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Looking for my first backhoe. Thinking of a Case 580
- Thread starter JB222
- Start date
I looked for quite awhile on machinery trader, craigslist and other sites that i came across during my search. The most usefull search tool I had was a application for my smart phone called Craigs Notification. It let me setup search's for multiple areas at once. I setup about 6 different search's all within multiple cities located in MA, CT, RI, NY and I used search charicaristics like "backhoe" "back hoe" "case backhoe" "ford" "ford 555" "Deere", that way I got alot of results for everything around me, and i set my price range to 12000 at the most to filter out the newer machines that were out of my price range.
The only discouraging thing for me during the process was the fact I was definately ready to buy a machine and I had cash in hand, but the first few machines I looked at were definately not in the shape I was hoping. A couple of them i knew i didn't even want to look at it as i pulled up. It was a bummer knowing i just drove a couple hours to look at something that was advertised to be much better then it actually was... When i came across the one i just got, i knew once I saw it I was visually happy with it, and after testing it I certainly knew I wanted it. So Definately try to be patient and don't impulse buy becuase it'll be very easy to end up with a POS that could cause high end maintenance costs.
The only discouraging thing for me during the process was the fact I was definately ready to buy a machine and I had cash in hand, but the first few machines I looked at were definately not in the shape I was hoping. A couple of them i knew i didn't even want to look at it as i pulled up. It was a bummer knowing i just drove a couple hours to look at something that was advertised to be much better then it actually was... When i came across the one i just got, i knew once I saw it I was visually happy with it, and after testing it I certainly knew I wanted it. So Definately try to be patient and don't impulse buy becuase it'll be very easy to end up with a POS that could cause high end maintenance costs.
JB222
Active Member
dw710, I have the same app on my phone and am searching the exact same way. The only annoyance with this is the HUGE amounts of spam postings I get. Easy enough to delete but some mornings I will have 75 or more just in the John Deere section. I plan to take my time and wait for the right deal (or steal like KevinK2). I have another month or two until I actually need a machine on site and even then could still rent until I find the right machine.
nlcsoss, Thanks for the info. I have not seen any G's but apreciate the heads up. Correct me if I am wrong but for non grey market I will be looking at B,C,D,E,K,M, right? I would prefer E or K but budget might work better with a C or D.
nlcsoss, Thanks for the info. I have not seen any G's but apreciate the heads up. Correct me if I am wrong but for non grey market I will be looking at B,C,D,E,K,M, right? I would prefer E or K but budget might work better with a C or D.
haha yeah i definately know what you mean about the spam... It's rediculous how many ad's there are everyday.... it seems like most of those ad's come from the boston area.. Another thing if you don't have a way to move the machine or the current owner can't deliver it, keep uship in mind. I found some reasonable offers on there to move the machine for me. But then I found a local guy to me that charge'd 90$ a hour to haul it. It seemed like on average for hauling prices were from 90-115$ a hour from what I found.
I've still got my search's running on my phone, if i come across anything that looks worth while i'll post it up here for you.
I've still got my search's running on my phone, if i come across anything that looks worth while i'll post it up here for you.
ijoker
Well-Known Member
I bought a case 580B last year for $2,000. It was sitting in a yard in my neighborhood for a long time, so i finally went and asked the people if they wanted to sell it. To my surprise they said yes. Then they told me it doesn't move. I was thinking, great something i gotta take apart and fix. 
