Looking to buy a dozer

[Rio_Grande]

I have been looking at smaller dozers mostly JD 450's I found one today, price is right but there is one issue that concerns me. The carriage right in front and below where the operator sits, where the lift attaches to the frame of the dozer has been rewelded and there is a small crack in the frame that has been welded but is still visible. The owner was real upfront about it advising it was like that when he got it.

This will be used on my land to cut trails and the like. It wont see any rough use other than dozing in hill country. Is this repair a deal breaker or is there still life in this unit? I am also looking at resale value. I dont have any use for it other than the roads I need to cut and some land learing then I will likely sell it.

Any information or advice would be appriciated.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Priced right knowing it's faults?
How many hours?
What year?
How much?
Can you work on it yourself?

 

[Ken45101]

Maybe talk to a qualified heavy equipment shop to find out how much it would cost to properly repair it. That might also give you a better idea on how critical it is.

Ken

 

[Rio_Grande]

1975, Not sure on the hours, 8500.00 I can do all the work on it other than if it requires heavy welding. When I get up to the point I am doing heavy out of position welds I would as soon pay someone to do it especially when it is the welds holding the carriage up.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Most everyone who has purchased and used an older dozier will tell you the purchase price is just the beginning. You can rack up $10k to $15k of repairs in no time.

You are well advised to get a second opinion from a qualified equipment repairman familiar with that make and model.

A few years ago seller told me to come look at his older D9 on Sunday, but instead I went out on the Friday before. Low and behold the repairman was there with a crane working on the dozier, and among other things was welding the pins into the tracks. Seems the owner had also overturned the dozier, (hence the presence of the crane), and probably starved the engine of oil in the process. Seller's repairman told me that the machine was worthless in its present condition because replacing the tracks would cost more than it was worth.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Is it an out side track frame blade mount or an inside blade mount with a 6 way? Also you may want to call Deere with the model number and check with parts availability. Deere is bad about dropping parts for older machines. Even our late 80s scraper is on the dead dDeere parts list. I know on some of the older dozers Torque converters and clutch parts all have to be found after market.


They are good machines I wouldnt worry too much about the cracks just have them fixed before they spread. WOrk wouldnt buy a later model dozer for the landfill. We needed one with a cab. I was wishing for a 50k 700 H deere. No go we found a D4 H for 13,500. We got it and went through it now we have a 94 model D4 H with 45 K in it lol.

 

[Rio_Grande]

It is the outside the frame mountsand it is a 6 way. There is no way I could buy a new dozer. Even if I had the money to invest, I cant justify it. I use my MTL to make money so the 20k I spent on it is justified. I also understand that a used model could kill me in parts and repairs and I dont want that to happen. I really just need it for a 100 yard strech and to cut the ditches on my roads. I will likely sell it after that and do the mainence with the MTL. I was just going to pay to have all of this done but I cant get anyone interested because of the small amount of work. I am going to continue to cut what I can with the MTL and maybee by the time I cant cut anymore I will have found a dozer.

 

[Rio_Grande]

I Have Inlaws in Iuka MS Taylor. Right off the Tom Bigbee. Probably spelled that wrong.

 

[EddieWalker]

For such a small job, why not just rent a dozer for a week?

Eddie

 

[pjbci]

I think the dozer would be fine for what you want it for. Just watch the crack. Check the undercarriage close before you buy though. If you dont know what to look for, find a friend that does. Ive seen a lot of people buy used dozers for a good price, then find out that they have to put another $3-8k in its undercarriage.