What is your favorite loader to run? and why?

[Wolf]

What is your favorite loader to run? And why is that? What do you like for dirt, for demo and the like?

[9420pullpan]

i would run a cat track loader preferably 963 B or C over a wheel loader any day of the week. it is a very useful machine on a job site one can do anything with that machine.

[Squizzy246B]

Cat 938F, its not fancy but solid as a rock and its the perfect allrounder for our work.

[2004F550]

980H...nice machine...tons of nut....fun machine to run..............................worst would be a 950 B or F model....we had B and have an F and they both are underpowered for their size...much rather use a 936 or 938 on the low side or a 966 on the high side instead of the 950's

[Dozerboy]

I'm a Deere man, but one of the companies I work for were real big on Kawasaki's and they impressed me too. Cats turning radius was just horrible IMO. Those are the only ones I have run and size wise the bigger the better of course. Beside plant work and large utility work IMO wheel loaders are inadequate. Demo and grading can be done, but there are better pieces of equipment for it.

[dayexco]

we have 2 544 g deeres. love them. there's a lot of good loaders out there now, only one i didn't care for was the case 621

[Steve Frazier]

I haven't run a lot of them, and it's been quite some time since I have, but I fell in love with the JD 844 I used to run in a gravel bank. Very quiet, smooth, and lots of nuts for digging. I've run Komatsu, Samsung, Cat 950 and Michigan 75, none of them can compare.

[Steve Frazier]

Oops!!! I just noticed this thread is in the track loader forum! I've never run a track loader at all!!:beatsme

[CascadeScaper]

928G for sure. I've run a 988B at a pit, that was fun because it was huge and it's cool to tell people you've run a piece that's as tall as their house, but I could see how that would get boring really fast. I have no clue with track loaders, but they look like a kick in the pants. Being able to crawl anywhere and push into a pile with more force than that of a wheeled machine sounds like fun.

[Ford LT-9000]

I have ran 953 quite abit it was a old machine it ran pretty good definatly has more digging power over a rubber tired backhoe. I also have ran International T100 quite abit nice little machine.

Track loaders are pretty much the thing of the past around here.

[rino1494]

We own a Case 450, 955K and a 977L with m/s ripper. I would have to say that the 977 is my favorite to run. Nothing like moving material with that big of a machine.

[2004F550]

oops...well we used to have a JD 450c with a 4in1 and a Backhoe...was great for working in wet areas or to fill in for backhoe jobs...was also good for land clearing to pull the chipper through the woods and pick up wood with the 4i1....don't see any around anymore, 4x4 loader backhoes ended the need in our case and others

[Vahighwayman]

Best loaders is a hard thing to say, every operator has their preferences, I thought the JD 644G with the tool handler was very versitile to the job you have to do with it. When I needed to move dirt and lots of it, was with the 744H with 4 yrd bucket or kawasaki 380 with the 4 yrd bucket..for comfort..the 744H was it..like said Nothing Runs Like A Deere

[D10N]

My all time favorite is a 992C - good size and power, without the availability issues of the 994's, and none of that irritating STIC steering.

[bozoloaderman]

994F all the way! Incredible machine, it has balls (1457 of them). Prior to that I preferred Komatsu the best for comfort, speed and breakout force. Management was considering the WA1200 as well as a Letourneau 1350, but Cat won out. I ran a new Kawasaki Z115V feeding crusher, it was quick and could dig hard face well, but it was loaded with planetary, ride control and hyraulic problems from day 1, the company had 2 and they were both replaced by 988G's at about 12000hrs.

Bo

[Wolf]

NOthing beats the power of the old 977L for demolition! Great machine.

[Dozerboy]

Oops!!! I just noticed this thread is in the track loader forum!


Me too oops. Ya an old 977 is the cats meow, but I have sent little time on the newer 963 etc. I demoed a Deere and it was nice having a cab, radio, and AC but it didn't have the power or the size of a 977.

[Wolf]

Power and size are the key--especially when doing demolition! 977L is the most awesome machine. And it's fun to operate too.

[kenw]

I like the Cat 943 and 953's. Great visibility with engine in the rear.

[RentalMan]

I've never run a track loader but in the winter I do get to spend a lot time moving snow with our wheel loader. We had a Komatsu for a few months last year and I was just in love. It was sold before I got to spend very much time in it. Every winter I do get plenty of time in our JD 344 the one in my avatar. Its a few years old but the old girl is still a great piece of iron.:thumbsup

[Wolf]

NOthing has the power of the old 977 Ls. That machine just rocks!!! What a blast to run it. Just eats up the dirt, leaves everyone else in the dust. Any other fans of the 977s out there?

