crawlers

GregtheDC · Dec 31, 2012

I am new to this part of the forum, have been reading for sometime but have a question. I have a 195 Farmall SA and several implements that I have semi restored and enjoy. For some reason I really am interested in a crawler, small one, like a TD-4 or 6. Not to heavy, not for working, just to mess with. I have 40 acres to fool around on so I could run it. I dont know how hard they are to work on, they dont seem to be to plentiful and I dont have any idea of how expensive. I am not a great mechanic so worry about being able to keep one up. Any thougths from the experts on here? The Farmall forum has been a lifesaver for me, so many great people so figure this is the same.
Thanks in advance

Anonymous-0 · Dec 31, 2012

One would be a nice addition to your tractor fleet BUT they run on steel tracks and they are EXPENSIVE to maintain. Make sure you get one with good undercarrage or you will spend more time putting tracks back on than driving it. If the idlers are way out near the end of the track frames the UC is worn out. Also beware of one with idlers well back from the end but sprocket teeth work almost away. Worn out UC with a link taken out of track. Treat the rest of it as you would a rubber tired tractor.
Later Bob

JohnDeereJimOhio · Dec 31, 2012

I was in the same place you were. I just read a lot about them and tried to find a decent one.. My grandfather who passed always wanted a Deere crawler and never bought one and I had been looking or one for a couple years and got a really good deal on mine.. I'd say biggest thing is make sure tracks aren't completely garbage.. Mine are wore way down but at 25% track life I will never run that our of them.. They aren't super hard to work on if u can tear a tractor motor or tranny down you could work on a crawler easy, buy all the books and get some equipment or friends to help lift the heavy parts.. Good luck I hope u find one out of our entire collection the crawler is my favorite. If u want some pics an videos of mine working email is open..

Dick2 · Dec 31, 2012

If you are just going to use it a little around the farm, maybe a small gas engine would be suitable. A T6 would have the same engine as the M Farmall, so it would be much easier to work on than a Diesel engine.

I think any of the small crawlers with a gas engine would be neat to have around for occasional use.

jm. · Dec 31, 2012

I know this is a antique board but do your self a favor and move on up to something like the TD7 dozer. They are still 30 years old but lots better tractor and more parts. I can find you a decent td 7 for under 10 easy and you are going to spend 4 or 5 thousand for a older 4 or 6 ..Just my two cents worth.

GregtheDC · Dec 31, 2012

Thanks for the info, I cant say enough about the folks on this site.
Greg

Bret4207 · Jan 2, 2013

I love crawlers. I hate crawlers. I have a JD40c I've pretty much rebuilt from one end to the other. Right now since 12/27/12 I have at least 25 hours of seat time. Without it we'd still be snowbound. It's so useful in deep snow that I can't see how anyone can do without one.

OTOH, I have a JD 1010clb. Bad tracks, problems with hydraulics. Great machine, but tracks are very expensive. I also have a D47u Cat. Again, a lot of work to get it going.

If you have the money and patience, they are indispensable. Some people say to get a 4wd tractor instead, that they do the same job. Well, they don't. 4wd chews through the soil, tracks ride on top. That's the biggest difference and if you have areas where floatation and traction are an issue then tracks are the answer.

dej(Jed) · Jan 2, 2013

(quoted from post at 08:38:47 12/31/12) I am new to this part of the forum, have been reading for sometime but have a question. I have a 195 Farmall SA and several implements that I have semi restored and enjoy. For some reason I really am interested in a crawler, small one, like a TD-4 or 6. Not to heavy, not for working, just to mess with. I have 40 acres to fool around on so I could run it. I dont know how hard they are to work on, they dont seem to be to plentiful and I dont have any idea of how expensive. I am not a great mechanic so worry about being able to keep one up. Any thougths from the experts on here? The Farmall forum has been a lifesaver for me, so many great people so figure this is the same.
Thanks in advance

I had several smaller dozers all priced under $3000. Any of the TD series are, for the most part problematic. The one dozer that I had and liked was a TD340. It was a direct start diesel and a pleasure to use. I cleared several acres of brush and even built a small pond with it. I paid $3000 for it, put no money in it and sold it 2 years and 100 hrs later for $3500.
I would buy it back if I could. Most of them are a money pit because tehy are worn out when guys buy them..

steve n carol · Jan 3, 2013

The acreage that i purchased had been burned. Most was Manzanita, a native hardwood bush. When burned down it leaves a hardwood point coming up from the ground. These points would be anywhere from 2" -12" in height. Cut your rubber tires in a heartbeat! That is why i acquired my Crawler. And, yes, I bought one w/a worn undercarriage. It was expensive to replace, but I did the labor. I had a lot of fun doing it too! sl

crawlers

GregtheDC

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

JohnDeereJimOhio

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Dick2

Well-known Member

jm.

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GregtheDC

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Bret4207

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dej(Jed)

Well-known Member

steve n carol

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