JD350B Brakes

[Jblanks]

Just purchased a 350B. I know very little about crawlers. I've ordered a service manual but still waiting for it. The machine will hardly drive in 1st or 2nd. Will not take off in high gears. Feels like driving with a parking brake on. Would this be something with the brake bands?

[Jim B]

Welcome to the Boards.

For housekeeping purposes your posts about your 350B should be on the Late Models Board. That board is where most of the information on the 350s 450s and newer models is. Lavoy or a moderator will likely move this over there when they see it.

You could have brakes dragging, clutches slipping or reverser issues for somethings. Does the engine labor when it is moving, that would be a sign of brakes dragging. If the engine speed stays up it is more likely slippage.

[Jblanks]

Sorry. First time joining a forum. The engine does bog down. I suspected brakes but I've never worked on a crawler before. Manual should be in Monday so I'll try adjusting. I did check for linkage binding

[Jim B]

When you get your manual follow the entire adjustment procedure in the order given. The steering clutches and brakes are inter-related, so it doesn't often work out to just do bits and pieces in a random order. And sometimes you have to do the adjustments a couple times to get them to settle in right.

Just to be sure, have you checked the serial number to be certain it is a B series? You can't always trust decals. The serial number tag will either be on the panel under the seat, behind your right calf, if it is an early B or on the front panel of the battery box if it is a late B series.

[Jblanks]

It's a 350BE

[Jim B]

Good. 350B. E means Diesel, inside dozer with reverser.

[Jblanks]

Does it make sense that the brakes are engaging before clutches release

[Lavoy]

Grossly out of adjustment, or most likely, the fiber discs are swelled up, and locking the clutch up.
Lavoy

[Tjgerow]

Most likely what Lavoy and others have said, out of adjustment on the clutches and brakes.

I'll ask the following question only because it happened to me and you didn't mention if there were any attachments on the back of the dozer.

Does your 350B have a PTO and winch?

I ask because I have a 350C (wet clutches) and the winch was dragging and bogging the engine down anytime I tried to move the dozer. The winch was missing hydraulic hoses, control lever and the clutches were swelled. With all that I think the spool on the winch was trying to turn when trying to move the dozer. The winch was removed from the dozer. The dozer then moved fine, without bogging. The winch is currently in my garage waiting on a brake band.

[original possum]

If the transmission is in neutral with the clutch out does it make a difference whether the reverser is in forward or reverse?

[Jblanks]

I have no attachment on the back. With trans in neutral nothing changes in forward neutral or reverse. I got the manual today and will try to get adjustments done tomorrow. If the disk has swelled what do I do about that

[original possum]

I hate to be a pest, but don't understand two things. By "take off" do you mean it won't move but the engine keeps running? And by "bogs down" do you mean it quickly kills the engine or loads it (reduces the rpm) without killing it?

[Jblanks]

I can feel the trans pulling but the machine doesn't move. If I drive forward and reverse a few times the crawler will come to a stop and bog the engine down. I engage the clutch to keep the engine from stalling

[Jblanks]

Clutches and brakes are adjusted according to manual. I ran it in 3rd gear. Put in forward and nothing. Move clutch handles back and forth and it takes off but will soon start slowing and loading up the motor. Same in reverse

[dtoots1]

Just for info...ifyou put your location in your profile..listed in the drop down login box...someone may be nearby to help