my 5000 pound lawn roller with the IH C to pack things in. More fun than work.
George

You make alot of sense George, nice to read your replies and your ability to do things right yourself. I to am a believer in machinery run by a competent self educated operator,that way we get what we pay for. The tasks turn out the way we want them done and it is fun doing them to our specifications.It's called pride in your work. It's so nice to meet another self reliant individual here,such as yourself.
Most respectfully,
LOU

Rod,
Most machine,such as your description of your own, is ready for scrap prices. Many true machinery operators care about their equipment including appearances. From reading your two replies it seems as though I'm writing to a 30-40 year old person who feels the need to make excuses for how his equipment is kept up,or lack of upkeep. Even when I was in the earthmoving business, all of my machinery was kept up,including appearances, as that is just another way of one persons ability to complete a job.Maybe in your neck of the woods,it might be true for machinery prices,but here it is not.

How is a person to make a payment on a 30-40k piece of equipment if all he charges is enough to cover the fuel bill? When it breaks down, he is in a world of hurt,and soon discovers he shouldn't be in the business and should have never done it. Everyone is cutting each others throats for a job,while the repo list gets longer and longer.I'll make sure to never hire anyone from NS/Canada as if you are the pattern of which to expect from your area as business dealing.

Working equipment doesn't have to look like it's on it's last leg,as by your description, yours must be.I truly don't believe you own or operate earth moving equipment. If you done something stupid with your equipment, tells me you haven't figured out what to do and what not to do with it,if you have any such equipment.

Some people around here still get a kick from doing their own work,and some work for others.The nice comments we get from people on our equipment continues to future customers.See we don't post all the work we've done for friends and neighbors with our little dozer,as their gratitude is appreciation is all the recognition we need. So you can make all the excuses about your equipment you want,if you have any, it serves no purpose on me. So anymore of your supposed comments are falling on deaf ears and serves no worthy purpose,other than to try and justify your unkempt equipment, you are more important in your mind and opinions than I.
LOU

Dave,
"He lives in some dream world where you shouldn't have any kind of budget when fixing up a truly worn out machine but when questioned about how much it cost to fix, gets all huffy and bent out of shape."
I never worried about cost of repairs,with my residuals from my music coming in all the time. It eases the financial burden that would bother anyone else.
But since we are such great friends,lol, I will tell you,but keep it a secret, it cost only $280,000.01. The extra $.01 I included for your grand idea to cut 2" off the one side of the new to us track pads. I know your idea was priceless, and so well thought out, when you so graciously submitted that great idea to me.

"it wouldn't matter what I said, Lou would try to call me out" you have no idea how little I care about you, what I do care about is helping the OP get as much needed pertinent info for him or her.I am sure the OP has a brain and thought about hiring the work done,but dismissed it, and wanted to do it themselves.

" I've put a couple thousand hours on. A lot of them in adverse conditions" Dave be honest anytime you get on any machine, it becomes an adverse condition.I'm sure the first 1000 hours was you trying to figure out how to start it and breathe life back into the poor machine.Your Jack of all trades and master of NONE. It's apparent when you post a unhelpful reply for anyone asking a real question. If he asked what welding rod worked great for welding clay to sand,you could answer,maybe.Is it wet 7018 rod?

I never mentioned anything about your hose,all I said was with that $15.00 bolt how much more parts breakage was due to your inept mechanical skills? Or something to that effect.

Just because someone posts here,I would like to know how do you determine they cannot operate a machine?Is it maybe are you projecting your own abilities to others on operating machinery?

"I've done a few jobs where I had to fix up someones mess and it would have saved them a lot of money if they would have just hired it out in the first place"
Dave be honest that "someone" was yourself,and you are just trying to justify your errors,and by calling it "someone else" you can sleep better. Just curious,
LOU

Dave, how many hours have we put on our dozer? Do you know? Just because we haven't posted excess vidoes,does not mean we have used it doing work for additinal people at their place. See the customers don't like having someone messing around with cameras taking pictures when you are supposed to be doing work. It seems they like to get results instead of having pictures taken on their time. I know you so greatly love seeing a machine that runs and works without a breakdown every 30 seconds,like yours.
By the way the digger was in sugar sand,and I am sure it has never crossed your mind,different soils you can do some odd things in with no bending or breaking of cylinders. By your way of thinking, you can't dig with the bucket because the cylinders are extended.

