IH 340 crawler loader

I'm going next week for a first look at a 340 loader. It is a yellow one and it runs good. It has shuttle shift, gas engine, good tracks and sprockets, and it probably needs one or both steering brakes replaced. It has a Drott 4 in 1 up front. Are parts still available for it, especially for brakes right now, but then for other things later if needed, and how big a job is replacing the brakes? It is priced at $3450, which seems too high to me. Assuming the pins and bushings are tight and no serious issues other than the brakes, what do you all think it may be worth?

(quoted from post at 05:52:06 08/28/15) I'm going next week for a first look at a 340 loader. It is a yellow one and it runs good. It has shuttle shift, gas engine, good tracks and sprockets, and it probably needs one or both steering brakes replaced. It has a Drott 4 in 1 up front. Are parts still available for it, especially for brakes right now, but then for other things later if needed, and how big a job is replacing the brakes? It is priced at $3450, which seems too high to me. Assuming the pins and bushings are tight and no serious issues other than the brakes, what do you all think it may be worth?

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I've seen 340s with loaders as high as 6500 in the last year or so. Track and undercarriage parts may be hard if not impossible to find. To the best of my knowledge steering clutch and bands are available from aftermarket sources. IIRC there is a guy who did a retrofit for track chains on one of those to Cat chains and sprockets.

As far as brakes are concerned if it's been setting it may just need some work time to get the brakes cleaned up. Also the linkage adjustment may be off.

Rick

When you say "probably" about the brakes, do they work good now?? If I were convinced that the machine needs brakes replaced, paying half the asking price would be enough or I'd leave it alone. If you think you'd enjoy doing the repair you would have to decide what you think is a fair price.

By needs brakes replaced meaning it doesn't steer?
We had one here that would only steer one way.
Never did figure out if it was clutch/brake or planetary steering.

I haven't seen it yet, but the ad says the right steering brake needs adjustment. I threw out the worst case scenario when I said it probably needs the brakes replaced. My thought is if he wants a good price out of a machine that appears pretty decent otherwise (according to the ad), and all it needs is that brake adjusted, why doesn't he do it himself and not leave something there to negotiate the price down? Hence, in my mind he might be trying to fool a buyer into thinking a simple adjustment will fix it, when really it might need to be replaced. I'll know more after I look next week. I know it may just need adjustment and he may have a reason for not doing it himself, but I am the skeptical type!

I have a gas T-340 with a Drott 4-in-1.

Be sure to measure the tracks, as undercarriage parts are hard to find. I know that the specs are on this forum, as some of the members of YT posted them for me when i had questions-do a search for T-340 and you will find them.

As far as the brakes, if you need to replace them, the track comes off, and the whole sprocket/gearcase comes off to get at them. Not horrible, just takes some time and patience. Brake disc are available.

But, if it steers/does not steer, it could be issues with the planetary differential pads/linkages. If it need those new pads, the whole rear top cover comes off. A bigger job.
Basically, if you drive the dozer, and let go of both levers, it should go straight. If it does not go straight, pull on the lever in which the dozer is turning/drifting if the brake grabs, it will then pivot to that direction. Release the lever, and if it then stops pivoting, but still drifts in that direction, you will have to determine if that brake is slightly dragging, or if it is the planetary pads. An point and shoot laser temperature gun, pointed at the brake actuator after a few minutes of travel will tell you if something is dragging.

Best of luck!!

I share your thoughts exactly...I haven't owned an IH 340 but many other bulldozers and on some the brake adjusting mechanism can be seized to the point where you still have to do some disassembly to even be able to make an adjustment. I'm sure you'll make a good decision once you see it.

Thanks for the replies and info. Unfortunately he got it sold before I could get away to go look at it. So my search will continue...