Hey everyone. I'm new to this and i'm looking for info as well as to make some friends with my same interest. So here we go. I'm looking to buy a john deere 450c or something similiar. My problem is this I really don't know a **** thing about them. I found a 450c with a 6 way blade. the add says it has a 90% undercarriage and a swamp kit. seeing though none of my friends have or own a dozer I'm having trouble finding out exactly what I need to know before I waste my money on a piece of equipment that needs serious help. what exactly is the undercarriage and a swamp kit. any help will be greatly appreciated. thankyou.
john deere 450c
- Thread starter tracdog
- Start date
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Welcome to TBN. 
Briana03
Elite Member
Hello & WELCOME to TractorByNet.com!
I have moved your thread to the John Deere Buying/Pricing Forum. You'll get a better response there.
I have moved your thread to the John Deere Buying/Pricing Forum. You'll get a better response there.
whodat526
Veteran Member
check the steering clutchs the bins and bushing in the rails of the tracks. also check the c frame (that is the piece that connects the blade to the dozer) for welds all the pins in the blade check the drive sproket (which is the spocket on the back of each side of the doxer) to make sure the teeth have not come to a sharp point or have started rounding over and the idler sprokets for the tracks to make sure the seal haven't went out and the bearings haven't gone out. then just check the motor for hard starting problems and all the gears in the trans.
MaJYk
Bronze Member
Swamp kit is most likely what he is calling a wide track or (LGP) low ground pressure tractor
whodat526
Veteran Member
also it likely to have pads that is triangled shaped instead of regular flat pads like on most dozers
jeffster
Silver Member
We have an early to mid 80s 550c and what I can tell you from experience there is check for welds like already mentioned. That is a notoriously weak spot on those dozers and depending on where it cracks it can be a huge effort to repair. Also, make sure the tranny shifts smoothly. Unfortunately a lot of people don't like the concept of coming to a stop before changing direction abruptly. They last a really long time if they are not abused. Also check the exhaust flapper to make sure it is on there. Those break off easy and people just throw buckets over the exhaust, which is fine, but if that is the case you don't want to get it home and not realize that and have issues the first time it rains and you go to start it. Also, I hate to say it, but just be prepared to buy things for it each year. Dozers are like boats, you always seem to throw money at them. Last year for us it was a track tensioner (that was fun as it happened in the woods and of course you have to pull the track to change it out). Always seems like something. I won't mention all the hydraulic hoses I have blown out, but I did take a nice bath in oil after trying to pop out a large fir stump a couple years ago. That was fun.
wow!!! what a response thanx everyone. I really didn't know about things everyone has mentioned. thanx for the heads up on the frame and steering clutches,pins and rollers. I'm going to look at the 450 this evening. slways looking for more info. Again thanx to everyone's response. Tracdog
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
I recommend you find a mechanic and pay him to go with you to inspect the machine. I learned alot about Deere 450 dozers in the late 1970's to early 1980's, everything I learned I paid dearly for. Not saying it was all bad but repairs can be expensive and alot of work to accomplish.
Do you need the swamp tracks or lgp setup? Depends on your conditions but the wider tracks do wear faster than the narrow tracks.
FWIW, dozers are great but they are easily stuck too, do you have anything big enough to pull it out if it gets stuck bad? I had two 95hp 4020s' and have had to use both to get my dozer unstuck before.
I was able to get alot of work done with a 450B and later bought an 850 but there are a lot of costs involved with them. Just wanted to point this out as it might be cheaper to hire this out.
Do you need the swamp tracks or lgp setup? Depends on your conditions but the wider tracks do wear faster than the narrow tracks.
FWIW, dozers are great but they are easily stuck too, do you have anything big enough to pull it out if it gets stuck bad? I had two 95hp 4020s' and have had to use both to get my dozer unstuck before.
I was able to get alot of work done with a 450B and later bought an 850 but there are a lot of costs involved with them. Just wanted to point this out as it might be cheaper to hire this out.