I see your learning since you are asking about a building of your own to park you scrap heap in,you just forget a little politeness and never thank the people who post answers,nice guy Dave,NOT.

In the future please post a movie of you trying to use your H/J dozer for the amusement of all of us. Anticipating your movie,no borrowing "someone" elses movie,Dave.

LOU

See what I mean? I think anyone can tell that the only residual you have is a headache from the loose matter rattling around in his head. Rod agreed with me that it might be a good idea to hire the job out and then you started on him too? How exactly are all your ridiculous rants at all helpful to anyone? You must have really racked up the hours on your little toy. Heck, there's only 95% of the paint left on the bucket!

You know if I was on HVACtalk.com trying to help some poor soul who didn't know how much superheat a walk-in cooler should have and he told me he was venting the refrigerant off to adjust the charge of the unit, I might mention that it was illegal and it was a $25,000 fine to do so if you are licensed, but I would also recognize that people do it all over the world every day. The question was about how much superheat should a walk in cooler have not how much the fine was for venting refrigerant or who would give a sh!t that you did so.

I am not here to debate why and where the general public agreed to such a big government or the laws of creek culverting. I asked about tractors and backhoes. I didn't say I wanted to transport baby seals in my front end loader. I am not even sure I want to build a culvert system. I am first going to just raise my dirt level up and see what happens. You know how it goes with these things.

If you would have started with an actual logical explanation as to why a culvert system would be a bad idea from experience or physics or just plain intuition, I would have listened. You guys are stating that you can't do it just because these people say you can't. I don't accept authority very well.

I am sorry that I would rather stand up and face the felony consequences of moving dirt than lay down and sheep my way through life. It's my freaking land, I bought it outright, I don't owe any bank or anyone anything.

I also love how you people think we can actually divert water from it's natural course. Whatever idiot decided that people had an impact on the path a creek would take over the course of time must also think the world is 6,000 years old?

Just for the fact of the matter though, I will now look into the issue (As I already said) of who "owns" the creek I bought. This was my point earlier. People don't "own" anything anymore and it is because of people like you who agreed to be governed on every single issue of their lives. I may be wrong but, I believe that is why we left England in the first place. Learn how to stand for something even if it means you fall. I'd for one rather fall with pride than be told I was free while being whipped.

Now don't get me wrong I love what America should stand for, and I am quite happy I was born here, but if it wasn't for people like me, you would have already handed over your guns and ammo. Now go buy your Monsanto seeds and drink your Kool-aid and I'll do whatever I please.

I am not your enemy, I took the time to get online and ask others opinion. You should be scared of the people who don't know how to Google something before they do it. Even with disagreement and bucking I will now wiegh the issue heavier than I did before. On the other hand, regardless of what I do, I seriously doubt the "FBI" is going to come knocking at my door to investigate my dirt moving. I've never seen that Criminal Minds episode.

Now let's respond to my ability to maintain and operate a tractor as some of you see no hope for me. I think if I learned how to repair and replace commercial air-conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation, and kitchen equipment inside two years with enough expertise to pass a state exam and have operated a business by myself for two years since then I can learn how an engine works.

Everyone seems to think I should rent a backhoe for a week or two like I could actually go a week without 4,000 phone calls of people's crap breaking for what I actually do for a living. You think I don't have ambitions of buying about 100 acres one day? I don't rent or hire anything. You think I would honestly debate a backhoe if I didn't think I had the mechanical capacity to maintain it and only had one job for it to do?

Please let's change the subject to just about anything else and I will make you feel about like I do. I am on my third house remodel by 30, I am talking full gut job. I paid cash for this one 133k. I made that from doing all kinds of jack of all trade things you guys probably have no clue about. Some of you guys I appreciate your posts but it's ridiculous to weed through this mess of posts that don't even remotely relate to my original questions.

