Just to be an enabler:

John Deere $5,000.00
backhoe

CASE 530CK BACKHOE - $3000 (Aliquippa)
CASE 530CK BACKHOE

CASE 580CK Backhoe - $4500 (Connellsville)
CASE 580CK Backhoe

Fred- Not sure what your budget is but for the low end and guessing from your read and use, might suggest looking for an old IH Industrial (thinking 610 or 620, 640 I forget ??) dedicated loader and backhoe. Not a track but a conventional rear driven wheel only. Very simple machine and straight forward thinking. The industrial castings, axles, loader and backhoe arms are massive compared to the light toys today. It is gas (4 cyl) for simple maintenance and replacement parts... miniscule cost single carb parts, tune-up etc.. No shuttle trans but a simple 4 speed w/ high low range. Clutch replacements are not that difficult. Thinking they used a simple Vickers vane hyd. pump. Replacement hoses can be made at any truck stop.

Again- this is old industrial standards from the 1960's. Not complicated with whiz-bang transmissions or under engineered straining hydraulic pumps. It's a machine that has enough oomph to bust turf and move it at a relative pace. One with common mechanical skills with no specialty tools can easily keep one serviceable. Find one and use it. When no longer needed, always easy to find a buyer.

I can't advise on backhoes, but for everything else, the price is x2 or x3 in the Spring. I'm thinking about buying a water trailer, and January is the perfect time to buy used equipment.

You are right, so I started today.

I stopped by the local MF dealer and talked about used "hoes" for my old MF 240. It can be done but there is some "customizing" involved. Read $'s.

I have enough work to justify owning a "hoe", but I'd like to not add another motor to the pool.

Intakexhaust, help!

seahawk- The mentioned IH is just one example.
samples
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Pops was in the biz for many years and opened his doors in 1958. Early Ford franchise and one of the first with Kubota.... (K. in 1973??). Some of us put our years in the business and of course grew up around it.

Typically back when, manufacturers would first produce an Ag machine. Then later offer a loader or backhoe add-on whereas some makers came out with dedicated industrial machines. Of course there were many after-market production loaders, hoes, etc., some seemingly that could get the job done, especially for a ranch. Ford in the 1950's had that compact, low CG line-up and naturally a good start towards an industrial machine. Plus many others started to supply loaders, etc. for them.

Quite a difference though between the two - Ag type conversion vs. true industrial. Industrial's have big castings and steel chassis like wrapped around the machine. You'll see a cast iron wrapped radiator, some with cast iron engine hood, etc. unlike a sheet metal Ag tractor. Nothing wrong with having a diesel but if you get a dirty abused one... can get pricey with injector pump builds, etc. Plus they can be a bit of hassle starting in the deep cold. Wouldn't rule out a gas machine and sometime is a plus.

I haven't watched the market for this stuff in years but know many fellows who do. Bottom line is you want to get the job done - dig and move dirt in the most painless way and least amount of money. Welcome to PM and can maybe lead you to a few knowledgeable guys. Although you're out east and might be a drag for hauling.

I once had a 1925 Cat 60 (not as nice as the one in this photo). I wouldn't recommend one. To start it you stick a 3 foot long steel pole in the flywheel to crank the engine over - and that's the easy part. You measure fuel usage in gallons per minute.

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Family had a John Deere similar to the first one you listed. Enclosed cab, couple years newer '76 IIRC. 2wd plenty of power and very reliable. Ha to replace the occasional hydraulic line when they have up the life. Sold it for $4500. Regret not keeping it for myself.

Seahawk,

I have had really good luck using SearchTempest Online Classifieds Search - All of craigslist, eBay & more in one search.

It's a Craigslist search engine. I've bought a Chevy 1-ton, Allmand Brothers light tower, and an almost new Kubota RTV 900 that way. The only time I go to the MF dealer is to buy parts. Since I'm a cheapo bastich, I also bought a 25-foot equipment trailer, tractor, forklift, and a bunch of other stuff by scouring the used market.

The other option is to call around the rental yards. They turn over their inventory in January/ February, and I know for a fact that you can find a steal through rental yards. But I have not met many rental guys who would shoot straight with me, so YMMV.

