My recent purchase getting life extended-I hope

[TimT]

Bought this very good running 450C this fall, U-C not great, but starts cold very well, no cracks, welds, major leaks, clutches are lively, brakes good. blade is fairly tight for a 79, meter says 4800 hrs. was well maintained. I had JD dealer out to give me a free U-C assessment. Bottom rollers were totally shot. I bought all new rollers, at $93 each and new guard bolts and roller bolts, almost done with it. For home use I think I can get several hundred more hours out the chain/rails. Should be done this week. I thought about painting it, but I like the "patina" or whatever. some pics.

[B Town]

Nice looking crawlers. Keepem rolling. Bruce

[DrLoch]

Very nice. I need to replace the bottom rollers on mine as well. How much of a pain was it to do with the track on? Also where did you get them?

[jsal]

bought one just like that three years ago ended up puting chains and sprockets and 4 rollers new paint paid $9000 how much was yours ?


JIM

[StxRancher]

Nice. I bought a 450c last summer and put new rollers, front idler, sprockets and guard bolts. I ended up painting it as i rebuilt it. Finally I ended up welding up the grouser pads.

[TimT]

To remove and install the rollers, I jacked it up with blade and jacks, blocked it up real good and let track tension out. Took off rock guards and dropped the rollers. All the bolts..every last one..came out with no issues at all with my 1/2" 650 ft lb impact. A couple guard bolts I had to use a 3/4 breaker because of the clearance from the pads near the front and rear, but otherwise I had one side apart in about an hour. Putting the rollers in was kind of a bitch "heavy" but I had a helper and used a floor jack to lift them up.
On the left side I am doing next, I think I will lower the tractor to just clear the rollers on the chain and put a couple bolts in and then raise it up to tighten everything...save my arms and shoulders which are not good. Never- Seez is a good thing!!! I was so glad someone had used it before me!!. I sure put it on the new bolts.
Next put in cross bolts and spacers. tighten up the guards and be done with it..for now. Someday, if I use it a lot I might put new chains and sprockets on, but I had the local JD dealer out to give me an assessment, and he thought I had at least several hundred hours in them for light home use.
The funny part of all this is that I got several quotes on undercarriage parts and lowest for chains, sprockets, ten rollers, and all pad bolts was less than 3 grand. I also went to a local guy who sells lots of used and new JD parts to get some new/used rollers...he wanted 90 bucks each. I called the JD dealer "Five Star Equipment" and they sold me brand new Passini "Vtrack-ValueParts" aftermarket rollers for $93.00 each and bolts. For everything I have about $1,200 into the rollers and bolts. The JD dealer BEAT every other price I could get on aftermarket parts. And the customer support man from the dealer was a great guy. Nice to have a real good dealer that gives you options you can afford!!!!
Oh--The dozer was for sale at 12,000, and I paid 10,000. The previous owner is a good guy who restores old gas engines and such, and he took good care of the machine. I had looked at another 450C that had a better undercarriage, but very bad acting and sounding machine mechanical wise.Would hardly start, took forever to get pressure up in the clutches, slow hydraulics and very loose blade bushings and pins...and he wanted 12,500 firm. I said no thanks to that one real quick. This one works very well for an old girl. Its always somewhat of a gamble with these old tractors no matter what.

[DrLoch]

Which 5 star location?

[SCOTT61]

nice work Tim.

[TimT]

Dr Loch

Orchard Park NY Location.

[DrLoch]

Thank you