[rino1494]

NOthing has the power of the old 977 Ls. That machine just rocks!!! What a blast to run it. Just eats up the dirt, leaves everyone else in the dust. Any other fans of the 977s out there?


We have a 977L with a m/s ripper. We use it for building roads, detention basins and in our shale pit for ripping shale and loading trucks. This winter we will be painting it along with new pads.

[iceberg210]

I run a slightly smaller dozer then you guys are ussually describing. I run an International TD62 (loader version of the TD6) with a 4and1 Drott bucket. Its a great machine with tons of power for a machine of that size and can do good work in the forest where I work ussually. It can lift a decent load and if you are good (my dad can do it I need more practice) grade almost as good as a D3 with a 6 way blade.

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Folks.
I'm with Wolf about the 'grunt' of the 977L but I also enjoyed running a Cat 983 for a while. However, my all time favourite is still the Cat 953B that I ran for 2 years finishing about 3 years ago. A/C, standard Cat rear scarifier but it had an old Cat 950 4-in-1 bucket on it that was about 5" wider than the tracks both sides and it handled it extremely well.

I worked it alongside a Cat 350 excavator once. We were both loading 12 cu. yard tip trucks. He was loading his in 3 buckets. I was loading mine in 3 1/2 buckets. And look at the difference in size, weight and dollars. And I was leaving a cleaner floor, cut by laser checking to +/- 1/2 an inch. It was just a magic machine to operate and the oddball bucket was a large part of how well it handled.

Y'all have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.

[senoiaslim]

I just bought a 1974 International 175C. Does anyone know where to get an operating manual and matainence manual?

thanks

[ZAXIS]

Wolf, We are a Utility Contractor in NE Arkansas and work in the mud all winter long. We have a 94 model JD 555G WT Crawler loader that we couldn't do without in the mud. It may only have 90 hp but it is great for keeping the bedding box full, handling pipe, and also for backfilling and carrying compaction material for road crossings. We have a shop-made cab for it in the winter with heat and have the orops for the rest of the year. This may be small compared to the 977's, but she has a lot of heart and has been a dependable workhorse in our fleet for 14 years. Sincerely, ZAXIS

[qball]

i have run them all and i love a 953b for grading around homes, a 977l for banging out trucks on hard ground, and a 973 for all around loading.

[Eric]

I have to agree with Bozo. 994F is massive, comfortable, and all around awsome. I don't care for our 992C simply because I don't fit in the cab very well. I've run 988h and the 994f and love them. The engineers at Cat built a cab large enough for a full size man... I'm 6'4'' 280ish. You can load trucks all day with out wearing out your knees and elbows. LOVE joystick controls.

[BIGBEN2004]

953C was always my favorite. With the flat edge on the back bottom of the bucket allows you to drag off a yard and make it look like a dozer did it. Love them they are a perfect all around loader that is still light on it's feet. I learned on a 1984 963 and I love the power of the 963 but the 953 just scoots around quicker.

[petersfamilytru]

It's nothing fancy and it looks like hell, but I have a John Deere 644B that's turned out to be a real versitile machine. I've got a 3 yard bucket and hydraulic log forks for it.

For an inexpensive piece of equipment, it's been a very good addition to my equipment line up.


www.petersfamilytrucking.com

[jughead]

d-75s komatsu, because that is what i have. ran a 977 for a few years, but it was a basket case so i wont try to compare.

[WabcoMan]

Well call me old scholl bout the nicest loader, at least the one I have the fondest memories of, was a Cat 922A - the non-turbo version.
Everybody drove it, it started first time, took heaps of abuse from all the newbie operators and still came back for more.
We used it mostly for backfilling trenches.
Have to agree with the 977L as the best track loader though - awesome piece of gear.

[euclid]

I first learned on a Cat 920, it had a noisy cab due to the four cylinder/two stoke engine but heaps of power for a yard and ¾ bucket! Next it was the 444E John Deere and the single lever for control was cool and it was much quieter in the cab, but I could see the difference in power and over all weight of the machine, it just wasn’t CAT touch! I’ve operated a WA-380 Komatsu and it was really nice because of the ergonomics of the cab and the computer that operates the engine, transmission and hydraulics. The cab was comfortable and it was a dream to operate. Now I’ve been out of the cab for a long time over twenty years and the Komatsu was really nice and I’m a big boy and I fit in the cab nice and I wasn’t tired after loading out trucks all day.

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Euclid.
I first learned on a Cat 920, it had a noisy cab due to the four cylinder/two stoke engine.

