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.

 

[Storm56]

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

Eddie

Not a bad idea, you know your costs and if it pops a motor, clutch, tranny, pump etc, it is not your responsibility. Take a vacation and have a ball!

I had an older 450B model for about 15 years. It worked OK but I did sink some dollars in it. When you look at the work I did with it, it did pay for itself. But if you only have a few small jobs and then intend on selling it, the rent thing makes sense.

You could buy the thing and easily have a major problem after a few hours. That is the risk when purchasing older used equipment. Dozers generally get worked very hard at numerous points along the way. The fact that the one you are looking at has stress cracks is evidence this one is no exception.

Repair costs add up real quick on any heavy equipment.

 

[ultrarunner]

About 15 years ago I was Dozer shopping to build and maintain fire trails on family land...

I wanted something I could trailer with a one ton and never did find anything worth buying for the money.

My local Deere Dealer had a Cat D3 and we got to talking... the short story is I bought it... put half on my credit card with one of those no interest deals for a year and had them deliver it.

It has done everything I have asked and a lot of fun too.

Right now... I could spend some money on some cylinder seal kits... so far I it leaks very little to I run about a 5 gallon bucket of fluid for a season.

I did replace the brakes banks on both sides and a hydraulic line I damaged... Peterson CAT has had everything I needed and is about 5 miles away...

When the line broke they asked if I was on a job... which I was... they walked me back in the shop and made it on the spot...

I maybe just lucky so far...

I didn't rent because I need to do the work on my schedule and when the conditions are just right...

The only downside is I own nothing that can transport it... this also means I don't have to "Loan" it out.

 

[Ken45101]

I would love to have a D3 :thumbsup: But I sure cannot justify it and I have enough toys to otherwise do the job.

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

Eddie

I agree, that sounds like the second best option for the OP.

I am surprised that he can't find a contractor to do it for him. A few years back I had a contractor come in and clear some trails for me. It was $500/day and well worth it and probably a lot cheaper than buying some old dozer and hoping it didn't break and that I could sell it for most of my money.

Ken

 

[Bob Rooks]

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

Eddie

Totally agree. :thumbsup:

 

[Bob Rooks]

I wanted something I could trailer with a one ton and never did find anything worth buying for the money.

There is always the Yuchai, but maybe it didn't cross your path back then. I have one that I haul behind my F-350 dually. The little dozer is very under rated and very reliable.

 

[Ken45101]

I think the Komatsu D20, etc. are small, trailerable dozers. There is a long thread on the Heavy Equipment Forum about them
Section for komatsu d20,21 and similar grey market dozers

Ken

 

[Rio_Grande]

Well ultra hit it on the head. I need to do it when I can. I have plenty of time to take off of work but rarely can take it. I even have the option of paying a local operator 15.00 an hour to run a rental and it would be well worth it but on his schedule when he can. Course weather permiting. It just seems like an un obtainable scheduling date of you know what I mean. I have a fella coming out this week to look it over and shoot a bid on it. Last guy that would do a bid said 4000.00 but we didnt know what we were asking for and diddnt have the work done that we do now. If I could get a dozer in to cut 80 yards down and around one hill and 80 yards up another and cut my ditches in same roads. I can do the rest with my track loader.

 

[danceswithdirt]

A cat d3 in good condition can usually be found for 10-15k. Just bidded on one at auction a week ago. I went to $10500 but seller needed 12k and no saled. Machine had a good undercarriage and was in good shape. I didnt need it and knew I could turn it for a little money. Lots of these machines havent been used that hard by some of the larger outfits. Some of the larger companies use small dozers very little but keep them for specific jobs.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I picked up a D-31p for $6500 cple years ago ,didnt really have to put much money in it just time with new wiring and mess with the track tensioners. I would say I have done enough work to pay for itself but I am gonna run it until it gives up then sell it for parts if anything is good on it by then if not,scrap.

 

[redprospector]

I've been looking for a little dozer. A D3 or JD 450. I'm trying to find one with a winch and maybe a skidding arch on it, but so far no luck.
I've seen some sprockets that are so sharp you could shave with them, and I've seen track shoes that were worn down slick. All of them I've seen advertized that looked worth going to look at were sold last week.:laughing:

Andy