Should I buy this IH 150 track loader?

The machine is in good shape in every way except for the engine. The owner says he blew a head gasket some years ago, removed the engine (he says it"s a "282") and took off the cyl head, but that the engine has now been sitting for many years and is now stuck/frozen.

Questions:

1- Is this machine worth $2K in this present condition?

2- I figure at least another $1500 to put the motor right. Should I just look for another good motor to swap in, or, re-build this one?

3- On this 282 engine, are the cylinder bores sleeved? If they are...Is it easy (in a home shop) to remove the old sleeves and install the new ones? I have a decent amount of gasoline engine rebuilding experience.

4- I don"t seem to be able to find a lot of information on-line about the model #150. (Is it really the same machine as a TD-9)? How can I figure out how old this machine is?

Any insights to this machine, or advice would be much appreciated!!

Keep the shiny side up!

Rob

I am really starting to get stoked about buying the machine! (I will be going to look at it in detail this weekend with the owner). The folks who have it up for sale seem to be very good people and they say that the undercarriage, tracks and pads, are all good. Also, the pump was "recently" replaced as well. The transmission is said to be in good shape. All hydraulics are said to be in good shape as well.

OK, now for....MORE QUESTIONS!!

I know that the 282 engine that was in it is NOT a turbo. Therefore, does this mean that it DEFINATELY has the Powershift Trans? What are the benefits of a powershift trans? (Is this similar to an automatic transmission?) Please forgive my ignorance, this is my first experience with a piece of heavy power equipment. My dad however is a diesel guy (marine) and so I"m not afraid of what it will take to get the motor running again.

If the unit has sat for a long time (I think at least 6-8 years outside), what is the likelihood that the clutches that run the tracks will have problems/be stuck?

Seann, is the bucket shown in your photos the "4n1" bucket? That is what comes with the one I"m considering, I just havent seen it yet. Your machine is looking good and seems to be serving you real well.

Thanks guys for your info and guidance!!!

If the machine has set for 6-8 years, that's quite a while. These machines have "dry" clutches (big drum clutches used to transfer and decouple power to each track during turns). One drawback of dry clutches is that the clutch discs can rust together and seize if not used on a reasonably regular basis. If they do seize up, sometimes they can be unseized without too much trouble, but other times they must be taken apart and even replaced - which can run into some labor and parts expense.

And try and not get too excited about the machine, make sure you really look into the condition of the undercarriage before committing to buy. I'm sure the current owners are probably honest and providing you with accurate info about this machine. But keep in mind without the engine running, its just about impossible to verify that everything works, is not leaking, and nothing is seized up. Even if everything worked great the last they used it, that certainly doesn't mean that that would necessarily be the case if the engine was suddenly running again. That's why old crawlers like this often go for little more than scrap price unless it's very obvious the machine is in great shape and/or it is a highly desirable model. Not trying to scare you off from it, but I would think about making a low "scraplike" offer and then moving from there if necessary, that's all. It's unlikely they have a long line of bidders for an old unrunning machine like that. Also, posting detailed pictures of the loader (especially of the U/C) would help in determining its value.

The 4-1 bucket is great, it is very versatile and can be used for a bunch of stuff. Grading, dozing, scooping, picking up stumps, logs, rocks etc and moving them around. It's an awesome add on to any loader, I'm really glad I have it.

Anyway good luck with your loader venture, these really are great machines. Let us know how you make out.

"1- Is this machine worth $2K in this present condition?"

If it's in good shape in every way except the engine, plus it's a powershift (as opposed to a manual clutch/tranmission model), then I would say definitely yes. The only problem is verifying that everything else works (tranny, clutches, final drives etc) which is almost impossible to do without it running. Also, verify that the undercarriage (U/C) is in good condition, which is the most important part of assessing an old crawler's value. Make sure the U/C is in decent/usable shape, hire an expert if you don't know. Otherwise the machine is only really worth basically a little above scrap iron price (they weigh about 21,000 lbs).

"2- I figure at least another $1500 to put the motor right. Should I just look for another good motor to swap in, or, re-build this one?"

The 282 is a good motor, mine has been great and overall I'm very pleased with it. The only complaint I have with it is that it's a bit hard to start when it's ice cold. Also, the older IH's are known for getting cracked heads if you shock cool them or overheat them badly. So try and verify that the head is not cracked, but even if it is, the 282 was a common motor in IH farm and industrial equipment. Rebuilt, new and used parts are widely available, so I wouldn't worry much about that.

"3- On this 282 engine, are the cylinder bores sleeved? If they are...Is it easy (in a home shop) to remove the old sleeves and install the new ones? I have a decent amount of gasoline engine rebuilding experience."

Not sure if they're sleeved, my engine manuals are not handy right now. Maybe someone else can chime in and advise.

"4- I don't seem to be able to find a lot of information on-line about the model #150. (Is it really the same machine as a TD-9)? How can I figure out how old this machine is?"

The 150 loader is based on the TD9B dozer chassis. They were made between from about 1963 and 1974. I don't know what the serial number correspondence is with year model. Go to the redpower sight to learn that info (http://www.redpowermagazine.com/forums//index.php?showforum=9). The 282 turbo diesel engine was used in the gearshift models (producing 71 hp) and the naturally aspirated 282 (producing 75 hp) was used in the powershift model. The weight with 4-1 bucket was right about 21,000 lbs. This machine is very versatile and very powerful. It can do an awful lot of work for you without complaint.

Here's my loader earning its keep, it's been a great machine, I recommend the 150!