Case 530CK Advice

[bookworm007]

Alright I know better but I am a sucker for a project. I found what looks to be a late 60's gas powered Case 530ck backhoe for $800 or basically scrap value. The current owner was going to restore it, but parked it 15 years ago and hasn't touched it since. As typical owner doesn't have a ton of info and only one picture. It is local to me so I am going to go look at it in person this weekend. From what you can see in the picture things look somewhat promising. It is located in eastern Washington which is a bit more of a forgiving climate. It was stored with most hydraulic cylinders completely retracted, coffee can over the exhaust, and while I'm sure many of the hydraulic lines need replacing they appear to still have all the factory hose mounts. All the other backhoes of this vintage I have seen are zip tied and duct taped to oblivion. While I do not have a ton of experience with hydraulics I have rebuilt a number of engines, and do a lot of automotive mechanic work, so 1960's tractor tech doesn't seem too crazy. My first priorities are to verify that the engine isn't locked up, brakes aren't frozen, and that water hasn't flooded the trans, hydraulics, or engine. I am going into this with the expectation of needing to do a full tune up in addition to rehabbing the cooling system and fuel system, change all fluids, and likely repack/replace all cylinders and hoses. All this with the goal of having a backhoe to do little projects on my property like ditches and leveling out some bumps.

Now the Questions:

According to the Case manual with buckets, the tractor, loader, and backhoe this thing should weigh in the neighborhood of 9000 lbs more if it has weighted tires and is full fuel. Is this correct? I tried to google this but a bunch of folks start citing weights from later alphabet series 580 machines which are much heavier than the 530 series.

Any other major items that need to be checked to confirm viability due to difficulty to repair or rarity of parts? Clutch, Trans, Shuttle Shift Mechanism?

Finally is this reasonable? Or should I run and run fast? I wish I knew why it got parked 15 years ago, fellow says it ran when parked but its also on a farm with a bunch of old equipment so maybe they got a newer toy?

Anyways I appreciate any and all advice!

 

[Jim.ME]

Welcome to the Forums.

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[tomturkey]

Sounds like you have done your homework concerning the tractor/hoe. Not being very familiar with the eastern Washington climate, any piece of iron sitting outside for that long is going to get condensation in the cylinders. Add to that it very well have been worn out when parked. So an engine overhaul may be needed, maybe not required but needed. Now unless you have a BUNCH of backhoe work figure the cost of the restoration to working order against rental rates or hiring a contractor. You did not mention tires, a very costly item. Ten or twelve years ago I'd have jumped on a project like that, but some costly restorations have educated me to cheap power. Do what you want but share with us your journey. gobble

 

[bookworm007]

Thank you for the advice on the cylinder condensation. I was planning on giving the cylinders a good soaking of ATF or fogging ol to help with that stuff. You know it needs tires but I did not realize those were an expensive item now. I looked up tires for it and they were only $150 but did not look if those need to be of a certain load rating. Around here is costs $450 a day to rent a mini excavator/backhoe or $1300 for the week and I have a quite a few ditches, small stumps ECT to remove which I tried to do with the neighbors 25hp Kubota and it just didn't have the beans. That is the biggest plus of this one is if I get it home and the engine is trashed I'm already buying it for scrap value, just out a little time and diesel. I will keep y'all informed on any developments!

 

[ss55]

My first priorities are to verify that the engine isn't locked up, brakes aren't frozen, and that water hasn't flooded the trans, hydraulics, or engine.

Those are some very big assumptions for a tractor that has been parked outside for 15 years in any climate. To be realistic, budget $5,000 to $10,000 without labor and one or two years time to get the sixty year old 40 HP diesel tractor, loader and backhoe into reliable working condition.

 

[George by Geneva, NY]

I have 530CK with COM. Nice to have around. Paid $2000. back in2000 and oil pan was full of water as a big ice cube when I took it off in Feb. Engine was removed and repaired and runs sweet. At $800 should be a ok buy. Hoses are pricey today and you will need some but they are 70 years old. Books can be gotten from Case. Go fer it!!

 

[bookworm007]

Alright guys took a hard left on backhoe searching. I was all setup to go look at the 530 case but kinda realized it was too heavy for my trailer and too long to balance properly (I have an 18ft flatbed rated for 10k). This was really really obvious when I went and looked at a 1970 510 John Deere which was a beast! I had some hydraulic issues in addition to the rotary style boom swing cylinder which was already worn out. It was much closer distance wise but was still going to require a bigger trailer. I passed on that one too because the shuttle shift was having some minor issues and the rotary swing cylinder had about 5 degrees of slop in the splines.

Fast forward..... Another old broken backhoe pops up for sale, this time only 6 miles from my house! No one warns about how additive these are! Anyways it was a 1970's-ish Ford 4500 backhoe with the diesel engine and manual gearbox. It had been sitting for 2 plus years since the starter died and the old man had then removed the starter and lost it. So I showed up checked it out, called up Napa got a starter and a battery and to my surprise it started right up! It has a few leaks here and there and needs all new fluids but rear tires are good, and all the hydraulics function. Then I realize probably from sitting without a starter for 2 years the clutch is frozen to the flywheel so I remove the starter and eventually get it unstuck with some mild percussive massaging. After than forward, and reverse work no problem, The brakes even sort of work! So immediately agreed to buy it and I now have my backhoe itch scratched! But now I'm realizing how expensive buckets are because I wanted a nice narrow one for trenches, but that is a problem for another day!

Thanks for all of your help and advice so far!