Looking for many opinions for a potential 450B project

[bigredmist]

Hello everyone and sorry this post is so long. I have been on your site for a couple weeks now and I have just completed registration. I have an opportunity to purchase a 1973 JD450B dozer for no more than $1000.00 but likely $800.00. It has not run in two years and has both steering clutches out of it. I understand that after the left side clutches went out they just kept turning right until the right side was about shot. I was able to get the engine to turn over but have yet to start it. I don’t expect getting it started will be an issue. If the engine runs I have it sold for $1000.00 and the scrap should be worth over a thousand. Problem is, I think I have been bitten by some kind of bug. I think I want to repair this toy that digs holes to pour money into. I have been over many posts and really appreciated the detailed clutch replacement by Crawler 123 but that is only part of the problem. Someone has apparently replaced/rebuilt the right side sprocket, grousers, idler, etc. but the left side is in very poor shape. Front idler bushings are shot, I could shave with the drive sprocket, and from what I can tell the drive chain rollers are all dead. I have a very good idea what I am in for with the clutch packs but I am having trouble finding price and availability for the drive sprocket, drive chain, pins, and rollers for the tracks. I plan to check all the fluids and get it started this weekend. I have purchased the TM1033 technical manual for the 450B. I’m confident I understand the projects scope and have the ability to undertake it but is it worth it and where can I find the parts to rebuild the right track assembly? I do give some consideration to the labor I will have invested in this project but I feel I the satisfaction would make it worth wile.

Thanks to everyone that made to the end of this post and all comments are greatly appreciated.

Have a great day, Dave in East Moline, IL

[andregrondin]

Hi !

You have the money , the guts , the passion, the time, the tools , the place to work inside ! then go for it !

[Paul Buhler]

Based on your comments, just getting it home and running will scratch some of your "big yellow" itch, and as you said you'll be at a better than break even point. If you (or your wife) decide you have had enough, you will have learned a bit and will be better informed at a later date. Undercarriage work gets expensive in a hurry - be prepared. Good luck, a 450 has a nice mellow, and powerful sound that's addicting.

[Tigerhaze]

I am having trouble finding price and availability for the drive sprocket, drive chain, pins, and rollers for the tracks. is it worth it and where can I find the parts to rebuild the right track assembly?

Generally for new generation crawlers like a 450B, if available it is cheaper to get new track than to pay to repin/rebush old track links.

If you decide that you want to undertake undercarriage replacement, Lavoy (the board administrator) should be able to find out availability and price of the undercarriage parts you mentioned. He would be the first place to start, although shipping for most of those parts would probably not be cost effective.

If Lavoy doesn't respond to this, you can also talk to H-E Parts Incorporated (formerly Grace Track) near Des Moines. They used to carry aftermarket parts from Berco for the 450 series John Deere crawlers.

http://www.h-eparts.com/contact.cfm

You can also contact a local JD industrial delaer (I would guess there was one in the Quad Cities, considering it is JD's HQ), but cost will be high if available. JD Parts.com is showing between $1900 and $2400 for new track chain, around $230 per bottom roller, and $250 per sprocket. You will need the part numbers because there are multiple part numbers for each.

http://jdparts.deere.com/

Again, aftermarket may be a little cheaper.

[MarkW]

It sounds like you are approaching it in a reasonable manner. You'll be learning something new and not be getting in a hole money-wise if you decide it is not for you.

As suggested, I suspect that when you get it running you will have a better idea as to how to go forward from there.

[tjdub]

Dave,

Someone's selling a complete 450B undercarriage on the Milwaukee craigslist for pretty darn cheap. If I wasn't so broke, I would have snapped it up already and I live even farther away than you do .

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/grd/2942882930.html

[bigredmist]

Wow, great information! I actually started a job on 08/11 as an assembler on the grader line at the John Deere Davenport works and not only am I from Dubuque, my father worked at the Dubuque works for awhile in the mid seventies until he was laid off. My cousin whom I fish with a few times a year lives 31 minutes from H-E parts. Used parts are in Milwaukee. Was divorced four years ago.
Seem like the stars are aligning????
I am going to send an e-mail to see about some better pictures of the Milwaukee parts.
Thank you so much for the great input. I will let you know how it starts this weekend.

[Lavoy]

If you work for Deere, undoubtedly you can get a discount on parts, I would go that way.
As to the used ones on Craigslist, by and large used undercarriage is on the web for sale because it is shot, and the owner put new on his.
Lavoy

[bigredmist]

Called the Martin parts dealer today and they said that they do NOT give discounts to John Deere employees. The girl I talked to was rather snotty and then refused to give me her name. I politely thanked her and hung up.


This is the message I received from H-E Parts.

Dave,
Thank you for your inquirery to H-E Parts. Here is the pricing you requested. I assume this is a JD450B dozer, not a loader since you requested 36 link chains. Please let me know if you have any questions.

2-36L chain $1050.00 ea
288- track bolts .40 ea
288-track nuts .25 ea
2-sprockets $148.00 ea

Thank you, Jamie Swanson
Regional Sales Manager
H-E Parts
1-800-426-4136 Phone
1-515-367-2305 Fax

[bigredmist]

WoooHooo! Put the battery from my truck into the 450 and it popped right off at the touch of a key. No smoke at start-up and it runs smooooth. Dropped the blade all the way to push some dirt after warm up. The dozer stopped moving but the tracks kept turning. Motor didn’t bog down a bit. This makes my week!!

[MarkW]

Congrats Dave, have fun!

[kedorland]

I live just outside of Des Moines. I am more than willing to be an errand boy.

Kevin From Iowa.

[andregrondin]

Hi !

See it is not dead yet !! so keep going and it will purr like a cat but run like a Deere !!!!!