Buying Advice Komatsu D20?

[dntfxr]

Went and checked it out and it followed me home! It is small but I was impressed with what it did. It has brand new sprockets, idlers, pins, steering clutches and rebuilt track tensioners. It starts right up runs good, has strong hydraulics and no leaks. There is an older repair on the blade c-frame where they welded some plates on it and I'll probably clean it up and put some prettier beads on it. She's a little rough around the edges but mechanically sound. I'll try to snap some pics tomorrow and I may even get some seat time.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Hey folks, I'm looking for any advice on these machines. I've come to the realization that I need a dozer to get the work done on our homestead. We have 42 acres that need quite a bit of dirt work done before we can move out there. I know these are small dozers but I like the fact that they are easy to transport too (we have another 40acres in MS that still has lots of trees down from Katrina). I know a machine this size has its limitations but I'm looking for any experience or advice on these tractors. I found one I want to look at this Saturday with new clutches and undercarriage. It looks pretty nice but anything else peculiar to these to watch out for?
Thanks

We own a D31p overall good dozer,still can put on GN and pull with one-ton p/u. I will say its too small sometime on ranch,did clean pond out this year and done some fence-line cleaning couldnt imagine going any smaller,had hard enough time with the 31.But beats a shovel.Had to do little work on tensioners,does use little hyd oil,but only gave 6500 2 yrs ago,already paid for itself,it cranks right up everytime and gets the job done....

 

[dntfxr]

Well I got my baby dozer home and got a couple hrs on it this evening. Granted it's the only dozer I've ever run but I'm impressed with what I got accomplished in that short time. I got a small pad pushed up for my electric transformer, pushed a 6" tree over, and moved a burn pile to another spot. Then I got in the slough and opened it up so it would drain down to the pond and pushed a lot of mud out so it would stay drained and dry. I must say that is the job this little dozer is made for- getting in swampy areas and pushing without getting stuck. The swamp tracks and light weight really allow it to go just about anywhere. I have no doubt a 4wd tractor would have got stuck where I was at today. Here's a couple pics of the dozer before I got in the mud, I'll take some more pics of the slough I dug out tomorrow.

 

[scoutcub]

Well I got my baby dozer home and got a couple hrs on it this evening. Granted it's the only dozer I've ever run but I'm impressed with what I got accomplished in that short time. I got a small pad pushed up for my electric transformer, pushed a 6" tree over, and moved a burn pile to another spot. Then I got in the slough and opened it up so it would drain down to the pond and pushed a lot of mud out so it would stay drained and dry. I must say that is the job this little dozer is made for- getting in swampy areas and pushing without getting stuck. The swamp tracks and light weight really allow it to go just about anywhere. I have no doubt a 4wd tractor would have got stuck where I was at today. Here's a couple pics of the dozer before I got in the mud, I'll take some more pics of the slough I dug out tomorrow.

Been following the thread, congrats on the purchase! I was in the same boat a few years ago, statred looking at 20's & 21's, but realized they were too small for what I needed. Ended up with a Komatsu D38, around 10 tons. Works great for me, could use a bit larger but that's always the story.
Looks like for your application, you hit the nail on the head....enjoy the seat time!!

 

[Hollow]

I'd still think it would out work a skid steer but maybe I'm wrong.

Yes, they will! They do great for finishing work but if your building up a house pad 3' or a 1000' driveway you might want to look at something else. My brother had one for about two years, very handy little machines and the direct drive is very reliable. Go drive it and work it hard before you buy it you'll never know until you do. :thumbsup:

 

[dntfxr]

Thanks guys. I put it to work pretty good today. I really got a lot done and I'm impressed with what it can do. I know a bigger dozer would do the job faster but it also would have probably got stuck today. Besides, it already followed me home! ; ) I had hired out the initial clearing and the operator got his D6 stuck 4 times, had to bring his 320c hoe to get it out. Today I mostly improved drainage around the house pad and graded a nice slope to the yard. There is really a lot of mud in some areas, mainly due to piles of dirt left in the wrong spots from the logging years ago. I also pushed a good portion of a hill to the pad site. I raised the pad by about one foot today. Just a couple more to go. From here it will get more fun though, I'll start getting my dirt from the future pond site. It will be longer pushes and slower going I'm sure. And the driveway will be even farther away. I may just push the dirt into piles and rent a dump truck and loader to get it where I need it. I forgot to take pictures but I'll snap some tomorrow.

 

[rtimgray]

Congrats on your purchase - you're now a member of the "little dozer" club. Guys in the "no dozer" club and the "big dozer" club will tell you all kinds of things that you can't do, but if you don't know that you can't, a lot of times, you can!

Not taking shots at the guys who belittle small dozers (pun intended) - there is certainly no comparison between a Komatsu D20/Case 310/etc. and a Case 1150 or Cat D6. But when you compare a small dozer to a small tractor or skid steer, for pure dirtmoving/clearing power, the dozer will win every time. You will find that you can likely do everything that you need to do with the little dozer - it may just take a while. I discovered when we cleaned out my big pond a couple of years ago that I could drive my little dozer in the muddy areas of the pond where the larger dozer (Case 850) got stuck).

Good luck, be careful, have fun, take care.

 

[dntfxr]

Thanks Rtimgray, I'm enjoying it so far. I think you are spot on with the capabilities and it just taking a little bit longer than a big machine. Another plus I'm figuring out is it only burns around 1/2 gal of diesel per hr. I got a few pics of the work I did day before yesterday, they really show how wet some spots were. Also I got a before and after shot of the small hill I'm cutting down for my fill. The before shows the contractors cat 320 on it and after is what I cut down in an afternoon. Good news is we got 2" of rain yesterday and everything is draining properly now!