Who's Run the Largest Equipment?

[Steve Frazier]

We've got over 150 members now, I thought it might be interesting to learn what the largest piece of equipment everyone has run.

Mine would be either an articulated 3 axle off road dump, or a John Deere 844 wheel loader, followed by an olde style Cat D-7.

The big iron is sure impressive with the amount of material it can move. I'd like to experience driving one of those super sized quarry trucks shown on The History Channel one time.

[PAYTON]

job site im on now has a cat shovel 54xx sumthing.

a
d8
d10
3 triple 7s
and a 14g grader

ive got a lil time in the seat of the shovel trully massive compared to a track ho

the d10 is huge great push cat i can walk a pile dropped by a triple 7 with one pass

as far as largest ive ran
a 657 once that sob was huge
637s are pretty common around here


ive ran a 18 grader that thing makes quick work outta haul roads! let me tell ya.

ex 700 track hos are pretty common for loading articualted haul trucks

ran a bell truck from brandies with 6 drag pans
ran a case track tractor with 6 pans
both^ are sluggish as hell. and super weak!

im sure ive over looked something but not sure what

payton

[donlang]

As far as big goes, I've had some seat time on a Komatsu PC-1000 excavator. The first one, and only for an hour or so, had a custom made 10 cy bucket. Quick to load haul trucks with! The second one, which afforded me quite a bit more seat time, was an older one with a standard bucket of unknown size. Dig like crazy, but slow in the boom functions. We were installing 48" dia. RCP about 24' deep. Although big and lunky, it was still much quicker than the newer and faster PC-400s.

I've had some time in a 50 ton Payhauler. Simple to drive, all wheel drive in low gear

Also had some time on a D-9, but not the newer high drive models.........thats just wishfull thinking for now.

The rest of my experience is on various mid size machines.......963, 953, 977, 955, 941, D-8 thru D-3...various backhoes and excavators, graders....compactors, and last year I got a good bit of seat time on a Cat 650 paver (interesting change of pace for a dirt guy!)

:usa

[digger242j]

The biggest I've been on are a 200 excavator and a 65 dozer, both Komatsu.

I've also spent a little time on a Grove 65RT crane--25 ton capacity and about 80 feet of boom, I think.

None of those is going to win the prize for biggest, obviously.

How about smallest? We rented an excavator once (and I sure wish I could remember the model), that we hauled to the job in the bed of my pickup. It had about an 8" bucket and would've dug about 4' deep, (but I think it might've fallen over into the ditch if you'd tried). It was so small, that rather than sitting *on* it, you flipped the seat around and sort of sat behind it. It did actually crawl around on it's own. I was disappointed that the house didn't actually swing--only the boom. I got a little off balance once and tipped it, so we grabbed it and set it back upright. I shut it off once, and the guy I was working for asked why the machine had stopped. I told him I'd run out of quarters....
:)

[2004F550]

Well I'm still young but the biggest things i've run are a run a Cat 350BL shovel, a 110 Kawi loader, Cat 980G loader (slick machine), and a Cat D9N. Cat D350E haul trucks too, but there not the biggest around. I would like to operate a CAT 5XXX someday, we'll see. I also ran a Cat 641 scraper once, and for this area its bout the biggest to be found. Its weird but since I usually operate the big stuff I have an urge to try like a Cat 303.5 or something, they look like fun, I guess you always want what you don't have lol...
John

[glsahl]

We've got two Vermeer T955 trenchers,a Linkbelt 4300Q excavator,and a Kawasaki 90Z 4,as the biggest of our owned equipment.Rented a Liehber 942 excavator,unsure of model #,and a Kawasaki 115 loader,one time things.We rent a Linkbelt 800 LX on a fairly regular basis,short term for deep storm drain work.
The Vermeers have 12' booms,and 27" cuts.We own a 5000 lb hydraulic hammer for the 4300,but,the largest bucket we own is a 5' that fits our Cat 235.

[John DiMartino]

Ss far as big a Cat D8H. ,thats about it my loader is a toy.

