Appraising a used dozer
WHETHER you are inspecting a 67 kW
dozer for farm use or a mighty 670 kW
for mining or large earthworks, the
same basic principles apply. As you go
larger you get more production, but
have to pay more in ownership and
operating costs.
Dozers are the real workhorses of
our industry and, as such, work in the
most severe conditions. It is therefore
acceptable to see a dozer looking quite
a bit rougher than, say, a rubber-tyred
loader of the same hours.
Many dozers are double shifted,
used for ripping, etc. It’s important that
we try to find out what actual use the
dozer has been put to — for example,
if you are being told that a dozer has
done no or very little rock work and
the push arms, track frames and roller
guards are biffed and scarred, com-
mon sense tells us that is not the case.
Check the service history and do
your best to verify major component
hours.
Our criteria for non-mechanic’s in-
spections is:
1 We have to be quick and efficient,
time is money. Allow two hours. If
you are paying a fitter to do the
inspection, on a large dozer they are
going to need about six hours plus
travelling time.
2 What is serviceable, what isn’t and
how much will it cost to make it
work?
3 Half worn out, 50% life remaining,
give or take 10% is quite acceptable
in the world of used equipment.
Ground-level inspection
Approach the machine. I use a pre-
pared check sheet which serves to
divide the unit into different sections
which can be addressed one at a time.
Walk around the machine several
times, taking note of all obvious faults,
oil leaks, damaged tin work, undercar-
riage, blade, push arms, ripper, etc.
This is taking in the overall image.
Take photographs, and plenty of
them. You will be surprised how handy
they will be after you have left the
dozer.
Make sure you have the machine on
good, hard stand because ideally you
will have to get under the machine and
take a look around.
Start at the serial number plate. Once
you have the correct serial number you
can verify the year of manufacture using
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor October 1998
What should you do when you want to present a
dozer for sale or evaluate a prospective purchase?
Don Shewring, of Brisbane-based Consolidated
Crane and Tractor Pty Ltd, suggests you follow his
bouncing ball in our popular non-mechanic’s guide
to appraising machinery.
the Kwik Reference Serial Number Guide.
Open every cover and inspect within;
dip all dipsticks, check all fluid levels,
inspect the batteries, etc.
Operator station
Have a very close look around “the
office”, check the seat and adjusting
mechanism, operating levers, switches
and gauges. Does the radio work?
Check for broken glass, loose or
missing cab lining, is the cabin a certi-
fied ROPS, do the windscreen wipers
and washers work?
Satisfy yourself that wear in pedals,
etc is commensurate with hours
worked.
You will already have checked the
engine oil and coolant levels, so it is
appropriate to start up the machine.
Engine
Warm up the engine to operating tem-
perature, check that all gauges operate
and that they are “in the green” during
all phases of operation.
We are looking for any untoward
signs which may indicate serious prob-
lems: generally, if it starts easily and runs
sweetly, it’s okay. Warning signs are:
An Earthmover &
Civil Contractor
special feature
Although dozers come in a
range of shapes and sizes,
with different transmission
systems, the overall principles
for evaluating them are much
the same.
• bubbles in the radiator could mean
a blown head gasket, cracked head
or a porous area in the block
• coolant in engine oil or oil in radia-
tor indicates a blown oil cooler or
heat exchanger
• blue exhaust smoke indicates ex-
cessive oil usage
• white exhaust smoke indicates mois-
ture present
• excessive black smoke indicates
excessive fuel
• slobbering (excessive breathing)
from crankcase breather indicates
piston and ring wear.
If you detect what looks like a major
problem, call in the experts to assess
what it is and what it will cost.
Transmission
Work the dozer at the heap for at least
15 minutes to test the transmission.
Listen carefully for any unusual
noises, like high-pitched whines, which
could indicate well-worn gears.
If the dozer won’t push at the heap,
it’s possible the torque converter needs
resealing or the clutch pack in that
Crawler dozer step-by-step appraisal
THE dozer in question was supplied
from the yard stock of Construction
Equipment Disposals Pty Ltd, based
near Archerfield Airport in Brisbane,
and we thank them for the courtesy.
The machine we picked was a
Komatsu D155A-2, 1994 model with
approximately 12,500 operating hours,
complete with semi “U” blade with
hydraulic tilt, quad ram (variable pitch)
multi-shank rippers with three tynes
fitted and an air-conditioned ROPS
cabin.
For your information, this is a 50 t
class dozer when fully rigged, pow-
ered by a 239 kW Komatsu 56D155
diesel engine, and is highly regarded
by both earthmovers and miners.
Former owner: large national
earthmoving and mining contractor.
