technical support

[TimberKing]

I would like to pick a few brains. Right now I have a older 350 crawler loader. I'm not able to do all I need to with the loader. I'm looking at a few JD 450 and 550B. All with winches.
I do some logging (for my self) in hilly terrain. I need some input. one of the 450's has really wide tracks as if there for snow or swamps. Would the wider track unit be any better for this type of terrain.
Also one of the units has the blade mounted on the outside of the frame. I will be using it for some trail work and would like to know the pro's and con's of the outside or a front mount blade. (other that the 6-way thing).Oh and foot steer, pro's and con's.
Are letters after say 450 B,C, is that just a newer year 450?
Thanks
Dwight

[tjdub]

I would like to pick a few brains. Right now I have a older 350 crawler loader. I'm not able to do all I need to with the loader. I'm looking at a few JD 450 and 550B. All with winches.
I do some logging (for my self) in hilly terrain. I need some input. one of the 450's has really wide tracks as if there for snow or swamps. Would the wider track unit be any better for this type of terrain.

The wide pads help distribute the weight so by definition they're better on wet ground. The trouble is they might just give you enough confidence to bury the machine in a place where you can't get another machine in to pull it out

Also one of the units has the blade mounted on the outside of the frame. I will be using it for some trail work and would like to know the pro's and con's of the outside or a front mount blade. (other that the 6-way thing).Oh and foot steer, pro's and con's.

The pro a straight blade are that it's better for pushing over trees. The con is that it's harder to work dirt without the ability to angle the blade. The resale value of a straight blade machine is much lower than a 6-way because it's just not as useful. With these small machines, a finish dozer is the most common use and that requires a 6-way blade.

Are letters after say 450 B,C, is that just a newer year 450?

Yep, the letters after the number changed when they changed the design enough to warrant changing the model number. A 450 (with no letter) is mostly the same as a 450B except it doesn't have turbo. A straight 450 could even have a gas engine, but those are pretty rare. The 450C is similar to a 450B except it has wet steering clutches (much bigger change than the difference between 450 and 450B). There are other minor changes and part incompatibility over the years, but those are the major differences in the 450 series up until C. I'm not sure of the differences between the 550 and 550B, but these are much newer machines. I don't think the first 550 came out until towards the end of the 450C production. The 450D looks much more like the 550 series.

[andregrondin]

Hi !

Wide track pads are also a tad bit harder on the hardware when you steer the machine , but yes the ground pressure is less , it gives you a sens of floatability but like tjdub wrote when you sink it is for real !!

good luck with your machine it is so fun to work with those !!!

[77 Ford]

IMHO, the wet steering clutches on 450c and later machines is a really big deal. I can not tell you the number of older 450 and 450b machines I looked at before I bought mine that had "clutches sticking". If they have set a few years it's a pretty big job to get them free and then you have to keep them free.

One other small detail some of the very early 450c were not turbo engines if that matters to you.

I thought the wide track machines were physically wider too. If you are logging in really tight spaces an extra 1' in width is something to think about(I don't know they are 1' wider that's a guess).

[Paul Buhler]

I've had a 350, 450B,and 450C all set up with forestry packages, 6way blades and integral arches. I preferred the 450C with its wet clutches. You'll also like the way the winch works compared to a 350; you can spool on the cable without constantly shifting to neutral to work the winch -partially depressing the clutch allows the winch to wind in and the machine to not move. This allows laying the cable on like a fishing reel more easily which minimizes tangles, broken strands (which poke through gloves), and lengthens cable life.
A 450 is a significantly more powerful machine than a 350 as well. I've used outside blade machines and some guys like them if they are building skid roads for skidders - they make a wider path quicker. In addition some feel that the blades are attached stronger so that if hooking in a blade's corner, there's more meat behind the blade and things don't break as easily - I prefer the 6-way blade and just worked smarter.
I like the nimbleness of a narrower machine, and if you are working in the winter, caulks on narrower pads dig into the frozen earth better; handy on steep or "sidling" skid roads. Just a few thoughts - hope they help. Paul

[TimberKing]

Thanks for all the input.