jd 350 year help please

[jrloar]

The serial number is 73500002824 every place I look does not list this number for a 350 at all. However I know it is but no clue what year to get parts for so help would be greatly appreciated... [/img]

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

That looks like the serial number off of the loader, not the crawler....

Stan

[egeor]

The serial number tag should be on the plate below the seat. Under your right leg when you are sitting on the seat.

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

I should have said that...but then I am amphibious (as a certain NC State player said many years ago) and don't know my left from my right anyhow....

Stan

[jsal]

Looks like 60 something cause reverser lever is on dash mine is 66


JIM

[LeonardL]

An old machine can have a lot of variables. For instance you don't know what the thing has had done to it in the last 50 plus years. If anything. Some machines I've seen have had engines exchanged and other components updated or changed out in some manner that it's hard to say what you have. That being said this looks like a pretty straight old machine. I agree that the serial number you have listed is the Loader number. You need to find the machines serial number to be sure. I also agree that it is at least a mid sixties model. If it is a diesel and provided it hasn't had the engine changed out with a newer or older model, then one way to check is to look at the Injector pump. If it has the CBC pump, then it will be a early first generation machine. If it has the DB or newer pump, it will be closer to mid to late sixties. Sometime before the "B" series came out. If it is a gas burner, early models had an adjustable power jet at the bottom of the carburetor. Later models had an electric solenoid on the bottom of the carb. It is a pretty good looking machine. The tracks are way too tight but other wise it looks like you still have some adjustment left so that is a good thing. Needs some TLC but otherwise if it runs and everything works good it probably has a lot of life left in it.

[jtrichard]

AS near as i can make out with that pic its been short tracked (one link removed ) with how tight the track is and how far back the front idler is also makes for that conclusion..... also a lot of sprocket wear and "windows" between the pads on the top.... track/undercarriage condition SAD to say the least

[LeonardL]

Yeah you're right... on closer inspection I see what you mean. It only has 35 pads. Should have 36. I didn't look that close and didn't count the pads. I did see that the pads were for the most part junk but didn't mention that. Probably should have. All I looked at was his idler position and the sprocket. Which isn't good but I've seen worse. It needs undercarriage for sure. If his lower rollers are okay he's looking at about 3500 bucks just for parts. With lower rollers it will be much higher than that. I just put a set on for a guy and we put new rails, pads, sprockets, track adjusters and upper rollers. All just shy of 3500 bucks. Then my labor added on to that. This of course was through a Deere dealer and aftermarket parts. We also had it brought in on a stock order to save the shipping cost. Buying old equipment is not for the faint of heart. It may look okay but who knows what may be wrong. I did a rebuild on a straight 350 dozer this past fall and it was a gas burner with direct drive and no power steering. By the time I was done there was 5K in parts and then my labor on top of that. This machine has a lot more things that could need fixing. It's also at least 50 years old. So... where do you stop and how much do you spend?

[scremineagle]

In post you mention that if gas electric solinoid would help identify yr but didnt state what yr the change was made. Any clue?

[LeonardL]

I don't know the exact year of the change on the gas carburetor solenoid change. Mid sixties would be close. I just worked on a 1966 350 that I know the history on and it was a solenoid carburetor. I've worked on a couple of 1964 models that were power screw machines. So, somewhere in there was a change.
Another thing I need to mention with the gas burners, some were changed back to the power screw because the solenoids were at times problematic. They were and continue to be quite expensive to replace. So a lot of people just went back to the screw because it was cheaper and more reliable. Again you have to remember these machines are 50 years old and have had a lot of opportunity to have had changes made to them. Perhaps I should have said that as long as the machine has not had changes made to it, then these are clues to look for.
If at all possible, a good background check on these old machines would be a smart thing to do. If you can, find all of the former owners and ask if changes were made. I know this isn't always possible but if you can then it could mean a lot of priceless information.