My appraising kit, which is a
Contractor’s Briefcase courtesy of The
Earthmover and Civil Contractor
magazine. One side has divisions for my
appraisal forms and reference books, the
other side (shown here) contains
everything necessary to carry out the
appraisal, including insect repellent,
Texta pens, calculator, mobile phone,
shifting spanner, scraper, drivers, rulers
and vernier calliper, etc.
Asking price:
$240,000.
Initial impres-
sion: good late
model dozer
which, from oper-
ating hours, has
worked a lot of
double shifts.
There is no doubt
that it has been
consistently
worked (that’s
what we buy doz-
ers for), but it
shows signs of high
quality repair and maintenance prac- • engine original
tices and appears to have done little • torque converter and transmission
rock work. original.
All in all, a presentable unit with This time around, we will take a
plenty of life left. slightly different tack and show the
tractor (above) having necessary re-
Mechanical history
pairs made, and then show you the
• final drives reconditioned at 11,886 repaired-as-necessary, workshop-serv-
hours iced, sandblasted, primed, painted and
• brake bands and steering clutches new decals, ready-for-sale dozer.
reconditioned at 11,886 hours We specifically chose this “pants
• new track chains at 11,886 hours down” shot to show how gutted and
• new radiator fitted at 12,500 hours untidy a quality tractor can look during
its transformation from good used con-
dition to very good/excellent condi-
tion.
Also, when this dozer was traded, it
was obvious that some undercarriage
items were worn and needed repair or
replacement. We had to find out what
needed to be fixed and what needed to
be replaced.

Check the seat thoroughly. Be sure that

Head straight for the serial number
plate. On this model, it’s located on
the lower panel just inside the right-
hand door. Use the Kwik Reference
Serial Number Guide, which will tell
you that serial number 52338 was
manufactured in 1994.
While we are here, let’s check out the
office. A nice clean, comfortable cabin
is a more productive workplace.
Always make sure this area is as good
as it can possible be. Make the
operator comfortable and that person
will generally repay you handsomely
with increased production.
all the adjusting mechanisms work
correctly; inspect the foot pedals. Have
any play in seat support pins and
bushes seen to. If the seat is too worn,
buy a new one. It’s that important —
and you will note that this seat needs
re-covering.
Step-by-step appraisal

October 1998 The Earthmover & Civil Contractor

Appraising a Dozer step-by-step appraisal
used dozer
range has packed it in.
As with the engine, if the transmis-
sion has no undue noises or leaks and
it operates correctly, then chances are
that it is okay.
When transmissions start to become
worn, the telltale signs are usually oil Right-hand armrest (needs re- This radiator is brand new or recently
leaks or excessive metal in the trans- covering), blade control lever, ripper fitted and supports the mechanical
mission filter. Oil leaks you can visu- control lever, radio, ignition switch, history (it was reported that a new
ally see, but checking the filter means light switches and gauges — check the radiator was fitted prior to trade in).
removing it and cutting it in half. operation of all of these items. Just Take special note of all items in this
If the dozer is hydrostatic drive, look how close and easy to work the area — grill, radiator isolation
which consists of a hydraulic pump controls are on a modern dozer. mounts, lights, panel work, etc.
powering hydraulic drive motors on
the final drives, and there is an opera-
tion problem, you really have to call
the dealer and have the hydraulic com-
ponents fault tested.
Steering clutches, brakes
Perform turns in all directions to check
the operation of the steering clutches.
To test the brakes, hold the brakes Left of the operator’s seat is the
in hard and see if they hold okay under transmission control lever (three Coming down the left-hand side of the
full revs. forward, three reverse ranges), the machine, we open a cover over the
This is also a good test to indicate steering levers, air-conditioning and engine oil dip stick and filler and the
that the engine is making full power. If heater controls. Be sure everything fuel pump. Dip the oil and check for
the engine lugs down and dies during operates as it should and that there is contaminants. Have a good look
this test, it is not making full power. no excessive play in levers. around for leaks or anything else
untoward.
Final drives
You are looking for oil leaks or undue
noise. Any faults should become ap-
parent during the work test.
If the dozer comes with up-to-date
oil sample results from its major com-
partments, all the better.
Hardware
While in this area, check the ROPS Further down on the left is the
The “jewellery” (attachments) is rela- structure and take special note of the
tively easy to inspect. You can visually transmission dip stick. Check the level
ROPS serial number, which is another and have a feel and smell the oil. If it
inspect the blade and rippers and tell if form of identification should your
they are in good condition or not. smells burnt or looks to have metal in
machine be stolen. Check all glass, it, check further. (Oh, here it is again:
To check for wear in the blade and door locks, windscreen wiper and
arms, select the raise position on the that chick magnet watch.)
washer operation.
control and note the excess movement
in the various parts of the linkage
before the blade actually lifts.
