used undercarriage - worth it?
-
- 430 crawler
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 11:03 am
- Location: Delta Junction, Alaska
used undercarriage - worth it?
I have a JD450C with some life left in the undercarriage. I'm using it at home, so I hope to get several years more out of the undercarriage.
There is an add on the local Craigs List for a JD450-550 undercarriage. FRom the photos, the tracks look rusty, the bogies look less rusty, and I can't see any bad wear on the drive sprockets. He's asking $2,000. Is it worth driving 100 miles to go look at it? Are decent used parts worth that price?
There is an add on the local Craigs List for a JD450-550 undercarriage. FRom the photos, the tracks look rusty, the bogies look less rusty, and I can't see any bad wear on the drive sprockets. He's asking $2,000. Is it worth driving 100 miles to go look at it? Are decent used parts worth that price?
- gregjo1948
- 350 crawler
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:58 am
- Location: Newark Valley,NY,USA
Re: used undercarriage - worth it?
Is that price for the entire machine or just the tracks,(chains&pads) rollers, idlers, and sprockets? Buy these parts new and you'll probably spend 10K.
JD 350B diesel 6way blade, Case 580B Loader/backhoe, Farmall 504 high crop w/ flail boom mower, International 404 , International 284 diesel w/belly mower, 1972 Ford F600 dump truck, Galion 3-5 roller, Allis Chalmers D17, 1620 Ford
- Stan Disbrow
- 350 crawler
- Posts: 2904
- Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:13 pm
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Re: used undercarriage - worth it?
Hi,
The problem with u/c is that it always looks better than it usually is. You need to measure everything to really determine the wear. Just looking at pics is likely to lead to your buying sad stuff. That said, if you can see in pics that what is out there looks a lot better than what you have right in front of you, it is probably worth going to look in person at the least.
Stan
The problem with u/c is that it always looks better than it usually is. You need to measure everything to really determine the wear. Just looking at pics is likely to lead to your buying sad stuff. That said, if you can see in pics that what is out there looks a lot better than what you have right in front of you, it is probably worth going to look in person at the least.
Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!
Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)
Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)
-
- 430 crawler
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 11:03 am
- Location: Delta Junction, Alaska
Re: used undercarriage - worth it?
Thanks for the replies.
This fellow is just offering track, rollers and drive sprockets. What I have may be a little better than what he's selling, but after I've put a few more years wear on mine, that will probably reverse. If new chain, drive sprockets and rollers are going to cost $10 grand, $2 grand for this could be a great deal if there is 50% life left, and a lousy deal if there is only 10% life left.
After thinking this through, I think what I really need to know is the following:
1) Do the JD450 and JD 550 really share the same track parts, as this fellow implies?
2) Would it be worth while installing used track if it's 50% worn (I'm guessing yes)? How about if it's 90% worn? How bad would it have to be to not be worth installing at all? Changing the undercarriage looks like hard work, and I wouldn't want to do it more than I have to.
3) What measurements should I take on this stuff that's not installed, and what numbers should I get?
This fellow is just offering track, rollers and drive sprockets. What I have may be a little better than what he's selling, but after I've put a few more years wear on mine, that will probably reverse. If new chain, drive sprockets and rollers are going to cost $10 grand, $2 grand for this could be a great deal if there is 50% life left, and a lousy deal if there is only 10% life left.
After thinking this through, I think what I really need to know is the following:
1) Do the JD450 and JD 550 really share the same track parts, as this fellow implies?
2) Would it be worth while installing used track if it's 50% worn (I'm guessing yes)? How about if it's 90% worn? How bad would it have to be to not be worth installing at all? Changing the undercarriage looks like hard work, and I wouldn't want to do it more than I have to.
3) What measurements should I take on this stuff that's not installed, and what numbers should I get?
Re: used undercarriage - worth it?
Here is my general rule regarding used undercarriage. You have used undercarriage already.
New undercarriage is not $10,000, and used undercarriage other than in rare occasions is $120/ton.
Lavoy
New undercarriage is not $10,000, and used undercarriage other than in rare occasions is $120/ton.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
-
- 430 crawler
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 11:03 am
- Location: Delta Junction, Alaska
Re: used undercarriage - worth it?
Thanks, Lavoy. Up here in Interior Alaska, new undercarriage will cost what it costs in the Lower 48 plus a thousand or more additional shipping. On the other hand, because of shipping, scrap steel is worth a lot less than $120 a ton!
I may just offer him something a little above our near-zero scrap prices.
I may just offer him something a little above our near-zero scrap prices.
Re: used undercarriage - worth it?
Yeah, that sucks, freight would be a killer.
Lavoy
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 59 guests