Looking at buying a non running JD 350B Track Loader

Hello, I'm interested in a buying a John Deere 350B track loader, it is being sold at auction by a bank, no one knows anything about it, they said it's not running and being sold for parts. It's parked in a shed, looks like it's been there for a long time and it has the dash pulled off along with the fuel filters and possibly some other misc small parts. The tracks look great from the photos, sprockets don't look worn but I will get a better look before the auction. I know these machines had problems with the transmission coming loose from the rear end and causing major issues and expense. Anyway to get a idea on the clutches on a non running machine? I will try to turn over the engine but not sure if I could get a breaker bar in there? And also don't know what the crank nut size is. Maybe I could just put a battery in it and see if it cranks?
Any ideas on other things to look for?

I'm also worried about loading, I was told that there is no one to help load, luckily the loader has a post holding it up in the air, I can put angle iron in the cylinders and pull the post out. I have a triple axle 24' dovetail 5th wheel trailer that can easily hold the weight (machine weighs around 10k lbs) I'm just worried about getting it up there because I do not have a winch. In the past I have blocked the wheels on my trailer and pulled machines on with my pickup but I don't know how this will roll since it has tracks.

I have never had anything with tracks before and I've always wanted a track loader. I bought a '75 JD 410 loader backhoe last year and this track loader will be great working along side it.

Thanks for any info and tips
The auction is the 15th so I have a bit of time.

A site you should look at and search is jdcrawlers dot com. It belongs to Lavoy Wilcox in Horace ND. He works on them and sells parts. Lots of help available. A 350 is considered late model around there.

(quoted from post at 00:33:09 07/08/20) Hello, I'm interested in a buying a John Deere 350B track loader, it is being sold at auction by a bank, no one knows anything about it, they said it's not running and being sold for parts. It's parked in a shed, looks like it's been there for a long time and it has the dash pulled off along with the fuel filters and possibly some other misc small parts. The tracks look great from the photos, sprockets don't look worn but I will get a better look before the auction. I know these machines had problems with the transmission coming loose from the rear end and causing major issues and expense. Anyway to get a idea on the clutches on a non running machine? I will try to turn over the engine but not sure if I could get a breaker bar in there? And also don't know what the crank nut size is. Maybe I could just put a battery in it and see if it cranks?
Any ideas on other things to look for?

I'm also worried about loading, I was told that there is no one to help load, luckily the loader has a post holding it up in the air, I can put angle iron in the cylinders and pull the post out. I have a triple axle 24' dovetail 5th wheel trailer that can easily hold the weight (machine weighs around 10k lbs) I'm just worried about getting it up there because I do not have a winch. In the past I have blocked the wheels on my trailer and pulled machines on with my pickup but I don't know how this will roll since it has tracks.

I have never had anything with tracks before and I've always wanted a track loader. I bought a '75 JD 410 loader backhoe last year and this track loader will be great working along side it.

Thanks for any info and tips
The auction is the 15th so I have a bit of time.

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Is it an absolute auction or is there a reserve amount on it?

If it has been parked under dry cover, that is likely a plus.

The hydraulic pump for the loader on a 350B is driven from the front of the crank, you won't get a breaker bar with a socket on the crank nut. It will be pretty hard to get anything in there to turn it.

From what you posted, here a few things that cross my mind. Engine not running so no idea of condition, no idea of injection pump status (stuck from setting?), condition of the isolator plate on the flywheel, condition of the HLR transmission, condition of steering clutches and brakes (worn out, stuck, oil soaked), possible undercarriage issues (there is a lot more to an undercarriage than how the sprockets look); along with the frame issues and missing parts you posted. Parts missing could have been swiped, loaned, or there maybe issues that cased it to be parked and was starting to be used for a parts source for other machines.

Putting a battery in it and trying to turn it with the starter could damage the injection pump if it is stuck. Turning it by hand could as well. Or it might not, always a risk.

Crawlers will roll, if the tracks haven't seized, or brakes rusted to the drums, from setting. You may need more equipment than your pickup and trailer to load it. Maybe a big ramp truck or equipment trailer with a heavy winch.

I am guessing this sounds like a put down of the machine, just think you need to go into this with eyes wide open. I'm not trying to say one way or the other and that you should or should not go for it. My point is you will be taking a big gamble (more so with no history on it available), so think hard about it and how much you want to bid up front, knowing you are going to have to put at least some into moving it and getting it running. With a little work and a few parts it might be a good machine for you. Or it might be a huge money pit, with one repair just leading to another, before you get it going. Assuming you can make any repairs needed, engine and fuel problems, transmission, steering clutch issues, could end up making 1000 to 5000 dollars in parts, and your time, disappear fast. Even on operating machines (appearing to be in good condition and tried out before purchase) people have ended up deeper in than they expected to be, after they get them home, start to use them, and issues start showing up. Wishing you the best of luck with what ever you decide.

"The tracks looks great", you'd better measure them for wear before you assume they are any good. If you don't know what I mean, then you'd best research it. The grousers (the plates in contact with the ground) are not the important part on tracks- the "chain" is, and they wear on the inside of the pins and bushings and on the rails.

If you aren't a crawler guy, I'd be super leery of paying over scrap price. I did that with a 1010 crawler and I now have a good running crawler with bad hydraulic hoses and snakey tracks. Not my best buy.

Oh , where do we start ?? Reverser oil level.. Dipstick on the floorboards of the machine.. If it's way low , be
prepared to rebuild that reverser. It only holds 9 quarts total of Hy-Gard oil. If the engine looks like it's
locked up, might be the torisonal dampener springs let go causing the engine to "lock-up". The pieces of springs
get caught between the flywheel and back engine plate.. Pull covers off the top of steering clutches and look for
rust and or oil on clutches and brake bands. Broken / missing bolts at the front crossbar to reverser housing ..
milky oil in crankcase caused by leaking liners, pull timing window off the injection pump and hold a clean rag
under it when the timing window plate is removed.. 2 straight slot screws. This will show if there's black
particles inside the pump.. The black particles indicate the governor has bit the dust. Take a bar and pry on
sprockets to check for final drive bearing wear. Other than that a pretty good machine.. Also check the other
suggestions..

Thanks for everyone's info, I will check everything out as best as I can and I will check out that other forum.

I'm not sure what I'm willing to spend yet, scrap prices are way to low to pay scrap price, last I checked it was $50 a ton which would come out to $250 which it will never go that cheap.

Thanks again