Now lower the blade to the ground
and move the tractor backwards and
forwards. This will show how much
wear is in the push arm trunnions and
blade mounting points.
For the rippers, follow the same Might as well go the whole nine yards Study the fuel tank for dents, cracks,
procedure. and check the roof. A tip: if you don’t etc. The thing in the lower left side of
Don’t be afraid of a small amount of need roof-mounted lights, don’t fit the tank is the fast fill receptacle,
movement in these items; it is not them. They get knocked off every which allows a tanker to quickly fill
second day. As you can see, no dents, the fuel tank, saving an enormous
no rust, all in all very tidy. amount of time on large job sites.

The Earthmover & Civil Contractor October 1998


Around the back now, check out the
variable pitch (quad ram) multi-shank
rippers. You are looking for broken or
missing mounting bolts, leaking or
damaged hydraulic rams, worn pins and
bushes in ripper frame. Keep a sharp eye
out for structural cracks. Rippers work
hard and are subject to enormous
stresses. Have a good look at the ripper
tynes and ground engaging tools.
While around the back, have a look
between the ripper mounting posts at
the hydraulic valve bank. You are
looking for damaged pipes or hoses, or
any leaking from around the general
area.
Coming along the right-hand side of
the dozer, be sure to look for evidence
of rock work or harsh conditions. Just
look at this, 12,500 hours and
virtually as new. This would also
indicate that the designers got it right,
for example the frame is an adequate
distance from the top of the tracks, so
objects don’t often get jammed there.
As always, investigate the batteries.
They should be properly retained, be
the correct size and have adequate CCA
(cold cranking amps). Are the leads in
good condition? Did you know that
most batteries have a unique serial
number stamped on the top or on the
case? Take note of those numbers, it’s
another way to identify what’s yours. In
case it goes missing, when appraising
machines, we should make a secret
mark on the batteries to be sure that
what we looked at was what we got —
changing batteries is often done.
Under a cover on the right-hand side of
the cabin is the intake and filter for
air to the operator and the windscreen
washer bottles. Also have a good look
for loose wires and leaking hydraulics.
You can see the top of the second
battery under all this. Make the effort;
check this battery also.
Opening the right-hand engine cover,
you will find the engine oil filters and
hydraulic oil filter. Be sure there are
no oil or exhaust leaks or the like. You
are looking for any signs that
something might be amiss.
October 1998
Open and investigate all filler caps. You
will be surprised at what you will find.
In this instance, it’s the radiator cap and
filter. It’s as clean as a whistle, as you
would expect with a new radiator.
Since we want to do a full inspection
on this dozer, there is only one proper
way, and that is to drop the belly
guards. This gives us proper access for
cleaning. We can then visually inspect
engine sump, track equaliser beam,
torque converter, universal joints,
transmission and associated pipes,
hoses and fittings. Just look how
straight these covers are.
This shot is from directly under the
fan looking up. Blades are in good
condition, as are all belts and radiator
hoses. It’s difficult to inspect the belts
from above, so join me while we get
down and dirty and take a little trip
along the underside of this tractor.
We are now lying under the front of the
dozer, looking backwards and up at the
engine sump, hoses, the equaliser
beam, and the equaliser beam pivot
bearing. At this time, grab a grease gun
and be sure that the pivot bearing will
take grease. You can check for wear in
this pin and bush by jacking up the
pivot support frame (you will need a 50
t jack) and checking how much
movement is in the pin and bush.
Step-by-step appraisal
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor
Appraising a
used dozer
unusual to have this.
High-drive vs conventional
There is basically no difference be-
tween appraising a conventional
tracked machine and a high sprocket
unit, except for an extra idler each side.
However, things become more com-
plicated on the larger Cat dozers, where
the bottom rollers are mounted in pairs
and move to form a bogie suspension
system. While this system is designed
to put more track on the ground, it
does contain more wearing parts.
Undercarriage
Running gear is highly visible and
quite easy to inspect, yet it is surprising
how many people have no idea whether
the tracks are good, fair or run out.
Every manufacturer has detailed
information which tells you the re-
sidual life expectancy of undercarriage
components as indicated by taking
simple measurements. It’s dead easy.
Beware! The undercarriage is one
area where bodgie repairs can be car-
ried out. This is why you must get
down and dirty and go under the
machine to have a good look.
Dodgy track doctors have been
known to tack-weld loose track shoes
to the links to overcome elongated bolt
holes, and remove links to obtain some
adjustment. (Note: always count the
number of links and compare with the
manufacturer’s specification.)