Older guys come here to help out the greenhorns to ensure a future generation of people who may know something about a tractor. The people who may own a tractor and are clueless and will always be clueless probably will never find this site. The people that care enough to ask a few questions as stupid as they may be are the people who may actually answer some questions one day.
I'm sorry but some of you may know a lot about tractors but you have a lot to learn about life. What did Einstein say about asking a fish to climb a tree, I can't quite remember. This site is here for support, not your views on politics, religion, and her.

I think I have already figured out that I will learn what I need to know far faster if I read more than I type. So this will be the last time I respond with a statement that doesn't have much to do with a tractor.

This is excellent advice. I am already pretty much sold on the idea my 841 doesn't need a loader and I need a backhoe. I don't have any friends who might own what I'm looking for though, I really wish I did. Do you have a recommendation of a loader/backhoe that might be easiest to maintain for a novice and have the most online tech support? Also what manufacturer do you feel gives you the most bang for your buck or are they all comprehensive of what you paid for a used piece of equipment? I expect the latter. What are some key things I should look for in a backhoe?

Thank you for your help I really appreciate it.

If you're set on a backhoe, a D series or later Case is hard to go wrong with provided it doesn't already have problems. FWD models should be in your price range. Likewise, C or newer series Deere's are generally good. Cats are good but watch out that the brakes work properly. Lots of them have worn out brakes and system contamination if the PO didn't use the wet brake additive with the Cat oil. Ford's are also good but their structure is not as modular as the Case... JCB also makes a good hoe. They seem somewhat localised in their market share. Here... they're fairly popular and well supported. Mabey not so much where you are... A lot of guys carp about service/support for them. I dunno... Find one cheap than's not beat to crap. Color blindness helps a lot to that end.

Rod

My brother has a similar tractor, 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee. The loader on his is so heavy, if you put more than about a wheelbarrow load in it, the back tires are in the air. Which means adding ballast to the rear. To me, heavy loader + rear ballast = overloaded tractor(and possibility of breakage) pretty quickly. His also has power steering but is difficult even with the loader empty.

I think you"ll be happier with a newer midsize 4x4 utility tractor with loader and backhoe attachments. You"ll get a much more versatile piece of equipment(with various attachments) for about the same price as a standalone backhoe. Granted, moving the dirt will be a little slower, but I don"t get the impression you"ll object.

You might consider looking at the government surplus auction sites. I was on a couple recently and saw a John Deere 3 pt hoe attachment for $600, looked to be barely used.

HTH

Anthony


P.S. I move my own dirt also.

I paid my way through college working HVAC for Bethleham steel, burns harbor, In.

Aren't you a hvac man too. If so, you can work on a terramite. Kohler gas engine, TRW pump and motor. All parts and made in USA. No terramite dealers, they sell direct. Call them if you need a part and they UPS it. Most DIY rentals have terramites. Go rent one for the weekend. Weekend rates are usually cheaper. You may not want to return it. I think some use another Terramite like sub compact, think it an almond??

The reason I went with Terramite is it's the only gasser, all the rest I found were diesel, which I can't stand the smell, get a headache. Gasses are cheaper and easier to work on too and mine has never failed to start in the winter.

Mine is a 2004, used with 435 hrs. It was missing on one cylinder. Got it for $9100 tax included. Had to change spark plugs and clean carb. I have 1230 hrs on it. Looked on ebay, they want more for my 2004 than I paid for it. Like honda and toyota, they seem to hold their value. That said, I'll NEVER sell mine. Use it too much around the yard(s). I have more than one place to take care of.

Small engine warehouse has new kohler engines for around $1200. I looked at it this way, for $1200 I'll not even think of rebuilding mine, just get new engine. However, my engine has no issues to date.

Google terramite craigslist and you may find all the terramites on craigslist or use searchtempest.com. You may get lucky and find one locally. I had to drive 300 miles to get mine.

