Bought my first backhoe

350 crawler-loader is a rugged macine but very underpowered if it has the 152 c.i. diesel. The 164s are better, and the 179s better yet. The 179s are often used as replacement "repower" engines for the 152s. You'll find out when you charge into a bank of gravel/dirt and try to lift at the same time. The backhoe setup is very strong - except for the swing-circuit. If your hoe still has the single barrel cylinder - it is very difficult and expensive to fix and not very strong. Usually a chronic leaker. Back in the 80s, Deere Co. was selling change-over kits to get rid of it and convert to conventional dual swing-cylinders. Also - in regard to wet clutchs as used in the C series and newer - as compared to the older dry. We had every bit as much trouble with the wet clutches as we did with the dry - the problems were different - but both had them - and if anything - the wet-clutch setups are more expensive to fix. A dry clutch machine is fine if you take care of it and store it properly. I prefer the dry over the wet myself.

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