They spot-weld track pins and
bushes to links to stop them working
out. All of these types of tricks of the
trade are usually carried out on the
blind side.
Sprockets are easily inspected, and
so are idlers and top (carrier) rollers.
Track (bottom) rollers can present
problems. In most instances they are
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor
Dozer step-by-step appraisal
The universal coupling between the
engine and torque converter. Get a
pinch bar in here and check for play.
Be on the lookout for leaks — the
hydraulic fitting just under the sump
in centre of shot looks a little damp.
We are now back behind the equaliser
beam, looking forward and up at the
torque converter and transmission
and all the associated spaghetti
running inside the main frame. It’s all
clean and dry.
We are now looking backwards
towards the final drives and up at the
transmission housing. Once again,
clean and dry, nothing untoward.
October 1998
Now we have popped out the back and
are looking forward at the track frame
pivot shafts and bearings. Excessive
wear in this area can usually be checked
by putting the blade on the ground and
moving the dozer backwards and
forward slowly to assess play on these
items. Also on the left and right of shot
are the bottoms of the ripper-mounting
brackets and lower pivot pins.
While we are under the tractor, don’t
miss the opportunity to have a good
look at the track frames and track
roller guards. Note how there is not
one mark or gouge on this tractor. It’s
really quite extraordinary,
particularly after 12,500 hours.
Our pointer is indicating the rubbers,
of which there are two in each track
frame. They absorb shocks from the
equaliser beam. Inspect them for
cracks or breaking up. A worst case
scenario would be that they have
disappeared. When the covers are in
place, you can’t see these items.
Until we assemble and fit the blade,
we can’t check for wear in the balls,
pins and trunnions etc, but we can
assess the blade bottom (badly worn
blades wear into the bolt holes), the
cutting edges and end tips. Once again,
no evidence of rock work.
Appraising a
used dozer
covered by a guard, thus preventing
visual inspection. However, a crowbar
(pinch bar) under the roller flange will
indicate if the roller has worn the
centre bearing and is flopping around
on the roller shaft.
Special tip: The roller subject to the
most wear is closest to the sprocket,
and the second-most wear-prone is
closest to the idler. Strangely, you can
see both these rollers on most tractors.
If you can jack the machine up on
the blade and rippers, the tracks will
hang down slightly, allowing you to
inspect all the bottom rollers.
WARNING: Don’t put your hand in
there unless you really trust the opera-
tor and are certain the machine is not
going to blow a hose.
Hydraulics
During the work test, heat the hydrau-
lic oil to operating temperature and
look for oil leaks which were not
apparent during the static inspection.
Listen for screaming from the hy-
draulic pump, which indicates exces-
sive wear.
Visual inspection will show if the
hydraulic oil is contaminated — frothy
means air is entering the system, milky
means moisture is present.
Lift the blade and ripper off the
ground. They should not move; if they
do, we have leaking rams or a worn
control valve.
Now try to lift the tractor off the
ground with the blade. Worn hydrau-
lics will not permit this.
If piston rods are scored or dam-
aged, they will leak, in turn damaging
the oil seal and allowing contaminants
in the hydraulic system.
General
Appraising is a matter of mentally
dividing the machine in question into
sections and thoroughly investigating
each section before moving on to the
next.
Good condition in relation to price
is our aim when purchasing a piece of
used equipment.
However, prices for used machin-
ery, unlike those for used cars or
trucks, are not governed by published
price guides.
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor October 1998
The undercarriage
SINCE the study of undercarriage is
almost a separate specialist field and it
is applicable to tracked loaders and
hydraulic excavators (see footnote),
we will cover the tracks as a general
item and also as they apply to the
Komatsu D155A-2 we are appraising.
The undercarriage consists of:
• track shoes and bolts
• track chain (track links, pins and
bushes)
• carrier rollers (top rollers)
• sprockets
• track frames
• track rollers (bottom rollers)
Dozer step-by-step appraisal
Track shoes, track plates or grouser
plates, as they are known, come in
many different styles — single
grouser, double grouser, flat shoes,
swamp plates (trapezoidal), to name a
few. They come in different widths and
even in extreme service configuration,
with 50% more wear material. To find
out the life remaining in a track plate,
measure the height of the grouser from
the flat of the plate. Our tractor
measures 45 mm, which indicates 45%
track plate life remaining, quite
acceptable on a used unit.
The recommended method of
measuring rail wear on the track link
is to measure the distance from the
wear face of the link to the flat of the
track plate, as per our photograph. Our
tractor measures 138 mm, indicating
100% of rail life remaining, which is
very good.
• track roller guards
• track adjust/recoil mechanism
• idler, yoke and support mechanism.