George

I haven't heard of a Terramite before but I am going to look into it. Clever name though.

I think renting one for a weekend would actually be a really good idea to give me an idea of if I was a larger/smaller model. Maybe even rent two different sizes. There is some tractor ranch close to here and I was hoping next weekend I could go out there and they might let me drive some around for a second. There's also a tractor auction every month right by my house that I could maybe learn more at.

My wife also hates the diesel smell it gives her a headache as well. I'm not real don of it myself. Thanks for the idea ill have to read more about them.

canadianragweed, I read your replies and I will state for you this observation. WELL WORDED AND FILLED WITH COMMON SENSE!!!! Some don't remember the New Orleans Army corp of engineers fiasco.Bureaucrats who buy their appointments from favors done, have little or no experience in such matters as you elude to.Some opinions posted here are Sheep being led to slaughter with out hesitation.Some posters cant wait to put their fingers on the computer so they can spout answers on subjects they KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!!!
I'm in your corner when you state that you have experience in different vocations and knowing from whence you speak. AGAIN GOOD FOR YOU> WARMEST REGARDS LOU FROM WI>

I move dirt for a living and I think geting an older backhoe to do your job would be the answer :wink:

You know... as much fun as it would be to watch your interaction with the bureaucracy, I still would not wish that on you... so I'll say this...
If you approach them in a proactive manner in terms of determining a manner in which you can accomplish what you want to do, you may find that within reason you can get it permitted. Sometimes they can be quite helpful. Sometimes not so helpful but at least you get done what you want. On the other hand if you want to wait until some freak rain event causes runoff at a level unexpected by anyone to the point that your culvert is overwhelmed and it floods the yards and basements of half your neighbourhood... and then the bureaucrats get involved because they're now on the hotseat... Guess what? Things are not going to go well for you. If you get as belligerent with them as your tone implies in previous posts.... things are going to go really, really, really, REALLY BADLY for you. $hit, much like water... always flows downhill. Lou ought to know that since he's been a big time dirt contractor for a lot of years...

As far as the culvert/cribbing issue is concerned... I have no idea how it will be treated where you are... but the way it's dealt with 'here'.... is basically... they frown on anyone breaking the bank of a brook/stream, etc. as that can cause an alteration to it's natural course. To install a culvert and backfill you are breaking the bank and infilling. I know that open bottom, structural type box culverts are often permitted here, at least on a temporary basis though I don't know if they're allowed on a permanent basis. If you've got fish in this ditch or whatever it is... that adds a whole other level of bureaucracy to the mix...
The reason the cribbing and bank stabilization is not seen to be a problem is because it is not in the watercourse and doesn't alter the watercourse... so you're not seen to be altering the natural course of events.

At the end of the day I really don't care what you do. It's not going to effect me in any way at all. I might say I'd hate to see you get screwed over by the powers that be... but honestly... I hope you take good video of the events and post them all to youtube with links here for all to see. The romans had a stadium for theater like that...

Rod

Thanks man I will look into the 4x4 utility.

Wow, that's a really neat story, you must work for Parks and Wildlife or something. I wish you would have put that much time and effort into what to look for in a backhoe.

I haven't seen any fish in the creek lately as I guess they find it hard to breathe with no water 9 months out of the year. I did see a mermaid the other day but, I think she went to live in my neighbors basement. Which is weird because that makes them the only people I know around here with a basement. I don't really miss her because I still got this lockness monster to talk to. He lives in the 15" culvert running under that non-county maintained oil top road.

It's funny you mentioned that rain could be detrimental. I was just talking to my buddy Noah today and he said we are expecting some major storms. I didn't pay it much mind though, he's been declared insane by the local "bureaucracy", something about no permit for building a huge boat in his backyard. The guy has like two of everything.

So what I've gathered from this discussion so far is:

1. I don't need a loader on my 841 because that is what a retard would do and I shouldn't sell it for sentimental reasons because it's not worth much anyways.

