What Do You Guys Think About Fiat Track Loaders?

4theroc

Hey i found a 1990 FL10C with a 4n1 and enclosed cab on ebay pretty cheap. Under carriage 50% which sucks but for $8000 what do you guys think?

mdshunk

You have a good buddy in Italy who's going to mail you parts when needed?

ctkiteboarding

parts are available,, fiat's will push what ever u ask of them ,

bottoms are bottoms ,they are what they are, hopefull its in good shape

if she runs strong id say 8k will be earned pretty damn quick,

the electric systems could be better , my fl5 is over 15yrs old runs like the day i got it ,

fluids filters and put her to work , get us a pic

4theroc

mdshunk

Put your grease gun on the fitting on this assembly, pump in some grease, and these tracks will tension right up.

jmic

Yea but when they're stretched and worn there comes a point where there is no more tightening.

__________________
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Joe

denick

4,
May I ask what you want this machine to do?

If it was a Cat would you buy it the way it is?

Do you know much about the mechanics of a tracked loader?

Is this just a machine and it's cheap so you want it?

Do you have much experience on tracked loaders?

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Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

mdshunk

I'm talking out of my ear, I know, but does the tensioner look like it's extended all that far yet? Is is possible, even of not advisable, to retract the tension assembly, remove a link, then retension? Just trying to learn some stuff, here.

4theroc

I dont have much experience with track loaders. Last one we had was about 7 years ago it was a john deere 450B wit a Gp bucket. I hated it because we could barley load stumps with it and move logs when we were clearing our lot. Now im getting into the excavation business and i need machine. I dont plan on keeping this machine. I'll probably sell it, within the next month or two. and get a 943 or 953. I figure for the price i cant loose on it. primarly ill use it to clear lots intially. Or whatever work i can get with it. Like i said its just and investment. to me cant loose either way. O yea the guy says it blows white smoke when it idles and goes away after u turn the throttle up. I went to a state auction once. They had the same year and model of loader that was doing the samething and it sold for $25 grand

jmic

No thats a good point Md. I've taken links out of tracks before. It's when they get to worn that you will start snapping links, or if the srocket starts jumping because it's so worn. Talking out your ear you made perfect sense to me.

__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

jmic

4,

How many years ago was that auction?

__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

4theroc

this auction was back in June of 2006 believe it or not

denick

4,

What size machine is the machine? bucket size or wieght?

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Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

PipeGuy

If a guy that has $24K worth of machines can work three times as fast as the guy with a $8K machine, who has the competitive advantage? I realize this is way over simplified but do you see the point?
I ran a 14B for several weeks moving blasted rock and if the 10B is anything like it, she's a beast. If you got frustrated with a 450's limitations I don't see how you'll be able to stand the fat Alice; I'm guessing a 943 would run circles around it.

Do you expect that your customers will be willing (or otherwise pleased) to wait for you to do the work in twice or thrice the time it takes the guy with a 953C? How much cheaper, if at all, will you be able to do the work compared to the guy with a newer machine? If you're talking about saving someone $1K over what will take you a week to do is that worth it for someone who otherwise expects it to cost $1K more than you but only take 2 days?

There's a reason those old machines are available for $8K and not out digging basements or pushng trees. If you wanted something to park on your farm and dig a hole now and again I'd say go for it. Otherwise, IMO, find a machine that will work at a 2006 pace.

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4theroc

30k with a 2 yard 4n1 bucket
o yea on the other guys comment. Think about it this is the same year that a 1990 953,and jd 655 came out. All these machines are in the same horsepower range and should perform at the same rate. Besides not everyone wants to go drop $160k on a new loader. I like being debt free

denick

4,

If you are only going to use the machine for 2 months. Maybe 4 times? and you know that someone bought the same machine in the same condition for 25K, 8 months ago. What did you want to know from us?

I don't know the hours on the machine or the year but if it has not been abused and the undercarriage is 50% (for real, everything). And it doesn't leak. I would say it is worth $10,000.

__________________
Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

4theroc

Hey denick, I always ask for peoples opinion about things.

denick

4,

I have no problem with you asking for opinions. I was just trying to get clear in my mind wether you wanted us to give an opinion on buying and reselling the machine. Or if you should buy the machine and use it to make a living.

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Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

dayexco

if it's just for a short term need, rent a late model maint. free machine. that machine is back on ebay right now with a buy it now of 15k go to www.machinerytrader.com click on auction results, and narrow down to the machine you're looking to buy. that will give you a real good handle on what that piece of equipment is worth, has been bringing on auction sales. our soil conditions must be a LOT dif than on the coasts. you see very few track loaders around here. a rubber tire is lot more versatile for us.

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someday, i'll be as patient as Nick.

4theroc

ya denick just seeing if any of you guys used them before thats all