H3 allis track loader

Thanks for all you help.

As far as it being worth having, it depends on what you"re going to use it for, and what you expect from it. It"s no 977, but it will move more dirt in a day than a skid steer; and I have used my HD3 to push out some 18"-20" post oaks and black oaks. Mine needs a new spool valve, it leaks like a sieve. But, it still has fairly decent power on the lift, and I can pick up enough in the bucket to almost lift the back end off the ground (I really need to add some weight to the rear). And, remember, you can always push a lot more than you can lift.

They"re nice little machines. If you can get it for a reasonable price, and you don"t mind turning some wrenches, I"d say go for it.

Good luck, and keep us posted,
Dale(MO)

Last year - I had a tight and steep spot to dig in, and I borrowed my friends Bobcat 753 skid-steer - with a front loader and hoe (can't use both at one time). After using the hoe, I tried it out to move dirt with the front loader. It was amazing and when it comes to the amount of dirt moved in a day - it outworked anything else I own. It also did it on less fuel - the Kubota diesel seems to be pretty efficient. The only problem I had was that of ground clearance. I was moving dirt up a steep hill that was wet. Seemed that after every 10 runs or so, the path would get so rutted up that the skid-steer would start to bottom out and lose traction. I'd then have to run my dozer across it and clean it up. The skid-steer is very fast - MUCH faster than anything on steel tracks that I've run. It certainly has its drawbacks also - especially being very unstable when to take an attachment off the front. I took the hoe off on my slanted field, and the hoe fell over - and the skid-steer kept popping wheelies every time I tried to move. So, it took some getting used to.

I've owned a couple New Holland skid steers, and they were great machines. I have moved cut and graded lots of dirt with both of them. But, I have found my crawler to be more productive at the end of the day, when cutting down hills, filling in low places, general site prep. Mine is a loader, but I use it as a dozer more than anything. I can push a lot more with it than I ever could with a skid steer, and keep things smooth and even behind me. And, I wouldn't even consider clearing anything except maybe small cedar or brush with a skid steer, whereas my crawler is very capable - especially when the ground is soft.

Skid steers definitely have their place, and are great machines to operate. I just wouldn't sell the small crawlers short. I just usually think in terms of grading and site prep when talking about moving dirt - more in "dozer" terms, than in "skid steer" terms. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Hope this helps,
Dale(MO)

I have figured out, if you want to become a good mechanic - either buy a "cheap" skid steer, or anything that says Ditch Witch.

Later,
Dale(MO)