newbie lookin to buy L553

[declid]

hay guys need your opinion, looking to buy a 1989 L553 , the guy says it runs out real good , just need one tire, what do u think of the 553 , goods and bads, and what should i be looking for. that gives the most problems with the 553, his price is down to 3500 , he just wants to get rid of it, thanks for any opinions, tom

 

[Tazza]

Is this a New Holland machine? or a Bobcat?
I know there is a Bobcat 553 but the L at the start makes me think its a NH?
You know the hours?

 

[declid]

Is this a New Holland machine? or a Bobcat?
I know there is a Bobcat 553 but the L at the start makes me think its a NH?
You know the hours?

tazza, its a new holland, dont know the hrs just trying to get a little info about this model, will be using for personal use , trees moving manure, and dirt around

 

[Tazza]

tazza, its a new holland, dont know the hrs just trying to get a little info about this model, will be using for personal use , trees moving manure, and dirt around

I thought so.
I can't help much on them unfortunately but i have heard good things about them. There are a few members that use them and are very happy with their performance. The only thing i didn't like was on some models the engines are made for the dealer so parts are dealer only. I got a price on a machine that had a blown engine, they wanted about 12K, granted it was an 80+ hp machine so the engine would be expensive.

 

[Earthwerks Unlimited]

I thought so.
I can't help much on them unfortunately but i have heard good things about them. There are a few members that use them and are very happy with their performance. The only thing i didn't like was on some models the engines are made for the dealer so parts are dealer only. I got a price on a machine that had a blown engine, they wanted about 12K, granted it was an 80+ hp machine so the engine would be expensive.

While the price isn't TOO bad for a 20-year-old machine--they only continue to get older and more obsolete. Some, perhaps like yourself don't care about that...right now. But you may when it comes time to trade in or sell it. Personally, I owned an '87 L555 for a few years until I bought a brand new LS180 then traded in that for a LS185.b. The old L series are old and dated looking. And even if you can get past the "love it or hate it" looks (I think it's one, if not THE ugliest machines ever made) the attachment plate ---if it hasn't been changed over yet to the SAE-standard starting in 1996-1/2---then you will be screwed when you want to use a different attachment---which is at least an $800 cost to do (I did it). If it were me, I would look for a guy going out of business or something like that that has a much newer late-'90's machine for about $2000 more and less hours. And the engine in my old L555 had to be rebuilt at a cost of $5000 which I didn't do--I sold the whole thing to a buddy for $5000---BUT--it had new tires, rims, steel tracks, new $450 engine cover, paint, battery, seat, starter, $500 rebuilt radiator, new decals and lights. Also, older machines usually don't have aux. hydraulics which means you can't use anything other than a dirt bucket or forks---no augers, snow blower, grapple bucket. Look for deals: A few years ago I was in my local dealer when I overheard a guy come in saying he wanted to know what an Lx665 was worth sight-unseen---it didn't run and was three cities over. The dealer really wasn't interested and offered $400-600. I knew the salesman. The guy left and I asked the salesman for his number. I called the guy who it turned out worked for a local garbage incineration depot. His company's other plant had literally dumped the skid steer and some semi trucks on their lot and said "keep 'em we don't want them". It had grey ash all over it from the loading the incinerators and looked pretty bad with two different size forklift tires on it and wouldn't run. So me and my "guy-with-the-money" offered $800 and they took it! Flatbedded it home, cleaned out the engine bay, put new tires and rims on it, changed the oil, power washed the ash and rattle-canned a $60 paint job and Viola! He's been using it ever since. We later found out it was a 1998 model so it was only about 6 years old when we got it. He bought my old grapple bucket and we both went to Mississippi to clean up Hurricane Katrina. He cashed me out on our partnership and gave me $2500. Not too shabby.

