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660/666 Cat Scraper info
- Thread starter Gavin84w
- Start date
wethead
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2007
- Messages
- 27
- Location
- Rochester Ny
- Occupation
- Webmaster / Pool Guy / Dad / Heavy Equipment Buff
I would like to also see if there were some good stoires and pictures floating around.
The older , and larger machines are always cool to look at for sure.
Gavin
Yes, There are still some of these working here in SoCal. I do not know if any 666's are still here, Some got shipped out to Wyoming a year or two ago, but there are 660's still hauling dirt around here. I know ACI has a fleet of them, and they are working a few miles from me in the Sun City area. If I am near there in daylight hours I will try to get you some pictures. I think all of them that ACI has have been repowered for emissions reasons here in CA. They repowered with 60 series Detroit Diesel engines, and they are running strong. I know that Ralph Mitzel has a fleet of 660B models, and they are kept up in good condition. I am not sure where they are currently. There were a few others that had them, but I am unsure if they are still running, or even intact.
Good Day
Yes, There are still some of these working here in SoCal. I do not know if any 666's are still here, Some got shipped out to Wyoming a year or two ago, but there are 660's still hauling dirt around here. I know ACI has a fleet of them, and they are working a few miles from me in the Sun City area. If I am near there in daylight hours I will try to get you some pictures. I think all of them that ACI has have been repowered for emissions reasons here in CA. They repowered with 60 series Detroit Diesel engines, and they are running strong. I know that Ralph Mitzel has a fleet of 660B models, and they are kept up in good condition. I am not sure where they are currently. There were a few others that had them, but I am unsure if they are still running, or even intact.
Good Day
Deas Plant
Senior Member
Cat 660 scrapers.
Hi, Gavin84W.
I'd be surprised if Roy Davis - Earthpro - isn't still running his remaining pair around Brisbane and SE Queensland. They are from the original 6 that Thiess brought in back in, I think, the late 1960's. Roy had 5 of them - the other was totalled many years ago - he sold 2, cannabalised 1 and kept his remaining 2 running.
Hope this helps.
Hi, Gavin84W.
I'd be surprised if Roy Davis - Earthpro - isn't still running his remaining pair around Brisbane and SE Queensland. They are from the original 6 that Thiess brought in back in, I think, the late 1960's. Roy had 5 of them - the other was totalled many years ago - he sold 2, cannabalised 1 and kept his remaining 2 running.
Hope this helps.
surfer-joe
Senior Member
There are several, that have been used on Highway 60 north of Wickenburg, Arizona, still sitting in the contractors yard not too far south of I-40. They are in tough shape and I'd say maybe only one or two are capable of running.
I used a 660 tractor just north of Fresno in 1997 to pull a BeeGee on new construction for Highway 41 over the river. It swollowed an exhaust valve and the trans was about all done too. Swapped it out for a Challenger 85D and that was a much better arrangement. It had a nice air-conditioned cab where the 660 didn't have anything.
The old Washington Construction Company of Missoula had a huge fleet of 660/666's at one time. (That's where the 660 & BeeGee in Fresno came from) Their boneyard behind Modern Machinery's shop in Missoula, Montana may still have a number of them slowly being picked apart.
Zachry Construction in San Antonio had a large number of them as well years ago (1970's). I ran a 666 of theirs for a few days on a job south of town along the river, just off Loop 410.
I can't say I'm sorry to see the old bastards go. They were hot, noisy, difficult to use and uncomfortable at any speed.
I used a 660 tractor just north of Fresno in 1997 to pull a BeeGee on new construction for Highway 41 over the river. It swollowed an exhaust valve and the trans was about all done too. Swapped it out for a Challenger 85D and that was a much better arrangement. It had a nice air-conditioned cab where the 660 didn't have anything.
The old Washington Construction Company of Missoula had a huge fleet of 660/666's at one time. (That's where the 660 & BeeGee in Fresno came from) Their boneyard behind Modern Machinery's shop in Missoula, Montana may still have a number of them slowly being picked apart.
