Super L Case backhoe

[farmfromkansas]

  They say it is a 98 or 99 model, could anyone comment whether this is a good model of backhoe?  This one is selling in a few days at auction,  they will get back to me on hour meter.  Say it runs good, needs a hydraulic hose.  Thinking I could use one to install some concrete water falls where fields drain into the crick, soil conservation says they work really well to keep from letting a big ditch form at that point. Most fields have only one point where all the water runs off.

[LeeB]

I've got a 580L. Been real happy with it. It's starting to show it's age though, now that I no longer have a job that let's me repair it like I should. Nothing major. At that age, if they haven't already been replaced I would suspect the cylinder seals will be starting to need replacing soon. 

[hedgerow]

farmfromkansas
I would assume its a 580 SL Case backhoe. I have a buddy that has had two. The first one was a earlier model and it had seen a hard life. It was tough to run as it was loose everywhere and always needed fixed to use it. The second time he spent more money got a later model one that hadn't been beat to death and also has the exhoe on it. Its four wheel drive and a nice machine to operate. I think Case makes good hoes. Condition is every thing on a hoe. Years ago I had a three point one and it worked ok. A guy wanted it worst than me so I sold it. I have a tow behind hoe now and its ok for small jobs. When I have a few bigger jobs on the farm to do I just go and rent a mini track hoe for a few days. I wouldn't use a hoe enough to own one and the cheaper ones aren't worth owning.  

[farmfromkansas]

Had not thought of just renting a hoe, should look into that.  I was thinking it would be heavy enough to do the digging, and then lift the blocks into place one at a time.  These blocks are heavy.  Talking about the waste concrete blocks they use to stack along the edge of silos etc.  Guess if they are laid right will hold the dirt in the field and let the water run out over them.  Would like to also dig out some big trees, so the stump is attached, assume a 580 Case super L would handle that. I have a couple walnuts that are about 36" at the ground, and would like to dig the stumps out rather than cut them off at the ground.

[Haleiwa]

Say it runs good, needs a hydraulic hose.

Translation: Needs every hose and most of the seals replaced.  Anything that old and going to auction isn't going to have anything replaced unless it is pouring out oil, and you will find them all the first few times you use it.  That isn't to say it is a bad machine, but it is old, and seals and hoses have a life expectancy.

I can do three times the work with an excavator compared to a backhoe.  The main problem is that a backhoe will skate around while the excavator will hold its position better.  An excavator is also more stable if you need to use it as a crane. How much travel between jobs is required? A backhoe makes sense if you do small jobs with a lot of travel in between; rubber tires are faster than tracks and can cross public roads without getting you an unfriendly visit from someone wearing a uniform and a frowny face.  An excavator will move way more dirt in an hour (three to four times that of a backhoe for a similar sized machine), but takes more time and money to move.

[Tin Horse]

I also have the Super L. I've owned it for about 15 years. Bought it slightly used low hours. Zero issues, been a good machine. I also keep it stored inside and careful with maintenance. I guess like with all equipment it's about who used it.
Good luck.

[nopoint]

I have a bit older case backhoe and have been real happy with it. Mine is beat to death and keeps on going. Yes you will replace hoses and rebuild cylinders. It's not the end of the world especially if you don't have deadlines or a whole crew of guys standing around while you go for a new hose. Yes it will pick up the large concrete blocks. Here we refer to them as coffin blocks. Most of my problems have been self induced. 

[Skip]

Those cylinders, hoses and pins can get costly. >:(

[VTKubotaM6800]

I had a 97 580 Super L with 7-8k hours. It was a very reliable and powerful machine (super means turbo). I used mine for digging concrete footings, moving stacks of building materials, pushing trees over and digging stumps. They can be very versatile if you are creative. I also had a 78 Case 480C some years ago and that was also a great machine. Some things to keep in mind:

-If you're used to any other type of hoe controls, the 3 (or 4) stick controls with foot swing that Case uses takes a lot of getting used to before you're smooth. If you don't know anything else, you aren't smooth yet anyway.

-Case backhoes are rear heavy - steep terrain and trying to crane heavy loads with the backhoe require some ballast in the loader bucket. Not a big deal, but also not an issue with some other units.

-Loader backhoes are light years more efficient than 3pt hitch backhoes, but nowhere near as efficient as an excavator.

[farmfromkansas]

Went to see it this afternoon, has 3400 some hours, runs good, see some seals that should be replaced, probably all the hoses, and the pins near the bucket are worn. The rest seems pretty good. Has never seen a shed. Tires are weather checked, but will have to see how the sale goes.  Real in person auction.

[Wallydawg]

Ditto on the controls. It will take you a while to get used to them if you are used to wobble sticks. Funny, I never seemed to have a problem going from joysticks to case controls though. You can "feel" better with those controls I think. Hopefully not all the hoses are bad, as hoses ain't cheap these days.
Excavators are better production dirt movers and placers, but they don't have a loader. If a TLB is what you're in the market for, you can't beat Case imo. 

[mike_belben]

Sounds like a normal backhoe to me.  Im interested in what it brings. 

[farmfromkansas]

This one is kind of a base model, has glass window cab, no extenda-hoe, and is just 2 wheel drive.