Hello, I`m new.

[BeaudesertSand]

Glad I found this forum, lots of interesting stuff and links. Here`s the 966C that we have at work, 1976 and still working every day.

Sigh, now I have to go through all my old pics and scan them, I have a few of some of the sh.. I mean, machinery that I`ve used, and well, had to endure.

Edit, Pic didn`t upload, I`ll work on it... :(

[wrenchbender]

Welcome to HEF BeaudesertSand, and we look foward to seeing those pics.

[Countryboy]

Welcome to HEF BeaudesertSand! :drinkup

Edit, Pic didn`t upload, I`ll work on it... :(

Check out the red links in my signature for help with posting pictures. :thumbsup

[BeaudesertSand]

*tries again

[BeaudesertSand]

10 years ago, when our dear old 966C came off the low-loader, she`d go clunk---clunk---clunk---clunk as it drove. My brother always said: its in the brakes, other`s said: tooth off the crown wheel..

I always said, if it was a car, I`d say the star gears are shot. But she just kept on.

Lately, it got louder. I ran the plant while my boss was absent yesterday ( normally I drive excavator and dump truck bringing down raw material ) and as the 966C is our sales loader, I loaded a few trucks with it.

It ` cuaght` a few times as I was filling the bucket at the heap ie: drive in, lift, tilt down lift again about to crowd the bucket and clang! like you`ve applied the transfer brake. Oh dear I thought.

Today, I arrive at the plant in my dump truck, see the boss loading a guy with our Kawasaki KSS70 plant loader, this can`t be good.. He signals me. She broke, mate.

not long later, fully covering filth, we had the front diff on the ground...

Seems, the bearing where the axle fits into the carrier had been shagged before she came off the low loader all those years ago. Slowly but surely the flex had crucified the pinion and finally the Crown wheel.

Best quote was for $7,500 AUD reco`d exchange. :(

I`m hoping ( and will check, be sure ) that the axle isnt bent, as I`m wondering how the bearing got ruined. I`ve never seen a Cat break a diff before, especially a 966, they are tough as teak.

[DigDug]

Hello , good pics. Seems theres always something that needs work.

[LowBoy]

Welcome BeaudesertSand. You gotta admit, 10 yrs. of "clunkety clunkin'" ain't bad...The 'ol gal's been pretty good to you guys up till now.:D

As far as a bent axle, I'd be content that's not in the cards. However, your "crown gear", or ring gear (as we like to refer to them topside,) and pinion gears are D.O.A. obviously.

I'd say if you were to sterilize the housing food grade clean with the axles out, flushing it as good as you can to chase out any contamination, and drop in another recon'd chuck...pumpkin...diff.,(whatever you'd call it,) you'll be back in the pile in no time.

The bearings were most likely damaged by the schrapnel generated by other problems in there, but it's amazing it all withstood 10 years of torque! Can't say those old Cats ain't tough...:drinkup

[BeaudesertSand]

Lowboy: It`s our sales loader, Some days it might not get started, some days she`ll load 500 ton. At times when the plant loader has been out of commission, it`s fed the plant till the smaller loader is repaired.

Although, my boss cries when we fill the fuel tank on those days.

The new diff centre arrived today, $7,500 AUD supposedly reco`d, exchange. I hope its a front diff... Boss is getting a friend of his with a mobile diesel mechanical business to fit it, YAY!!!! I didnt like the idea of me doing it with a trolley jack.

Bit of luck a fair breeze, it`ll be back on deck before lunch tomorrow.

[LowBoy]

Sounds like a winning plan to me, BeaudesertSand. No plywood on the ground, tranny jack to mess with, and best of all...your hands will stay much cleaner letting the tech do the work!!! :beerchug

[BeaudesertSand]

It was all done in no time today. Sure feels wierd with out the clunk!

Now only the center bearing and pin clunks :cool2

Maybe one day we`ll attend to that.

[LowBoy]

It was all done in no time today. Sure feels wierd with out the clunk!

Now only the center bearing and pin clunks :cool2

Maybe one day we`ll attend to that.


I learned a valuable lesson years ago about clunks and vibrations that I've spent literally a small fortune on.

You buy a really good stereo system, good speakers, and TURN IT UP till the clunk goes away.:cool2

If you were to sweep the cab out and clean the glass on that 966 BeaudesertSand, you'll feel like you're in a new one now!:drinkup