Zachry Construction in San Antonio had a large number of them as well years ago (1970's). I ran a 666 of theirs for a few days on a job south of town along the river, just off Loop 410.
I can't say I'm sorry to see the old bastards go. They were hot, noisy, difficult to use and uncomfortable at any speed.
the company i broke out with had 7 or 8 triple 6s i never seen them, after my first year on a scraper 631c, i graduated up to the 641s and 51s, thinking i was hot **** bragging about how much dirt we moved or how many loads we had the old frogs would have to put me in my place, usually with old stories about 666s, how much more dirt they hauled or how fast they went ide listen to those guys for hours or until we got kicked out of the bar. ide love to see pics of 666 working.
DirtHauler
Senior Member
Great artical on the 666
http://www.contrafedpublishing.co.nz/Historical/Classic+Motorscrapers/The+Caterpillar+666.html
Found some photos on photobucket
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/10/ssmullens666wyobu5.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/7223/ssmullen6661yq2.jpg
http://www.baggermodelle.ch/service/Cat_666.jpeg
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Deas Plant
Senior Member
What's supplying the GRUNT?
Hi, 637Slayer.
I suspect that the GRUNT supply in that last photo might be a Cat D10T.
Hi, 637Slayer.
I suspect that the GRUNT supply in that last photo might be a Cat D10T.
alan627b
Senior Member
666 The Number Of The Beast...
There is a discussion going on on the ACMOC BB currently, these pics were posted there too. It was said the push dozers were Hough D500's, if I recall correctly. All the machines were new at the time.
SS Mullen Company, Gas Hills Wyoming. 7 New 666's. Circa 1968.
If you go to http://www.Machinerytrader.com, go to Caterpillar equipment, and click on the model number, it will show pics of a number of units for sale currently in AZ and Nevada, including a 632 and 650 at National Hardware Supply in Madera, Ca.
I saw the 650 2 years ago when I visited there on vacation, a decent unit. Price reduced to only $13000! Prime yard art!
Gotta love the 6 wheelers!
link to ACMOC
http://www.acmoc.org/ACMOC_BB/showthread.php?t=821
alan627b
There is a discussion going on on the ACMOC BB currently, these pics were posted there too. It was said the push dozers were Hough D500's, if I recall correctly. All the machines were new at the time.
SS Mullen Company, Gas Hills Wyoming. 7 New 666's. Circa 1968.
If you go to http://www.Machinerytrader.com, go to Caterpillar equipment, and click on the model number, it will show pics of a number of units for sale currently in AZ and Nevada, including a 632 and 650 at National Hardware Supply in Madera, Ca.
I saw the 650 2 years ago when I visited there on vacation, a decent unit. Price reduced to only $13000! Prime yard art!
Gotta love the 6 wheelers!
link to ACMOC
http://www.acmoc.org/ACMOC_BB/showthread.php?t=821
alan627b
I made it out today by the 660 spread. They weren't working (darn) and I could not get too close in my car (truck broke down) but I did get a few pictures of them parked. I seen at least 14 660's and some 651E's, as well as D-10's and other support equipment. This is all ACI equipment, and it looks like they have a couple million or so yards to move. I did not see the SS-40's here. The previous phase they were here along with the 660's.
Attachments
Deas Plant
Senior Member
Cat 660 scrapers.
Hi, JDOFMEMI.
Good shots under trying conditions. Thanks for sharing. So somebody at least is still running the big jiggers. Good stuff.
Did the ground shake just thinking about all that heavy metal running around on that site? LOL
Thanks again.
Hi, JDOFMEMI.
Good shots under trying conditions. Thanks for sharing. So somebody at least is still running the big jiggers. Good stuff.
Did the ground shake just thinking about all that heavy metal running around on that site? LOL
Thanks again.
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Oh yeh, great shots indeed thanks for taking the time. At first i thought a lot of engine work with all the mufflers on the ROPS, but i recall mention that there had been repowers so hence the muffler relocation but if you look closely there are a number of bonnets off !! JDOFMEMI is it possible to get contact details for ACI? and can you give some more pics if you get the chance!
