The dozer search...

[ultrarunner]

Nothing like a couple of hours pushing dirt to recharge the spirit...

My D3 is the only car, truck or equipment I continue to miss... I just ran out of work for it and then two years later my brother buys a ranch and needs a dozer.

I do have to say the 350C is like a little mountain goat compared to the D3

Posted before where the D3 saved my life... no exaggeration.

I was going through the woods at the exact moment a very large tree high up on the bank decided to fall sqauare on top of the canopy... even had a witness that thought I was a goner... I didn't see it coming... just boom and stopped dead in my tracks... the dozer was pinned and I had to cut my way out with the chainsaw.

 

[GManBart]

Nothing like a couple of hours pushing dirt to recharge the spirit...

My D3 is the only car, truck or equipment I continue to miss... I just ran out of work for it and then two years later my brother buys a ranch and needs a dozer.

I do have to say the 350C is like a little mountain goat compared to the D3

Posted before where the D3 saved my life... no exaggeration.

I was going through the woods at the exact moment a very large tree high up on the bank decided to fall sqauare on top of the canopy... even had a witness that thought I was a goner... I didn't see it coming... just boom and stopped dead in my tracks... the dozer was pinned and I had to cut my way out with the chainsaw.

Yikes! I considered a couple of dozers without a ROPS because they were close by, and the prices were reasonable, but then I thought of that exact scenario you experienced. With all the dead Ash trees we have around here I'm always waiting for one to fall at just the wrong time.

 

[EddieWalker]

I was going through the woods at the exact moment a very large tree high up on the bank decided to fall sqauare on top of the canopy... even had a witness that thought I was a goner... I didn't see it coming... just boom and stopped dead in my tracks... the dozer was pinned and I had to cut my way out with the chainsaw.

I had forgotten that story.

With my dozer, I've been known to use it to push over trees and get into some thick places with trees going in every direction. It does't take much for a tree to fall over one way, then get pushed around and all of a sudden, comes back up again and falls on the top of your ROPS!!!! I've had several close calls with branches hitting me. Worse is when they bend and all of a sudden, straighten out and come into the ROPS where I'm sitting. I had my hand slapped so hard it went numb!!!! A few slaps to the face, several to my arms have all made me very respectful of trees. Both standing and laying on the ground!!!

I also have had branches go through my fuel tank on my bakchoe, and I had one skinny little pine get in past my engine side panels and hit my oil sending unit just right to break it off of the block. Engine oil sprayed out onto the panel, but not through it, so I didn't know it happened until I saw the trail I was leaving!!!!

 

[ultrarunner]

I have changed how I view trees as my experiences grew...

Had 30 days of rain one winter in Olympia and then came the winds... lost many mature trees and about 12k in damage.

Last winter had a windstorm and a huge limb cracked and went through the skylight.

Coming from California where just about every tree in my city is worshipped and requires a public hearing to remove... I admit to being slow to realizing the dangers...

Had a highly recommended tree guy come out to the house in Olympia and each tree around the structures was evaluated... some I thought were good were rotten to the core.

The one that hit the Dozer is one of those protected trees in Oakland CA... most now just wait for nature to take it's course because of the permit problems and expense.

 

[GManBart]

Good thing I'm already scared of trees falling on me....if not this thread would have changed that! :laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

Sorry about that... just extolling the virtues of a roll over rated CAT ROPS

 

[GManBart]

Sorry about that... just extolling the virtues of a roll over rated CAT ROPS

I know, I was just joking Still, that was seriously a factor in my planning. I'm pretty much against anything large falling on me!

 

[ultrarunner]

I found the weakest link on my D3 to be a small 180 U shaped hydraulic line for the blade plumbing...

Replaced 3 of them in 17 years... two on one side and one on the other... it is concealed and can get packed with dirt so the line just rusts out... about $40 each.

I did my brake bands once when I bought it... no issues since.

Keep your radiator clean and an eye on the temp gauge... mine was real steady unless the fins were obstructed...

I had the combo throttle and gear range selector which worker real well... and I really appreciated have the pedal steering!

Field mice liked to build nests behind my instrument panel... I did the fabric softener trick and that seemed to keep the buggers at bay...

I know you will enjoy it.

 

[GManBart]

I found the weakest link on my D3 to be a small 180 U shaped hydraulic line for the blade plumbing...

Replaced 3 of them in 17 years... two on one side and one on the other... it is concealed and can get packed with dirt so the line just rusts out... about $40 each.

I did my brake bands once when I bought it... no issues since.

Keep your radiator clean and an eye on the temp gauge... mine was real steady unless the fins were obstructed...

I had the combo throttle and gear range selector which worker real well... and I really appreciated have the pedal steering!

Field mice liked to build nests behind my instrument panel... I did the fabric softener trick and that seemed to keep the buggers at bay...

I know you will enjoy it.

It's funny, but I think the line that started leaking might be the same one you replaced. I think the leak started after I raised the tractor with the blade to check the rollers. The leak appeared to be along the top of the C frame and between the two vertical upright supports for the lift cylinders....which would be an easy place for mud to collect. Regardless, I like the idea of a $40 weak link!

I've seen other folks say to keep the radiator clean and watch the temps, so I'll be sure to do that....I was happy to see the coolant temp gauge worked when I ran it the other day. Now I'm just waiting for the delivery call

 

[ultrarunner]

It's funny, but I think the line that started leaking might be the same one you replaced. I think the leak started after I raised the tractor with the blade to check the rollers. The leak appeared to be along the top of the C frame and between the two vertical upright supports for the lift cylinders....which would be an easy place for mud to collect. Regardless, I like the idea of a $40 weak link!

I've seen other folks say to keep the radiator clean and watch the temps, so I'll be sure to do that....I was happy to see the coolant temp gauge worked when I ran it the other day. Now I'm just waiting for the delivery call

Wish I had the part number... it makes the connection inside the upright.

Included a picture of mine at rest in the back 20... nothing but steep in any direction.