Let’s get a wriggle on and become
trackologists.
All of the measurements we take
can be confirmed with your track spe-
cialist or equipment dealer to find out
the life remaining on the different
undercarriage components.
Footnote: Generally speaking, hydrau-
lic excavators differ inasmuch as they
wear their track pins and bushes out
from the inside, while it’s the other way
round for dozers and crawler loaders.
continued
Pin and bush wear (internal) is
indicated by putting an object in
between the sprocket and the track chain
and reversing to tension the chain. You
then measure over the length of four
links (five pins centre to centre). The
reading when compared to “wear limits
of undercarriage components” data put
out by track manufacturers will tell us
the percentage worn or life remaining.
Our dozer measures 910 mm over the
five pins, which indicates 95% life
remaining.
Bush wear (external) is checked by
measuring the outside diameter of the
bush from a good surface to the most
worn point. That measurement then
indicates wear life remaining. Our
Komatsu measures 79 mm, which
indicates 100% of life remaining. It’s
interesting to note that when the
measurement is 73 mm, that’s 3 mm off
each side. The bush is worn out (100%
worn). You can get another life by
turning the pin and bush and presenting
unworn surfaces to the sprocket.

Carrier (top) rollers are checked by
measuring the diameter of the roller
at its smallest point. Reference
material then gives life remaining.
The top roller from the Komatsu
(right) didn’t need measuring,
eyeballing it against a new component
was sufficient. This tractor now has
four 100% life remaining top rollers.
Sprockets are very difficult to assess,
as when they are worn away there are
no real reference points to check with.
Some manufacturers make templates
which you can hold next to the
sprocket to tell you how worn they are.
This sprocket is worn, teeth are sharp
and the valley between the teeth is too
wide and deep. It will run out of sync
with good chains and cause adverse
bush wear. Note that we’ve touched up
this photo to make the worn teeth
easier to see.
This sprocket is new, the teeth are full
and chunky and the valley between the
teeth is not too deep. Note one of the
new carrier rollers now fitted.
The track frames support the whole
box and dice. If you doubt that they
are running true, toe in or toe out,
run string or straight lines down the
inside and outside of the track frames
and check them for trueness. We
particularly wanted to show you this
photograph of the track frame showing
the idler support assembly. There are
wear parts in the track frames to
handle up movement and down
movement, just as there are
corresponding wear parts in the idler
support assembly. It’s quite an
intricate area and indications are that
there is excessive wear here.
The idlers are out of the track frames
and the wear material on top of the
track frames is okay. However, the
wear part inside the frames which the
idler supports hook under is virtually
non-existent.
Our pointer is indicating the excessive
wear in the idler support wear part,
referred to in the previous photograph.
Now here’s the fix: new wear part
welded in place (indicated by pointer).
October 1998
If the track frame wear parts are
excessively worn, you can just bet the
things that run against them are a bit
ordinary. Our pointer is indicating
one of four rubberised springs that
connect to a plate, which is the wear
part that runs against the wear part on
top of the track frames. The plate has
gone to God, all the springs are broken
and two of them are seized in their
holes. The springs, etc are in our
opinion an overly sophisticated, not
robust enough component to have in
such a high-stress, high-wear area.
Problem solved: Springs, etc gone and
new wear part fitted to the idler
support arrangement. This can now
mesh with the new wear part on the
track frames.
Uh-oh! The idlers are way past their
allowable limit. We didn’t need to
measure to know this. Just for the
record, this is how you measure wear
on the track idler: Check both sides
and take the most worn reading. You
can have the idlers built up with weld.
However, our opinion is that in most
cases it pays to buy new idler shells.
You will have to make your own
assessment, depending on your make
and model.
Step-by-step appraisal
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor
Appraising a
used dozer
Ultimately you must make your best
decision after evaluating the unit along
the guidelines mentioned in this arti-
cle.
Good dozer appraising.
So what’s this
tractor worth?
Let’s look at what we have added to the
tractor we started out with.
We know from investigations that it
recently had:
• new radiator
• reconditioned final drives
• reconditioned steering clutches
• reconditioned brakes
• new track chains.
Work which has or is being carried
out to prepare the unit for sale includes:
• new filters
• replace all fluids (not hydraulic oil)
• new idler shells
• new idler support wear parts
• new track frame wear parts
• new sprockets
• new carrier (top) rollers
• new track (bottom) rollers as neces-
sary
• recover seat
• refurbish cabin
• drop all guards and pressure clean
• check all gauges and lights
• service air conditioning
• sandblast, prime and paint
• new decals
• detail cabin.
This to my mind brings the tractor up
to a retail selling price of $250,000.