Would make an awsome sight seeing that fleet move the dirt.
Would make an awsome sight seeing that fleet move the dirt.
surfer-joe
Senior Member
Funny thing. Most of the machines I took pictures of in Arizona last summer were in the same positions, i.e., hoods off, mufflers lying on top of the ROPS. But thinking back over the years, this was not unusual with these models. They had a huge amount of head and turbocharger problems, some of the reasons Cat went to the 90 degree version engine. The problems didn't really stop with later models either, the newer engine continued to be troublesome right to the last.
Construct'O
Senior Member
An outfit that i worked for around 1970 named Van Buskirk of Sioux City ,Iowa had about six-660.We were working on I-29 south of Omaha,Neb. Iowa side of the MO. river.
The barrow pits was right on the river bottom and they had 3 -8 inch pumps running day and night.There was over thirty scraper hauling out of the pits.The pumps couldn't keep up with the scraper and as the day went by ,more water was coming in then out.
Before the day was over there would be over two feet of water that we were trying to lot the sand out of.You would have to keep looked over toward the barrow pits banks to tell if you was moving when the 9's was pushing you.You would have as many as 4 to 5 9's pushing at once.Usually 2 D9G's and the others we old torquer 9's (19 series)??
The sand was hard to load with out speed.You just had to keep try pumping it in(raising and lowering the pan).When the water got real bad it was harder.You would at times have about as much water in the scraper as sand.
They had a hole over to the one end of the pit that they dug with a dragline to set the pumps in.We would start working in the moring next to the hole,cutting it lower there and work our way out from it trying to keep the bottom graded back to the hole for the water to drain back there and not out where we were working.Worked for a while ,but water was coming up to fast for the pumps to keep up.
As for the 660 turbo and heads and so fore i know about that.I was coming out of the pit and the turbo came apart was first thought.Pieces throw.I told the mechanic
ointhead that there was some good sized piece.
They replaced just the turbo, smoking terrible and no power.Long story! They tore it apart again thinking it was the head.Replaced one head.Instead of taking off both.Wrong head.Still smoking no power.They said run it.So i did.
Finally the valve in the bad head went down through the piston.Needless to say it sat there for a long time after that.Memory lane !!!!!:drinkup :usa
The barrow pits was right on the river bottom and they had 3 -8 inch pumps running day and night.There was over thirty scraper hauling out of the pits.The pumps couldn't keep up with the scraper and as the day went by ,more water was coming in then out.
Before the day was over there would be over two feet of water that we were trying to lot the sand out of.You would have to keep looked over toward the barrow pits banks to tell if you was moving when the 9's was pushing you.You would have as many as 4 to 5 9's pushing at once.Usually 2 D9G's and the others we old torquer 9's (19 series)??
The sand was hard to load with out speed.You just had to keep try pumping it in(raising and lowering the pan).When the water got real bad it was harder.You would at times have about as much water in the scraper as sand.
They had a hole over to the one end of the pit that they dug with a dragline to set the pumps in.We would start working in the moring next to the hole,cutting it lower there and work our way out from it trying to keep the bottom graded back to the hole for the water to drain back there and not out where we were working.Worked for a while ,but water was coming up to fast for the pumps to keep up.
As for the 660 turbo and heads and so fore i know about that.I was coming out of the pit and the turbo came apart was first thought.Pieces throw.I told the mechanic
ointhead that there was some good sized piece.They replaced just the turbo, smoking terrible and no power.Long story! They tore it apart again thinking it was the head.Replaced one head.Instead of taking off both.Wrong head.Still smoking no power.They said run it.So i did.
Finally the valve in the bad head went down through the piston.Needless to say it sat there for a long time after that.Memory lane !!!!!:drinkup :usa
Ray Welsh
Banned
An outfit that i worked for around 1970 named Van Buskirk of Sioux City ,Iowa had about six-660.We were working on I-29 south of Omaha,Neb. Iowa side of the MO. river.
The barrow pits was right on the river bottom and they had 3 -8 inch pumps running day and night.There was over thirty scraper hauling out of the pits.The pumps couldn't keep up with the scraper and as the day went by ,more water was coming in then out.
