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jdemaris
01-09-2005 07:18:10
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Re: JD crawler loaders in reply to Mike NY, 01-08-2005 23:48:10
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Deere made the 1010 crawler loader from 1960 to somewhere around 1965-66. I ought to remember since I worked on them new, but my brain is not what it used to be. The 350 loader is not much different from the 1010. It's a little heavier, has a totally different engine, but power is about the same - 1010s and 350s are both underpowered for heavy loader use. 350 got many improvements by the time is was of the "B" vintage - but many older ones also got those improvements if major repairs were done. Reversers got beefed up, steering clutch housings got improved, side-frames got gusseted, etc. The 1010s got retrofitted with later 350 steering clutch housings. One thing that did NOT get better is the torsional isolator used on most 350s. 1010s and early 350s had a spring-loaded engine clutch disk that powered the hydraulic reverser. This setup worked fine. Then Deere changed over to a convoluted arrangement of springs, posts, anchors, etc. on the flywheel along with a very expensive drive-plate. It was, and still is, awful. As a Deere mechanic, as far as working on the 350 series goes, it was the #1 repair item. We always had 350s coming in the shop with engines appeared to be seized - that being because of an isolator that had come apart. #2 repair item was the reverser, and #3 the steering clutches. When the series got to the "D", a new style isolator got used along with a larger engine. As far as the dry steering clutches go, they are fine if care is used. Keep the machine under cover, run it once in a while, and use the clutch housing drains once in awhile. We had a few episodes when people left the drain plugs out on a permanent basis. This worked fine until they drove through water. I was a Deere mechanic when Deere made the change over from dry to wet steering clutches. We had just as much trouble with the wet clutches as the dry, the problems were of a different nature, but just as expensive if not more. On the subject of parts - last year I bought a 1010 gas powered crawler-loader with rear ripper from its original owner. It has been in a light fire - but it was considered unperpairable considering the local dealer gave a repair estimate of over $10,000. So, the guy sold it to me for $1200 and insurance got him a 350 loader. He says he liked his 1010 better - but I suspect that is simply because #1 the 1010 was gas and started easier in cold weather, and #2 it was a little lighter and thus he could truck it himself. I got an education on parts availability when I repaired the 1010. Every piece of soft metal or rubber on the machine was destroyed. Every hose, metal tag, gear shift knob, seats, etc. I was quite amazed how much of this stuff, for an early 1960 1010 was still available. Just about all of it was and most was reasonable. Biggest problem I had was getting a repair kit for the cast-iron Webster-Electric hydraulic pump. Deere had considered it obsolete in 1962 - but Deere did a search of old dealer's stock and I found a kit a few states away. Cost a hundred bucks when it should have been worth $30 - but I was glad to get it.
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