Opinions on the Nortrac Dozer

[HomeBrew2]

... I sure wish I knew someone who actually owned one. ...

I believe Stumpfield has a Nortrac. He has commented positively on his unit in past posts.

 

[ToadHill]

I have a friend who has a Nortrac and uses it extensively. He loves it and has had no major problems. His only complaint is that he has not been able to find a service manual for it.

 

[candersen10]

Spend that 14-15 grand on a used bobcat skidsteer, an Industrial grapple, and a STIHL 044 chainsaw. This is by far the best idea. I have a 150 acre farm with incredibly steep hills, many of which are covered with trees which I have spent alot of time taking down. A used bobcat 763 with a grapple will run like 14-15 used, can take tons of abuse, and can lift logs close to 3000 pounds. Plus, if you want more traction and stability you can spend a little more cash and get some steel tracks which cover the wheels and work pretty well. I had a 763 with the grapple and track setup which worked beautifully for several years. We did manage to flip the machine twice, but just flipped it right back up and kept working, no damage or anything. The Bobcat is also very safe because it has great FOPS & ROPS.

 

[patrick_g]

I have a few hours in Bobcats and if I were working on steep hills I'd be rolling down hill way too much of the time. The machine may not mind rolling end over end down a hill but I do. Of course some implements act as end over end roll prevention devices.

Hydraulic hammer chisels are so so in that regard.

Pat

 

[candersen10]

There is one simple way to not roll over with a skid-steer. Back up the hill and go forwards down the hill.

 

[patrick_g]

There is one simple way to not roll over with a skid-steer. Back up the hill and go forwards down the hill.

Hmmm, I have climbed a few hills on just the back wheels but the worst situation was when the excavator built a ramp to let me into my basement excavation. I was using the Bobcat with a 500 lb hydraulic hammer chisel on the front. The track hoe had a 4 ft wide bucket and couldn't get into the corners to square them off so I used the Bobcat with chisel to do it. Needless to say he had to make a more gentle slope and then I had to be extra careful. The chisel just barely stopped me from roiling down the more gentle slope, GOING DOWNHILL FORWARDS.

Oh well, I make no claim to fame as a Bobcat operator. I can get in one and flail around like a madman sliding all over the place and doing wheelies but it gives me heartburn (literally, I have to take tums to do much in a Bobcat) and a headache if I really get with it. Suspension, what suspension!

Pat

 

[candersen10]

Here's my setup for tree removal, a John Deere CT332 with an industrial grapple. It is much more expensive then 15 grand, however, it's more stable than a bull-dozer if used correctly and PLENTY powerful. You can get smaller John Deere skid steers which are close to as stable for around 15.

 

[patrick_g]

Say, isn't that the Sigorney Weaver/Alien signiture model?

Pat

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

what happens when Northern quits selling them? parts might be an issue. personally, I would probably just hire out what I needed done.

 

[jeffsmith4269]

This thread might get more response if it was in the construction equipment forum, But I guess being an off brand unit it might not qualify.


I sure wish I knew someone who actually owned one. I, too, have looked, searched, wished I had one. If they would hold up, looks like a no brainer. You could use for mowing slopes, pushing brush, digging, etc. I just can't pull the trigger to get one. Not with out a lot more info. I thought it interesting that it had teeth on the idler sprocket on the front, most are just smooth with a raised area in the center. I looked at one (has Mitsubishi emblem on side) at dealer in Dallas, but didn't ask price, and from what I've been told, he's not a very reputable guy. Also, doesn't look like a lot of bolts holding track pads/grousers on (on the Nortrac unit). On the one in my pic, it had tag on side that give part # for filters from Komatsu, don't know what other parts would interchange.

Family just bought the 35 Nortrac. 5000 lbs and it is one of the roughest rides I have been on. Even with low gear, you have to increase rpm's to get the front blade to react in a reasonable time. but this also puts you into a fast crawl and hard to manage when you can't see the ground in front of you. when they delivered it, they couldn't get it to go into second gear. Okay, just write that off to being new. Had trouble sifting it all the time. Had to double clutch to get it into reverse or 1st gear. only about 8 hours and two weeks later into using it for clearing light brush, it slips into neutral and no further. the linkage in the transmission came apart. shift stick will rotate 360 degrees. trying to contact them now. should still be under warranty.