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williamf
02-01-2003 15:05:39
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Re: 3500 TLB in reply to BRIAN CLARKE, 02-01-2003 13:00:51
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I've got a 1967 3500 Diesel TLB. I bought it in 1991, I think. Mine has a straight transmission, two forward, two reverse and Hi-Lo Range. I think they also came with the Select-o-Speed. Looking back I would have to say that at $7200 I paid too much. It had problems that I did not recognise, like leaking rear axle seals that soaked the brakes and are a major pain to change. And I didn't know how to judge how worn out the bushings in the backhoe were. I've only had to replace the one collar and pin that attach the bucket, but that was $500 and several others will go eventually. The transmission was full of water from the starter safety switch wires being pulled out and the hole not plugged. Fortunately we found that when only the bearings needed replacing, not the gears. The mechanics found that the first year I had it, when it went in the shop to have the rear main oil seal replaced. They fixed the axle seals and brakes and put in a new clutch while they were at it. Altogether that trip was about $3100. But it held up a couple of years before a tooth chiped off a gear in the Lo range. I took advantage of the opportunity to replace a pair of gears for second forward that didn't really need it to bring that trip up to $2900. Those gears are pricey.
Other than needing two new rear tires, at about $300 apiece, and the usual hydraulic hose every month or two that was about it until I got the engine rebuilt last year. Got new or rebuilt everything, injector pump, crankshaft, the works. took a few of months, but I had somebody do it in more or less his spare time, cut me a break on labor. The whole deal came to about $5900. Altogether, in the last twelve years, I've had a very enjoyable hobby, got my pond dug for 'nothing,' a 'free' membership in the hunt club, and gotten favors repaid from all the neighbors. All for not a lot more than twenty grand. How much is the one you're looking at? ;-}
All kidding aside, the really are basically fine machines. Just remember, even with brand new equipment the purchase price is only a down payment.You can see mine at Pond Digging, which also leads to some other stuff about it.
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