2. I need a backhoe and should look into a 4x4 utility, a Terramite, and I think one guy said just an old backhoe. All for completely different reasons it sounds. Versatility, upfront cost, just go get something and be done with it, etc.

3. I should probably go rent something for a weekend just to play around with it and get a feel.

4. My IP address has probably already been traced by the FBI for posting the word creek and dirt in the same sentence.

5. I should probably post videos to Youtube of what I am doing so they have plenty of evidence to lock me up with Noah.

Oh man!, Hang on one of those bureaucracy people just threw some tear gas through my window. I'm not sure if they are here for the creek posts I have made or the movies I downloaded. I gotta go get my Israeli gas mask I ordered off Amazon.........OK that's better.

I guess I have my answer for the most part now so I will probably post back after the summer when I slow down at work some. That will give me some time to maybe rent a few or go look and see if I can "test drive" some stuff. I think I am going to get a much better idea of what I need sitting in a backhoe seat than I am this computer chair.

That's all she wrote for me as far as this topic goes, I'm going to be busy helping my neighbor for the next few weeks divert this annoying waterfall in his backyard. We bought some C4 from our "southern neighbors" and we think if we just use it all in one big blast it should relocate the waterfall to the clouds where it will just be soaked up. We did some calculations and we figured the clouds should soak up enough of this waterfall to rain for forty something days and forty something nights. I think he already got a permit from the Tooth fairy committee so non to worry there.

No Pun intended on what is and what isn't make believe of course. That's just the way the Deere cookie crumbled in this Case.

Actually... I did point out several things you ought to watch out for in used backhoes... but I'm sure you're much too smart to take any advice on the subject.
I do look forward to hearing your tales of woe in the future.

Rod

canadianragweed Just gotta say" You should write material for comedians" I LMAO when your post appeared. In your humor, you hit the nail on the head. Most replies have no merrit when it comes to giving a helping hand. Thanks for the most intelligent writing on the subject of posters not knowing the information given is not note worthy.Regards LOU.

The only thing wrong with the information given is that it wasn't the response some of you wanted to hear... This is probably the wrong place to come if someone can't handle hearing opinions other than their own...

Rod

Rod, if one can't give a relevant answer, then it becomes a waste of time for the OP. Alot of that goes on. Seems like everyone needs a resume of a new posters abilities before anyone will take him serious.Then the new poster will have to Prove themselves worthy of some posters answers. Why not just give a answer,that relates to the OP problem or question,rather than giving opinions of their past so called experience or unrelated answers,such as water rights,right of way etc. JMHO.
LOU

Google Terramite T5C. Terramite has other brands too, but they are diesel. I hate, dislike, loth, diesel. Grew up with it on the farm and it gives me a real headache, not to mention the ones we had won't start in the winter.

Most of sub-compact tractors are diesel. That's why I settled on the T5C. It will take you a little time to learn how to operate it. After a while, it like typing, you do it without thinking.

Before you rent it, Go to your diy rental get an owner's manual on how to operate it.

If you plan to move rock or dirt, get a load or two, so you have a place to pratice on.

I let a 10 year old grandson drive mine, had the engine running very slow, let him load the front bucket with mulch, raise it, pull forward and dump it. What a smile.
George

Sometimes the relevant answer is just not what you want to hear... If you weren't so narrow minded you ~might~ see that. Lucky for me, I won't hold my breath waiting for that.

The way I see it... if I intended to do something that could get me a lot of misery... and I hadn't realized that possibility... and someone pointed it out... I'd probably be glad they did so and seek more information on the subject... as opposed to attacking the person trying to help me.... but what do I know. Tunnel vision must be blissful.


Rod

Funny, people ask for opinions, then get bent out of shape when they get opinions. Funny, makes me laugh.

Just cause you own the land doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. You asked for opinions. You didn't state if you had more work down the road or anything along those lines. Several people were suggesting you check with the county to get approval for what you are intending. They weren't doing this to slight you. They were trying to help you avoid severe penalties and/or having to undo all the work you've done because they've seen it happen. The gov't. always wants a piece of anything that anybody does. That's why most people hate gov't but sometimes the gov't has good reasons for it's rules.

