Case 450 series 3 good, bad, or otherwise?

[Mild Bill]

I am looking to get a somewhat newer lower hour machine for jobs around the farm. The biggest job will be snow relocation, at least at this time.

It will also do a little dirt work for maintenance, and move some larger implements and wagons in and out of the machine shed that is currently rented out. Some of the implements are more tongue weight than the 1835 should probably ever have been messing with.

The current machine is an 1835c gas engine with 4400 hours on it. The engine is tired, it is probably operating on borrowed time. It is aided by an IH Farmall 706 gas with an IH 80 snowblower on the 3 point. I have a long driveway.

I found a potential replacement in a Case 450 series 3 that appears to have low hours and looks clean. I have not inspected it in person yet.

I like the idea of a skidloader big enough to run a snowblower it's self. I'm ok with looking forward operating it rather than backwards.

What are the goods and bads about the 450 I should be aware of? How is leg room in the cab? I am a big ol' farm boy. 6'7" tall and look like an old offensive lineman.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

 

[Topper1]

The 450s are tough little machines. Mine is my go to for pushing snow with a 8/12 ft blade.
They are strong work horses, easy to maintain (pre emissions).
For a boy of your size, they may be a bit tight for space. I'm 5'8 and she fits me just right.
Heaters and ac are decent, but I added a small aux floor heater for those -35* days. Toasty feet, toasty operator. -30 outside & I am usually wearing just a pull over & no gloves. & pants of course. Lol.

 

[Mild Bill]

Thanks for the overview.

The machine is a long ways away, 1100 miles.

Sounds like I need to find something closer to "try on" before gong any farther on this one

 

[Topper1]

If you sit in a 420, 430, they are very similar in cabin size.

 

[Mild Bill]

ok, I will have to see what I can find close by

 

[Gearclash]

400 Series 3 machines will be Tier III emissions compliant. Personally I want nothing more than Tier II.

450 S3 was preceded by the 450, which was preceded by the 90XT. The 90XT and the 450s that succeed it all have cut plate arms instead of the tubular construction that all the other models have. The 90XT/450/450S3 also have a mechanical self leveling bucket.

 

[Mild Bill]

thanks for the insight

 

[Mild Bill]

Gearclash,

What are the pros and cons of the cut plate arms vs the tubular arms?

 

[Gearclash]

I’m not really sure why Case chose to use cut plate for the arms on that model. Presumably they are better able to handle heavy digging/pushing kind of loads? If you look around you will notice that wheel loaders almost exclusively use cut plate for their arms.