You can also find good deals by going to equipment auctions. This is what the pros do. Only when you're going to drive the thing into the ground do you go to the dealer. My dad's cousin is one of the largest produce growers in the world, and they buy straight from John Deere. If you know someone who knows someone, then you can often find a gem through word of mouth.

That link is awesome...thanks!

Great advise on the rental yards as well.

I see several options, even near your location
Loader Backhoes - Classifieds - Claz.org

I have been shopping since I started this thread. I bought an 80's Massey Ferguson model 30B backhoe. 38 hp perkins diesel.
I had found another one broken that I was going to buy, and I called my buddy who owns a scrap metal business to help me haul it, and he mentioned that he had just inherited one from a family member, and that he also has another identical one for spare parts at his salvage yard. We struck up a deal.
He is also the township supervisor, ( this is a small town) so this is good public relations for me. The best part it is, that it runs and works 100 % and , comes with about 5 different buckets, and a grapple hook, and it is only 3 miles from home, no need to haul it on a trailer I'm going to drive it home in the morning . Ill post up some pics tomorrow.
I pondered signing up for the easy payment plan and buying a new kubota, but I think this machine will serve me better, for a quarter of the money.
I predict many holes in my yard by sundown tomorrow.

Spend some time learning how to move the machine with the hoe, its a terrific time saver versus getting turned around and using the tractor to move.

I want to start a potholing company. All we would do is pothole cable.

I wantta see you do this!

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When you settle on a machine you'd like to buy, request a demo and put it to work for an hour to bring it fully up to operating temp with a combination of digging, pushing, lifting, dumping and road gear traveling and importantly stopping to see how it sorts out. You'll know if it over heats, leaks, creaks groans etc. Look for slop and play in the slew actuator, eyes of hydraulic cylinders, bucket linkage and cracks in stress areas. Jack up the front and check the wheels for loose bearings and slop in the steering. Couple pics of my 1978 JCB Mark 3C. Got this for digging stumps, moving logs to clean up after a bad storm went through the woods around the cabin. Not a lot of these around. It's a good digger. Biggest expense for me so far was replacing the tires. Standard sizes but they don't give them away. Good luck with your search. Ray
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He dropped it off at dinner time today. I took the kid out for a nice bike ride ( I had been promising him all day), then got back about 7 and had an hour to try out my new toy.
Took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to start it, make it move, and idle it up and move all the buckets. Works pretty sweet, and seems pretty powerful . I dug out two mid sized stumps to test it out.
I have only used machines with a wobble stick before, this one has multiple levers to work the hoe, it will take a little getting used to, but it will do what I need it to .

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Congrats Fred......very nice!!!!

Resurfacing this thread because I'm now a bit more serious about getting one also.
One thing I like to do is dig down the drive in front of my shop at least a foot and replace with a good 8 inchs of gravel.

Here's some examples of what are in drive home distance and my price range.
BTW I'm in Canada I won't be finding much cheaper unless it needs a lot of work.
Opinions and advice?

massy ferguson 80 backhoe | heavy equipment | Oshawa / Durham Region | Kijiji

massey ferguson loader backhoe combo | heavy equipment | Oshawa / Durham Region | Kijiji

580B backhoe | heavy equipment | Belleville | Kijiji

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-business-industrial/kawartha-lakes/case-backhoe-loader/1003561349?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

No, I was thinking bigger.

I rented a bobcat, fair sized one, it was to light to rip up the hard ground here. Plus I want to do some culverts in the lane into my back 40 (23 acres actually) and maybe clean out my pond, etc.
Driveway area in front of my shop is at least 80' X100' and when I built it I had run out of cash so I cheaped out and just threw on a load of stone and a load of re-claim (crushed old ashphalt). Now the weeds just grow through it and it looks like poop.

Plus I want to clear a pad for a greenhouse, maybe dig another pond and my front yard (1 acre) is graded wrong, etc., etc.

Also last winters amount of snow my ATV and plow barely got me through, I ran out of places to push it.
A backhoe would get used for sure....

I doubt you want an 'open' back hoe. Get a cab.

The Perkins engine is gas?

PS. - I redid my G50 tranny, changed nothing, and now it works. I have no idea why...