The sprockets are really worn. Be careful because an undercarriage will set you back a bunch of money.

 

I thought they looked fairly worn too, but I wasn't really sure just how worn they are. Do you think they would need to be replaced immediately? How much would that set me back?

 

The sprockets, pads, and rails are all junk in my view. The rollers are probably just as bad. I would not give over 10k for it as it sits. There have been several 953's B models in my area with good undercarages advertized for 16-17.5k. Probably could even buy them for less.

 

The 53B was produced from '92 through '95. Do you have the serial #? If in fact it is a B, the serial # prefix should be 5MK.

 

I'm having a hard time finding anything for under $20k that has a MP bucket. Most are more like $25k with better undercarriages.

What is different about the "B" model?

Thanks

 

The biggest difference is, the B was when the 3116 engine replaced the 3204....and that was a big improvement.

The 3204 was introduced for the 931 at 62 hp. They jacked it up to around 90 hp in the 943, and to 110 hp with turbo in the 953.....At that point head gaskets became problematic along with a reduced life expectancy.

 

What blue goose said, plus B's and D's have tilting cabs so you can get at houses and what not. I agree that the pads and sprockets are junk, can't imagine the rest of the U/C being far behind. You will suffer trying to clear land with the U/C in its current state. If pick it up for 10-12K your looking at 18-22K total cost. The idlers look good, but you need to check all the rollers for flat spots and bad bearings.

 

The old 963 I used to run had undercarriage better than that one and you still had to be carefull not throwing a track.

I looked at the pictures the way the chain looks one or more of the bottom rollers has locked up. It also looks like it has had the track pads changed at one time so the chain has seen two sets of pads in its life span.

You can try your luck by keep running it the way it is but it will break in the chittiest spot you can imagine and now your stuck.

 

Thanks for all of the info guys. I appreciate it.

 

The track pads are not a big isue for you. All you need is some square stock and a welder and weld the square stock to the pads and they are like brand new. Now the chain and sprockets are worn but i would run it till the tracks fall off that beast. Have not had any experience with the 53, but we work our 43 everyday love that machine.

 

All the ones we run around here are LGP's (Low Ground Pressure) and that one is not. The tracks are narrow and it will sink in even a little mud. You can find allot better shape machine for a good price wright now since work is slow.

 

Why not hire it out? If you buy something like that and end up with a big repair bill or two, you could easily take a hit that would be more expensive than just hiring somebody with a machine... Just sayin. i see a lot of people do this type of thing of buying something, using it for one small job, then selling it thinking they saved a lot of money. I'm sure sometimes you can, but more often than not I don't think they save much if at all and I don't see why you wouldn't hire it out. If you really want to do it yourself why not just rent one? Then all the maintenance headaches and repair costs are someone elses problem.

 

or just get an excavator?

 

or just get an excavator?

Thumbs Up Hee, Hee - I'm with ya.

 

Some people like being in the stone age and still use a track loader :laugh:

Track loaders do work if your on open ground where you can start pushing the brush and trees into burn piles.

 

Thumbs Up Hee, Hee - I'm with ya.

No... Although I like my excavator...

 

No... Although I like my excavator...

I figured you would like that, where is the sharp stick smiley? :waving:

You get the new hoe yet?

 

or just get an excavator?

Too slow, track loaders are much faster when needed to clear or work on open large areas where trucks are not able to access. On the East coast we use track loaders for everything from digging basements to backfilling, fine grading, pushing stock piles, loading trucks or land clearing. Putting a excavator in place of a track loader would be like putting a Mini-Excavator in place of a CTL or skid steer.

 

hes only got 10 acres to rip through, a lot more cheap decent excavators around than tracked loaders i bet. and id say more versatile for a land owner with only one machine.

realistically be cheaper just to pay someone to do it for him

 

hes only got 10 acres to rip through, a lot more cheap decent excavators around than tracked loaders i bet. and id say more versatile for a land owner with only one machine.

realistically be cheaper just to pay someone to do it for him

Not over here... More good TLs going around than exs. And a track loader does a lot of what your 20 ton hoe and your tracked dumper does, with one machine and more efficeintly for some stuff...

 

we used to run an old drott similar to this one

so im not completely naive to their abilities we just found ex to be more versatile, ditching, installing drains etc grading on slopes or banks. they are rare over here now apart from the new ones form cat.

 

I really hadn't thought about using an excavator for this, but since I am looking into all of my options I guess it is something I should consider. I haven't really seen many for sale locally though, what type/size would you recommend?

Also, I have some big boulders though - which I think I would be better off with a loader.

Thanks for all the input.

 

You will be far cheeper to get a 953. I don't ever see any good 20 ton hoes in the teens. Most are 30k+. A 953 with a 3 yard bucket will do alot of work. If you don't have a tandem, then there is no way to move dirt on site. I would either offer like 10-12K max for the loader you are looking at, or keep looking for a machine in better shape. Providing that is runs and operates when your done, you should be able to get your money back out of it. It seems like they have bottomed out in price.