Not what i was looking for! Anyway, i told my cousin about it, who owns a 580E, and he said that he would bet that those people don't know about the automatic transmission fluid. He said they probably only checked the manual transmission. (Of course now i know it is called a shuttle.) He told me if i didn't buy it he would just to fix it and sell it for a profit. That was enough for me. Yeah, it was a gamble, but it paid off. I pulled it home with my F-350 pickup, and checked the shuttle fluid. It did not even show on the stick. It took 4 gallons of fluid. I started it up and it ran like champ. That made me so happy. Yeah it had some other issues. Replaced the brakes. Had 2 Hydralic cylinders re-sealed. Replaced a couple of hoses. (One of them was throwing fluid every where.) All in all i think i spent $800 getting it going. I got a good deal, as far as i am concerned. I used it all through the summer, and it is still working great. So what i am saying is, if you are willing to shell out the kind of money you said you were willing to spend, i think you should be able to get something that you don't have to fix anything on. At least not right off the bat. With older machines you have to expect to have to replace a hose here and there. Or have a hydralic cylinder re-sealed. And other, hopefully, minor repairs. I replaced all the fluids and filters before i ran it just to be on the safe side. And i would recommend to anyone buying an older machine to do the same. If for no other reason than peace of mind. Look around. If you see one that looks like it has been sitting around for a while, ask about it. You never know. Just be careful about the price if it needs work. Good luck with your search. :usa
Not what i was looking for! Anyway, i told my cousin about it, who owns a 580E, and he said that he would bet that those people don't know about the automatic transmission fluid. He said they probably only checked the manual transmission. (Of course now i know it is called a shuttle.) He told me if i didn't buy it he would just to fix it and sell it for a profit. That was enough for me. Yeah, it was a gamble, but it paid off. I pulled it home with my F-350 pickup, and checked the shuttle fluid. It did not even show on the stick. It took 4 gallons of fluid. I started it up and it ran like champ. That made me so happy. Yeah it had some other issues. Replaced the brakes. Had 2 Hydralic cylinders re-sealed. Replaced a couple of hoses. (One of them was throwing fluid every where.) All in all i think i spent $800 getting it going. I got a good deal, as far as i am concerned. I used it all through the summer, and it is still working great. So what i am saying is, if you are willing to shell out the kind of money you said you were willing to spend, i think you should be able to get something that you don't have to fix anything on. At least not right off the bat. With older machines you have to expect to have to replace a hose here and there. Or have a hydralic cylinder re-sealed. And other, hopefully, minor repairs. I replaced all the fluids and filters before i ran it just to be on the safe side. And i would recommend to anyone buying an older machine to do the same. If for no other reason than peace of mind. Look around. If you see one that looks like it has been sitting around for a while, ask about it. You never know. Just be careful about the price if it needs work. Good luck with your search. :usaijoker: Yeah I actually asked a few people about there machines that were sitting in their yards. One person didn't want to sell there equip, and the other one did, however after running it i decided it waas just to small for what I wanted to do to my yard. But either way i'm glad that I stopped and asked!
JB222
Active Member
I have gotten a few good deals on my case garden tractors that way. I have scouted out a few yard machines that I might stop in on once I am ready with cash in hand. Those types of deals normally go best when you can make a serious offer on the spot. I also might throw a wanted add in a few of the smaller local papers and see what comes up.
KevinK2
Well-Known Member
If this thread still lives....dw710 makes a REALLY good point...never settle for a smaller machine. If you have certain jobs in mind and you know what kind of abuse you'll subject it to, never look down in size, up is OK!! Never down...you'll regret it (oddly, the same logic applies to boating, but that all for another website! LOL!!)
JB222
Active Member
Ok, So apparently I am a bad listener like my mom always said, lol. As it turned out my work load changed significantly. I will be just as busy, but wont need any "heavy" equipment. So I invested most of my money into a 28' combo tool/office trailer. This way I can be on site and ensure everything goes as planned. I also bought a 1976 Case 646B. If you are not familiar, it is a larger version of there old garden tractor line with a dedicated loader and backhoe. Kind of like a Teramite but better. I collect older Case garden tractors and this can handle some basic digging around the house and minor site work.
I may move onto a bigger machine when work dictates, but for now this will wet my appetite and be fun. And for 2k I couldn't go wrong.
Thanks for all the advice guys. It wont go to waste. Just dont need it right yet.
I may move onto a bigger machine when work dictates, but for now this will wet my appetite and be fun. And for 2k I couldn't go wrong.
Thanks for all the advice guys. It wont go to waste. Just dont need it right yet.
DandR07470
New Member
I realize these are older posts but I have a 580C Construction King back hoe for sale. Please email me if interested. [email protected]
Thanks
Thanks