660/666 Cat Scraper info

[stepp3360]

we need pictures

hktom,
How about some pictures!!
Thanks,
john

 

[hktom]

RE: Pictures

John,
I have some pictures and will take some more in the next day or two, but, I do not know how to post them yet! As soon as I figure out how to do so, I will. We are double pushing with D10N's. BIG LOADS, and we should be there for the next 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[Dozerboy]

There is a thread on how post pics Here don't worry about resizing them the site will now do it for you. If you still have problems one of us will be happy to do it for you.

 

[992G]

Yup, 660B's are alive and working at ACI in Santa Clarita. There are 11 scrapers on the job with 8 working a 6 minute haul. We never get out of 5th gear as there is a bridge that must be crossed in 2nd gear. They all have been re-engined with 60 series Detroits and most have working retarders and Jake Brakes. The Jakes are almost worthless except empty at a low speed. A few, including the one I am running actually have brakes and decent riding air seats!! It is not a bad rig and it is a blast from the past to be operating a 3 axle rig again. A trip down memory lane.

Where actually are they in Santa Clarita? I am going to be in the LA area next week and would like to get some pics if possibly.
Thanks

 

[alan627b]

Darth says...

Take your time, get good ones. Don't worry about quantities, we like LOTS of them!
Glad to have you aboard....
Alan627b

 

[Dug Overburden]

ACI's 660B's

:notworthy Holy COW! You are somewhat of modern day scraper celeberty, most likely the only one here currently operating one of the old beasts. Please get some photos posted for us photo piranas. Amazing these still are still running with the popularty of the 657E in SoCal, this shows there is still other ways to move material. The folks down under are nuts over these machines

Yup, 660B's are alive and working at ACI in Santa Clarita. There are 11 scrapers on the job with 8 working a 6 minute haul. We never get out of 5th gear as there is a bridge that must be crossed in 2nd gear. They all have been re-engined with 60 series Detroits and most have working retarders and Jake Brakes. The Jakes are almost worthless except empty at a low speed. A few, including the one I am running actually have brakes and decent riding air seats!! It is not a bad rig and it is a blast from the past to be operating a 3 axle rig again. A trip down memory lane.

 

[cat345bl]

I went to JDM YArd yesterday and i got 1 picture of there 660.I have 2 others

 

[Dug Overburden]

Looks more like a 630B

I think that may be a 630B tractor, does not look like it has the V8 engine. Looks like a turbo from an in line 6 cylinder engine, this should be a D343TA

I went to JDM YArd yesterday and i got 1 picture of there 660.I have 2 others

 

[Dug Overburden]

The last 660B built

Reading in the book Caterpillar Chronicle, that the 650B ended production in 1972, the 666B soldiered on untill 1978 & the last model 660B scraper rolled off the Decutur Plant's assembly line on Feburary 7th 1979. Looks like we will have to have a 30th aniversery party in Feburary.

I was chewing the scraper fat with a old timer many years a go & was mentioned that Granite Const Co bought the last batch of 660B's off the line. The year was was around 1977 & about 10-12 of them. Suppose to have ended up on thier last job on job in west Texas mid 90's.

Caterpillar list 1978 as the last year of production. Any serial number counters out thier happen to know how many were built? Both "A" & "B" models, might be a little hard to get an exact idea as Cat used the same serial number prefix on all the tractors weather they were hooked to a 650,660,666 scraper or as a tractor to pull a trailer from an allied manufactuer. I had an older issue of the HCEA that had a complete list of all the large scrapers built from 1962 to 1984 but can not seem to find it. I'm sure there is a serial number guide out there with it.

Who can claim the fame as the worlds 660 expert?

 

[Wyoming]

I ran a triple six on the Castaic Dam project in southern California. Very powerful and much better ride that the three axel Euclid scrapers of the day.

 

[992G]

Some of my pic's of ACI's 660's

 

[alan627b]

Thanks 992 for posting those. Not that we'd mind some more....if you could, some closer up pics of the engines please.
Happy Thanksgiving!
alan627b

 

[992G]

Alan,
A Happy Turkey Day to you. I have about 100 pic's. I was not able to get to the ready line, and this was as close as I could get while they were running.

The engine's as you know from reading different post's are a Detroit 60 series. I have to go for dinner right now, but when I get back, I will post more.

I also have a video of these guys running. It is on a regular video camera, and I am not that computer savy to know how to get that on You tube. If you have any suggestions, or anybody else does please let me know.

Kenny from SOCALEARTHMOVERS.com is the one who got me the site info. A big thanks to him. Anyone who has not visited that site, it is a must.

 

[Gavin84w]

Kenny should be able to help with a video upload 992G, he is a good bloke and on the money when it comes to scrapers. Can you get a heap of high res pics through to me? i will send a PM.

Great shots and thanks for posting

 

[992G]

More pic's

 

[992G]

And some more

 

[DPete]

Great pics 992, nothing like open bowls and pushcats to get her done. Looks like sandy material I'll bet they were glad to hit a little moisture, helps alot loading

 

[Gavin84w]

Great pics? Great pics!!! absolutely outstanding, the only thing missing is the roar of the D346 and the weed belching out of them, oh well we can thank the greenies for the demise of that but atleast a contractor had the foresight to keep a proven product going and it really does show the designs strengths in that it can still do a good days work 30+ years later.

It goes to show with good pm practices things can be made to go for a long time and in an age where it is becoming a throw away society it is quite good to see.

Great stuff 992G and you had a good man in Ken put you onto this job, he and his website are first class and it is great for us guys a long way away to be able to see the scraper capitol of the world in action.

 

[JTL]

This is how I found out about this site! Looking for quad 9's and 660/666 pics!
992G- are those ACI's scrapers from Southern California? I worked for them a few years ago but they wernt running them on the job I was on. We had a bunch of 51's and 57's going. Some of the hands were telling me about the 660's, but I never got to see one in person.
Jason

 

[JTL]

I quess I should've read all the posts before asking that question!
Where is that project at in Santa Clarita? Thats where I was working for them at. We were leveling off a mountian and filling in a valley along the 14 at La Placentia (spelling) for a Lowes and Target. (if memory serves me right)