What to look for when buying a dozer help us?

sixdogs · Feb 5, 2019

TractorNH said:
I've owned my JD 350C since about 2002 and it has always served me well without a lot of issues. The biggest thing I did to it besides putting on new tracks two years ago was to have the injector pump rebuilt which cost me about $750 about 10 years ago.

Here's a pic of mine on the dealer's lot when I bought it.
View attachment 590414

And here's a pic of it with the new tracks:
View attachment 590415

New and tight tracks is a wonderful feeling. Looks great.
Did you do the tracks yourself?

mopardude318 · Feb 5, 2019

Oh boy

John Deere 35 Crawler Dozer Diesel for - farm & garden - by owner - sale

ultrarunner · Feb 5, 2019

Deere 350 were very popular for making back country trails and trail maintenance and I see a lot for small logging plus there were option such as a backhoe... several have told me Deere had a refurbish deal where it would go through a used Dozer for a price with parks being the biggest customers...

Others are more versed than I am but the C in 350C has wet clutches which are suppose to last longer... I also have the reverser which is like a shuttle for forward and reverse in a given range which means no shifting or clutch which is very nice for trail making...

The size of the 350 just makes the weight rating of my trailer and the Ford Super Duty towing is no problem...

The nice thing about the D3 is the wider blade really enhanced production for things like Fire Trails...

The downside is nothing I had could tow it... both trailer, truck and license...

Someday the 350 I use may need the injector rebuilt... for now it still is earning it's keep and the tracks are good... it was owned by a water department in the Sierra...

For the same price I could have bought a Deere 450 next to it... but went for the smaller package due to my being able to move it.

TractorNH · Feb 5, 2019

sixdogs said:
New and tight tracks is a wonderful feeling. Looks great.
Did you do the tracks yourself?

Yes and let me tell you, the hardest part was driving that master pin. I lined up the master link on the rear sprocket and made a spacer to go between the inside surface of the track chain and the tractor. I also made a long handle holder to sit over the end of the pin so I would protect the end of the pin from damage and my helper could safely hold the pin in position. The pins are a couple thousandths BIGGER than the hole they go into. I had the pins in the freezer overnight and heated the chain hole before I attempted to drive them. Driving the pin was me swinging a 12 lb sledge hammer as hard as I could, imagine like a baseball bat going for a home run with every swing. The pin would barely move with each hit but I got them in.