[BRL]

I got to run a D-8 once to raze a house. that was fun! Also got to run a decent sized old Terex loader, but have no idea what model it was. It had a 6-8 yard bucket, basing it against loaders I know of now that have 5 yarders. That's the biggest I got to play with, but I can always dream & hope for bigger days of fun...

[PAYTON]

few pics of equipment on site now..

these pics were stolen - borrowed from cats web site. i can get actuall pics if need be but there the same thats on site let me know if u want actual pics

shovel

http://cmms.cat.com/cmms/servlet/cat.dcs.cmms.servlet.ImageServlet?imageid=C001447&imageType=2

grader
http://cmms.cat.com/cmms/servlet/cat.dcs.cmms.servlet.ImageServlet?imageid=C013326&imageType=2

haul trucks
http://cmms.cat.com/cmms/servlet/cat.dcs.cmms.servlet.ImageServlet?imageid=C046094&imageType=2

[triaxle]

freight train

[digger242j]

does this count? freight train

If it were put to a vote I'd bet that one would be disqualified--unless you dug a hole with it. :)

As long as the subject of freight trains is on the table, I'll go way off topic.

One of our snowplowing accounts is a steel processing plant, and it has a rail siding that crosses the lot and enters the building. This past winter I arrived to plow one night, and there was a locomotive sitting in the middle of the lot. I worked around it, and after a while a second locomotive arrived. The engineers from both locomotives opened some of the panels on the first one, and did some sort of fooling around in there. Then the one engineer went into the cab and started it up, after which they both left. It was a unique experience, in that I've had, or seen, breakdowns in almost all types of construction equipment, but that's the only time I've ever seen a *train* that wouldn't run. I wish I'd had more time, and could've gotten a closer look. It would've been fun to see what makes one of them tick...

[PSDF350]

not for digging but pulling trees Cat 518c bable skidder.

[CT18fireman]

That's a little odd actually. IF the diesel wasn't running the one locomotive could have provided electrical power to the wheel motors for the one not running. It would not generate the same power but would be movable. If nothing else they could have towed it dead. To be working on it in the snow like that sounds like it was something they knew was fixable.

I have learned to be careful plowing around those tracks. Nothing "grabs" a plow edge like a piece of steel track.

[Electra_Glide]

It was a unique experience, in that I've had, or seen, breakdowns in almost all types of construction equipment, but that's the only time I've ever seen a *train* that wouldn't run. I wish I'd had more time, and could've gotten a closer look. It would've been fun to see what makes one of them tick...

Always loved trains ever since I was a kid... Inside of a locomoitive is basically a big generating station on wheels. Big diesel engine (12-20 cylindars) that turns either a generator or alternator. Current is then passed to traction motors located on each axle. Same setup is used in lots of the big haul trucks.

A pretty good description of the guts of a locomotive can be found here:
http://www.trainboard.com/ultimatebb.php/ubb/get_topic/f/108/t/000014.html

As far as the largest piece of equipment I've ever operated, it was a Volvo articulated haul truck. Can't remember if it was an A30, A35, or A40. Didn't have to haul very far, and almost got it stuck in the mud, but it sure was fun...:)

Joe

[littledenny]

freight train


As a former Commander of the Army's only Diesel-Electric Locomotive Repair Company and a former XO of the Army's only Rail Battalion, I'd vote to let this count.

Sure, not a digger, but it sure qualifies as large.

I too have had a bit of stick time in a loco, and on a locomotive simulator. That was a blast - was designed on the same 6 degrees of freedom base as a helicopter simulator, and sure felt real. I took 100 cars of coal down a 3% grade on my qualification test, not as easy as you might think.

[9420pullpan]

i have ran a cat 375, 9520 JD tractor, D8R, Cat 16H grader... check out some of my pics at http://community.webshots.com/user/xbl003x

[CascadeScaper]

Biggest thing I've ever run was a Cat 988B loader. Pretty nice machine, they use it at the local pit and when we need gravel on the weekends we load ourselves since there's nobody around. Sitting in that loader makes loading into our dump trailer look like a little toy truck and trailer :laugh

[Stroker]

Excavator- Komatsu PC400, Biggest excavator the company I worked for owned. First time assigned a job with this machine I spent 2 weeks in a row loading trucks. Didn't mind because it was July and it had AC.

