Case D350 Tracked Loader

[MarEng]

Hej Guys:

I normally post one entry to the north (Branson) but have been offered an old Case dozer and need some input. The nameplate lists D350 as the model and 4223958 as the S/N. Checking YT and some others the 4 is correct for a loader but the rest of the S/N is off the charts. Did I copy the wrong number (there were at least three plates on the tractor)? Any idea as to year of manufacture?

The machine is running and in use regularly. It started on the first shot. I'll be going back to clear some fence row for the current owner to get a chance to really work it. There is one hydraulic cylinder leaking badly but the owner has the seal and will change it - hopefully before I go back. Hour meter showed 2351 but the owner said it hasn't worked the entire time he's owned it.

Any ideas as to value? We usually rent a D4 every two years or so for a week to speed our land clearing and stump removal. Considering this smaller machine for the convenience of having something always on hand.

Thanks, Will.

 

[EddieWalker]

Depends on what he wants for it and how handy/willing you are to work on it. A tracked machines have three main parts. Engine, transmission and undercarriage. The rest of it is simple and fairly cheap, but those three things are where the money goes. Since you don't know the hours on the engine, it's a gamble on how long it will last. Same with the transmission. If it runs strong, then you are probably OK for farm use. Just check the fluids and change the filters.

The under carriage wears out. Replacing it will start at $5,000 as a rough starting number. Might be more, might be less, but that's where I'd expect it to be. If you don't know what to look for, take pictures of all the moving parts that will have metal to metal contact on both sides. Post the pictures and we can give you some opinions on how it looks. Most people zero in on the sprocket, but that's the cheapest and easiest thing to replace. Especially if it's a five piece sprocket and not a single piece one.

Feel the pins. Are they round or do they have wear to them. They can be turned because the sprocket only touches half of them. Once they get so worn out, you can have them turned and the other side is just like new. If they have been turned and both sides are worn, then this is where it gets expensive to have new ones installed. You have to take off the tracks and bring them to a shop that does this. It's not something you can do on your own.

After those three main things, the hydraulics are worth looking at. Since it's just a simple loader, they hydraulics are pretty simple. Either it works or it doesn't. Look for leaks. Most of those can be fixed with new hoses, o rings or seals. All of which are fairly inexpensive. If the pump goes bad on you, that could be pricey. But if it's strong enough to lift the front of the tractor off of the ground and hold it there, you are probably fine for now.

It all comes down to price and knowing that with every older machine, it will break on you and you will be spending time and money keeping it working. Being a Case, you should be able to get parts for it. I say should, because I have a Case 1550 dozer and it's hit and miss on some parts. I had to buy a used fan off of a salvage dozer in Florida last year because Case no longer has replacements available. The parts guys spent two weeks trying to figure out what might work in it's place, which they did, but I found the used one for less money before they figured out what would work.

Remember, the day you sell it will be better then the day you buy it!!!

Eddie