Making the most of John Deere bulldozers means keeping the machines operating at a minimal amount of cost to you. Since a John Deere track bulldozer can be an expensive item to purchase, the only way to make it pay for itself is to keep it working. Luckily, John Deere bulldozers are workhorses and you can expect to have one operational for many years.

Safe operations and routine maintenance are surefire ways of making the most of John Deere bulldozers. If you operate the equipment yourself, you are more likely to take care of your property. If, however, you hire heavy equipment operators, they may not be as careful with your investment. That’s why it’s necessary for your employees to adhere to the following checks daily:

1. Make sure the John Deere dozer passes a safety checklist that you establish.

2. Have operators report any problems on the construction site that may have resulted in damage to the John Deere dozer.

3. Require operators to notify you of any damage to the John Deere dozer or its attachments so you can quickly repair the problem.

Action Steps
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Make sure your operators know how to properly operate John Deere bulldozers

Mishandling of the equipment is costly. It can also be extremely dangerous. There are a number of vocational schools that offer heavy equipment training. Making sure the operators know how to handle the equipment in a wide variety of situations can save time and money.

I recommend: Attend an operator school where you learn to operate a bulldozer. John Deere heavy equipment pieces are often the training vehicle of choice. Associated Training Schools has a number of three-week courses that train individuals in heavy equipment operation. West Coast Training also offers hands-on training in John Deere bulldozer equipment, as well as other brands.

Know what accessories are available for your John Deere dozer

Using the right blades is one important way to make your John Deere dozers operate more efficiently. Know what type of work you are doing as well as the soil type to get the most efficiency from your equipment.

I recommend: Read about blade options for John Deere dozers in the article at BuyerZone.com. Putting the wrong blade on your John Deere dozer can do serious harm to the equipment and it’s counterproductive to getting the dirt moved effectively. The product selection guide and the attachment guide on the Deere & Company website can help you make sure you have the right John Deere bulldozer parts and attachments for your particular model.

Buy the correct John Deere bulldozer parts

Because John Deere bulldozers do such heavy work, they do break down from time to time. It's important that you have a reliable source of repair parts so the down time is minimal. Find dealers who are local, or can overnight parts to your location.

I recommend: Rock & Dirt can help you find the right parts and accessories for your John Deere crawler dozer. On its website, first select the part, then John Deere, then the model number of your used John Deere dozer. Broken Tractor is another source of accessories and parts for your used John Deere bulldozer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure the tracks of your John Deere crawler dozer are free and clear of mud chunks and other debris when you quit for the night. You don't want to start the day by throwing a track off the dozer.

If you're looking for a bulldozer, John Deere is sure to fit your needs. You can spot John Deere bulldozers on worksites all over the world. While the John Deere crawler dozer is the bulldozer most commonly seen on worksites, there are other types of John Deere dozers on the market.

Because of the hefty initial cost, many owners buy a used John Deere dozer. John Deere bulldozer parts are easy to find when repairs are necessary. Even if you purchase a used John Deere bulldozer, you can expect many years of service from it. Many local papers run ads for John Deere bulldozers for sale, and you can also find John Deere bulldozers for sale in national listings on the Internet.

You can identify John Deere bulldozers by their size and functionality. The primary differences are:

1. The horsepower of the John Deere bulldozer.

2. The length and width of track on the ground of the John Deere crawler dozer.

3. The blade width of the John Deere bulldozer.

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Locate 'finish' size John Deere bulldozers

Rated at less than 105 horsepower, a finish dozer is just the right size to do grade work and finish roadwork. While it's smaller than other John Deere bulldozers, this type can still move a lot of dirt.

I recommend: There are many smaller John Deere dozers on the used market. Machinery Trader offers a selection of John Deere bulldozer equipment. Harter Equipment Inc. also offers used finish bulldozers for sale.

Find 'construction' size John Deere bulldozers

This group of John Deere bulldozers ranges in size from 105 to 200 horsepower. Typically you see these models on construction sites both in the public and private sector.

I recommend: Uniontown Industrial Equipment Co. has used models of John Deere construction size bulldozers for sale. The Equipment Locater Service can also help you find a model in this size range.

Select 'production' size models of John Deere bulldozers

The production line offers horsepower in the 200-plus range. These bulldozers move massive amounts of dirt. The solid waste industry and road construction routinely use these John Deere bulldozers to get their work done.

I recommend: Beard Equipment Co. has new production size John Deere bulldozers for sale. Rock and Dirt's website offers a selection of used production models.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Newer models of John Deere bulldozers come with air-conditioning in the cabs and cushioned undercarriages that make the work a lot easier to bear.
• •  All the John Deere bulldozers are compatible with a variety of attachments you can buy as needed. The most common attachments are the blade, ripper claws and scrapers.
• •  Some models of John Deere bulldozers offer different tracks for different jobs.

John Deere bulldozers education and training is very important to those in the construction and heavy equipment fields. Having an employee knowledgeable in the operation of John Deere bulldozers or being knowledgeable in the subject yourself saves your company much time and money.

Bulldozers are expensive pieces of equipment; even a used John Deere dozer is costly to maintain and run. Understanding John Deere bulldozer parts saves your business money when it comes to maintenance and repairs. When thinking about how employees at your excavating company can increase their John Deere bulldozers education and training, consider the following:

1. What type of John Deere dozer do you operate?

2. What is the extent of your knowledge about John Deer bulldozer parts?

3. What do you wish to gain from John Deere bulldozers education and training?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase instructional videos to gain information about the operation of your John Deere dozer

Operating a bulldozer requires special skills. It is not like operating truck or cars. Safety is a critical issue. One must ensure that employees take precautions not to roll the dozer over. Training videos give operators more detailed images of exactly how to operate John Deere dozers than books, which is a good reason to consider purchasing dozer operation videos.

I recommend: John Deere offers instructional videos for operating John Deere bulldozers. Vista Start Smart also has bulldozer operation videos.

Read manuals specific to the model and year of your John Deere bulldozers

Bulldozers are not all the same. To learn more about your specific model and year, gain access to the operator's manual for your dozer. A John Deere 1010 bulldozer does not necessarily perform the same functions as a John Deere 2010 bulldozer. Look on your John Deere crawler dozer for a model number and then search for that exact model manual.

I recommend: The John Deere website offers a service department where owners ask questions about their particular dozer. You may find your dozer's owner manual at Heavy-Duty Construction.

Look for informational programs that offer John Deere bulldozers education and training

In some cases the education needs to go beyond a video or manual. In these circumstances, consider formal training in a bulldozer operator class. Classes give hands-on instruction for dozer operators. Informational websites may also give the dozer operator more insight into the machine in which he is working.

I recommend: Operator School offers a class for bulldozer operation. At the website of the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, you can find links to schools that have training programs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep cost in mind when looking for information about classes for your John Deere bulldozer. Instructional videos may be more cost-efficient to train several employees. Whatever your choice, make sure that your education on John Deere dozers helps you get the best value for your business money.