Same model I wias looking at.
Out of curriosity how can you determine it needs a new undercarriage from the photos? I need to learn these things.
I bet it will be a lot of work but if a guy could get it work ready for 5k you would be a few thousand cheaper than the one I was looking at and know what you have.
I am looking but would have to pass on this, I dont have enough time to work on another project!
When you own and fix one for 15 years things jump out at you. Look at how thin the pads are, and the grousers are worn almost completely off. Several pads are bent, probably because they are so thin. The teeth on the sprockets look like little nubs. The chains are what hold the tracks together, look how thin they are on the bottoms, the part that rides on the rollers and idlers. Not much meat on the front idler pulleys either. No doubt all the pins are shot too. The pins are what hold the chains together. Probably the track tensioning system probably needs some help too. Track frames were a weak point on these units, could be cracked or broken stripped bolts, more head aches.
You may be able to find a used setup for $3000 so you could save some over new, but those things are heavy and it is hard work to replace that stuff. That is just on the surface. No doubt if the owner left those tracks get that bad, for sure the rest of the machine is pretty tired too. To replace steering clutches, which are probably shot too is another $3500 bill. Again much of the machine has to come apart. Final drives may be OK, but if anything there needs work you could easily spend another $1000. If the tranny, motor, clutch, or pump need anything....well you get the point.
I had to put a radiator in mine. Part of it is a hydraulic oil cooler. That part was fine, just buying the tanks for the water part and having a good shop rebuild the unit cost me $600, 10 years ago and I did all the R&R. The entire front has to come off the machine, not fun up in the woods.
So you can see with these things, just like cars and trucks, there comes a time when it is just not worth fixing them. This one in the pics could qualify. Better to spend a little more and get a machine that does not need so much going in.
