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jdemaris
12-08-2004 20:23:24
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Re: Your opinion on JD 350C? in reply to AKDozer, 12-08-2004 19:27:13
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Yeah, it's worth owning if you NEED it. It IS what it IS, a small crawler. Other than checking the obvious, e.g. engine, reverser function, steering clutches and brakes (they're wet), here are a few things particular to the 350C series to look for: #1 look underneath where the reverser case bolts to the transmission case. Two large nuts on studs (takes around a 1 1/8" wrench). Make sure they look tight and there is no evidence of movement or shifting between the two cases. If there is, don't buy the crawler. #2 Check the two side frames where they bolt to the final drive clutch housings. Look for rewelds or cracks. If they ARE cracked, look for further related problems, e.g. cracked or loose clutch housings and/or final drives. #3 Check the cast cross-bar that the track frames are fastened to. 1010s and 350s have always had problems here, but different sytems are used depending on vintage of machine. 350C uses a "floating" track-frame system. So, the trackframes are bolted to the crossbar with floating dowels that hammer up, down, and sideways when the crawler is used. They often break, or wear the metal down to near nothing. So, check for loose and/or missing bolts and dowels, thin/worn fastening areas, or . . . parts that have already broken and someone trying welding the whole mess fast. It NEEDs to float or something else will break. I don't know why Deere didn't install a tranverse spring like CAT or AC uses. 450 series Deere crawlers don't have the wear or breakage problems the 350s have.
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