Smallest John Deere Dozer: New and Used Models, Common Issues

Are you looking for a capable bulldozer? Then John Deere is a good place to start looking at. John Deere is a company with hundreds of years of combined experience among its workforce. It is a company that is trusted across the world when it comes to farming, construction, and forestry machinery and equipment.

When shopping for your ideal John Deere bulldozer, you need to factor in several things, such as the type of work, the intensity of the work, and, of course, the price tag on the dozer. You need the right machinery when excavating a trench, backfilling, or leveling a construction site or farm. The dozer should have the right capabilities and should also be of the right size.

In our article today, we walk through the John Deere shop to find the smallest dozers the manufacturer has to offer. We take a look at the new models and the used models to help you get a better understanding of these small dozers from John Deere. To add to this, we investigate the common issues that tend to hamper the performance and durability of the dozers.

The smallest John Deere dozers

1) John Deere 450 P-Tier

In 2021, John Deere decided to change the naming system of its dozers and other heavy machinery. For the longest time, you tell the age of a dozer by just looking at the letter on its alphanumeric naming system. In 2021, the company decided to start naming its dozers using 'performance tiering.' This new naming system emphasized more on a dozer's capabilities more than anything else. And that is how we have picked the 450P, 550P, and 650P.

The 450P bulldozer from John Deere is an ultramodern machine that gives the operator the impeccable ability to up their performance. The machine allows the owner to reap great benefits despite being the smallest in line.

The 450P is the newest smallest dozer from John Deere. It affords the operator a 14% larger cabin than the previous model. It comes with automatic temperature control (ATC), ventilated seat, and an ultramodern 8" touch screen for machine controls. An additional 10" touchscreen is for navigational and grade control.

With a 124" wide blade, the 450P is designed to perform excellently at a job site. The 4.5L or 276 cu.in dozer has an SAE net rated power of 53kW or 71hp at 2100 RPM. The turbocharged dozer boasts a top speed of 5mph while its operational weight ranges between 8,081 and 8,634 kg.

2) John Deere 550 P-Tier

The John Deere 550P-Tier is the bigger brother to the 450P-Tier. Like the 450P model, this dozer is 4.5L or 276 cu.in, but the SAE-rated power is 69kW (92hp) at 2000 RPM. The net peak torque is 440 Nm at 1,400 RPM. The blade digging depth is 22.8 inches, while its lift capability is 28.8 inches.

The P-tier stands out because it uses modern standard Eco mode technology and automatically adjusts the engine's speed and powertrain. All this is done based on load and is meant to maximize fuel usage by as much as 20%. This shift in fuel usage does not compromise performance.

The operating weight of the dozer is between 8,552-9,124 kgs. Another feature that makes this dozer stand out is the operator presence detector. This system has a built-in sensor that detects when the operator's seat is occupied before the parking brake is engaged. This is a major safety feature as it prevents unintentional machine movement.

3) John Deere 650 P-Tier

The 650p-Tier is the largest of the small modern John Deere small dozers. This crawl dozer boasts 78kW or 104 hp at 1,900 RPM. It is a more than capable dozer whose operating weight is between 9,600 kgs and 10,198 kgs. Like the L series of John Deere, the 650P and other P-tier offer you some advanced, unique, and intriguing features.

The 650P affords you 14% more glass, making viewing your surroundings easier. The rearview camera and the LED light further enhance your visibility and safety at the worksite. The dozer also has an 8-inch touchscreen for the primary configuration needs and a 10-inch screen for navigational purposes.

The blade digging depth reaches a maximum of 21.2 inches, and the lift height is 31.5 inches. The dozer is fitted with a straight blade measuring 8'9" in width and 3'6" in height. The SAE blade capacity is 2.9 cu.yd, while the blade angle is 22.9 degrees.

4) John Deere 450 K

The John Deere 450K is the older dozer bearing the 450 badge. It is a dozer with a 60kW or 80hp at 2,200 RPM power rating. If you go for the base model, the maximum base weight is 7,959kg, while the LGP version is 8,522 kg. The dozer has a long list of capabilities, such as operator comfort and ecosystem, which help you save up to 20% of fuel.

The dozer is armed with a turbocharger with a charged air-cooler. Its cooling system is equipped with 8.47 fins per inch in the radiator, just like the P-tier lineup. The forward and reverse gears reach 5mph or 8.0 km. The blade height is 30.4 inches, while its depth is 20.8 inches. The blade width is 124 inches which is no different from the P-tier dozers.

5) John Deere 450J

The 450J was introduced in 2005. The model has nearly 20 serial numbers that a customer can choose from. It is a dozer pumped with 52-57kW power output capacity. This translates to between 70 and 77 horsepower at 2,200 RPM. The dozer has a 4.5L engine, and the hydrostatic transmission allows it to reach 5.5mph on both forward and reverse gears.

As for the weights, the blade has a lifting capability of 30.4 inches, while the digging depth is 20.8 inches. The operating weight is 7,400 kgs or 16,316 pounds. The blade angle of 35.4^o stands out because the newer models give a 22.9^o blade angle.

Common issues affecting John Deere small dozers

The newer P-tier dozers run perfectly fine. Little to no complaints have been forwarded. It could be because they have been designed using the latest technology and sturdy materials. But truth be told, we expect a new machine to run at optimal capacity, and no issues are to be expected. For this reason, the manufacturer backs such machinery with a warranty. Therefore, we don't expect serious problems regarding the P-tier lineup of dozers in the near future.

But looking at the John Deere small dozers in general, we came up with a collection of a few issues owners complain about. These issues include;

1) The engine shuts down after running for a few minutes

Some operators and owners of the older version of dozers report the engine running for about 20 minutes and then shutting down. The problem has been reported by 550 and 450 operators. The engine will spit and sputter before dying out.

This problem is usually caused by a fuel system issue where the fuel flow is hampered. There could be a blockage in the fuel lines, or the injector could be having a problem. The problem has also been seen to happen in dozers that have been stored for long periods and with minimal fuel in reserve. The dry fuel lines clog, and this causes blockage in the fuel system.

2) Oil in radiator

This is a problem reported in the older 450 models. The oil cooler is likely the cause of this problem, and leaking oil ends up in the radiator. 350 dozer owners have also reported the issue.

3) Dozer won't connect

When running a diagnostic test, the computer or the diagnostic scanner fails to read the engine or the dozer. This problem can be experienced when you use the wrong connecting cable. You should seek a John Deere dealership to help you run diagnostics on your dozer.

4) Weak online community

While this is not a problem with the performance or the reliability of the John Deere dozer, it is an issue for many dozer owners who seek answers online. As is the case with Caterpillar and other manufacturers, John Deere owners don't seem to have a vibrant platform or forum where they can share ideas and experiences.

In a world where online presence plays a crucial role in problem-solving, this becomes an issue when it comes to operators and owners of small dozers who want to share or ask questions online. This issue is likely because John Deere has, for the longest time, insisted on the in-house repair of all types of machinery sold.

Conclusion

John Deere is a leader in manufacturing capable, reliable bulldozers. The company has perfected the art of making dozers, and you can never go wrong when you pick any of the small models from the lineup. The dozers from John Deere are guaranteed to serve you for years. Whether you buy a new or a used dozer, you can rest easy knowing your projects will never stall. There is little to complain about when it comes to common issues affecting the small Deere dozers. If well maintained and with the right John Deere dealer by your side, you can rest easy knowing that your dozer will serve you for decades.