Determining worth of a crawler?

Though I've owned and driven several wheel tractors, I have little experience with track equipment, and I'm just in the learning stage with regards to knowing how to size up a crawler. Does anybody have any suggestions as to where I can go, a web-page or a book, to get some idea how to determine fair market price for used crawler loaders? I am looking for something akin to what a dealer would use to get a base price on used stuff.

Thanks.

I was looking for a JD 350 to use on my farm, and to do a job or two for others. It seemed to me all the JD 350's and 450's that were for sale, were over priced, or mostly wore out. Then i ran onto a Case 450. It had 200 hours on new pins, bushings, pad bolts, and sprockets. It all so had a few smaller things replaced on it too. It starts and runs like new, and doesn't burn any oil. Long story short, i bought it, and have done only maintance since. I've made a fair amount of $$ with it too, besides rebuilding a lot of the road on my place. I won't go as far as Marlowe below, but i will say, around here a lot nicer Case crawlers are to be had for less $$ than JD crawlers. I'm glad i bought the Case, it's a good tractor. BTW, i think you will be better off buying a little nicer (lower hour) crawler now, than haveing to buy parts later. Part prices are out of this world these days!! Robert

There are many fine older machines out there. JD is good, AC is good, IH is good. Some models are toughter to find parts for and some parts are not available for some machines. While engine parts are usually available, it is the high wear parts that become the most difficult to find such as rails, rollers, idlers, sprockets ect.

If you find a good JD take it and go from there. If not look at TD9 or the HD5/6 by AC.

Form the sounds of what you want to do, you are almost calling for a light project tractor. Need not be perfect. Look at www.ibdozing.com on the discussion formus there. Is is broked down by tractor make and so you can get a good idea what peole are saying.

Now no matter what you buy, unless it is almost new, you will spend more time working on it than running it. I know I have 4 that way plus at that same time helping a buddy on number 5 right now rebuild his hudraulic systems and have added a 15Ton Mobile crane to the mix.

That is also the fun part of this stuff, How to I fix it to keep it running. Like the surrealist play "Waiting for GODOT"

Good luck hope you find a good one