I got one

[stumpy]

It's a 2006 Nortrac NB3500. So far I'm pretty happy with this little dozer. No major problem with about 80 hours on it. How do you post a picture on this forum??

[GuglioLS]

Hi Stumpfield,
A warm welcome to CTW. Hope to be seeing you and your dozer in action, along with some cool pictures of it.

Here is how to post pictures ->CLICK HERE

Also please take a moment to tell us all a little about yourself over the new member introduction section. CLICK HERE This is where many of us have shared some information about ourself.

Have some fun!

Larry

[FlyHiFlyLo]

stumpfield said:

It's a 2006 Nortrac NB3500. So far I'm pretty happy with this little dozer. No major problem with about 80 hours on it. How do you post a picture on this forum??

That's so cool! I love these mini dozers! I want one so bad! If I wasn't in the middle of my house project I would get one now!

[stumpy]

Thanks Larry. ...test post a picture of my little dozer...

[3RRL]

Hi Tom,
Very cool picture of your dozer!
Glad that you are sharing your stories here. You should start anew thread and post something about your barn and your house build up there.

Tom is a neighbor of mine down in the South. He live right around the corner. When we first met, he offered to ... actually gave me his plans for his barn. You should see his barn ... it's super nice.
Rob-

[stumpy]

I'll start a new thread on the barn. Here's a picture of the barn just before the rain season started in December. Thanks Rob! I learned a lot from your experiences. Well drilling, road work,...ect.



The little dozer is an awesome trail machine. I can cut ATV trails on moderate slope in a single pass. It's amazing how well the 6-way front blade and the rear boxblade work together to create trails on a slope.

Tom

[GuglioLS]

Tom,

Your Dozer is really nice,

A very cool feature on them is they have a TPH, Does it have a PTO as well? Have you ever bush hogged with it? Now that would be a real sight to see - A dozer pulling a brush hog mower. I suppose you could easily attach a BH to it as well. It looks like a very versatile machine.



I'd like to see a side view close up of the track to take a look at the drive sprocket, track rollers, and front idler. How is the track tensioned? Does it have hand operated steering levers or foot operated pedals.

BTW you barn is awesome!


Larry

[stumpy]

Larry:

It does have a 3PH and PTO just like a tractor. It is indeed a very versatile machine. The engine is the same as the Jinma. I don't own a bush hog mower yet but do intened to get one soon and use it. My terrain is very hilly. My original intention was to use it to mow the hillside. I thought it was a bit more stable than a regular tractor.

It has foot operated pedals for steering. I'll take closeup pictures next time I go up to the ranch.

Tom

[quikduk]

Tom:

Before you buy one, give me a call at [phone].

I have a 5' one that I have only used once or twice and no longer need it. It is in excellent shape so if the wife agrees with my reasoning, I will be selling it for less than what a new one goes for.

Ken

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Tom, I will PM you with my contact at info at Yuchai about your steering issue.

[stumpy]

flyhiflylo said:

Tom, I will PM you with my contact at info at Yuchai about your steering issue.

It took me a while to figure out how to read my PM on this site. I kept checking my TBN PM for a few days... Thanks Scott! I'l email Yuchai. My dozer still under extended warranty with Northern. I hope it's something simple that I can do at the farm or I'll have to haul it to Northern autorized service center.

I posted at TBN that my dozer was having steering problem. It will steer to the right but not to the left side. When I press on the left steering pedal, it engages the brake immediately and stops the dozer. I tried all the adjustments according to the manual but no luck this time.

[GuglioLS]

Tom,

Sorry about the steering problem. When you say stepping on the left steering pedal stops the dozer immediately, does that mean it bogs down, then stalls the engine? - If that's the case then the steering break is engaging before the clutch is dis-engaging.

Or does the dozer just stop and the engine keeps running as if nothing happened?

I assume it's still steering to the right? if so then the left track still moves so the left drive clutch is still OK and the right clutch is disengaging and the right break is engaging.. What happens when you push on both steering pedals at the same time? all the way, then only part way. Push both pedals in all the way at the same time, then release one pedal at at time, see what happens, then push both back in , then release the other pedal to see what happens.

If it's not steering to the left, and the dozer just stops without bogging down, then it's the right track that is not driving. A dozer will go in a straight line by being driven by only one track. The steering breaks must stop the track in the direction you want to turn.

Based on your description of the problem, I am highly suspicious the right track is not being driven - Right steering Clutch stuck in the disengaged position? Or right steering clutch worn out?

Get some good pictures posted of all the steering linkages, in the idle position and in the fully depressed position.

Being specific as possible may help in trouble shooting.

Larry

[stumpy]

Thanks Larry:

Here are the symptons:

When stepping on the left steering pedal, the dozer just stop and the engine keeps running as if nothing happened. Just like stepping on both pedal engage brake to stop dozer.

>>>>
I assume it's still steering to the right? if so then the left track still moves so the left drive clutch is still OK and the right clutch is disengaging and the right break is engaging.. What happens when you push on both steering pedals at the same time? all the way, then only part way. Push both pedals in all the way at the same time, then release one pedal at at time, see what happens, then push both back in , then release the other pedal to see what happens.
>>>>
Yes. It still steering to the right just fine. To turn left, I put on reverse and step on the right pedal. I use it this way for several hours to fix part of my washed out road during the last trip.

While playing with the adjustments, I disconnect the brake linkage altogether. Now if I step on the left pedal, nothing happen. The dozer just keep going straight. I did notice that the dozer doesn't go perfectly straight like the way it used to. It steers slightly to the right by itself.

>>>
Based on your description of the problem, I am highly suspicious the right track is not being driven - Right steering Clutch stuck in the disengaged position? Or right steering clutch worn out?
>>>

Larry you are correct. It does look like the right track is not being driven at all.

>>>
Get some good pictures posted of all the steering linkages, in the idle position and in the fully depressed position.
>>>

Unfortunately, the dozer is 300 miles away at my land. I'll take pictures next time when I'm there.
I spoke with the guy at Northern Tool service center not far from me. He said this could be a common problem with this dozer. Corrosion inside caused the steering Clutch stuck in the disengaged position due to lack of use. It sounds right, I have not move that dozer for more than 6 months. It has less than 80 hours total. The only way to find out is to take everything apart and clean the entire clutch assembly. It could also be somehting broken inside. Looks like I may have to haul this thing to them to check out. I don't have the necessary tools to take this thing apart. It's still under warranty.

Tom

Tom

[bobrooks]

Well Tom,
Those symptoms are somewhat different that what you posted on TBN.
Usually I can do a perfectly acceptable job of smearing egg all over my face, but thanks for your help.
The main issue with hi-jacking or pirating a thread is that you loose continuity, and can leave other people languishing for a response.

Ah, but such is the internet...............

How long is your warranty good for anyway? Don't they usualy have a stipulation of operating hours or chronoligical time? Whichever is less? Just curious.

[stumpy]

bobrooks said:

Well Tom,
Those symptoms are somewhat different that what you posted on TBN.
Usually I can do a perfectly acceptable job of smearing egg all over my face, but thanks for your help.
The main issue with hi-jacking or pirating a thread is that you loose continuity, and can leave other people languishing for a response.

Ah, but such is the internet...............

How long is your warranty good for anyway? Don't they usualy have a stipulation of operating hours or chronoligical time? Whichever is less? Just curious.

Bob, sorry for any confusion.... To me, the symton still unable to steer to the left. I learned a little more from Larry's response. It got me thinking... Anyway, I got the 3 years extended warranty from VAC services on top of the 6 month standard warranty by northern tool. It will expire in a month or so.