Hey ya'll we are going to look at a older dozer tomorrow morning for use around the farm. from the dozen photos it looks to have a turbo 3306 motor and the undercarriage looks like its 90%, really shocking. the fello farmer said he has owned it ten years problem free and only put a couple of hundred hours on it. is there anything particular we should look out for outside of the normal blow by, grease fittings, and general movement. The seller is asking 23k for the machine and we just were curious if we should bring any tools and inspect brake clutches or any other known problematic items that you suggest appreciate the help very much some pictures https://i.ibb.co/hLpTWtr/75-A8-BB01-1-A3-C-4-F04-A8-A1-7-B1-B56-D5-D0-EA.png https://i.ibb.co/K9Hb5qD/235-F60-F3-0966-4-FB3-9-B34-6-C470-D0-D8-E13.png https://i.ibb.co/cc1YxWV/BD39-AD67-E461-403-B-8-D8-D-C1-DF376-CA43-B.png https://i.ibb.co/yyC7cvH/49-AC05-B7-8-EE5-42-FE-BF78-ED4-ECB658-AC9.png
Don't think it's a turbo as it's only around 100 HP. Best to see if you can hire a mechanic more familiar to inspect it for you. Would be money well spent.
thanks for the reply, anything you can recommend that we look at? what is this snail thing? https://i.ibb.co/1Krkc1s/EC5-AF88-E-5242-4715-8949-2254462721-A3.png
That would be the turbo. If you are not familiar with this type of machine you should take someone with you who is otherwise you run the risk of getting seriously burned on the purchase. See this thread as an example that sellers can be very economical with the truth. HeavyEquipmentForums
cool thanks for the tips..
I jumped into an older D5 that needs it's fair share of "stuff"...but my "deal" was half the price; included (wide load) delivery, set of filters, original manuals and a 150' spool of 3/4" cable. HeavyEquipmentForums I did NOT take an expert with me, and it likely (but hopefully not) will cost me dearly. Looking back on the "pressures" of my deal (two other buyers lined up behind me and the multi hour drive (each way))...I didn't feel I had the time that day...which I probably didn't. BUT, I bet if I had put down a large cash deposit (maybe 1/3 of price) and wrote up the deal contingent upon inspection report from a certified CAT inspector...maybe that would have been the best overlap of schedules?? Allows the seller to still show the equipment for sale, gives you a few days to find a CAT mechanic that can do the pre buy. Who knows, maybe the "threat" of bring in a pro will crack the seller into revealing the "real story"!?!? Remember most property deals provide a due diligence period, can be 1 hour, couple days, weeks...but both parties agree to timeframe and who has to do what by when. Just a thought. You will certainly see/find a bunch stuff on your own. Gives you a chance to see the owner/machine walk thru/startup (hopefully it will be a cold start). Check fluids, overall condition...but just know unless its obvious (or told to you), you're missing about $10k of fixes that are staring you right in the face...and it might be more!! I should add - in my "deal" the trucking became an issue. So many garages are backed up repairing big rigs we had trouble getting a rig/driver to move the machine at a drop of the hat (believe we waited 5 or 6 weeks) Gotta say the photos/paint of the machine your going to look at looks outstanding! Lastly...sit down and read this 20 page (multi year) write-up/repairs...I jumped you at page 5 where the photos get good! You need to understand the track components and more importantly the components within a pre combustion chamber engine (aka possible antifreeze leak point)...while not identical on your machine, I believe near match to whats under/in the machine you're about to look at. HeavyEquipmentForums Good luck!!
Thank you very much for the reply. I am bringing a mechanic with me and hopefully we don't see any gear oil in the steering clutch areas, etc. I will review the thread you linked to me right now. much appreciate the help. Fortunately for us we have a truck and trailer large enough to pull around this iron
My bad, it is a turbo. I wouldn't have thought it would be a turbo with the lower HP. Buying a used machine is not anything like buying property. The seller just wants to sell their machine, first one with cash gets it. A good seller with nothing to hide would likely hold a machine with a deposit but other sellers would prefer to just have someone give them the money. Too small a deposit and/or takes a buyer too long to find someone to inspect it and then finds a problem, you'll likely kiss the deposit goodbye. I worked with a guy who sold his son's car because his son was in college and didn't need a car. A potential buyer paid a garage to inspect it and it needed some work so he didn't buy it. The buyer came to the welding supply and asked to speak to the seller outside. Seemed a little odd why outside... He was demanding the seller refund the $100 he paid to have the car inspected. Seller told the guy to pound sand and said he didn't know too much about the car and the inspection was more to protect the buyer. It was really bizarre, we could hear the guy yelling for about 5 minutes. If I recall it was a $1500 car. The seller wasn't a pushover and the buyer was just a moron wanting his money back for the inspection. In hindsight maybe the buyer realized it was $100 well spent.
we went and checked out the pusher and it had quite a bit of slop in the blade. the machine body panels was pretty rough as well; cannot say it was worth as much as they were asking. We are trying to negotiate the price now but they are staying pretty firm. i'm afraid its come down to people trying to profit off machines.. at least thats the impression i've gotten. Thats the way she goes some times.
You don't have to settle on the 1st machine you look at, especially if you know it has been for sale for awhile. Generally if a machine has been on the market for a few weeks or more, it's not the best deal and other's have passed on it. A lot of sellers are unrealistic with their asking price. If they have receipts for repairs and parts can help justify the price. You can often get a good idea if the seller is honest or a shyster when you meet or talk to them. A couple years ago someone was asking about track loader with a backhoe. I recognized the ad they posted... premium condition, 90% undercarriage, etc., etc. The member called the seller and was told it was from his own excavation business he retired from a few years earlier and he kept it because it was his favorite machine. I said good he should have receipts for the undercarriage and maitainence records. He called back and it was what I expected, all the receipts and maintainence records got thrown out when he closed the business. Why would you throw them out if you know you're going to be selling the machine in the somewhat near future??? May have been a great machine but the seller was so full of BS it gave the potential buyer bad vibes and he passed on the machine.