How does this 350 loader at local auction look?

charlz · Post by **charlz** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:57 am

Hey guys, back again with another machine to look at. The 450 from before went higher than I was willing to pay for a machine so far away.

Anyway this 350 has popped up at a local auction, lots of pics and even a video:

http://westernauctionco.auctionflex.com ... =1&lang=En

I notice it does not have a counter weight, has dozer grousers and the bucket could use a new cutting edge and teeth but other than that it looks OK to me? Opinions? Is it gas or diesel? Can you tell straight/b/c/ by looking at it or only by the serial number? It is about 20mins from the house so I can go look at it Monday when they open.

The intended use would remain the same, dig some pistol and rifle pits at a gun club I belong to. The dozer grousers don't seem to be a problem for just pushing lots of dirt.... unless they will be really hard on the under carriage? Over time we would need to move 1,000's of yards of dirt. Is this machine really capable of doing that? It looks pretty small and by the specs seems to be about 1/2 as big as a 450 machine. However, this size is a lot easier to move around and more suitable to use on my place after we are done with it at the range. I also found a parts machine in a local salvage yard that has new looking sprockets and probably new(er) track chain if I need new undercarriage at some point.

Thanks!

Scottyb · Post by **Scottyb** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:19 pm

The 350 is a diesel, as you can easily see the injector pump in one of the photos. The crawler looks like it would be worth looking at as at a glance it does not look beat up, however the true test is to give it a good work out digging and pushing before you can be sure of how the clutches, reverser, tranny etc are working. This might not be an option as it is at auction.??
I think that the reverser control is on the dash so If I am right that would make it a straight 350.
I have a 350b and it moves dirt and digs with no problem. Easy to trailer as well. I like the dozer pads but they can be hard on the crawler. Check for loose bolts on the undercarriage and everywhere.
Scott

Willyr · Post by **Willyr** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:51 pm

Only slight defects I see. The exhaust pipe has been lowered and the seat is chewed up.

The video he only turns to the right but not to the left?

charlz · Post by **charlz** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:57 pm

I stopped by the auction yard today to see if it was near the fence and the gate was open, couple farmers in there looking at stuff. The serial number on the dash tag is SNE73500019161(or was it I?) So looks like a 1966 straight 350? Is that the right serial number location? The meter read 4752 hours. And yes, it is diesel, I checked the tank. Looks pretty good up close, the upper rollers had a little wear you could feel as did the pins. The left idler has one side that is sharp though, like the track is not running straight? What ever gauge is the center lower one in the cluster is beat up and does not look like it works.

The seat is really tore up and the bucket is more beat up than it looks in the photos. Looks like they drilled the bottom and put a trailer hitch in it and bent up the bottom of the bucket. The lower pins in the back of the bucket have a good 1/8" of oblong in them. The sides of the bucket looked pushed in, sort of concave. Looked the same on both sides... did it come that way from the factory??

I also stopped again at the salvage place that has the 350. It is actually a C and was a Navy machine by the USN number on it and the color. A note written in welding pen said it ran as of Nov '06 with 20 (70?) lbs oil pressure. I checked the pins and the track chain is definitely good as is the rest of the under carriage. Looks like the right side track adjuster is broken and it has no blade. Also has what look like rear hydraulic remotes. Pretty bad rust cancer on the flats around the seat though.

digitup2 · Post by **digitup2** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:11 pm

At first glance I notice the seals on all loader rams leak .The loader bucket linkage leaves a lot to be desired as well as the loader control is worn bad and the steering clutch-breaks need attention this machine is in poor condition don't pay much for it but all is rebuild able so if it goes cheap then well hell it is your money.But beware she looks like a bit of a money pit to me

If the $ are right go for it !! .Digitup .

charlz · Post by **charlz** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:17 pm

digitup2 wrote:At first glance I notice the seals on all loader rams leak .The loader bucket linkage leaves a lot to be desired as well as the loader control is worn bad and the steering clutch-breaks need attention this machine is in poor condition don't pay much for it but all is rebuild able so if it goes cheap then well hell it is your money.But beware she looks like a bit of a money pit to me If the $ are right go for it !! .Digitup .

