Buying Guidance

Discuss non-crawler related issues here (keep it sane, please)
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amos
1010 crawler
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Location: Piney Woods of east Texas

Buying Guidance

Post by amos » Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:11 am

People say to me "Amos how do you find these deals?!". I work hard is how. For every piece of equipment I buy to fix or use I pass on 10 to 15 other units that exceed my comfort zone.
Lots and lots of reasons but usually it's obvious: a piece of equipment priced at high retail that is just run out.
You have to be courteous and tactful when talking to the seller but also understand they are trying to sell for top dollar and may be less than forthcoming with true answers about condition.
You also need to either have a deep mechanical background or hire a third party to do the eval.
So: JD 350B dozer has an average price of $9000.00 in my area for a good running unit with +50% undercarriage, no steering issues, and good overall condition.
You see one listed at $11,000.00 and make the drive dragging a trailer and cash in pocket.
Undercarriage run out: -$3000.00
Weak steering clutches: -$1800.00(clutch job means new clutch pack,new brake bands,new seals,new bearings,etc,etc,etc).
Blade worn out with bad pins and bushings: -$500.00 to -$2000.00 *(depends on how far you want to go on blade rebuild)
Engine blowing smoke and showing blow-by: -$2000.00
Radiator leaking: -$500.00
Bad paint: -$500.00( how shiney it is doesn't concern me. It's there for corrosion control).
Bad cylinders and hoses:-$1800.00
So far the deductions put the machine value in the red. This is when you walk away,be patient and continue to look for a machine with more value.
Man says well just make me an offer: Pass as the repairs will far exceed value of a good running machine. Any piece of equipment can turn into a serious money pit and you have to know when to say no.
Amos
Pushin hard or diggin deep life is good.
What's ahead is what matters. What's behind is already done.
A fool of a man is he who doesn't ask questions...
God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason...

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pop pop
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Location: chandler, arizona

Re: Buying Guidance

Post by pop pop » Wed Feb 14, 2018 1:14 pm

AND if you have to ask your wife :roll: :oops: ,,,,, you already know what the answer will be. :( ...
and on that note,us members probably have some incredibly understanding wives, :wink: ,,,,
we really should have a support forum just for them,,,
:arrow:" hi , my name is darlene and my husband has 7 huge piles of(*%$#)yellow iron in my yard" :lol:
440icd/602/8a,,440icd/831/ripper,,440icd/831/3pt.,misc. 440 parts, i have 5 of these now, but i can stop anytime :cry:

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amos
1010 crawler
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Posts: 360
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:29 am
Location: Piney Woods of east Texas

Re: Buying Guidance

Post by amos » Wed Feb 14, 2018 5:59 pm

Hi Pop Pop,
Tried to talk the wife into a new barn (#3). She was disinclined to offer an affirmative response.....unless I provided her with a new diamond necklace. No new barn :(
Amos
Pushin hard or diggin deep life is good.
What's ahead is what matters. What's behind is already done.
A fool of a man is he who doesn't ask questions...
God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason...

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Lavoy
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Re: Buying Guidance

Post by Lavoy » Thu Feb 15, 2018 11:31 am

So in other words, the price of a new barn is a diamond necklace + the cost of the barn? :D
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

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Stan Disbrow
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Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Buying Guidance

Post by Stan Disbrow » Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:01 pm

Hi,

In my case, I was trying to talk my wife into a JD350. But, I can't get another crawler unless she gets a new 10x20 garden shed. Ok! Shed has duly been ordered! Ought to be here in two weeks. :)

Also, this means her Gator will have its' own place in one end of the new shed. This frees up the most important half of my workshop where the Gator has been stored since she got it. I can't even do a simple oil change until I move the Gator out.

And, the Gator for her was the price I had to pay for a new Deere 390 flail mower a few years ago. :P

If I bought her a diamond anything, she'd complain that is wasn't an IH A or an AC G (both toys she would rather have).....

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)

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amos
1010 crawler
1010 crawler
Posts: 360
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:29 am
Location: Piney Woods of east Texas

Re: Buying Guidance

Post by amos » Thu Feb 15, 2018 6:07 pm

Lavoy,
Yup. Pretty dang spensive barn :shock:
Pushin hard or diggin deep life is good.
What's ahead is what matters. What's behind is already done.
A fool of a man is he who doesn't ask questions...
God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason...

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Lavoy
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Re: Buying Guidance

Post by Lavoy » Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:55 am

Yeah, but without the necklace, still going to be expensive as now you have to add living quarters! :lol:
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

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