Looking at a Komatsu D21P-5 dozer

[Jerry/MT]

I'm looking at a Komatsu D21P-5 dozer, with unknown hours. Owners states he thinks it is a 1983 model and is reliable, etc. He's asking $14K.
We have a 17 acre wood lot that needs thinning and we want a small crawler to work in the woods. Any first hand experience about durability, reliability, or specific problem areas with this brand would be appreciated. What about parts availability? Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[Nordic]

Komatsu makes good equipment, what will be very important for you is to evaluate signs of wear to get an idea how much work the machine has done and what could be coming up for maintenance costs. It's important that the undercarriage is not overly worn. If after a few years you wish to sell it there needs to be enough meat left on sprockets and tracks to attract a buyer. At a price of $14K it deserves to be in fairly good condition, especially if there is no record of hours or service history. If you have the serial number you should contact a Komatsu dealer to find the year and to make sure it's not a 'grey market machine'. If it is, it may be very hard to get parts for it, you should ask at their parts desk.
I have owned 13 bulldozers over the last 44 years, and yes, I learned some things in the 'school of hard knocks', LOL.

 

[WilBury]

Not a lot bigger than my Case. At just over 7000 lbs and 2.7 psi ground pressure should be fairly nimble in your woodlot, especially winter.
But, an 8 or 9 ft blade is a little wide, I think. Mine's only 5' 2". A smaller brushrake of sorts on it would be awesome. Winch?

 

[Jerry/MT]

Komatsu makes good equipment, what will be very important for you is to evaluate signs of wear to get an idea how much work the machine has done and what could be coming up for maintenance costs. It's important that the undercarriage is not overly worn. If after a few years you wish to sell it there needs to be enough meat left on sprockets and tracks to attract a buyer. At a price of $14K it deserves to be in fairly good condition, especially if there is no record of hours or service history. If you have the serial number you should contact a Komatsu dealer to find the year and to make sure it's not a 'grey market machine'. If it is, it may be very hard to get parts for it, you should ask at their parts desk.
I have owned 13 bulldozers over the last 44 years, and yes, I learned some things in the 'school of hard knocks', LOL.

Just the type of person I hoped to hear from.
Yeah I got the owner to admit the undercarriage is worn. I agree the asking price is too high with a worn undercarriage. If the undercarriage is worn the drive sprockets are probably bad, too. He says the glow plugs need replacing and in cold weather, it takes a whiff of starting fluid. That makes me think the compression is low and the engine is weak. More like a $6K-$7K machine that needs at least engine rings and a new undercarriage and is overpriced at $14K.

 

[marloweg]

dozers are like a boat just bust out another 1000 older ones are moneyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy pits

 

[Dieseltech]

Xs 2 on the undercarriage condition. I just bought a 1991 CASE 550 with 1400 hours on it, everything else I found around here had 4500 to 6000 hours them.

 

[300jk]

Xs 2 on the undercarriage condition. I just bought a 1991 CASE 550 with 1400 hours on it, everything else I found around here had 4500 to 6000 hours them.

Dieseltech does yours have the trans control like I described in my response to you in your previous post ? Just curious.

 

[Dieseltech]

Dieseltech does yours have the trans control like I described in my response to you in your previous post ? Just curious.

What I was told by the Case dealer the 550, E, G, and H models all have the same four speed driveline, just the 550 has the center control levers. The E, G, and H have the left hand controls but I think they all work the same way. There's a good Case video that shows the 550 E working online that shows how the system works. What I really like is they now have wet brakes instead of the dry brakes everyone used years ago.

 

[cumminstinkerer]

What I was told by the Case dealer the 550, E, G, and H models all have the same four speed driveline, just the 550 has the center control levers. The E, G, and H have the left hand controls but I think they all work the same way. There's a good Case video that shows the 550 E working online that shows how the system works. What I really like is they now have wet brakes instead of the dry brakes everyone used years ago.

you are correct as far as the trans being the same, the shifter did move on the E to the side but function is the same. That trans is basically the same as the old early Case/Terratrac units, 600 and 800 would be essentially the same except for I think dry brakes, the 1000/1150 Cases then got the addition of individual power reverse to each track, guess I can't say for sure the 1000 had that but I think it did. I did one 1150 cant remember what letter series, a 600, and an 850 trans over the years, all were pretty similar, and rather stout trannys, main issues were operator error, AKA lack of maintenance, all the ones I was in were for brake linings and seals due to low fluid.

 

[504]

14ac, I would hire it done and put the savings in the bank

 

[Fritz Maurer]

I don't know what you mean by 'thinning', but you try to push over anything bigger than a sapling you're going to be sorely disappointed.

 

[Nordic]

In buying a used bulldozer take your time and narrow down the options that suit you. Be sure to do pre-inspection (even if you have to pay a mechanic to do it). You will come across deals that definitely work in your favour. I know the convenience of owning and using a machine when you need it, even if it sits for stretches of time, as opposed to doing a one week-hire-in which likely will cost thousands of dollars. As I mentioned in my first response in this thread, I've owned 13 bulldozers and I only lost about $4000 on one. The rest of the 12 of them I sold for more than I paid, at maybe a 30% clean profit. You only wish to keep and use a bulldozer while it brings a decent re-sale. At times if it seems so right to keep the same machine it is also the right time to sell and get your money back (with a possible profit). The Cat I kept the longest was 13 years and it was more like a break even prospect with due upkeep included, of course not counting my own time as an expense. As with many ventures, to own a bulldozer has its risks money-wise and it's not for the faint of heart.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I'd like to thank everybody who took the time to respond my post.

The more I talked (via email) to the owner the more I became convinced this machine was overpriced because of the age and condition he told me it was in. It needed an undercarriage and a "wiff of ether" to start in the winter by his admission. He didn't answer my questions regarding the steering and brakes though I asked several times.
So I decided to pass.
Thanks again !