980 H

i can't say alot on the 980's never have ran one, but we have a wa500-3lk (8700 hrs) and have very minor problems with it. its a long boom we use it to load a 769d and terex tr35. its our pit machine but the operator is very good that runs it. We bought it because it was 15% cheaper than an used cat.

We are not overly brand loyal, we ran michigans, deeres, komastu's, and now have a cat 972h. The cat is an ok machine, but it has slower ground speeds, hyd's, and cycles than the 744h mh it replaced, not to mention it uses more fuel. We had 2 744h mh's (now 824j) first one was excellent didn't do anything to it, the second one was a giant turd. We demoed a wa480 and 972h the 480 was slower than cat, money was about the same, so we got the cat. Needless to say next time we will look at the deere again.

For the most part everyone makes a good machine, there are some lemons (and we got one), but alot of it has to do with the operator. If you have an guy that has only ran cats he'll want a cat, same with the other brands. Loaders are kinda like pickups, a ford guy won't own a chevy and a chevy guy won't own a ford. then there is us crazy's that drive mopars.

We have a brand new 980H at the pulp mill I work at. Very nice, it's replacing a 1990 980?. The new machine drives very nice, quiet and lots of power. We have the 1/2 steering wheel in it. It's much easier on the shoulders. We use it in the bark pile, 18yrd bucket, works great for us.
AK

Aweful, What mill are you at, Nackawick?

AV Cell (the sister mill) Atholville.

View attachment loader2.bmp

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Here is our 980H when it was brand new. Thats me standing there, I'm 6ft 2in tall. It's a big bucket, we use it in the bark pile.

Could have used it this winter to shovel yer driveway

Just as farm boy has said, there seems to be a wide varience in the way the new H's run. A local contractor I hauled for here replaced some 980 G's with new H's. The operators say they don't have the power but they said the fuel consumption was way better. They also told me they were more comfortable in the cab. But part of the power problem may be that all the old G's were tuned up a bit, and when they complained about the H's, the local Cat dealer would not crank up the H's. Said their hands are tied with those new Acert motors, due to warranty and emmisions. The operators also found they had better power if you lugged them down a bit and not charged the bank with the pedal to the floor?

How does the fuel consumption compare between the JD and the Cat? I was recently talking to a sales rep from a company that makes grinders for bark and hog fuel. They use both Cat and JD power. He said the Cats have a little more power (in the 500h.p. class) but he said the JD's use way less fuel. He did also say the new JD's they just started using have closed the power gap since last year.

Paystar said:

They use both Cat and JD power. He said the Cats have a little more power (in the 500h.p. class) but he said the JD's use way less fuel.

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Deere doesn't have a loader in the 500 HP class, unless he's testing a prototype.

Paystar said:

The operators also found they had better power if you lugged them down a bit and not charged the bank with the pedal to the floor?

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That's how a loader should be properly run. If you're charging the pile hoping to fill the bucket only with ground speed built up, you'd get tossed off a job real quick around here. When you charge the pile, you're bashing on the machine, you'll probably spin the tires once you hit it, and you're not using the machine efficiently via the hydraulics. We also know that peak torque is typically made below full RPM, so flooring it for the most power usually isn't the answer, however engine management systems have changed a lot so I suppose it depends on how new the machine you're running is. I know you're not running the loader, sorry for hassling you, I just thought I should point out that what you're saying makes sense.

Tigerotor77W said:

Deere doesn't have a loader in the 500 HP class, unless he's testing a prototype.

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I know. That's why I said I was talking to a guy from a grinder manufacturer. I just wanted to know if the same was true for the equipment regarding fuel useage. I've ran lots of Cat's but no seat time in the new JD's.

CascadeScaper said:

That's how a loader should be properly run. If you're charging the pile hoping to fill the bucket only with ground speed built up, you'd get tossed off a job real quick around here. When you charge the pile, you're bashing on the machine, you'll probably spin the tires once you hit it, and you're not using the machine efficiently via the hydraulics. We also know that peak torque is typically made below full RPM, so flooring it for the most power usually isn't the answer, however engine management systems have changed a lot so I suppose it depends on how new the machine you're running is. I know you're not running the loader, sorry for hassling you, I just thought I should point out that what you're saying makes sense.

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True, but do you find the new Cat equipment with Acert power have a "sweet spot" on the fuel pedal? The way that operator was explaining it to me, it was kind of like how my truck is. I have an Acert in my Paystar and I find if you floor the pedal and try to drive it hard, it will not impress you. But if you feather the throttle and keep the RPM's low, it will pull till the cows come home. I just wonder if the new loaders are like that.

Paystar said:

I know. That's why I said I was talking to a guy from a grinder manufacturer. I just wanted to know if the same was true for the equipment regarding fuel useage. I've ran lots of Cat's but no seat time in the new JD's.

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Haha -- I can't read. Oh boy. ointhead

Hey Tigerotor77, I reread my reply to you and wow, it kind of sounds sarcastic. Sorry, didn't mean it like that. I kinda confused the situation referring to the grinders, but was just making the comparison to see if the same holds true with the loaders.:drinkup
Be cool to see a 500 h.p. JD loader though

Paystar said:

Hey Tigerotor77, I reread my reply to you and wow, it kind of sounds sarcastic. Sorry, didn't mean it like that.

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No no! I didn't take it that way at all. I was just being an idiot the first time around and didn't read the post the way it was typed.

No harm done at all and certainly no offense taken... so back to business as usual!

i have a 980H and having a ride control problem. the bucket is droping when it is auto can drop many feet when loaded. only does it when in auto not in manual or off. can anyone help

check the electrical solenoid for ride control and also the check valve both are located on the front frame,access from under loader behind front axle check valve is inline with one of the hoses 15/16 wrench size

we've rebuilt all the valves changes all solnoids and acc. still no luck were stumped any ideas will help

where is the check valve

So then if you have cleaned and removed corrosion from the pin connectors and also checked to see if any pins are broken/bent or pushed back into the connector? Then it could be a software anomaly if a program runs the ride control. Hopefully it is under warranty?