Before the day was over there would be over two feet of water that we were trying to lot the sand out of.You would have to keep looked over toward the barrow pits banks to tell if you was moving when the 9's was pushing you.You would have as many as 4 to 5 9's pushing at once.Usually 2 D9G's and the others we old torquer 9's (19 series)??
The sand was hard to load with out speed.You just had to keep try pumping it in(raising and lowering the pan).When the water got real bad it was harder.You would at times have about as much water in the scraper as sand.
They had a hole over to the one end of the pit that they dug with a dragline to set the pumps in.We would start working in the moring next to the hole,cutting it lower there and work our way out from it trying to keep the bottom graded back to the hole for the water to drain back there and not out where we were working.Worked for a while ,but water was coming up to fast for the pumps to keep up.
As for the 660 turbo and heads and so fore i know about that.I was coming out of the pit and the turbo came apart was first thought.Pieces throw.I told the mechanic
They replaced just the turbo, smoking terrible and no power.Long story! They tore it apart again thinking it was the head.Replaced one head.Instead of taking off both.Wrong head.Still smoking no power.They said run it.So i did.
Finally the valve in the bad head went down through the piston.Needless to say it sat there for a long time after that.Memory lane !!!!!:drinkup :usa
Great to see the pics of that massive old iron. Did anyone know that the US air force uses more fuel than earthmovers each day?? And they are just practising!! At least you blokes are building something, not planning to destroy it............Ray
Joe
The hoods are always off of most of these machines. I think they got tired of trying to keep them together. The mufflers have been permanantly moved to the top of the ROPS. Most if not all of these 660's have been repowered with Tier 2 Detroit Diesel 60 series. They are much more reliable now, and no more smoke.
Gavin
You were right about the repower bit. I am guessing about the hoods, or bonnets as you call them.
I will see if I can come up with any contact information. They are a very low profile company, no advertising, no names on anything, other than the minimum required by law, no flash at all. The company does all its work by word of mouth, and a 60+ year reputation. They have a spread of SS-40 Eucs that the company bought new in the 50's, and they still run on many jobs. It seems strange that there is not more info about one of the largest dirt movers in California. I know they have over 400 pieces, and of that, at least 200 scrapers, according to one of their mechanics I know. It is a diverse fleet, SS-40's, 660's, 651B and E, 657B and E, TS-24B, and I'm not sure what else.
I have seen them in action, and they really make the dirt move. I watched some of the earlier phase of the same project. There were at least 4 cuts going at once. 20 or so 657's push pulling in twodifferent cuts, 10 660's with two pairs of D-10N pushcats in another, and 8 or 10 SS-40's with two more pair of D-10N's. All told, I think they were moving over 100,000 cy per day. Pretty impressive.
The hoods are always off of most of these machines. I think they got tired of trying to keep them together. The mufflers have been permanantly moved to the top of the ROPS. Most if not all of these 660's have been repowered with Tier 2 Detroit Diesel 60 series. They are much more reliable now, and no more smoke.
Gavin
You were right about the repower bit. I am guessing about the hoods, or bonnets as you call them.
I will see if I can come up with any contact information. They are a very low profile company, no advertising, no names on anything, other than the minimum required by law, no flash at all. The company does all its work by word of mouth, and a 60+ year reputation. They have a spread of SS-40 Eucs that the company bought new in the 50's, and they still run on many jobs. It seems strange that there is not more info about one of the largest dirt movers in California. I know they have over 400 pieces, and of that, at least 200 scrapers, according to one of their mechanics I know. It is a diverse fleet, SS-40's, 660's, 651B and E, 657B and E, TS-24B, and I'm not sure what else.
I have seen them in action, and they really make the dirt move. I watched some of the earlier phase of the same project. There were at least 4 cuts going at once. 20 or so 657's push pulling in twodifferent cuts, 10 660's with two pairs of D-10N pushcats in another, and 8 or 10 SS-40's with two more pair of D-10N's. All told, I think they were moving over 100,000 cy per day. Pretty impressive.