What you are getting is a fully
optioned, four-year-old, 12,500 hour
dozer, 239 kW engine, with recent
repairs to major components, all known
faults fixed, 80% or better undercar-
riage life remaining and brought back
to look like new — a nice package and
good value.
DON SHEWRING is managing director of
Brisbane-based used
equipment specialist Con-
solidated Crane & Trac-
tor. He has been involved
in buying, selling and
evaluating used equip-
ment for more than 20 years. You can contact
him on phone 018 788 856.
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor
Dozer step-by-step appraisal
All fixed — the new idler shells from
the dealer were $400 more than having
the old ones built up with weld. We
used the old shafts and bearings,
which were in good order. Our idlers
are now 100% life remaining.
Off come the track guards so we can
get at the rollers. Bet your bottom
dollar that if top rollers, sprockets and
idlers are gone, it’s worth a look at the
bottom rollers.
Special offer
Would you like:
• a reprint of this article and the
pictorial appraisal?
• a copy of the appraisal form used
by Don Shewring?
• a copy of an ownership declara-
tion form?
• a copy of an authority to release
payout information?
Don Shewring will be pleased to
send you the information free of
charge. To obtain copies, fax or write
to Don Shewring at Consolidated
Crane & Tractor Pty Ltd, PO Box 632,
Albion, Queensland 4010. Fax (07)
3256 3300. State your name, com-
pany name, phone and fax number.
Free valuation
If you would like a free valuation of
your dozer, contact Don Shewring on
ph 018 788 856, fax (07) 3256 3300.
This service is not available over
the phone. An information sheet re-
questing details about your machine
will be faxed or posted to you. Return
the completed information sheet with
photos (if possible), and a “current
market valuation” will be faxed or
posted to you at no charge.
October 1998
To ascertain track roller wear, it’s a
simple matter of measuring the
smallest diameter of each roller and
referring to reference material, or
checking with your original equipment
distributor or track man, who will tell
you the amount of life remaining.
Because this tractor was in such good
overall condition, the criteria was any
roller under 60% life remaining got
the axe. We needed to replace half a
dozen rollers, both single and double
flange included.
Here is one of the new single flange
rollers prior to fitting. Note the sharp
edges and flat surfaces. As the roller
wears, the edges become rounded and
the surfaces where the track chain
runs wear down and become
chamfered. Our feeling is that it is
generally more cost-effective to
replace rollers than to rebuild them.
This ends our step-by-step
photographic guide to appraising a
dozer. Our subject tractor is now
stripped down, has been sandblasted
and primed and is now awaiting the
painting, new decals and detailing to
be completed prior to having a full
service, new fluids and filters. In a
future issue, we’ll show you part of the
painting process, together with
photographs of the finished item.
Increased efficiency with Cat Carrydozer
CAT has released the D11R Carrydozer, designed to
set new standards in dozing efficiency and produc-
tivity.
Intended for use in volume earthmoving appli-
cations such as prime stripping and reclamation, the
109 t Carrydozer is designed to “carry” a portion of
material inside the blade profile, which increases
efficiency.
For example, it only takes one-tenth of the
drawbar power to carry a load as it does to push it.
The carried load also acts as a front counter-
weight, increasing the effective operating weight
when dozing, and allowing the load in front of the
blade to be even larger than with a comparable
standard dozer.
With a blade capacity of 43.6 m3, the D114
Carrydozer is able to move 10-15% more material
than the current D11R.
Other features include high horsepower, opera-
tor comfort, durability and serviceability. It is prima-
rily for mining applications. A rigid mounted ripper control allows single-handed
The D11R Carrydozer retains all of the standard R-Series electronic low effort raise/lower and pitch functions, giving
features, such as elevated sprocket design, suspended a stable platform when ripping in the roughest terrain.
undercarriage, tag-link dozer, powershift transmission, torque An automatic ripper raise and park feature increases
divider and modular components. productivity and operator comfort.
Features include: Further information: Caterpillar of Australia Ltd, ph (03)
• 3508B engine with Electronic Unit Injection (EUI) 9339 9333, fax (03) 9335 3366.
• Advanced Modular Cooling System (AMOCS) radiator
• advanced powertrain
• all electronic controls
• Vital Information Display System (VIMS)
• high productivity dozer blade
• automated dozer controls
• improved heavy-duty mainframe for added strength.
Power is from an eight-cylinder turbocharged and
aftercooled 3508B EUI diesel engine, rated at 634 kW.
To help extend component life, the engine has a high
displacement and low rated speed of 1800 rpm.
Electronic controls make this machine one of the most
technologically advanced Caterpillar products, with auto-
matic functions designed to significantly lower operator
fatigue for increased productivity.
