Terramite info T5C

9637 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Upper5Percent, Nov 10, 2015

Beertestr

Discussion Starter · Nov 4, 2015

I have been borrowing my neighbors Terramite T5C for the last few weeks, and despite the work it needs, it's a capable machine. I have been fixing little things on it in exchange for borrowing it, the most complicated was brazing the radiator, the fan shroud was twisted and rubbing into the fins.

The motor is a Perkins Diesel, as best as I can tell, but I only hear about Kohler diesels in these, or gas engines.

My neighbor bought the machine from another neighbor that ran the machine without an air filter for some time. I think it's wreaked havoc on the motor, it takes a bout 20 seconds of cranking to get it to fire after you give the glow plugs 10-15 seconds. And I swear I see as much smoke coming out of the rocker cover vent as a I do the exhaust. I almost think I should route the vent back into the induction for fuel savings..

Anyway, the hoses were nearly all replaced, the cylinders appear good and functional, 1 needs a new hole drilled and a grease fitting installed. I recently discovered oil running down the steering column, I can only assume the seal for the input shaft on the steering servo is bad, and hemmoraging.

Here's the thing. My neighbor is offering me the machine for $2000. I am on the fence about buying it, refreshing the motor and fixing the few issues with it, using the tar out of it for a few years doing pond work, ripping up my driveway, and stuff like that, then selling it.

Looks like a basic Perkins 100 series rebuild kit is about $500 or so, not including any head or valve work that might be needed. I wonder when the injection pump will go ($500 from what I see). And if the hydro unit is as good as I think. I am wondering if repowering with a 22 HP Honda GX might be a better option. Since it's not a full time use machine, I wonder if the cost of a diesel rebuild is worth it.

I really like the machine, and being on 2 acres, having to spring for a driveway repave or concrete job that this machine will help me save a ton of money on... I'm on the fence with buying it. The upside is that I've had hours of time running it as a "test drive", so I think I know the machine much better than I would if shopping for something in the funny papers. Thoughts?

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DJ in WV

· #2 · Nov 4, 2015

I don't know much at all about the machine or the market for them, but I did find one relatively near you that sold about 18 months ago at auction for $5000.

http://www.auctiontime.com/OnlineAuctions/Details.aspx?OHID=9783923&lp=mat

I have to admit, a Honda repower would be kinda cool. As bulletproof as those engines are, it would make a fine machine. On the other hand, are you sure you don't want that little diesel to live on? They're good engines that last very well when treated right.

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steddy

· #3 · Nov 4, 2015

For, $2000, I'd love to have pretty much any back hoe, especially one on its own machine, with a FEL.

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Beertestr

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 5, 2015

steddy said:
For, $2000, I'd love to have pretty much any back hoe, especially one on its own machine, with a FEL.

Kind of what I'm figuring, just not 100% sure.

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Beertestr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 5, 2015

DJ in WV said:
I don't know much at all about the machine or the market for them, but I did find one relatively near you that sold about 18 months ago at auction for $5000.

http://www.auctiontime.com/OnlineAuctions/Details.aspx?OHID=9783923&lp=mat

I have to admit, a Honda repower would be kinda cool. As bulletproof as those engines are, it would make a fine machine. On the other hand, are you sure you don't want that little diesel to live on? They're good engines that last very well when treated right.

I am insure about the diesel. Treated right, I agree it will last a long time. But, it was not treated well by previous owners. I am debating between the rebuild cost vs. Repower. I think the costs will be similar.

Oh, and the left Rad mount broke off today. I think it's going to get welded to the frame, welding where it broke is pretty much am engine pull for access.

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Beertestr

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 5, 2015

This is the beast in action. 48" FEL bucket for reference.

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Tractor-Holic

· #7 · Nov 5, 2015

It's worth fixing "right" IMO..you might find a Perkins from a refrigerator truck unit might be compatible,if not,a rebuild kit is probably available for a reasonable amount..

Injector pumps can be expensive,but used ones can be had a lot cheaper--usually they are either good or bad...

That machine is worth a lot more than 2 grand even in "salvage" condition if it'll still run and everything works...with the engine repaired it'll be worth at least 5-6 grand --I see similar units up here listed for 8,000 plus..

A friend of mine recently picked up a Bobcat skid steer for 1000 bucks..thought it was a steal,till he got it home and really looked it over--it has a 4 cylinder Kohler engine and someone sawsalled the bellhousing off where the starter bolts on,evidently it cracked the starter mounts off...

The thing has 2 electric-hydraulic power units like a snowplow or tailgate lift would use,to run the bucket and lift cylinders !..they are factory as far as I can tell,at first I thought they were cobbed onto it---and it also has a weird torque converter drive setup much like a golf cart or snowmobile..(which I have seen on a few similar ones with Onan or Wisconsin V4 engines)..

So,he cant start it,doesn't know if it runs,or if it moves,or if the bucket works,till he finds a way to get a starter on it somehow..looks to me like it is one of the first models made by Melroe,before they became "Bobcats"..

