977L yes, no or maybe???

[Welder Dave]

Saw this while searching for something else. Worth the money or not? Curious what a Cat Certified rebuild would cost although it would have warranty?

Used 1970 Caterpillar 977L Crawler Loader in LONGREACH, QLD (machines4u.com.au)

 

[CM1995]

$110K AUD is roughly $85K USD - Umm no and I am a Cat track loader guy.

 

[Tones]

The purchase price for new equipment in Australia is more than twice that you folk in the US pay. Equally used machinery is more expensive.

 

[CM1995]

The purchase price for new equipment in Australia is more than twice that you folk in the US pay. Equally used machinery is more expensive.

Without a doubt but that 977 is not worth $110K AUD or $85K USD, regardless whether it's been rebuilt. So many more productive machines that can be bought for the same money.

 

[Welder Dave]

And no warranty.

 

[Tones]

Without a doubt but that 977 is not worth $110K AUD or $85K USD, regardless whether it's been rebuilt. So many more productive machines that can be bought for the same money.

True enough but it looks like a machine thats been out in the bush (Scrub Pullers Territory) where it can take a bloody long time to get any repair or service more modern machines may need. But the seller can always lower the price.

 

[JimInOz]

$110 K barely buys a Toyota Landcruiser in Australia.
That machine will probably end up in Western Queensland,on a farm.
BTW,avarage house price in Sydney...over $1M.

 

[Cat977]

I think it would take time to get $50,000 in the U.S.. Not really a collectable machine, and as cm1995 said if your going out to make money with it buy something newer. So the Cat folks can plug in their computer and fix it!

 

[sawmilleng]

They don't say anything about tracks, rollers, idlers or sprockets...the pads look new or close to new. But the potential purchaser better take a close look, rather than assume.
* I guess it depends on what the potential purchaser has in mind for it. What does the same money purchase on the (newer equipment) used market?
* Good point on fixing: if it has to run, even when its broke down, today's wrench guys may be kind of lost without their computers. If it can sit for a while, well, not so important.
*Parts will be getting scarce--How long has it been since the last 977 rolled off the line?
*What is considered a more productive modern machine? A 300-series trackhoe?
*I was facing the same dilemma (but not with a like-new 977 looking at me!) on my little stump ranch. Wanting to clear more land for fields; more time than money; up here in Canukistan, hoes pretty well have buried track loaders. JD 450's are about all you see. I found a 30 year old Hyundai 290-with a thumb. It will do most anything a track loader will do and the thumb is a lightweight equivalent of a clam (4-in-1) bucket. (Those that everyone loves to hate because they are heavy and break easily.) What I don't like about the big hoe is that it is slow to move. (doesn't help that one of the travel motors is tired.) And with a hoe, it can change personalities by changing what you have on the end of the stick--wide cleanup bucket, hydraulic hammer, compactor, screening bucket, brush cutter, feller-buncher, stump grinder, etc...
*but, gul-darn it, I would still like to play with a big track loader!!



Jon.

 

[Tones]

The 977 is being sold with a stickrake. A digger won't keep up with that on clearing work.

 

[CM1995]

True enough but it looks like a machine thats been out in the bush (Scrub Pullers Territory) where it can take a bloody long time to get any repair or service more modern machines may need. But the seller can always lower the price.

I stand corrected, didn't take into consideration that machine's value in the remote locations ya'll may operate in down under.

A DEF sensor shutdown when the closest laptop is 500 miles away can throw a stick in the wheel for sure.

 

[Welder Dave]

Track loaders serve a need that can't be compared to an excavator. A 977L is a good machine but quite a bit slower than a modern hydostat machine. The big question is this one worth the money being asked. It seems high but maybe the seller has complete documents and pics. of everything that was done. Hard to say if the seller is just trying to break even or make a big profit. If trying to sell as if it was similar to a certified rebuild would need a lot of paper work and receipts. Warranty is another issue. Is the seller going to cover any costs if something goes south soon after purchase. Has to be able to justify the price the same as the buyer would.

 

[charles walton]

That machine wouldn't bring $30k in my part of the country.

 

[Rigidarm]

I can see 30k real fast for a very good 977. Parts 977 can fetch 15k. The price of a contract d8 with ripper to clear trees and rocks in NorCal for vineyard is 200k per acre in high quality volcanic soil. I know a guy that cleared 7 acres in Napa and the job paid for his new d8. So for a machine like a 977 in very good condition 30k isn’t much. If you put a ripper on the back you have a 180+hp and that’s just the kind of equipment to do the job with maybe a small d4 with a root rake working alongside. Some of the rocks are the size of vw bugs but positioned right make good side slope support for new AB roads. Two guys on a 977 and a d4 can do some serious mountain work.

 

[Cat977]

When you get into yours my friend don't forget the pictures!!! My L is still looking for some rails or a real steal on a parts machine. At the rate things are going I'll probably pull the tracks off one of the K's. One place said $6000 for new rails saying there getting real hard to find the 8" pitch, and they may quit making them. Kind of an odd ball, the only other machine that uses that pitch was an older D7 with fewer links.

 

[Rigidarm]

Reading these threads tells me I’ve got a lot to learn. Gonna be quite the project.

 

[Cat977]

The L has the 3rd valve for 4in1/ripper/grapple/ect. otherwise I'd sell it. Many a kind fellow on this forum willing to give some advise along the way. Sounds like you have some time to spend, in no hurry to put it to work. Take that time to do it right like Chris from the UK. Mighty big machine to be broke down in those California Hills! If I could do it over I would buy a newer 977L with the 8.5" pitch SALT rails making sure the undercarriage was real good (got to be $$). It would run smoother and quieter. 3306 engine and beefier than the 977K.

 

[Rigidarm]

Yep about 15hp more than the k. I have seen some undercarriage repair work that has opened again and is leaking. I’ll start on it in a month and start a new thread with lots of pics. I’ve got a big ripper to put on. I have to keep it locked up in my building here in Ca because of all the meth rats. Space is tight in the building so I am anxious to complete it and get it to me secure properly in the mountains. Damn meth rats will pull parts and sell them for scrap steel at 320. per ton today’s price. Wasn’t that way around my shop 20 years ago. Nothing went missing in the yard… now metal won’t last a night.

 

[DMiller]

Scrap Steel here only bringing $125/t, wonder why CA is so much higher. Ran a 977K, not very nimble nor speedy, rather clumsy for operator, followed by a 963B entire different world, speed, agile for size, comfortable in the seat, MUCH improved visibility.

 

[Cat977]

I think the K was 170hp and the L 190hp. At # 11K5959 they went to a split master link I think it also began the SALT track at that time. Almost bought a K from a used parts guy in Chicago for $7300 last summer junk bucket but the mounts where good. Thinking of putting on forks/material bucket on or trying to build a quick tach. Excellent rails and like new double grousers. Flipped on me and said $9000 with scrap at $245 a ton drop off machine at the yard last June. Pox on the guy, a Deals a Deal! I think the pre 963C would be a good choice, "hinge over cab", counter rotatable tracks! Nimble and burns probably a lot less fuel I can see that. C lost the flip cab Pox on that too. I think once those newer ones Cs, Ds, ect. used the same sump for more hydraulic uses, more electronics I think also. When those newer ones get old they could be $$ to keep them running. I think for pulling a ripper the 977K/L wins I bet. Test drove a 973 good visibility but felt like a big tank.