I did notice the leaks when I was there, does not appear to be any scratches on the rods though. I think they just need to be repacked. I saw some seal kits on ebay for $30-$40 per cylinder, I can do that work.

What is it that clues you into the loader control and clutches being in poor shape? Is the leak evidence on the outside near the loader control likely coming from the control? What is 'cheap'?

Thanks!

LeonardL · Post by **LeonardL** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:21 pm

I'm with Digitup!

I would give this machine a fair condition at best but mostly a poor condition. I wouldn't stick too much in it for purchase price. If you can get it cheap enough then you will be okay.
When looking at the pictures, I was thinking this thing is okay. But on closer observation I noticed some things that bother me. Digitup caught them as well so you can read his opinion and know that I totally agree. Add the fact that the bucket needs work and he has nailed it.
Another thing I noticed is the air cleaner has been moved up on top of the loader tower right in front of your view. It should be down between your ankles near the floor. It also appears that the water pump has been replaced and that is okay if they have done the work correctly. What throws me a red flag is the way they changed the air cleaner. What else have they screwed with that isn't right!
Just a guess on my part... I would say that this was a "Gas" burner to begin with. The diesel that is in it didn't come in the machine originally. That would answer why the air cleaner was changed as the gassers were made a little different. So rather than put the right air cleaner on it they just modified the old gas air cleaner and moved it up top. Effective, but not right.
Another thing that indicates things have been changed around is the fact the serial number tag isn't where it should have been. I just think there is a lot to the story of this loader that you don't know. Here in Southern Missouri and all through the South, there is an old saying about buying a "Pig in a Poke". To translate that... a "Poke" is a sack or bag. To buy a pig in a sack means you are taking a real chance on the pig. It may be a good, fat, little pig that's ready for market or it may be a lean, skinny and not worth anything pig. One that you will have to work on to make it right.
So proceed with caution and don't sink a lot of money in it to buy it. You may need to fatten the pig after you open up the poke and take a good look!

charlz · Post by **charlz** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:35 pm

Wow, you guys really know your... uh... crawlers!

I can tell you the red stuff you see on the hose going to the air cleaner is duct tape... maybe because it rubs on the sides of the hole?

I have been researching on a bigger machine (not Deere) that is available much farther away. Maybe I will watch this one to see what price it goes at and if needed go look at the other one and go from there. Sooner or later I will find the right deal.

Educational as always, thanks!

shinnery · Post by **shinnery** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:04 pm

I would also note that the tracks are a little too tight in my opinion. Looks like they would have spent a little time with a power washer to make it more presentable.
Bryce

Scottyb · Post by **Scottyb** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:50 am

all the warnings about this crawler would stop most buyers from going much further but their is a right price where this unit would be a good risk just from what I see.
In the video it runs OK and turns one way
It may not have been washed for years and the leaks may not be as serious as feared.
I would look it over closer, and try to get a test drive, to see if it all works. Are the belly pans there?
Sounds like you have the means to fix some things so I would not give up too soon.
How about bidding to 2500 or 3000? I would think that undercarriage would get you that much if you had to sell it as parts. Not sure if you should go much higher, what do you think?

digitup2 · Post by **digitup2** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:27 am

Watch the way He moves those leavers.Loader lever is worn out so much that he darned near pulls it into his lap this tells you that repairs were minimal the steering leavers work only when brought back to the maximum .That tells me the clutch packs were never kept up to snuff the tracks are singing tight so are they compensating for bad undercarriage . the loader linkage is lose as it hits the ground so not just the bucket pins are lose. When watching those video's watch the operator and his movements this tells the story as well as the movement of the crawler .Any one that sells a machine in this state of repair is pawning off trouble so is there little enough trouble for you?This is for you to decide I just wouldn't pay much for it and as I said It's all live with able to a point but I have seen a lot better crawlers for good deals so beware any one that is messing with the air filter is not doing the machine any good either.!!.Digitup.

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How does this 350 loader at local auction look?

How does this 350 loader at local auction look?

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