 

[declid]

While the price isn't TOO bad for a 20-year-old machine--they only continue to get older and more obsolete. Some, perhaps like yourself don't care about that...right now. But you may when it comes time to trade in or sell it. Personally, I owned an '87 L555 for a few years until I bought a brand new LS180 then traded in that for a LS185.b. The old L series are old and dated looking. And even if you can get past the "love it or hate it" looks (I think it's one, if not THE ugliest machines ever made) the attachment plate ---if it hasn't been changed over yet to the SAE-standard starting in 1996-1/2---then you will be screwed when you want to use a different attachment---which is at least an $800 cost to do (I did it). If it were me, I would look for a guy going out of business or something like that that has a much newer late-'90's machine for about $2000 more and less hours. And the engine in my old L555 had to be rebuilt at a cost of $5000 which I didn't do--I sold the whole thing to a buddy for $5000---BUT--it had new tires, rims, steel tracks, new $450 engine cover, paint, battery, seat, starter, $500 rebuilt radiator, new decals and lights. Also, older machines usually don't have aux. hydraulics which means you can't use anything other than a dirt bucket or forks---no augers, snow blower, grapple bucket. Look for deals: A few years ago I was in my local dealer when I overheard a guy come in saying he wanted to know what an Lx665 was worth sight-unseen---it didn't run and was three cities over. The dealer really wasn't interested and offered $400-600. I knew the salesman. The guy left and I asked the salesman for his number. I called the guy who it turned out worked for a local garbage incineration depot. His company's other plant had literally dumped the skid steer and some semi trucks on their lot and said "keep 'em we don't want them". It had grey ash all over it from the loading the incinerators and looked pretty bad with two different size forklift tires on it and wouldn't run. So me and my "guy-with-the-money" offered $800 and they took it! Flatbedded it home, cleaned out the engine bay, put new tires and rims on it, changed the oil, power washed the ash and rattle-canned a $60 paint job and Viola! He's been using it ever since. We later found out it was a 1998 model so it was only about 6 years old when we got it. He bought my old grapple bucket and we both went to Mississippi to clean up Hurricane Katrina. He cashed me out on our partnership and gave me $2500. Not too shabby.

thanks guys ,just what iwas lookin for , didnt think about the attachment plate or the xtra controls ,, cause i sure could use a grappler now and than,, glad i asked u guys first, thanks again ,, tom so.fl.

 

[Frederick]

thanks guys ,just what iwas lookin for , didnt think about the attachment plate or the xtra controls ,, cause i sure could use a grappler now and than,, glad i asked u guys first, thanks again ,, tom so.fl.

Are you looking at what's going on with prices these days? I have an LS140 for sale on CraigsList and it's dead. I have looked at COMPLETED sales on eBay recently and here is what you see: 2002 LS 170 time of year. Good Luck!

 

[92LX555]

Are you looking at what's going on with prices these days? I have an LS140 for sale on CraigsList and it's dead. I have looked at COMPLETED sales on eBay recently and here is what you see: 2002 LS 170 time of year. Good Luck!

I bought a 92 L555 two years ago for $4500. It came with a bucket, a bale spear for round bales, and a bale spear for the large square bales. It has a Kubota diesel that had less than 200 hours on it, the machine had just over 4000 hours on it. I use the hell out of mine and have broke my fair share of things. Yes, parts may be harder to find but I think they are a bit cheaper though as well. The machine is easy to work on though. The mounting plate issue is not a major issue to me, I don't have the money for all of that other stuff. Plus, I like fabricating things and using the welder. I probably use mine about the same as you would use yours, around a hobby farm knocking stuff over, plowing the drive when it snows, and cleaning stalls. I don't have a tractor so this machine is everything to me. I use it to scoop manure and dump into a ground driven spreader. I then hook the speader to the back of the machine and use it to spread the manure. Only complaint I have is the single cylinder on the bucket. I broke the yoke countless times on mine and finally went to TSC and bought to new cylinders and welded them to the bucket and boom. You will notice all new units have two cylinders on the bucket. That clyinder was rough $700 and I have less than $200 in the two cylinders and my time mounting them. Have had not issues since. With the economy the way it is, there is alot of good used units out there that guys are dumping trying to pay the bills. Whatever you decide, I can promise you that will be able to get so much more done with a skid steer.