Opinions - which 450 machines are well designed after 450c?

[Paul Buhler]

Hi: I'm considering buying a newer 450 machine. Back in the 1970s - 1980's, I ran 450c machines for logging and grading with good results - they were reliable, had good fuel economy, relatively low maintenance costs, appropriate power to task, etc.
Which models after the 450c have served people well? I'm looking for a machine with a winch, ROPS, six way blade and long undercarriage.
Thanks. Paul

[scampr]

HI Paul are you looking for a C or a newer one?I am possibly thinking about parting with my C..If your looking for opinions on newer ones i had a buddy that had a E and i ran it some.. he had good luck with it but he also added a decelerator and that made it a much more enjoyable for close quarter grading..I think it was a add on kit he got from RN Johnson.

[Paul Buhler]

scampr:
A 450c in good shape would be my choice but I don't want to rule out something else that might be as good or better. At this point I'm just shopping. Price will be a consideration. Care to share a picture of your machine and some info on it? Please send me an email or PM. Thanks. Paul

[pondhogvt]

Paul,, I haven't been on much lately but I thought I'd chime in on this subject, I was down to rutland last week delivering a 450 log arch to a guy,, small world!!

Any way as you know ,I sell a few used parts and dozers as a part time hobby kinda thing in the winter. I have owned jd450's since 1979. My first 450B was a great machine and did a ton of work and really helped to establish my business.. And to this day I still think it's a great dozer as long as you use it every week. trouble started when I moved up to a different level with big dozers and the deere sat all summer,, as you know as I have seen your posts,,the dry clutch syndrome.

so I went to a 450c and have had one ever since. In the early 90's I thought I should move up to a newer 450E and figured it would last me to death as I only use little dozers to log in winter . they sit all summer.I sold 450c,, I never liked the e model personally. I paid $25000 for it ran it two years and a guy paid me $25000 for it and I was glad to see it go,,but in the mean time 450c models were selling for about $18000 in good shape ofcourse. eventually I found a good one and went back to the 450C

Basically a 450E is a 450C with a little bigger motor,,it looks taller but it is all sheet metal..they raised the seat about six inches and put sheet metal in between. If you understand physics and common sense..as an E model only weighs a few hundred pounds more than a C model, you basically can't use the extra power,,, same tranny,,same finals with minor differences,same housings.. so I think the 450E tends to be slightly more fragile and broken more,,especially with a young hot dog operator.. I believe the 450c and 450D hold up better ..especially to abuse.. 450c parts are pretty common used and after market reasonable compared to deere. 450's are light years ahead of 350's..winch mechanism works so much better,,no special gear combo to make the winch work,,if the motors running the winch will work in any gear any time.. and they are tuff and reliable.. of course things break but I think you now the jd symptoms and break points so if you keep stuff tight ,frames won't break and do the dominoe effect.. Just my opinion..

of course the newer ones are real nice but that's a whole different price range,, best of luck Mark from Johnson,Vt.

[Tigerhaze]

Paul, these are some helpful threads from Digitup about the later 450 models- as you probably know he has used a number of the models commercially:

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... light=450e

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... light=450e

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... light=450e

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... light=450e

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... light=450e