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Choices TLB Rental or Purchase 1986 JD850 w JD75 loader blower bkblade

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Tom Adams
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2001-01-21          23553

Advice needed to choose between TLB rental & JD850 purchase. Can this compact utility handle the following: extend & widen a gravel driveway from 100 to 350 ft, dig out a new basement 24ft by 36ft with one side open to daylight, build a new "mound" septic system and dig lines to where our 1917 house will be moved, dig three 3ft by 80ft by 6ft deep trenches for geothermal "loops" and lines, plus future mowing duties on four acres of gently rolling pasture. The tractor is now sitting by the roadside with a 4sale sign. What would be a fair range of prices for: 1986, JD75 loader, JD snowblower, backblade, turf tires on rear (cracked from age/weather) need replacement? Includes engine block heater (vital for six months of Minnesota winters). Am I being reasonable to consider this unit, or is it a "toy" as my wife seems to think. Thanks for any experiences and/or advice. Tom

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Choices TLB Rental or Purchase 1986 JD850 w JD75 loader blower bkblade

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Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 962
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2001-01-21          23555

Tom, does that JD850 have a backhoe on it? And how much time do you have? Sounds to me as if you're going to need a backhoe for some of your work. Otherwise, a small tractor will do pretty much the same work as a larger one; just takes a lot longer. You might consider buying the small one for some of the jobs, and still rent a TLB for the bigger jobs. ....

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Choices TLB Rental or Purchase 1986 JD850 w JD75 loader blower bkblade

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Roger L.
Join Date: Jun 1999
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2001-01-21          23562

The 850 is more than a toy, and it would do the jobs....but would take it forever or longer. Rent one for a weekend and give it a try. I think - no, I know - that you will be more satisfied with a larger tractor for those jobs. ....

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Choices TLB Rental or Purchase 1986 JD850 w JD75 loader blower bkblade

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Ted Kennedy
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2001-01-22          23564

Tom, you didn't say if you had any experience excavating foundation work. Judging from your question I'd say that you don't, that being the case, maybe you should let someone who knows what they are doing have a go at the digging. An experienced operator, with a small backhoe, could probably do the job but not in any meaningful amount of time. If you rent a big machine, and have no experience, you just might make a big mess that you'll have to pay someone else to clean up. A case in point; a dear friend of mine is a programmer, while he knows his way around the tube he knows nothing of machines. He attempted to dig a trench for underground electric line, water line, and make septic system repairs. He broke the TLB he rented, hurt his back, and ended up paying his contractor neighbor to finish the job. I'm not saying that you are incompetent, just that sometimes it is best to start learning on the less important jobs and work yourself up. As far as the Deere being a "toy", man does not live by bread alone. ....

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Choices TLB Rental or Purchase 1986 JD850 w JD75 loader blower bkblade

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TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2001-01-22          23565

We had tracked hoes, dozers and dump trucks running around our camp this summer. It detracted from my tractor use, but it got the work done when it had to be finished. There was still plenty of work for the tractor to do. I figure that if I got a tractor big enough to do the one-time big jobs, then I'd have a tractor too big for the routine jobs. Having a too big tractor would last a lot longer than having one that's too small for several summer's worth of building.

I think the money spent on contractors was well spent, and I have a tractor that's about the right size for when we're not building. It might be a good idea to pick one project and start with a compact tractor and see how fast it goes. I started several years ago with trenching for electrical service. Keep in mind that an 8’ hoe probably is needed for 6’ trenching, and even then the tractor has to be moved every few feet of trench. It’s a lot of climbing on and off the tractor. It’s not exactly fast, and an 8’ hoe is pretty big for a compact tractor.
....

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Choices TLB Rental or Purchase 1986 JD850 w JD75 loader blower bkblade

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Bruce Pirger
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2001-01-22          23571

Hi Tom:

I asked a similar question not too awfully long ago to this same group...and let me say, I am very glad that I payed a local fellow to cut in my 1000' through-the-woods roadway. He will be returning this spring to dig my 1000' electic line trench, footer trenches, etc. If I tried to do the work myself, I would STILL be working on the road. Not only are the smaller machines slower...the skill of the operator makes all the difference. I had never been on a tractor before...and while I like to think I learn quickly and have become somewhat proficient, I still watch experienced operators with a big smile. It was so nice to walk through the woods and say "Well, I kinda thought I'd cut the road in over here like this...and start a turn here like that..." 13 hours (and $650) later, his "small" JD 350 dozer had the roadway cut in. And that includes removing about 100 stumps...albeit mostly 8-10" oak/maple. Installed 5 sluice pipes for drainage with his TLB and then trucked in 40 loads of "creek gravel" for a road base.

I'd recommend leaving all the "heavy" work to the larger machines, unless you truly have a lot of time on your hands. Yes, it does sound sacriligious. I thought so as well. Sounds like you might still need the 850 for road maintainence, snow removal, and other building related work.

Yep, I'd still be pulling stumps! :) ....

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