Joel, sounds like maybe you had not so good experiences with your tracked machines, sorry to hear about that. Do you mind if I ask what you paid for them and how many hours were on them? What are your reasons that you would never own a tracked machine again?
Hi Ranch,
First machine was 1950's vintage, I knew nothing about tracked machines. I paid $2K and got robbed.
The trackes, rails, rollers, sprockets and idlers were basically junk.
One brake worked the other barely.
The motor had run without an airfilter for who knows how long and had ingested who knows what, I have no excuse for that one, I definately should've known better.
Really nothing more than a parts machine in the end.
That was just dumb, excited, first timer.
I sold for $700 after a year or two, got some work out of it so not total loss. I became an expert at putting tracks on.
Second was a 70's deere 350B.
Motor ran like new (2500 hours or so). Undercarriage in fair condition, blade worked good. Could've used new brake bands and I was always scared of the steering clutches sticking.
I paid $6500, tested at guys house, worked fine, it was winter. Got it home, opperated it for a few hours, hit a rock and the tracks did not spin and I could smell clutch. Seller refunded $500.
Long story short, reverer seals were toast.
I do not have equipment to pull a motor that heavy, nor the reverser for that matter.
I paid a mechanic $3500 to rebuild, that included parts, he did a great job, the spider gear in the reverser was $600 alone and that was used, new spider almost $1K.
I ran that machine for 2 years and sold prior to last winter setting in for $7500. Was a relief as the steering clutches, particularly right side liked to freeze up and was not fun freeing it.
I did uproot a bunch of trees and did have fun opperating it, even used once to plow my driveway in the winter, neighbors thougth I was out of my mind, funny seeing people drive by and stare at the nut plowing his driveway with the bulldozer.
Why would I never buy again.
To heavy to transport with most homeowner equipment.
To heavy to work on, everything weighs a ton.
Parts are too expensive, I'd much rather purchase a new tire than a new track.
Finaly, and most importantly, when I need something done like a dozer or excavator. I just rent. As I've posted many times now, I can rent a 25K excavator for $500 delivered over the weekend with the ability to use for 10 hours or so. I can easily rent much bigger than I could ever buy.
I've done it twice and have run out of work both times and returned with hours to spare.
With 3.5 acres owning something like that just makes no sense for me.
Sincerely,
Joel
