3 Pics -- John Deere 650G LGP

[richardbrackin]

It's not pretty but it gets the job done.
We're testing it out to see if we'd be better off with this one or a 450 (or 550).
Yes, I know the blade should be on the ground. I was taking some pictures while I was cooling the turbo off. I put the blade down prior to turning the machine off. :)

http://home.hiwaay.net/~robrackn/equip/650a.jpg
http://home.hiwaay.net/~robrackn/equip/650b.jpg
http://home.hiwaay.net/~robrackn/equip/650c.jpg

[Dozerboy]

Nice, I like running LPGs. All of the ones I have ran (Cats) had different shaped pads for tracks, I thought that was part of a LPG dozer???

[Cat420]

Nice, I like running LPGs. All of the ones I have ran (Cats) had different shaped pads for tracks, I thought that was part of a LPG dozer???

I think they call those "pyramid pads" or something like that. How are they for traction compared to regular shoes? I saw a machine equipped with those in action once and it looked like it had poor traction. Maybe it was just a bad operator.

[richardbrackin]

Those are the tracks the dozer came with -- we're currently renting this one to see if we want to buy it.

As far as traction ...
The dozer feels a touch too light for what I'm doing, anyway.
I can sink the blade a bit too deep in the ground and tracks just spin.
It doesn't help that the weather won't let the ground completely dry out.

I'm knocking down lots of long terraces. It requires a bit of patience. :)

Disclaimer:
I am by no means a seasoned dozer operator and I don't want to portray myself as one.
My experience level is approx 600 hours of dozer work in my whole life.
I've run Komatsu, Caterpillar, and John Deere dozers in that time.
Please take my opinions on the 650G traction with a grain of salt.

[Ford LT-9000]

It takes a long time to become a good Catskinner its is a dying breed thou the only time dozers are really used is in gravel mines pushing overburden or pushing material over a hill.

[hillrancher]

I bought a 650 JD in 96. It has592? hrs in the shop twice bearing steering clutch and drive line. I buy rippers for balance and use. The hours has been in rock, hard dirt and steep ground. I have owned cases,cats and dressers. The JD in the smaller dozer will out work any I have owned in their hp range. The dealer let us try out several before buying. The torque converters would heat in summer also the hydro-stats would also. Where we work they work harder in reverse than forward. This is why they heat. My 2c for JD.

[D10N]

Copper mines would die without good skinners! Roads, shovel pits, bench clearing and dump building are all a vital neccessity, not to mention just plain pioneering. Rubbertires are great, but definitely have their limitations.

[RyanCKing]

Whats does the LPG signify?

[Cat420]

Welcome to the site!

It should be "LGP". It stands for low ground pressure.

[farmerted44]

i spend 50% of my 50 +hours work week on dozers.D6LGP,D8N&T. i enjoy the 6 the most with the 8N a close second. the T is nice, high tech,just too touchy for me. maybe after some time i will like it better. but theD6LGP is my favorite.:bouncegri

[RyanCKing]

thanks CAT420
How is the lower ground pressure obtained? through wider tracks?

[richardbrackin]

As far as I'm aware, wider tracks and/or non-metal tracks contribute to low ground pressure.
It can reduce ground pressure of a bulldozer to around 15 - 25psi in many cases.

[farmerted44]

yes,wider tracks on the lgp. i wasnt aware that rubber tracks reduced ground pressure??? wider tracks make sense, more area to spread the weight. i like the lgp for slopes .

[Dozerboy]

LGP :Banghead also are of a lot lighter construction. I ran one in a detention pond we dug that had a lot of coble in and it tore that dozer apart after 2 weeks.

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Folks.
Standard LGP tracks are simply wider versions of standard track shoes with normal style grousers.

The triangle-shaped or pyramid track plates are designed for working in swamps and soft underfoot conditions like wet sand.

LGP and swamp dozers 'walk' lighter than the average man and may be down to as little as 3-4 psi ground pressure. Just for chuckles, next time you see one working in a WETT area where it is sinking 2 or 3 inches into the ground, try walking across that same ground yourself.

You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.

[biggixxerjim]

LGP :Banghead also are of a lot lighter construction. I ran one in a detention pond we dug that had a lot of coble in and it tore that dozer apart after 2 weeks.

I concur. Because of the wider shoes, more leverage is placed on that chains in the tracks where running over rough ground. I almost cringe when I have to go from flat to an upslope on an angle. If ur gonna do demo work or work a lot in the rocks, stay away from wide pads.

[JDOFMEMI]

i spend 50% of my 50 +hours work week on dozers.D6LGP,D8N&T. i enjoy the 6 the most with the 8N a close second. the T is nice, high tech,just too touchy for me. maybe after some time i will like it better. but theD6LGP is my favorite.:bouncegri

If the T feels too touchy, go into operator preferences and slow down the blade control. If it is set to fast, it is very hard to control precisely, but you can change the valving in the cab to make it better. You may like the T even better then:thumbsup

[farmerted44]

hello jerry,
well i knew about the sensitivity controls on the touch screen, what i didnt know was our luber loves to praticle joke w/ me....well i shoulda known it i tease him all the time!!!! anyway he would change up the settings on me when fueling at lunch or whenever he had a chance to change em even had the default set on fast response....joke on me. i always preachin at him at bout pay attention to everything even if ya just checked it, read the owners manual blah blah...well he let me know that sometimes i should shutup and listen to MYSELF!!!!! :bouncegri
yes after the control sensitivity issue and retro- grade on the cooling system i believe the D8T is a fine dozer ,very smooth ,quiet, huge difference after spending 10+hrs. on the T compared to the N lmao not even a comparison...