Newbie - My new 450?

[Txoilman]

Link to Pic

http://s1356.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... sort=3&o=0


First of all you guys are a great resource. I own plenty of other equipment but this is my first track machine. I love it. I use my crawler for commercial construction projects and it has paid for itself in just a couple of jobs.

I read a lot of posts with people asking what year and make of their machine.

Without sounding stupid, my serial number starts with 0 and doesn't seem to match the serial numbers provided on the board. Also I have not seen a pic on the internet or this site that looks exactly like mine. I would love some help so I can get a service manual. From the plate under the seat it reads

5F3M 032747

Why doesn't it just say JD450B or 350B in the serial #?

It has a 6 way blade, and from memory 4cylinder diesel motor

[Tigerhaze]

Welcome to the discussions-

Here is the "decoder ring"; looks to be that you have a 1966 "straight 450" dozer. There is probably a "T" before the "5" that you couldn't see. The "xxxxxx" in the serial number is the six digit number you provided.
---------------------------------------------------
JD450 Straight

1965 10001 - 16159
1966 16160 - 42766
1967 42767 - 64999
1968 65000 - 82275
1969 82276 - 102143
1970 102144 - 117587

Explination of Type Codes per SM 2064
Basic Tractor Serial Number Explanation

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
| | | | | | |
T 5 F 3 M xxxxxx T

1. The first letter designates the application T = Tractor
2. This number designates the series 5 = JD450
3. This number designates tractor style C = Crawler
E = Crawler Loader
F = Crawler Dozer
4. This number designates the fuel type of the engine 1 = Gasoline
3 = Diesel
5. This letter designates the type of transmission C = Collar Shift
M = Hi - Low Reverse
6. Sequence serial number of six digits Differs for each engine
7. This letter designates the manufacturer T = John Deere Dubuque
Tractor Works

-----------------------------------------------------

I got both of these from this thread:

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... sc&start=0

[Txoilman]

I appreciate your response. Hope to keep her running another 45 years. Been real happy with performance so far but I compare having heavy equipment to owning a boat. Constant maintenance while waiting for something to break!

Rental dozers are scarce in the oilfield so she will always come in handy for smaller jobs and we like its trailering ability with 1 ton. I'm keeping my eye out for a good loader version to add to the fleet