You might think it's a minor little job you're doing but if you don't get a permit and approval to do it, you could get yourself in a lot of hot water. Say you built a brick fence all around your property without getting a permit and a survey of property lines. You have a neighbor that claims 100' of the fence is 5' on his property and the county agree's with him. The county could make you take the entire fence down and/or fine you. If you did any damage to the neighbors property, you'd have to pay for that too. If you didn't take the fence down by a certain time, the county could take it down and send you the bill! I did some landscaping for a lady that took her neighbor to task for this very same example. He was a brick layer and moved the fence over because he built his garage to close to the property line and this was his attempt to cover up his mistake. In the end the neighbor lady agreed to give him an easement for the garage (she didn't have to and he would have had to move it or tear it down) but he had to take down the fence and pay her for the tree's he took out to put the fence in. These were tree's she had planted and he ended up having to pay about $20,000 to replace the tree's and sod that was torn up and also penalties for building without the proper permits! Doing ANYTHING with a natural water way, you better have your ducks in a row. If you don't want to listen, don't shoot the messenger.

15k? i would keep your little ford plus go find/buy 2 more tractors/machines. save $3000 for incidentals.

I will be big enough to get back on here and say I missed your post on the Case and Deere backhoes. That kind of supports my argument in a way though as its hard to weed through the irrelevant replies. Like this idiot that built a fence on someone else's property although I got a kick out of it. I mean brick of all things, lol. Like I said first I'm just going to put some clay down in this creek and see what happens. Who wouldn't start with that? It's a plan at this point. I'm not getting a permit to move dirt on my property. Now if I was doing a commercial job in the public of course I would. Like I said I pay county taxes but they won't maintain the road to my house the HOA does. So in my eyes they lost their opinions at that point. I would start a Tea party movement over it. As for the renting and hiring it done nobody even tried to learn more about me first to know I'm pretty much diehard DIY and probably do have the capacity to learn how to maintain and operate a tractor. Just a little insulting is all that there are far more replies with that kind of content than answers or questions about my full intentions or price range or whatever.

A used backhoe can be a great asset. Be careful what you look at, some are hard to get parts for (don't ask how I know). If I was going to do it over I'd stay in the Case, JD or Cat names.

I know you don't want to hear it but check before you start. Local guy here put in a retaining wall on his lake shore property and wound up in court because he didn't get a permit first. Judge made him tear it out, restore the land how it had been and pay 1K in fines. After it was all said and done he paid the permit fee and put it back in. The guy who did the dirt work for him was also fined for doing the work without the permit there.

Rick

(quoted from post at 01:37:06 06/09/13) Rod, if one can't give a relevant answer, then it becomes a waste of time for the OP. Alot of that goes on. Seems like everyone needs a resume of a new posters abilities before anyone will take him serious.Then the new poster will have to Prove themselves worthy of some posters answers. Why not just give a answer,that relates to the OP problem or question,rather than giving opinions of their past so called experience or unrelated answers,such as water rights,right of way etc. JMHO.
LOU

Click to expand...

Cuz the OP will be inconsolably PI$$ED when he spends a whole bunch of money on a backhoe and spends all this time and effort burying the creek, only to have the conservation department come in and tell him he's gotta put it all back the way it was or else.

It is most certainly relevant information to the project.

I don't understand why people get so bent out of shape when you don't answer their exact question to their exact expectations. How much you paying for this advice again? If you want someone to just tell you what you want to hear, go find yourself a nice bum in a back alley, buy him a fifth of his favorite booze, and listen to him tell you how great thou art.

You're sure asking for a whole lot of "I told you
so's"! It doesn't matter if it's a commercial job or
not. The county can make your life REAL difficult if
they want to. They can increase your property taxes
among other things. Why is it such a big deal to let
them know what you're planning to do? Pull you head
out of your but already. Nobodies making this stuff
up just to give you a hard time.