I may have the opportunity to purchase this machine rather cheap. Will it still be feasible to move dirt and clear trees?
Think about what that blade was designed to do. To get any utility out of it, you need to get a proper blade.
With a blade that narrow it will still burn the same amount of fuel per hour but get much less work done. To install a wider blade would also be a challenge.
No ! I watched a lot of D9's and D10's with that style blade attempt to move dirt and it was a pathetic waste of fuel and time.
iusEj
if you have little or no experience with a machine that large, it is potentially a VERY expensive machine to learn on. if you have no previous dozer experience a D6C or D6D would be a better choice
The blade is 13 ft wide, would that still not matter?
What about for just clearing trees?
Got photos of the tractor.? That doesn’t sound like a cushion blade for pushing scrapers (which jibes with the rear push block for tandem pushing) to me.
LOL that's a straight blade. It is very useful IMO. No tilt is annoying but those of us who had Crawler Loaders survived. A fellow with good fabbing skills could make a tilter for it. Not something worth paying others to do though. EDIT: looks like dampers at the top for shock. I have not seen one like this.
Would that set up be as strong as a c frame? How much tilt would it need?
It is strong enough to push a scraper. I don't see strength as an issue. The fabbing would be extensive, you'd take the blade off and build a center pivot and eliminate those lower pins, and add a tilt cylinder. Trick would be if there is a place for the spool in the control valve.
No it ain't. That's a cushion (C) blade for pushing scrapers. That's why it has the rubber dampers on the back. The block at the rear of the tractor is a push block for tandem pushing. IMHO for general dozing work it would be as much use as a one-legged man at an ass kicking contest. A different dozer/scraper model combination but you can see the C blade arrangement and the push block on the back of the tractors clearly.
Not sure. I found this online, asking questions before I go look at it.
i picture the small narrow blade that is inside the track gauge when I think of a push blade.
Push arms mounted inside the track frames instead of outside, it's a cushion blade. Have someone take a look on the back RH side of the blade in the top corner. It should have a Serial Number plate or be stamped with a S/N starting with 71F or 77G.
Nige, I could see a 6 way fabbed out of that
Too much BHP for the structure or hydraulics to stand it IMHO. TBH that blade setup is probably the biggest reason why it's selling relatively cheap compared to other D8K tractors.
Can the blade be permanently secured at correct tilt?
That is a nice looking K tractor. All it needs is a set of trunnion balls installed and a complete blade with push arms and plumb up the tilt ,you be in business. You should be able to find a straight or semi u blade in a tractor used parts yard. Bob
serial number plate
There is no correct tilt on that one. It was designed for a single purpose. The big ass block on the back is useless for anything but to get pushed. The added weight is detrimental to the use of the tractor other than getting pushed. If you were to remove it then you will probably be looking for a draw-bar. I spent a lot of hours around 9's & 10's set up like that. That cheap tractor can get expensive in hurry. Even if the tractor it self is in decent shape. Those push tractors usually have a lot of wear on them from using 3rd gear reverse.
How bad are these dozers like this abused?
Nice looking tractor that. However,it’s totally useless to you. Common site here in the UK years ago with D9 tractors. I imagine,there will be breakers yards full of 8S blades to buy for cheap enough money,rather than scrapping them. We would change from 9C to 9S blade configuration in under an hour no problem. You’ll need to buy a couple of trunnions for the frames and possibly a blank push arm if you’ve no tilt to operate. No big drama really As for the rear button ,I suppose you could just leave it on.