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Deere or Cat

MacM

New Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2010
Messages
4
Location
Minnesota
Which kind of excavator do you guys like best? Maybe give a little reasoning.

Thanks,
Mac
 

sultan

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
298
Location
Ontario, Canada
Let the flamewars begin... :tong

I'd prefer a Cat but I don't really mind, as long as it isn't a Komatsu... :usa (Canada) ...most Komatsus that I've seen with over 12k hours were :pointhead

Deeres seem fine, but their engines don't seem to be quite as good as CAT's.
 

gasfield315c

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 4, 2009
Messages
161
Location
pineville, wv
Occupation
build gaswell locations in the steeper than a mule
i like them both, cat maybe just a little bit more than deere, i have run alot of both, and i think the cats are more durable and will stand up to hard work better than a deere
 

sultan

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
298
Location
Ontario, Canada
Go with a Deere it has 2 pumps makes it nice for tracking and operating boom/stick at the same time.

Cats also have 2 main pumps, plus a separate swing pimp. I don't think there's any difference in performance between 2 small pumps and one big one of double the size though.
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,870
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
They are all designed in Japan. There isn't a hill of beans difference between any of them. Each model is almost the same as the other guys model.

I would like whatever I could make money with and from what I have seen, I could make money with any of them before last year.
 

Deeretime

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
344
Location
High River Alberta
Occupation
superintendent
Deere makes a great machine, They are lighter than cat wich makes them easier to move, and realy realy fast.
as for the engines , we have 8 deere excavators and have had deeres since the 80s and they all see up to 17000 hours before they are traded with good general mantinence.

what ever you do dont buy a case !!!
 

ditchdiggerjcf

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2010
Messages
66
Location
arkansas
I also prefer a deere/hitachi. I actually prefer the hitachi over the deere because of the isuzu power. Isuzu engines are almost bulletproof in my experience. A deere/hitachi will work circles around a cat, they are far quicker machines.
 

dynahoescott

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
154
Location
new jersey
They are all designed in Japan. There isn't a hill of beans difference between any of them. Each model is almost the same as the other guys model.

I would like whatever I could make money with and from what I have seen, I could make money with any of them before last year.

This guy said it all. Years ago hoes each had there own characteristics, now forget about it. parts and srevice is your main consideration, they really dont last like the old 200 series cats, I am running different 300 series cats now and could easily see the difference in quality on these rigs. :pointhead
 

Burnout

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
1,448
Location
Edmonton AB
Occupation
Operator at Sureway Construction
This guy said it all. Years ago hoes each had there own characteristics, now forget about it. parts and srevice is your main consideration, they really dont last like the old 200 series cats, I am running different 300 series cats now and could easily see the difference in quality on these rigs. :pointhead

Sounds like you need to run a Deere Scott...lol

I almost think the Cat machines are hit and miss now. Our company has a nice selection of 385C's. We have 2007 models with fading paint, hydraulic pump problems, final drive problems and weird electrical issues, and we have 2006 models with no issues. We have a 2008 model with no issues. I can say one thing for the new Cat iron... the paint SUCKS.

Our 08 Powerstripe model looks like ass compared to the 06 our crew has. Both get the same maintenance programs (200hr service on all filters), washed on a regular basis.
 

sultan

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
298
Location
Ontario, Canada
Sounds like you need to run a Deere Scott...lol

I almost think the Cat machines are hit and miss now. Our company has a nice selection of 385C's. We have 2007 models with fading paint, hydraulic pump problems, final drive problems and weird electrical issues, and we have 2006 models with no issues. We have a 2008 model with no issues. I can say one thing for the new Cat iron... the paint SUCKS.

Our 08 Powerstripe model looks like ass compared to the 06 our crew has. Both get the same maintenance programs (200hr service on all filters), washed on a regular basis.

I've heard numerous lemon stories with the bigger CATs, especially in 2006-2007 365CL and 385CL models. The smaller ones are usually better from them. Still, they are not quite 200 series quality.
 

dynahoescott

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
154
Location
new jersey
I've heard numerous lemon stories with the bigger CATs, especially in 2006-2007 365CL and 385CL models. The smaller ones are usually better from them. Still, they are not quite 200 series quality.

Hi guys, I had a brand new 365cl in bayonne one winter loading nothing but pumped in sand, high,high production but easy work nonetheless, about 200,000 yards through the rig decided to stop swinging one day, . Well I dont remember the 245b&d hoes doing that. turns out they had to rip half the motor out to fix it, and what did they give us for a fill in rig you ask? a certified rebuilt 245dlc . thats what I call poetic justice. Burnout, I havent got any experience on any deeres except a 350c track loader, which was great little rig:drinkup
 

Burnout

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
1,448
Location
Edmonton AB
Occupation
Operator at Sureway Construction
Hi guys, I had a brand new 365cl in bayonne one winter loading nothing but pumped in sand, high,high production but easy work nonetheless, about 200,000 yards through the rig decided to stop swinging one day, . Well I dont remember the 245b&d hoes doing that. turns out they had to rip half the motor out to fix it, and what did they give us for a fill in rig you ask? a certified rebuilt 245dlc . thats what I call poetic justice. Burnout, I havent got any experience on any deeres except a 350c track loader, which was great little rig:drinkup

Our company has just in the last year acquired some 365's, we haven't had them before but they don't seem to be getting many fans over the last year. But that could just be their odd size for us, too small for mainline, too big for a side hoe. There is also a 650D Deere in there, its a nice machine just has a really crappy setup but that says more about the company that originally purchased it.