A throttle rocker switch delivers high or low idle with the
touch of a finger, while an electronic clutch/brake (ECB)
steering system delivers excellent manoeuvrability and
features adjustment-free multi-disc oil-cooled clutches and
brakes.
Fingertip control steering system allows for easy one-
handed operation.
A low-effort electronic dozer control handle allows the
operator to control all of the dozer functions with one hand.
The dozer control lowers, raises and tilts the blade,
controls blade dump and rackback, and initiates the dump
during spread and fill applications.
It also features unique automatic functions. Automatic
blade pitch allows the operator to preset blade pitch angle
for the dig, carry, and the spread and dump segments of the
dozing cycle for increased efficiency, with the operator able
to customise settings to suit the application.
The machine also features an automatic tilt limiting func-
tion to keep the push arms from interfering with the track.

October 1998 The Earthmover & Civil Contractor

Case dozer designed for productivity
CASE’S 1150G dozer was designed to
deliver increased productivity, dura-
bility and operator comfort.
Powered by the 88 kW Case 6T-590
engine, the 1150G offers more power
for quicker response and improved
fuel efficiency.
According to Andrew Mashman,
Case product manager dozers, the
1150G features a blade designed for
increased capacity.
“With a tall blade, there is less
chance of spillage over the back, even
when pushing up steep slopes, while
the thicker, heavy-duty, recessed cut-
ting edge helps shed even sticky clay
soils for better cleaning and increased
productivity.”
The six-way blade also features si-
multaneous operation of all six func-
tions using a single lever. This enables
the operator to raise, angle and tilt the
blade simultaneously, when forming a
contour or doing slope work.
Another feature, standard on all
Case dozers, is the power-turn trans-
mission with torque converter drive.
This feature enables the operator to
Keep in touch with what’s happening in the
ADVT Machinery Outlooks
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor October 1998
turn with a full load without
downshifting, stalling out or leaving
part of the load behind.
“We’ve had customers tell us they get
30% more productivity because of the
power-turn transmission,” Mashman said.
Once in the seat, one of the first
things an operator will notice about
the 1150G is the control location and
“U” forward/reverse shift pattern. The
controls were moved from the centre
to within easy reach at the operator’s
left and right sides — a configuration
that’s standard across the entire Case G
Series.
“This control configuration enabled
us to widen the operator’s compart-
ment and level the floor, making it
easier to get on and off the machine,”
said Mashman.
In addition, the 1150G features low-
effort, low-travel, oil-cooled, power
brakes which are easier to apply for
more comfortable operation. The spring-
applied parking brake ensures easy ap-
plication for hauling or stopping.
In addition to the 1150G, the Case
crawler dozer line includes the 550G,
650G and 850G, rated at 67, 80 and 89
horsepower (50, 59.6 and 66 kW) re-
spectively.
In Australia, Case Corporation and
its construction equipment dealers are
also the sponsor of the Case EARTH
Awards, an initiative of the Civil Con-
tractors Federation and The Earthmover
& Civil Contractor, recognising and
rewarding those organisations which
achieve innovation and best practice in
environmental management of civil
construction projects.
Further information: Case Corpora-
tion Pty Ltd, ph (02) 9673 7777, fax (02)
9833 1441, website www.casecorp.com.
Komatsu dozers on soil conservation work
TWO joystick-controlled Komatsu 142
kW D65EX dozers are being used for
soil conservation works in the NSW
southern grain belt.
The new units have joined Soil
Services of NSW’s fleet of 70 bulldoz-
ers, which includes 23 Komatsu D53A-
17 machines and two Komatsu
D50A-17s purchased by the company
in 1990.
The fleet operates from 40 centres
in NSW, mainly in the grain belt and
tableland areas, where the demand for
conservation earthworks is high.
With the addition of the two D65EX-
12 units, Soil Services rivals the Austral-
ian Army for the largest Komatsu
bulldozer fleet in Australia.
According to Soil Services of NSW’s
manager fleet operations, John Allen,
the 22.5 t D65EX represents a good
combination of economy, performance
and transportability.
“It has the power to turn out the
work quickly, it’s legal to transport on
a low loader without removing the
blade and it will fit through the typical
farm gate,” said Allen.
Komatsu describes the D65EX-12 as
the most advanced bulldozer in its
class. It has a single-lever “joystick”
control for steering and direction
change, and a Komatsu-developed
hydrostatic steering system.
Soil Services established its Plant
Hire Scheme using army surplus equip-
ment 50 years ago, hiring plant and
operators to farmers needing soil and
water conservation earthworks on a
free for service basis.
Typical jobs include farm dams,
gully control structures, contour banks
and waterways.
