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Deere 350

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Jim on Timberridge
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 172 La Crosse WI
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2002-03-17          36447


Looking for a Deere 350. I saw this small dozer at a farm auction last year. Had a integral cable winch and 6 way blade. I don't know anything about heavy equipment, but have some land and woods, and this unit was made for playing and digging and stuff.
Unfortunately, then i didn't have the $10K it went for. Now I want one. Was the price reasonable? What should I expect to pay for one in good shape. Don't want to always be running down to the repair shop -- it ain't like throwing the mower in the pickup.
jim




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Deere 350

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Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2002-03-22          36629


Jim;
The 350 has been around a long time, so it is had to tell the age, without checking serial no. The 6 way blade would indicate that it is likely not from the 60's.
In looking through prices here in AL there is not much used less than 10K in the small Deeres, Cat, Kamatsu or Dresser. The few I spotted were really beat.
The Deere's had light track systems on them and the rear gears and track need to be inspected and determined the life left. I have helped replaced the odd bogie in the past on the larger brother 450 they are not that difficult but the real expense is in the track and main drive gears. I have necer heard much bad about the the tranny or engine.I grew on the west coast in granite. Operators were building new logging roads all the time and the wear on the track was important.
They pushed the roads through the Nass River laval beds whan I was a kid. I believe they wore out a set of tracks a week.
....


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Deere 350

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Jim on Timberridge
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 172 La Crosse WI
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2002-03-22          36633


thanks, Peters, for your comments.
for awhile, i saw several 350's advertised in used equip dealers around Wis, then they just dried up.
maybe it's just another toy to fantasize about when the ground is slop from the melting snow and there's no way to start working on the land after a long winter.
of course my dream guy-toy is the "ultimate ATV" -- a JD skidder !!
jim ....


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Deere 350

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TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2002-03-23          36640


I hear the term 'percent bottoms' mentioned in connection with used dozers. I believe it's percent lift remaining in the tracks. I don't know how such a thing might be calculated, but like Peters noted, tracks are very expensive. Condition of the tracks seems to be the real deal maker or breaker in used dozer deals. ....


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Deere 350

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B Sims
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Posts: 1
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2002-03-23          36660


I own a JD 350 with the 6 way blade and the rear winch. Mine is a 1974 model and still is in good condition. I have used it to clear about five acres where my house is located and have done alot of odd jobs for many people. These are excellent machines for small clearing projects and road building if your not making an expressway. I have owned mine for about 12 years now and I paid $10000 for it in the early 90s. wouldn't take that for it now,and once you own one you will wonder how you ever got by without it. As far as the maintaince on it, tracks are the main concern. The pins and bushings and rails(the links that the pads are bolted to) wear more than anything. Complete new set of tracks cost about $1800 so you want to keep them in the best possible shape. Track tension is important also as to much tension will wear sprockets and front idlers. It is still fun to climb up on it after all this time and push over some trees or push up a pile of dirt and my 2year old grandson can operate it while sitting in my lap. it will be his one day and he will know how to use it then. hope this helps. ....


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Deere 350

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Jim on Timberridge
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 172 La Crosse WI
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2002-03-24          36692


To B Sims:
Thanks for your comments!
Sounds like I really missed out when I didn't jump into the bidding on the 350C with the 6 way and cable winch. Of course I had no knowledge of what to look for in wear/tear, etc. But you have yours and now I have an itch. Will be looking hard. Another question that's key: how did you justify a dozer to your wife???? It isn't exactly something that can be explained as doing the yard-mowing or similar (like I scammed her into accepting the new ATV...)
jim ....


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Deere 350

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Jim on Timberridge
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 172 La Crosse WI
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2002-03-28          36826


I just saw the following advertisement in a weekly ag paper:
"350C w/tight 6-way blade and controls
80% original UC
Overhaul, wet clutches, new paint, PTO"

The kicker: price: $17,900 !!!
Letssee, for that, I could get a JD48 backhoe (7K) and the new JD595 diesel 4wd garden tractor (10K). Hmmm, oh well.
jim
....


