350 straight wide track question

[gerald]

I bought a 1970 crawler loader few years back that has been pretty good. It had new wide tracks when I looked at it . The owner was in the process of cutting them back to the slot . that being said is there any difference in the frame of a wide track and standard track 350 ? I think the bucket is wider because there is a factory welded extension a foot or so on each side.

[Lavoy]

Not sure what you mean by wide track. Wide track normally means 33" pads, never was available from the factory.
Lavoy

[LeonardL]

Not sure what you mean by wide track. Wide track normally means 33" pads, never was available from the factory.
Lavoy

Is that the same thing as the double width pads? I've seen some of those... which I hate. I never took the time to measure them. All I know is, they will destroy a good undercarriage and cause more issues than they were ever worth. Maybe for a snow machine or in a swamp, but even then I wouldn't want the things. Sounds like it's a good thing the guy cut them back to normal.

Lavoy, you can correct me if I'm wrong here... To answer the question, if it is only the double width pads, then the track frames and mounting was the same as any other 350. If it is a true wide track where they centered the track frames and undercarriage, then yes they will be obviously a lot different as in much wider. You can Google a 350 and 350 wide track and see the obvious difference.

[JWB Contracting]

There were factory wide tracks built in both the B series and C series. The B series had a BW in the serial number.

My dad just finished off his 40th year of work for the local gas company (retired last month) and he had widepad 350's in service since 78. He bought a kit for 7,500 in 78. Yes they take lots of work to maintain but if you build them right they last even with more HP under the hood.

The cross members are wide and yes it is good to run as narrow of tracks as possible. We prefer slightly bent ones as the turn easy on hard ground and you get flotation in soft ground. I would get a set of narrow pads instead of cutting the wide ones.

[Lavoy]

I should have clarified, there were no factory wide track loaders, and widetracks were built in all series except E which were loader crawlers only. I have a set of straight crossbars and axle extensions off of my 350 straight gas, but put in on standard crossbars and 14" pads.
Lavoy

[gerald]

Thank you for the answer. The reason for the question I had a guy looking at the 93A back hoe . The guy said it was a wide track factory with a larger bucked . When I first seen the machine there was only inches between the machine and track.

[gerald]

I measured the out side track and its 7 ft wide with the tracks ends cut off, the bucket is also 7 ft. There is a 350 C just up the road it looks small compared to my older 350. I'm thinking there was a conversion kit installed because the undercarriage is in excellent condition.

[NWJD fan]

7 feet is definitely wider than normal. My 350 loader is 60 inches (5 feet) wide from outside of 1 pad to outside of pad on opposite side with 12 inch pads and bucket is 60 inches as well. If you look on the show and tell section JWB contracting has some photos of their 350 loaders converted to wide pad with loader boom mounted 6 way dozer blades

[Scottyb]

I would love one of the wide track 350s. Landscaping around my creeks and sloughs I am getting stuck on a regular basis. As well I am trying to keep things as natural as I can and a wide pad would leave less damage I am sure ! If I see one in ok condition come along anywhere within a day of home I will be trying to get it.

Scott

[gerald]

I have tracks that look like new and I can tell you with the 7 ft wide tracks leaves a big mess behind it. I'm amazed at how responsive the machine is. I have a small case back hoe with a 12 inch bucket that replaced the monster 93 A , im trying to get 500 dollars off craigslist i,n N M.