Yet,in the poor condition it is in presently,he has already been offered 1500 bucks for it as it sits for parts!..he is torn whether to fix it and keep it,then sell it later on,or just be rid of it now before he has to put another grand into it..

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Beertestr

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 5, 2015

Thanks for the sense check. I guess I'm buying a Terramite. The wife will be ecstatic!!

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DJ in WV

· #9 · Nov 6, 2015

Just so you know, after said machine is purchased, a thread containing every dirty detail and lots of pictures of the new family member is required since we helped you spend your money.

Congratulations. I think you're doing pretty good here.

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forkz

· #10 · Nov 8, 2015

my brother has one his has 20hp kohler gas pretty tuff little machine

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Upper5Percent

· #11 · Nov 9, 2015

http://www.mytractorforum.com/7225553-post10.html

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Upper5Percent

· #12 · Nov 9, 2015

http://www.terramite.com/

Corporate Headquarters:

TerraQuip Construction Products, Inc.

PO Box 9102

Wichita, KS 67277

Phone 316-943-8889 Give them a call, maybe they can help you...

Fax 316-943-4448

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Beertestr

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 9, 2015 (Edited)

Upper5Percent said:
http://www.mytractorforum.com/7225553-post10.html

Upper5Percent said:
http://www.terramite.com/

Corporate Headquarters:

TerraQuip Construction Products, Inc.

PO Box 9102

Wichita, KS 67277

Phone 316-943-8889 Give them a call, maybe they can help you...

Fax 316-943-4448

Thanks for both links. I already contacted corporate, looking for a cooling fan and a radiator. The fan on the machine is pretty beat up. All those parts are Perkins direct parts, and I was able to solder the rad up and hold pressure.

I did see the "are Terramite's Bad" link, and after using this little guy for at least 10-12 hours over the last month, I'm really liking it. The backhoe moves more dirt than the little Kubota excavator I rented last year, and I've been able to fill the 1/4 yard FEL almost completely. It is slow in transit, but I'm not on the clock, and I rarely need to transit more than 100' at a time, if that.

I consider myself fortunate to have "test driven" the machine, and I think I can make a pretty fair assessment of it's condition, and what it needs.

1) Charging system is not working
2) Engine is tired and needs at least a re-ring if not new liners and pistons. I think I would keep running it until it's REALLLL tired. Since I have a decent air filter on the motor, I suspect the degradation will not be as much. I still think I might plumb the crankcase vent back into the induction path it smokes that bad.
3) Front tilt cylinder needs new packing and seals. Piece of cake
4) Steering servo input seal must be shot, it is dripping fluid down the column, so I suspect the column is a secondary oil reservoir at this point.
5) Cooling fan is beat, but still still moves a lot of air.
6) Backhoe lower arm cylinder needs a new grease fitting.
7) Some of the hydro lines need to be tightened.
8) Left lower rad support just broke. It's likely due to the fact the right support was "repaired" by welding it to the frame, and the left one was still mounted to the engine "cradle"

1,2,5,&8 can be resolved with a repower, looks like a GX690 Honda is about $1500 new, figure $1600 delivered.. food for thought. I wonder what the Perkins is worth in it's current condition.

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Upper5Percent

· #14 · Nov 10, 2015

Beertestr said:
Thanks for both links. I already contacted corporate, looking for a cooling fan and a radiator. The fan on the machine is pretty beat up. All those parts are Perkins direct parts, and I was able to solder the rad up and hold pressure.

I did see the "are Terramite's Bad" link, and after using this little guy for at least 10-12 hours over the last month, I'm really liking it. The backhoe moves more dirt than the little Kubota excavator I rented last year, and I've been able to fill the 1/4 yard FEL almost completely. It is slow in transit, but I'm not on the clock, and I rarely need to transit more than 100' at a time, if that.

I consider myself fortunate to have "test driven" the machine, and I think I can make a pretty fair assessment of it's condition, and what it needs.

1) Charging system is not working
2) Engine is tired and needs at least a re-ring if not new liners and pistons. I think I would keep running it until it's REALLLL tired. Since I have a decent air filter on the motor, I suspect the degradation will not be as much. I still think I might plumb the crankcase vent back into the induction path it smokes that bad.
3) Front tilt cylinder needs new packing and seals. Piece of cake
4) Steering servo input seal must be shot, it is dripping fluid down the column, so I suspect the column is a secondary oil reservoir at this point.
5) Cooling fan is beat, but still still moves a lot of air.
6) Backhoe lower arm cylinder needs a new grease fitting.
7) Some of the hydro lines need to be tightened.
8) Left lower rad support just broke. It's likely due to the fact the right support was "repaired" by welding it to the frame, and the left one was still mounted to the engine "cradle"

1,2,5,&8 can be resolved with a repower, looks like a GX690 Honda is about $1500 new, figure $1600 delivered.. food for thought. I wonder what the Perkins is worth in it's current condition.

If you had gone to the first thread...you would have found a link for parts...

Terramite parts sources? - Page 4

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Terramite info T5C

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