We have lots of 245's... still have some of the early models they bought in the 70's, they require a special touch but I love em. It's kinda funny our company probably has just as many 65ton and up sized hoes as we do smaller ones. We have 365's, 375s, 385s, 245's, 750 Deere and Komatsu's, 800 Deere and Komatsu's, an 850 Deere, an 1100 Hitachi and some 1250 Komatsu's.

The Cats are great hoes I will give em that even though I'm not a Cat man. But I love our Deere's. When I started here I had a 210 Link Belt. I loved that little LB hoe, but now with 4000 or so hrs on it, she's falling apart. Granted it sees a lot of new green ops, and hoe packs 95% of the time its running.

Between a Deere/Hitachi, Cat, Link Belt you can't really go wrong. Talk to some people and see what everyone says. And of course... dealer network.
 

dynahoescott

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Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
154
Location
new jersey
Our company has just in the last year acquired some 365's, we haven't had them before but they don't seem to be getting many fans over the last year. But that could just be their odd size for us, too small for mainline, too big for a side hoe. There is also a 650D Deere in there, its a nice machine just has a really crappy setup but that says more about the company that originally purchased it.

We have lots of 245's... still have some of the early models they bought in the 70's, they require a special touch but I love em. It's kinda funny our company probably has just as many 65ton and up sized hoes as we do smaller ones. We have 365's, 375s, 385s, 245's, 750 Deere and Komatsu's, 800 Deere and Komatsu's, an 850 Deere, an 1100 Hitachi and some 1250 Komatsu's.

The Cats are great hoes I will give em that even though I'm not a Cat man. But I love our Deere's. When I started here I had a 210 Link Belt. I loved that little LB hoe, but now with 4000 or so hrs on it, she's falling apart. Granted it sees a lot of new green ops, and hoe packs 95% of the time its running.

Between a Deere/Hitachi, Cat, Link Belt you can't really go wrong. Talk to some people and see what everyone says. And of course... dealer network.

You know what burnout, I feel like this, since cat hoes <.....>, they definitely lost there edge. Cat still is the one to beat with loaders (track& wheel) loaders, dozers and probably graders too. :drinkup
 
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Burnout

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Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
1,448
Location
Edmonton AB
Occupation
Operator at Sureway Construction
You know what burnout, I feel like this, since cat hoes <...>, they definitely lost there edge. Cat still is the one to beat with loaders (track& wheel) loaders, dozers and probably graders too. :drinkup

Well I don't know about their medium sized wheel loaders.... I like mah Deere's. Track loaders definately. I know one thing you will be able to appreciate though..... the silence of cat hoes. They are quiet. By your name I know you remember a very loud screaming engine in front of you. But then again a Dynahoe 490 is practically a wheel loader, dozer, backhoe, excavator, grader, noise maker all in one. :pointhead
 
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dynahoescott

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Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
154
Location
new jersey
Well I don't know about their medium sized wheel loaders.... I like mah Deere's. Track loaders definately. I know one thing you will be able to appreciate though..... the silence of cat hoes. They are quiet. By your name I know you remember a very loud screaming engine in front of you. But then again a Dynahoe 490 is practically a wheel loader, dozer, backhoe, excavator, grader, noise maker all in one. :pointhead

Nine years straight on a 190 burnout, 3-53 detroit powered, my ears are still ringing. call me bananas but they still are my favorite backhoes, I still run one upon occasion, (nobody else will). young guys got no idea.:usa
 

Dominion 410

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Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Messages
240
Location
Ontario,Canada
JD/Cat

Have our share of newer Cat,and they have been decent.One operator machines which is a huge difference.Regular maintenance and not being shy with a grease gun is paramount to machine life regardless of any make.Operated Cat,Deere,Komatsu,Link-Belt,Poclain and all have their little issues.After 21,000 hours our 892D-LC Deere was sold off.A couple engine overhauls,but other than one rebuilt hydraulic pump,all major components were original.Cylinders re-seal/re-chromed at one time or another,bucket pins/bushings also.Always like the way that machine handled.

Dominion:canada
 

Burnout

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Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
1,448
Location
Edmonton AB
Occupation
Operator at Sureway Construction
Nine years straight on a 190 burnout, 3-53 detroit powered, my ears are still ringing. call me bananas but they still are my favorite backhoes, I still run one upon occasion, (nobody else will). young guys got no idea.:usa

Yeah the Dynahoe's were a breed all they're own. I still like em too just don't see em around anymore. If you want a slight reminder go find an open cab JD 710C/D. They will help you remember the olden days.


Dominion....... the 892's were a great machine. I think a lot of people have fond memories of the 90/92 series machines. I know I still love to jump in an old 992D-LC
 
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