Soilworks staff plan and survey the
October 1998
works, and the scheme is designed to
be fully self-supporting.
In addition to providing practical
assistance to farmers, the scheme un-
dertakes operations such as mine reha-
bilitation, coastal dune work, farm water
supply construction and rangeland
management works.
When Soil Services’ soil conserva-
tionists inform landholders of the work
required, landholders may either per-
form the work themselves, hire an
earthmoving contractor or have Soil
Services do the job.
Further information: NS Komatsu,
ph (02) 9795 8222, fax (02) 9795 8288.
Komatsu has
recently supplied
two D65EX dozers
for soil
conservation
works in NSW.
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor
Liebherr updates largest hydrostatic unit
EARLIER this year, Liebherr used Bauma
’98 to launch its PR752 Litronic dozer,
the successor to the PR751, the world’s
largest hydrostatic drive dozer.
With operating weights between
32.8 t and 40 t, depending on configu-
ration, the PR752 is powered by
Liebherr’s recently developed D9406
TI-E diesel, rated at 243 kW.
According to the company, by ap-
plying the latest engine technology,
this new dozer has the lowest fuel
consumption and exhaust emissions of
any in its class.
Hydrostatic drive, combined with
an electronic control system, are said
to provide optimal utilisation of avail-
able engine output.
The Litronic control system constantly
monitors the speed of each track and
the engine, and automatically compen-
sates if the machine begins to drift off
diagonally during slope work.
If the engine speed falls slightly
under full load, the Litronic system
reduces travel speed and increases
drawbar pull, while maintaining en-
Chinese-built dozers from Tilly’s
TILLY’S Crawler Parts of Toowoomba,
Queensland, now offers the Chinese-
built range of Shehwa and Shantui
dozers.
According to company principal
Hugh Tilly, both these companies build
dozers under technology transfer agree-
ments with major manufacturers, and
are built to ISO9000 quality standards.
The Shehwa factory, which has been
in operation since 1950, uses designs
supplied under technology transfer
arrangements with Caterpillar, said Tilly. available to them, with full warranty,”
Its STD6D and QTD7G dozers are
said to be based on original Cat de-
signs, with most parts interchangeable.
Both use original Caterpillar en-
gines and Berco sealed and
lubricated tracks, he said.
Also available from
Tilly’s is the Shantui range
of dozers, built using
Komatsu design and tech-
nology, according to the
company.
This range covers the
T160E (direct drive),
TY160E, TY220E and
TY320B. Again, according
to the company, most parts
interchange with A dozer production line in China.
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor October 1998
Liebherr’s PR752 dozer in a coal-pushing operation.
gine revs at the ideal speed.
All travel and steering movements
are controlled by a single joystick,
eliminating the need for steering
clutches or brake pedals.
Attachment choices for the PR752
include semi-U, full-U or mechanical
Komatsu’s D60, D65, D85 and D155
dozers.
Tilly’s currently has in stock a Shantui
T160E, a direct drive,130 kW machine
factory fitted with a Cat 3306 engine.
Complete with a bull tilt blade, three-
tyne ripper, air-conditioned ROPS cab,
engine side guards and roller guards, it
sells for $176,900.
“With the availability of these low-
priced machines, used equipment buy-
ers have a new-machine option
said Tilly.
Further information: Tilly’s Crawler
Parts Pty Ltd, ph (07) 4634 3444, fax
(07) 4633 1702.
tilt blades, plus single or three-shank
rippers, a hydraulic winch and a swing-
ing drawbar. Coal, landfill and
woodchip packages are also available.
According to Liebherr, the trackframe
on the new dozer is maintenance free,
due to such features as a box section
design, pivot shafts and oscillating bar
mounted to the main frame — allow-
ing oscillating movements and increas-
ing stability.
The operator’s cab was specifically
designed for the PR752, with the aim of
ensuring maximum comfort for the
operator.
During ripping operations, the op-
erator’s seat is turned 15° to one side,
while the control panel remains within
easy view at all times.
Ease of maintenance was a major
aim, with all maintenance points cen-
tralised, large folding covers and doors
providing access to major components,
and a hydraulically tiltable cab.
Service intervals have been signifi-
cantly extended, due to such features
as:
• air cleaner with dust eject and over-
sized cooler
• hydraulic oil bypass system, which
provides constant partial filtering of
the oil for longer oil change inter-
vals.
Key specs include: operating weight,
32.8-40 t; engine, Liebherr D9406 TI-E
diesel rated at 243 kW; semi-U blade
capacity, 9.54 m3; maximum drawbar
pull, 47,000 kg.
Further information: Liebherr-Aus-
tralia Pty Ltd, ph (08) 8349 6888, fax
(08) 8349 7073.