MrAndrew1907
Member
Lots of great info here. thanks guys!
how about Link-Belt? are they any good?
how about Link-Belt? are they any good?
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Cat vs. Volvo
- Thread starter MrAndrew1907
- Start date
Burnout
Senior Member
Well they are throw you out of your seat fast. I don't know how other people find them on precision, I liked the 210 we have for digging around fire hydrants. Had tons of hydraulic power, tons of speed, a pretty nice cab and I am 100% sure that thing ran on hopes and dreams because it didn't seem like the fuel gauge ever moved off full.
But now with plenty of hours on that hoe, many operators and a rough life she isn't runnin so hot. Last time I ran into her someone had written on the door, "check anti freeze, hydraulic oil and engine oil everyday". It is our company policy to do that anyways, but this machine has buzzers to no end. It leaks everything it can leak these days.
ditchdiggerjcf
Well-Known Member
I have quite a bit of seat time in a link belt/case/jcb. I am not impressed with their performance, although they do have Isuzu power.
Bluestone1
Member
I have a C series volvo with only 800 hours but it's been smooth sailing. Great machine with good power, great fuel economy, and lots of creature comforts.
peterfurfari
New Member
What about a Komatsu in that class?
ditchdiggerjcf
Well-Known Member
komatsu is the bomb, but they can be hard to get parts for.
XxTrasHxX
Member
I maid thisl list of my favorite equipment .
New 12-18 Ton
1. Link Belt/Case/Komatsu (Best bang for the Buck)
2. Jd/Hitachi (Pay a little more good over all machines)
3. Cat/Volvo/Liebherr (Over priced not impressed with the quality of the Cat) (Volvo/Liebherr just Price)
Used 12-18 Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi/Cat/Komatsu (Best bang for the Buck lots of used equipment out there)
2. Link Belt/Case (Pay a little more good over all machines)
3. Volvo/Liebherr (Good all around machine pricey they hold the value)
New 20-35n Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi (Well built Lots of power and very fast)
2. Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt ( Very close to #1 JD/Hitachi Feels a little better built)
3. Volvo/Liebherr/Cat (Volvo/Liebherr Great machine Just price is a factor/ Stay away from any Cat with C6-C7 engine)
Used 20-35 Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi/Cat (Well built Lots of power, lots of used equipment out there best value)
2. Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt (Well built Lots of power, Not as many available,Cost Will Be higher)
3. Volvo/Liebher (Good all around machine pricey they hold the value)
New 40-60 Ton
1. JD/Hitachi (Well built Lots of power and very fast)
2. Cat/Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt (Very close to #1 JD/Hitachi Feels a little better built)
3. Volvo/Liebherr (Volvo/Liebherr Great machine Just price is a factor)
Used 40-60 Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi/Cat (Well built Lots of power, lots of used equipment out there best value)
2. Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt (Well built Lots of power, Not as many available, Cost will be higher)
3. Volvo/Liebher (Good all around machine pricey they hold the value)
Just remember to factor distance for parts and sevice
Hope this helps
New 12-18 Ton
1. Link Belt/Case/Komatsu (Best bang for the Buck)
2. Jd/Hitachi (Pay a little more good over all machines)
3. Cat/Volvo/Liebherr (Over priced not impressed with the quality of the Cat) (Volvo/Liebherr just Price)
Used 12-18 Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi/Cat/Komatsu (Best bang for the Buck lots of used equipment out there)
2. Link Belt/Case (Pay a little more good over all machines)
3. Volvo/Liebherr (Good all around machine pricey they hold the value)
New 20-35n Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi (Well built Lots of power and very fast)
2. Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt ( Very close to #1 JD/Hitachi Feels a little better built)
3. Volvo/Liebherr/Cat (Volvo/Liebherr Great machine Just price is a factor/ Stay away from any Cat with C6-C7 engine)
Used 20-35 Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi/Cat (Well built Lots of power, lots of used equipment out there best value)
2. Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt (Well built Lots of power, Not as many available,Cost Will Be higher)
3. Volvo/Liebher (Good all around machine pricey they hold the value)
New 40-60 Ton
1. JD/Hitachi (Well built Lots of power and very fast)
2. Cat/Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt (Very close to #1 JD/Hitachi Feels a little better built)
3. Volvo/Liebherr (Volvo/Liebherr Great machine Just price is a factor)
Used 40-60 Ton
1. Jd/Hitachi/Cat (Well built Lots of power, lots of used equipment out there best value)
2. Komatsu/Case/LinkBelt (Well built Lots of power, Not as many available, Cost will be higher)
3. Volvo/Liebher (Good all around machine pricey they hold the value)
Just remember to factor distance for parts and sevice
Hope this helps
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sultan
Senior Member
Not all CAT C6/C7 engines are bad. In my experience, they're just as good as any other engine, but like all newer engines, they suffer from occasional electronic gremlins.
