$500 Cat 277 - Yes that is right...$500

JimmyJags · Jun 25, 2022

Hi all. As my headline indicates, I have purchased a CAT MTL for $500 bucks (I know right?!?!). What is the catch you say......at some point in its previous life it decided to have enough of its current task and threw a rod, puncturing the block. The gent I bought the unit from is aware of how hard it is to find these blocks and simply bought a new machine. I didn't even think about telling my wife that I just dropped $500 bucks that will short our vacation, but meh. Now I have this awesome paperweight of a MTL (and a miffed wife) with a quagmire of finding a block. CAT has them for a hefty sum, and I have NO idea the extent of the damage on the rotating assembly or head.....so it is a poop shoot.

My question here is a long shot - but does anyone in the thread have a line on a good used block that they would be willing to sell? If not, I feel that I got a pretty screaming deal anyways, but throwing it out there in an attempt to get this lawn ornament running.

Thanks!

Nige · Jun 25, 2022

Maybe you should have asked about the availability of engine parts before dropping your $500 IMHO.
As evidenced by many threads on HEF over the years, used parts for that engine model that are in usable condition are rarer than rocking horse sh1t..

Tones · Jun 25, 2022

Drop in a new Yanmar engine and you'll be good to go.

JimmyJags · Jun 25, 2022

@ Nigel - I had a good idea before I made the purchase, ideally I just like "stuff" to tinker with, and I've always wanted a skid steer....
@ Tones - This is a new idea to me! I have heard of CAT 3024 engines as a semi-direct drop in option, but you have peaked my interest on the Yanmar swap. Do you have any information on a Yanmar engine model or links that I can chase?

Thank you both for your reply!

ianjoub · Jun 25, 2022

No worries, it is worth more than $500 as scrap steel right now.

Birken Vogt · Jun 25, 2022

Somebody enlighten me on what engine this is. Is it the 4 cylinder Perkins with the tilted injection pump in the block? Turbo? What is the bell housing pattern?

JimmyJags · Jun 25, 2022

@ Ian - My thoughts as well - came with 2x buckets as well so I will offload one to net zero this for now.

@Birken - This is a CAT labeled 3034T with an arraignment number of 147-1234, I will have to see if it has the Perkins casting identification once it is out. The engine will be getting pulled in a couple weeks then only will I know the bell housing pattern =)

Mobiltech · Jun 25, 2022

That is a smokin deal even just for part out !
That machine can be worth over $25000 once running. Prices have gone crazy on them.
Have a look at emerald engines to see if they have a drop in.

Tones · Jun 25, 2022

https://www.yanmar.com/global/support/catalogs/engine.html
Take your pick
The reason for suggesting them is that they have proved to be reliable and near bullet proof over many years, heck JD use them in their tractors.

Birken Vogt · Jun 25, 2022

Yanmar are good but a little scarce in my part of the world, my first choice would be Isuzu and second Kubota, of course if you can get one or the other to fit better then pick the best one, or pick the best dealer. Or hunt around for a machine with a donor engine.

CM1995 · Jun 25, 2022

Welcome to the Forums JJ!

For your first thread you attracted some heavy hitters to help you out!

FWIW I'd rather have a Yanmar, Isuzu or a Kubota any day over a Perkins..

Echoing what others said - it's worth than $500 in scrap, even more parting out.

Tones · Jun 25, 2022

Just been thinkin. you could redneck this machine, slip a Yanmar 4.8 litre V8 .That ill get it rockin.

JimmyJags · Jun 29, 2022

@ CM1995 - Thank you for the warm welcome! I had an idea that this task was going to have it's challenges haha

@ Tones - Right?!?! At this price point I don't care if I put my Buick 455 in the back of this baby =P Ultimately I did find a shop in town that is very confident that they can weld up the hole in the side of the block. I will need to assess the damage internally and go from there.........if it is too much, I will have to sit down with a hand full of beers to figure out the best donor. I am a huge VW fan and was pondering if I could jam a 1.9 TDI in there. Slightly different displacement but same power levels.

In a couple weeks I will have it torn apart on the bench....more to come =)

gwhammy · Jun 30, 2022

I bought one of those once not as cheap as yours but it ran kinda. I think I gave 5500 or so, after dropping around 12500 in it and still needing lots of undercarriage parts I traded it and came out even. I really liked the machine but they are a maintenance nightmare.

Vetech63 · Jun 30, 2022

Let's drop a 4-53 Detroit in this B*&^H

gwhammy · Jun 30, 2022

We put a 2.8 v6 chevy in a new holland once back in the early 80's. It replaced a 4 cyl. wisconsin air cooled motor so you can imagine the difference in power. Turned out real good once we got a carburetor on it that would take the rough ride. My brother put a 2300 pinto in place of a wisconsin in a 722 bobcat in the 70's. Bobcat came and took pictures of it and came out with the smaller ford 4 cyl. in them the next year. Anything can be done with enough time and money.
Buddy of mine just put a Isuzu motor out of a reefer unit in a 825 bobcat that worked out real nice.

MarshallPowerGen · Jun 30, 2022

Depending on bell housing/adapter pattern, plenty of diesel options from Yanmar, Kubota, Deutz, Perkins, etc.

JimmyJags · Aug 14, 2022

Hey all ...... been a while......but I think I may have found a respectable substitute engine for this CAT and am wondering what you all think!

I recently came across a CAT 3024C engine for a decent price that will fit in this Skid-steer with a SAE flywheel conversion and bell housing swap.....the only concern that I have is that the 3024C is 20HP less than the none existant 3034T engine. Although it is less power, this unit will be mainly used to groom some smaller roads, do some yard clean up and potentially run a muncher attachment every odd year, strictly residential work.

Looking to see if anyone has any experience with putting a smaller engine into a unit and what its outcome was.

Thanks all!

Birken Vogt · Aug 14, 2022

Is it a mechanical governor now? Just set the engine RPM where you want and run it? I don't know the specifics on this machine.

Then if you replace it with any horsepower engine with the same RPM range, it should just work. You might be short on power. But unless you are pushing into piles and loading large buckets full, you will probably not notice. If it does run out of power, the engine just loses RPM. That is your cue to back off whatever function you are doing and let it recover.

The mulcher might be able to eat less wood than it would have. Otherwise, light grading and such, you are not likely to notice.

JimmyJags · Aug 14, 2022

Hi Birken,

the machine is mechanically throttled, so you are correct.

If this is to work, this would be the first time I have driven this machines, so I would not know what the original power was like. I am just concerned with the overall health of the machine, but I figure just as long as I am not a full on donkey with the machine it should be ok

$500 Cat 277 - Yes that is right...$500

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