Dozer- Cat D9, used this old relic to push some 641-651? Pans. Its size had me excited for about 5 minutes. Then it was just loud, hot, and really gave the arms and legs a work out just to stear it. Didn't mind one bit when it came time to get off and do the clean up work with the D4....

Loader- Cat 988 rubber tire and Cat 973 track loader

Motor Grader- 14H or G? Cant remember the letter.... Just used this grader to smooth out a haul road. So never had a chance to drop the blade down and really take up some soil

Scraper (Pan)... Cat 641 I beleive was the model. No paddles, just get the bowl started and a Cat D9 dozer would push you.

[Grinderminder71]

My favorite tractor isnt the biggest but, I loved the CAT 983 track loader, ( about 83,000 lbs ) with a demo bucket and a single 3 ft ripper.Its a pretty good size for a track loader. I would love to operate a LaTournou wheel loader.

[pwbsmokey]

Cat D8L with landfill blade, Cat 826 compactor, Cat 14G grader, Cat 988 Loader, Cat 235 hoe, Cat 983 track loader & DJB D350 articulated dump truck.

[D10R]

So far, for me the biggest I've run was a Cat 930 loader in a salvage yard. pretty fun to pick up cars and just move em around all day. wish I could do that again, its entertaining to know you can be as rough as you want and not get in trouble for moving a parked car. lol

[qball]

this is a neat old thread and i thought i would revive it.
manitowoc 4100 series II tower.
komatsu pc-650
hitatchi 550
cat d-9
cat-983
cat 988-f
so many cat 980's that they are like a bobcat to me now
cat 627
cat 140-h
a big honkin fmc diesel tower crane i oiled on and got some butt time in.

it is funny that i started on a 953 loader but a 973 seems like a bobcat now after being on so many tight sites with them. same with a d-8.

[Bumpsteer]

Mostly smaller equipment for me.

Although the first excavator I ever ran was an old 50 ton Hydra-unit...with a screaming 8-71 Detroit for power.

Ed

[eRay]

Coal train. 140 cars 100 tons each. 3 locomotives 3000 HP each. 2 miles long.

[RocksnRoses]

Komatsu 475 with a 45 foot scrub rake.

RnR.

[cummins05]

couple 1200 hoes. A D11R 16g grader wana try a 24h. took a spin on a WA800
put alot of hours in on 988s and Wa600s

Alberta has to be about the only place you will be asked some day to finish with a D9 lol

[AmerIndependent]

Pretty amazing seeing Steve say:

We've got over 150 members now

as though it's a lot. Compared to today's membership, it's laughable.

Great job getting this site to where it is!:notworthy

[Corona Kid]

I Have moved Several T-38 Jets For The Korean Air Force 26' Wide, 9,000 Lbs, No Drag Load, I Would Down Load Some Pictures But I Haven't Figured That One Out Yet :drinkup

[EGS]

Biggest back-hoe Cat 385

Biggest dozer D10 triple pushing 631G's

[blowerman]

Back Hoe- Kobelco SK400
Biggest Dozer Old D8 pushing piles of fill
Favorite- D5G finish grading berms.

[dynahoescott]

:drinkup:drinkup7400 link belt hoe with a 6 yard bucket, laying 60 inch RCP 20 foot sections 23 feet deep down the middle of a city street in jersey city/ bayonne, 2 boxes not stacked and digging under and over the power lines with that 12v71 detroit screaming. TOUGH JOB

[Buckethead]

Dozers- Cat D9L, D9G, D9H
Pans- Cat 637, Terex TS-24
Trackhoes- Cat 245, 375, Koehring 1166, B-E 350H

[barklee]

Biggest dirt equipment: Cat 350 excavator
Biggest boom lift: JLG 135'
Biggest crane: 70 or 90t Grove Rt with 150 or so feet of boom cant remember, too busy pooping my pants!
Swing stage on train tracks down the side of the wedge atop the ALU insurance building in Indy 595' up. Far left in pic. Suppose thats not a big machine, but its all part of the building

[Panhandler Bob]

Hoe: 385 Cat Dozer: D-10 Pan: 637D Loader: 988F Trackloader:973 Grader:16G Compactor:825 Roller:563 Artic truck:A-40 Ridgid truck:773 Farm tractor:CaseIH 7220 :drinkup Bob aka ZZ

[alco]

I really don't think mine should count since I work in a mine. Hoe: EX2500, Cable shovel: Bucyrus 495HF, Truck: 797B, Dozer: D11T, Grader: 24M, Hydraulic shovel: RH400. So like I said, it's not fair to the others to compete is this one.