I like the consistent quality of Deere/Hitachi throughout the size range, but I'd personally prefer a CAT between 12 and 50 tonnes. I haven't tried any newer big CATs but I hear many suffer from electronic issues.
MrAndrew1907
Member
Awesome info there. that helps alot!
MrAndrew1907
Member
what is it about Komatsu excavators that are so awesome? I dont have much experience around them. but they seem reliable. how do their controls feel?
John C.
Senior Member
They are the only true load sensing hydraulics on the market. When you get on one that is properly adjusted you just melt into the seat and become part of the machine.
They are also designed to wear out everything at the same time. When the engine is worn out, so are the pumps, hydraulic motors and wiring harnesses. They can get some electrical gremlins at times that will leave you scratching your head in disgust. Parts are very expensive now days.
From new they usually run 5,000 to 8,000 hours with few problems. Get over 10,000 hours on one without something being rebuilt and you could be looking at some serious cash to keep it running for long.
I've always liked working them, especially since the gray market machines essentially paid for my house.
They are also designed to wear out everything at the same time. When the engine is worn out, so are the pumps, hydraulic motors and wiring harnesses. They can get some electrical gremlins at times that will leave you scratching your head in disgust. Parts are very expensive now days.
From new they usually run 5,000 to 8,000 hours with few problems. Get over 10,000 hours on one without something being rebuilt and you could be looking at some serious cash to keep it running for long.
I've always liked working them, especially since the gray market machines essentially paid for my house.
curbside
Well-Known Member
Not to be rude but I thought Komatsu Excavators were popular because they were cheap. (At least in the 20-30 ton range). Maybe just a myth.
sultan
Senior Member
I agree with you 100% on that. Komatsu excavators with under 8000 hours are great and very reliable machines, but once they are at 10-12k hours, everything is usually shot and they need to be replaced. A young Komatsu will be more reliable than a young cat. I like cat because they do give occasional problems, even when young, but you can keep them chugging along into 20k+ hours. Recently I ran a 330CL with 21k hours and it still worked just like new. Super smooth, super strong, perfect engine condition etc.
ditchdiggerjcf
Well-Known Member
cheap and komatsu don't even belong on the same page.:roll
watglen
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,324
- Location
- Dunnville, Ontario, Canada
- Occupation
- Farmer, drainage and excavating contractor, Farm d
I'll second that. My experience is they are a premium unit, built extra strong, lots of features, power, speed. But expensive. I follow the auctions, and i would say that after cat, they carry the next best resale.
XxTrasHxX
Member
Just do Google search on problems with Cat C6-7 motors. I have 2 Multi-lift trucks that had 2 dynamited motors do to pump problems one luckily had 500 hours left on warranty and the other blew 100 hours over warranty , same cause bad pump ,the Cat service rep I have been dealing with has been great but he has even said these C6-7 are dog motors. right now I'm in 15k worth of work and not even sure that cat will cover it on warranty. I have another dump truck in the yard that has no problems yet with the same motor, we will be purchasing extended warranty on this truck . 1 out of 3 , and you say " Not all CAT C6/C7 engines are bad" your right less then 35% are good, one last thing right now 90% of the equipment we have is cat I'm not trying to bad mouth the brand but if a product has issues like what I have been dealing with for the past couple of months them you have to really question the product , Cat is fully aware of the issues with these motors but has done nothing to recall then or inform the end user of possible issues with there product, this is negligent. Right now I would be very surprised if we ever purchase other cat product again unless it's two good of a deal to let go.
MrAndrew1907
Member
its really too bad about those damned engines. Cats seem like good machines, but i have heard quite a few stories about their declining quality... im now getting the feeling Hitachi/JD are the ones to beat for excavators. i could be wrong though.
Tigerotor77W
Senior Member
I think that list is pretty subjective...
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Tigerotor77W
Senior Member
Maybe you could point out some of the sites, then: I googled
"Cat C6 problem"
"Cat C6 C7 problem"
"Caterpillar C6 problem"
"Caterpillar C6.6 problem"
and didn't see anything on the first page that suggested that there is a widespread issue with them (nothing even from forums, where such complaints would surface). I can easily be wrong, of course, but I didn't find anything in a quick search. Perhaps I didn't search hard enough, but I would have expected something on the first page if this was a serious issue.
I hate to be so confrontational about this, but I do believe that your issues are hardly representative of the entire mid-range engine population. I'd invite you to contact Toromont and ask specifically to talk to the district rep in your area (or the sales development manager) if you feel there's a problem.
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