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Deere 350

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BruceZ
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 0 Wisconsin
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2002-04-29          37941


I also own a JD350 in dozer configuration. Mine as the six-way blade with lift and tilt that is hydraulic but the blade angle setting is manual via mulit-position bolt holes in main lift frame. I would be curious to know if anyone else out there has a similar blade. I would like to find out who made the blade as it is not from JD as best I can tell. These machines were most generally delivered around here in MN from JD without attachments which were then added by the dealer to make whatever kind of machine you want. These machines were made in both diesel and gas versions with same 42 HP. Mine is the gas version, may not be as stingy with fuel but sure is easy to fix and tune up! I have manuals for this machine which indicate it was available from JD with a 3-point hitch and a winch. I also know there was a backhoe made to fit this machine. I would be extremely interested to find anyone out there who has either a 3 point hitch or backhoe that would fit this machine. Some comments before you buy this machine. I bought my machine with some undercarriage problems. I needed to have my tracks rebuilt and had to fix a few problems caused by loose bolts. The track rails are parts akin to the side plate connectors on a bicycle chain. These are the parts that ride on the bottom rollers and front idler wheel. These parts can be measured to determine whether they are worn out. Mine were OK. The pins are parts that are akin to the pins that go through the side plates on a bicycle chain on which the chain rollers roll. Only in this case instead of rollers you have bushings which fit over the pins but are pressed in place and do not roll. So as the bushings (rollers) contact the sprocket it is only on one side, therefore they wear out on one side only. If the bushings are worn excessively, i.e. the track is too long to be tightened anymore, you can rotate the bushings so that you are now using the good side. This gives you just as much life as you had when the rollers started out new. This is a cheap fix since you aren't replacing any parts. So, one thing to check is roller wear which if they have never been rotated, will be only on the underside of the track where they contact the sprocket. I had to replace all the pins and bushings in my tracks since they were completely worn out. I got it done for $750 both sides. Another thing to check very closely on this machine is bolt condition for bolts holding entire running gear to machine. If you clean off some dirt and look carefully you will see that there is a cast steel frame member that goes across the machine from side to side and providing the main attachment for running gear to machine. There are four bolts on top of this frame that pass through holes in the steel cross frame and into the track roller frame. These bolts tend to loosen, even the manual warns to check these oftern and keep them tight. Mine had been loose for some time which allowed the running gear to shift around. This ruined the bolts, the holes in the steel frame, and the threaded holes in the roller frame. There are no nuts on the back side of these bolts, they thread right into the roller frame. This could be an expensive proposition to fix. Check these bolts before you buy. If someone out there does have this problem, I'd be happy to relay the fix I developed. I'm an engineer and combined with a friends backround in heavy equipment repair we came up with an elegant fix for this problem that makes the design stronger than original and can be done for less than $100 in parts if you do the mechanic work yourself. If anyone posts a need for this fix on this board I'll be glad to get in contact. By the way, I find this and excellent machine for doing many everyday dirt moving tasks around the acreage. In answer to someones question, you justify the need for this with your wife by explaining to her that as you landscape your dream home in the country, those inevitable things a hired lanscaper does that she discovers she doesn't like after he's gone, can be easily and cheaply fixed by you and your dozer. And, when you are done with the machine, you can sell it for at least what you paid, landscaping done right, done for free, and you have fun doing it. Can't think who would turn that down. ....


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Deere 350

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johnson445
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 19 mn
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2003-01-09          47244


Look for a Mitsubishi BD2G. You can get a 1990 machine with a couple thousand hours for 10K. Parts are available in the usa as weel. I have one and they work great. ....


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Deere 350

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obiedoze
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4 Massachusetts
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2003-01-17          47684


BruceZ spoke of his JD 350 with a power tilt blade. I'd be interested in how that is set up. I have a JD450 without power tilt or angle. I want to set it up with power tilt as the valve is already in the machine. I just need the layout for the hydraulics on the blade. ....