[EGS]

I really don't think mine should count since I work in a mine. Hoe: EX2500, Cable shovel: Bucyrus 495HF, Truck: 797B, Dozer: D11T, Grader: 24M, Hydraulic shovel: RH400. So like I said, it's not fair to the others to compete is this one.

I think that you win!:D

[stumpjumper83]

If dump trucks, haul trucks, and artics count, So do trains

Both machines just move stuff from place to place.

Biggest for me is a d8r or a terex ts14G

[AmerIndependent]

We drove around a couple 660B's at our yard before we tore them apart... :o

[MrKomatsu]

pc-8000 and the super dozer D575sa

[MrKomatsu]

komatsu 930e---wa1200,wa900 and w800-3

[tonka]

Largest i ran was a jd 850Dlc, smallest a beach sand shovel!

[MrKomatsu]

nice avatar......

[tonka]

nice avatar......thanks man:drinkup

[MrKomatsu]

:drinkup:drinkup:drinkupRight back at ya tonka.....:drinkup:drinkup:drinkup:usa

[Eric]

I really don't think mine should count since I work in a mine. Hoe: EX2500, Cable shovel: Bucyrus 495HF, Truck: 797B, Dozer: D11T, Grader: 24M, Hydraulic shovel: RH400. So like I said, it's not fair to the others to compete is this one.

I'm with you, I work in a mine. P&H 4100A with a 56 yard dipper, D11N and R, Komatsu 475, Komatsu 930E 320 ton truck, Cat 793D 240-265 ton truck, 16M blade, Cat 994F loader, and a Cat 5230 Hydraulic Shovel. We aught to start a mining thread!

[Dozerboy]

I ran some big stuff in CA and The old school D10 that later became the D11N. An big O&K excavator that I can't remember the # on but it had a 12yd bucket. Here in East TX the biggest hoe is 50 tons and a dozer is 20 tons.

[sluggo]

I'm with you, I work in a mine. P&H 4100A with a 56 yard dipper, D11N and R, Komatsu 475, Komatsu 930E 320 ton truck, Cat 793D 240-265 ton truck, 16M blade, Cat 994F loader, and a Cat 5230 Hydraulic Shovel. We aught to start a mining thread!

!0-4 to that I allso wish there way a mining thread here..

[Koehringman]

Me, a Koehring 1066.:usa

[Wolf]

I ran some big stuff in CA and The old school D10 that later became the D11N. An big O&K excavator that I can't remember the # on but it had a 12yd bucket. Here in East TX the biggest hoe is 50 tons and a dozer is 20 tons.

Why do you think the hoes in Texas are smaller, only 50 tons max? I thought everything is bigger in Texas.

[Lee-online]

I don't operate equipment, i fix it but i do get to run it and play with it. i have played in d11R, 385c, 777F, 990F, 988G, 836G just to name a few but i have played with most cat equipment. I was recently in a 521, that was really cool.

[goodearth13]

In the early 70's I worked at the Chatfield Dam constuction project & I think they had about a 100 scrapers on site most of the time. 631's. 641's, 651's & a string of about 40 657's. I ran all of the different scrapers, but the 57's were really impressive with the amount of dirt that they moved in a 10 hr shift. I think the D9's were as big a pushcat as they had at that time, but sometimes they would tripple hit you from the back on the run. Boy you could jamb 50+yds in that bowl almost before you could get the lip closed. Talk about just being a number on the payroll list. As long as you could get it back & forth & not get in anybody's way they kept you on. Good experience though.
C Ya, Patrol Man (Dan) goodearth13 :usa

[redline]

D9H
D9L
D150-A
Volvo A35 artics
Case W20b
Volvo L90D
Komatsu pc220-6
New Holland 360hp Forestry Mega Mulcher
big BUD 525 with a 24ft drawn grader blade
24ft Drawn Grader Blade (behind a Steiger KP1360)
64ft Scarifier behind the same Steiger

[Dozerboy]

Why do you think the hoes in Texas are smaller, only 50 tons max? I thought everything is bigger in Texas.