Now I know that 'old-timer's' is setting in and I'm approaching my use-by date but I don't remember the Cat 920 having a 2-stroke 'donk'. Did somebody repower one with a 'Jimmy' or some such? That would have made a real screamer out of it - in more ways than one. LOL.

[euclid]

Hi, Euclid.
[Quote]I first learned on a Cat 920, it had a noisy cab due to the four cylinder/two stoke engine.[quote]

Now I know that 'old-timer's' is setting in and I'm approaching my use-by date but I don't remember the Cat 920 having a 2-stroke 'donk'. Did somebody repower one with a 'Jimmy' or some such? That would have made a real screamer out of it - in more ways than one. LOL.

Well maybe I'm mistaken but it did have a non-turbo 4 cylinder and it was loud. And if I'm mistaken then clearly it was the motor. I do know our 920 used a fair bit of oil due to the work we did. But I can say it was a pleasure to learn how to operate it. I did run it our of diesel one day and because I was like 17 at the time I was more interested in leaving after work than doing my turn around like I normally did. Refuel and oil as needed and grease fittings once a week. And anyways I left and didn’t do my duties and the next morning about 10 miles from our main base of ops and ran it dry. Got some diesel and opened the valves and pumped it and got all the air out and fired it up!

[BoomRider]

So far my most prefered loader would have to be the 966H with command steer! Super responsive smooth hydraulics and very quick on its feet. I was out-loading a 972G and WA480 in sand... As for the operator platform cat has it covered. I think Komatsu's are still fairly primitive inside. That said though, I operated a WA500 -6 with 900 hrs and that was an awesomely powerful and quick machine for it's size. It comes a close second to the 966H

[Rusted]

Well call me old scholl bout the nicest loader, at least the one I have the fondest memories of, was a Cat 922A - the non-turbo version


WabcoMan, I started out on them as well and also have good memories of them and the 944, but the 922A WAS the turboed version....the turbo was dropped on the later B series when they went from the D320T to the larger bore D330 (same h.p.).

[divedigger]

I am a small i horse outfit and have a tandam dump 50,000 tagalong a 580 super e 2 wd 160 cfm leori air compressor with John Deer diesel and a 943 Cat that I ordered brand new in 1992, matter of fact it was the last one they because it was at that time they claimed it cost almost as much to produce as the 953 and according to Cat they were selling real well but Cat was losing mony on all the 943s so there small machine in that setup was now the 953 Sane engine asthe 943 just non turbo With all of this said I have owned and run 2 john deers, 6 case track loaders then I finally got to order me a Cat rear engine hydrastat drive with a full cab and salt tracks from the factory in England I think I have paid my dues with the old stuff so I will have to say the Cat rear engine hydrastats are the only way fly even if your feet never leave the ground Nice ,smooth, quick easy to operate comfortabable to stay in 10 to 12 hrs. This is just my opinion. I am getting real close to putting a whoe new bottom under her now I have 6200 on the factory undercarriage so I think I have got good wear for what it has been throughThanks Divedigger in Tennessee

[dirt digger]

i do like the comfort of a 953C but you can't beat how nimble a nice older 943 is for precise work

[euclid]

WabcoMan, I started out on them as well and also have good memories of them and the 944, but the 922A WAS the turboed version....the turbo was dropped on the later B series when they went from the D320T to the larger bore D330 (same h.p.).

922a was it rear steering? i heard stories of the 922 being a very nimble machine before the pivot cabs we know now.

[Rusted]

Euclid, yes the 922's both A & B are rear steer, the 920 was the replacement for the 922, it's articulated. (I guess this should be in the wheel loader forum).

[euclid]

Euclid, yes the 922's both A & B are rear steer, the 920 was the replacement for the 922, it's articulated. (I guess this should be in the wheel loader forum).

right, I reckon I help drift off course from tracks to wheels :eek:

[Deas Plant]

Jeez, it's hard to get good thread followers these days. Short attention span. LOL.

[euclid]

Jeez, it's hard to get good thread followers these days. Short attention span. LOL.

:notworthy

[td14steve]

Well its been quite a few years since I ran one but I would have to say The venerable 977 . When I was in the USAF in England we had one and I would get on it every chance I could what an indestructable machine It was a sad day when it was being shipped to another base never to return but it was repaced with a brand new IH. Steve

[bear]

Mine is was a large model Cat. Don't remember the old girl too well didn't get to use it as much as I wanted. This was before I took over for my father-in-law and he never let anyone else run his stuff before he got sick except me. He traded it for the D6C I've already posted pics of. It was a great machine it was great for just about everything... except he wanted a dozer more. I wish I had been able to buy it from him but I was working out of town and he never told me he was selling it. :Banghead