My name is Leonard and I am new to this forum. Sense joining I would like to thank Lavoy for allowing people like myself to be a part of something good. That is, people helping each other out.
I am a retired heavy equipment mechanic and I have worked on or been around equipment all my life. My Dad was a railroader and there was always a piece of equipment of some sort around for me to be fascinated by. It drove mother nuts trying to keep me off of this stuff.
Officially I have forty years of experience on everything from cars to cranes. More specific to this forum, I have thirty five years of experience with John Deere equipment. Both Ag and Construction. I worked for the great state of Missouri as a heavy equipment mechanic. For thirty of those years my specific purpose was the states fleet of small dozers. Fifty two of them to be exact. These were used for wild land fire suppression and construction. To be even more specific, the John Deere 350 series.
I have worked on every series from the old gas burning straight 350s to the 350Ds. Most of these being push dozers. We had a few loaders, all were the B series and they also had the backhoes on them.
Later we acquired the infamous 400G. This is what happens when you breed a 350D with a 450E. Not sure it was a good thing to happen.
My main focus was the 350s and at one point in time or another I have had them completely disassembled several times over.
I don't know it all and it seems I learn something new on these machines every day. So far you guys seem to be very knowledgeable and I look forward to learning even more about these machines from you.
Other than that, I like to hunt, fish, do model railroading and study the 8th Air Force from WWII. I enjoy good conversation over a good cup of coffee and I love my wife and two sons.
I hope I can be of some help to some one and share what I do know. Thanks guys and or gals!
and Thank You Lavoy! 