There is big Iron in most other parts of TX. The weight mostly the ground is really soft we have a lots of gumbo clay. Once it gets wet your working in 2+ of mud and we get a bit of rain. I think there kind of cheap too. I know lots of guys that think you can do anything with a tinker toy JD450 dozer.

[hydmech]

We work on the stuuf. The biggest so far was an EX1200. 8 yd bucket. Twin engine.. Its a monster!!

[bigrus]

A Friggstad tractor/laser bucket combination (Big Buds big brother) with 2 671 GM's bolted together pulling 3 20yd3 buckets for land development in 1983

[MrKomatsu]

pc8000...........Alcola mine.........small enough?

[fyrwood guy]

here's me running & repairin' my big iron :bash
hydraulic cylinder needs welding on rear mount & seal kit 1st service in 23 yr of use :notworthy

[tdozer]

Me, a Koehring 1066.:usa

When i was around 12 years old, I climbed all over a 1466. Does that count?:D

Otherwise, Deere 850D, D8L, TS24 and 637D, Bucyrus 61B Dragline and a whole bunch of 980's.

[lets move dirt]

biggest dozers i have operated D10N, also a Fiat/Allis hd40 what a piece of junk, scrapers cat 631/637, blades cat 16g, hoes cat 375,

[oldseabee]

I helped build and field test the worlds largest log skidder back in the 70's Clark Ranger 880 had 903 Cummins engine, basically 275 Michigan loader power train. Carco G80 Winch, 13 1/2 foot tilt blade on the front and blade in the back to hold the tractor when winching heavy logs. Made for the far east logging. Most of them ended up pulling choppers over logged out areas. I also ran a 675 Michigan 24 yard loader with twin 1710 Cummins engines 700 HP each. Main Hydraulics used 4 92 GPM pumps, steering used 2 80 GPM pumps. tank held 650 gallons of hyd oil.

[simonac]

I'm with you, I work in a mine. P&H 4100A with a 56 yard dipper, D11N and R, Komatsu 475, Komatsu 930E 320 ton truck, Cat 793D 240-265 ton truck, 16M blade, Cat 994F loader, and a Cat 5230 Hydraulic Shovel. We aught to start a mining thread!

I really don't think mine should count since I work in a mine. Hoe: EX2500, Cable shovel: Bucyrus 495HF, Truck: 797B, Dozer: D11T, Grader: 24M, Hydraulic shovel: RH400. So like I said, it's not fair to the others to compete is this one.

pretty mutch the same here...i worked in the oil sand of alberta mainly on the rh-400,rh-340,mt6300ac,797,bucy495,p&h4100boss,24h,992,D11,pc1800 just to name a few...think big lolll

[Eric]

What's your impression of the 797 and the 24H?? I imagine your road maintenance must be a nightmare with that soft ground.

[simonac]

What's your impression of the 797 and the 24H?? I imagine your road maintenance must be a nightmare with that soft ground.

what do you mean impression?? as in operation or machine it self?? cause i dont operate them i repaired them lolll and occasionaly i operate ,mainly to troubleshoot and repaires....they are good machine that work hard as for 797 it all depends on personal preferance of the operator cause i was comparing the 797 to the mt6300ac with the operator and both have good and bad about them,and i dont spend 12 hours a day driving these truck so cant be the best judge...lolll and in the oil sand the ground is one off the worst ennemy even crazyer when wet....the road maintenance is a key element in making the machine and tires survive less bump =less stress on the frame,suspension,articulation,and entire drive train, and the big tire blowout..
and some mine doesent seem to see it that way...as for the 24 h theyr aint any bigger than this but it as all the same issue than its smaller brother,chain drive and circle and bad operator lolll i could go on and on for ever and my trhead is already long enought, hope it is a bit of an anser....