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Deere 350

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BruceZ
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 0 Wisconsin
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2003-01-28          48352


Kinda hard to explain but I'm in the market for a digital camera right now. If I get one soon or can borrow one I'll take some pictures and email them. Watch this thread and I'll let you know if I get pictures. The whole thing is rather complicated by the time you figure in the center pivot point required and the fact that my unit has blade support beams that attach to the very outside edges of the blade and run back outboard of the track to and attach to the track roller frame structure that goes through the machine. I'm sure you could make this unit if you are a real good metal worker and welder. ....


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Deere 350

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obiedoze
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4 Massachusetts
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2003-01-29          48357


BruceZ, Thanks for the follow-up, I'll be looking forward to the pictures. My machine also has outside push frames and I was under the impression that it was made by JD. The blade has a center pivot and the outside push arms attach to the blade via dovetails on a radius with 2 wedges on each side that are pounded in to hold the blade at the proper angle/level. You also mentioned a fix for stripped bolts on the running gear. I have a broken bolt which is 1 of 4 that holds in the main clutch housing. A previous owner tried to drill and get it out with an easy-out but he really messed it up. Looks like he tried to work around the track instead of getting it out of the way. Now I see my only option to remove the engine/clutch and have it bored out and retapped at a machine shop. ....


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Deere 350

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BruceZ
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 0 Wisconsin
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2003-01-30          48416


Wow! I can't believe it. It sounds like your blade is exactly like mine without the power tilt. That would make it very easy to add power tilt. I just assumed that they would not make a blade that could tilt without putting a tilt cylinder on it. It appears the only difference between yours and mine is the cylinder and associated mounting points I would bet. Mine has the same dovetail arrangement with wedges and everything. I only use them when I angle the blade like a snow plow. I have to disconnect the tilt cylinder to do this so there is nothing to hold the blade from tilting unless you jam the wedges in place. I will get pictures for you and it will be a cinch. I tried tracking down the maker of my blade. It even has a metal plate with a model and serial number but has no manufacturer name. I contacted John Deere and they sent me to a JD dealer who has been in the business for like 100 years and said he would be the best to talk to. Turns out he kinda has a hobby of collecting old John Deere parts books and has stuff that even JD company has since thrown out. He does not believe that this blade was made by JD. He says it was most common for buyers to have the dealer install an aftermarket blade. I have the original parts and service manual for my 350 and it lists all kinds of attachments for the machine but no blade. This machine was sold more as a tractor with tracks which allowed people to add whatever they wanted including attaching farm implements. This is confusing since my tractor model number specifies mine as a dozer but according to him would not have come with a blade. I'm confused. ....


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Deere 350

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obiedoze
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4 Massachusetts
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2003-02-01          48527


BruceZ:I took a couple of pictures of my JD450 and will e-mail them to you if you send me your address. Also where is the serial number plate located? I'll check mine for a name. My machine is also designated as a dozer but there is nothing in the shop manual the refers to the blade. It does have a section for a loader.
All this may explain the extra unused spool in my valve bank. I figured it was for a power tilt but it may be for a bucket. I know that John Deere farmed out some of the components such as parts of the under carriage are made by Berko for John Deere. ....


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Deere 350

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BruceZ
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 0 Wisconsin
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2003-02-03          48630


Obiedoze, the serial number plate on mine is on the back of the blade right above the center pivot mechanism. It is a metal plate riveted in place. I don't think they'll leave an email on the site from a non-member. I just browse this site occasionally and have some fun reading and learning. Are you a member? If so can you just make the pictures available on this forum? Or let me know what your email address is and I'll send you an email then you'll have my address. ....


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Deere 350

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obiedoze
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4 Massachusetts
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2003-02-04          48646


BruceZ, The system will not let me post my email address. Apparently it is how they keep advertisers out and turning the forum into an e-bay site.
If you click on my name at the beginning of the post that information comes up. When you post a message you have the option of blocking your email address, which it appears you did. You can also ask to be notified when someone posts a reply in that forum. Your reply was sent directly to me.
I'll check for a plate but I don't think there is anything there. ....


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