Deere 350c

[4x4American]

Howdy all, got me a situation here on my hands. Trying to start my own circus and looking at equipment. One piece I'm looking at is a JD350c Dozer w/ 6way blade that someone I know well has. The undercarriage is shot. You can't turn without the tracks falling off. The blade valve leaks, it dont hold down pressure. Steering is fine. It has a rebuilt engine that fires in the coldest of temperatures and runs just like a song. Anyways, he said he'll sell it to me for scrap price. I'm not sure what they go for in scrap money, but anyways, I got a quote for the undercarriage parts from RFE Distribution for $6,646.10 not sure if that's before or after freight.

I've never done an undercarriage job, but I've done things that are sorta similar to it. I'm not sure I have the right tools to jack this thing up in the air to do it, unless I use the blade and logs. I also can use a case 580k backhoe from my boss to use for the job I'm sure. I have torches, air compressor, tools, them things...

Anyways, what yawl think? I found a dozer nearby the guys asking 8k and claims the undercarriage is at 80% but I don't know if this guy measured it or if he's just guestimating when really it's at 10%... my thoughts are, I could poke around and try to find a more ready to go unit, or I could buy this one, put the work into it, and have pretty much a new dozer.

Thanks!

 

[ky044]

I really don't know I used to help do undercarrages on cat d 10s and 11s it wasn't a bad job but we had stuff to do it with don't really no much about the smaller john Deere but they must be good dozers cause every logger round here used to have a 350 or 450 wish I could be more helpfull


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[newyorker]

I'd be interested in the 350 if your not I live in NY to tracks arnt that bad of a job just expensive I did clutches in my 350 last summer

 

[newyorker]

When I built my house I bought a nice 450e for $8500 during the winter just to give you a idea on price

 

[ky044]

Nice dozer wish I had one for a couple of days


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[newyorker]

Yea it worked good I brought in 650 triaxle loads of dirt in. raised 1.5 acres 5 foot it was a good machine I have a 350b now not half the machine of the 450 but I can hual a 350 with my half ton not the 450

 

[4x4American]

Thanks yawl...I'm still mixed on it. I am going to give him a call and see what the deal is with it. If I don't end up taking it newyorker I'll hook you up with him.

 

[newyorker]

Hey thanks man Fabius isn't far that's cool let me know

 

[Guido Salvage]

Dozers are like antique cars, you are often ahead to buy one that is solid and someone else has dumped time and money into. I have owned 20 plus crawlers in my life and can tell you the bigger they get the more expensive and harder they are to work on. You need to know the root of the problem, are the sprockets worn or are the adjusters maxed out? It might be possible that you could get by with new sprockets and/or rollers and just have the pins turned. Knowing what needs to be fixed would go a long way towards helping you on your decision.

The worst nightmare would be to replace the UC only to find out the finals or the transmission are bad.

 

[4x4American]

Thanks Guido Salvage. I have to go look at it but I was told the sprockets were shot. There was a guy on CL selling a pair of good sprockets for $40 for a long time on CL. I should have got them but I figured that if I was going to go through all the work to replace the sprockets, I'm most likely going to put new ones in.

 

[Guido Salvage]

Check the rear sprockets, if they come to a point they are wallowed out and worn. A good sprocket will have a flat spot at the end of each tooth. Check out the track adjuster, it moves forward towards the idler to take up slack. If it is at the end of its travel range the tracks are stretched. You might be able to take a link out to help solve the problem. Also check the tension on the tracks, there should be 2"-3" of slack between the front and back. Running tracks too tight can lead to premature wear.

 

[4x4American]

Thanks much!

 

[4x4American]

So I got word in on the dozer, latest plans for it is he's going to trade it for a loader tractor that he hasn't seen yet. NewYorker, I will pm you his number if you want to talk to him about it.

 

[newyorker]

Yea I'd like to talk to him thanks