Caterpillar 933,935,939 John Deere 455G, 555G advice needed for 1st purchse

jwalk2c · Dec 22, 2015

Hello everyone, After many months of searching I have narrowed my search for a small loader, with under 4K hours, 1990’s and a budget of approx. 22K, to the following five:
Caterpillar 933,935, 939
John Deere 455g, 555G
The Caterpillar 933 and 939 share same engine 6cyl. 3046 / 70hp and 3046T / 90hp, and the Deere 455G and 555G share same 4 cyl. 4045T / 70 hp and 90 hp respectively. This is from Ritchie Specs.
There are more 455G's available to me in my price range, and I have read the 4045 is a good engine, but I read the earlier 555’s had a British Twin-Disc transmission that gave a lot of trouble.
• Does the 555G have the problematic transmission? (several of the JD 450,455,555 for sale adds have tranny issues)
• Is the Japan made 933 and 939 reliable?
• 933 and 939 C models have Hystat tranny, although more expensive to purchase, what is life expectancy compared to direct drive? Is Hystat a deal breaker either way?
• Finally I would like to hear your opinion of these machines, with lowest cost of ownership the most important factor.
This is for my personal use clearing 10 acres, moving a lot of dirt and rocks, but I am no hurry to get the job done.
Thank You
Johnny Walker

DMiller · Dec 25, 2015

Any of the above machines can be problematic if not attended to and serviced correctly, go over each that you inspect very diligently as to leaks, damage(from misuse/neglect), failure to operate smoothly or comfortably. Any of the above listed machines can and will work very well for a moderately used personal function on a farm. Each have their faults and failures while each have their benefit or ease of function in controls. It then comes down to personal preference as to size, relative condition for the money, ease of use and comfortable feel on the machines followed by expense followed by cost to maintain. Any and all tracked machines can be expensive if misused or abused or left to age ungracefully without maintenance.

I have worked on many of the above, Deere 450 series, G series, Cats from 931 to 977 and dozers, I found and fight with an old Allis as I am accustomed to those and actually find it more comfortable as to operation than I had Deeres or Cats but am currently considering changing to a newer more component available machine.

Deliacorpny · Dec 25, 2015

jwalk2c said:
Hello everyone, After many months of searching I have narrowed my search for a small loader, with under 4K hours, 1990’s and a budget of approx. 22K, to the following five:
Caterpillar 933,935, 939
John Deere 455g, 555G
The Caterpillar 933 and 939 share same engine 6cyl. 3046 / 70hp and 3046T / 90hp, and the Deere 455G and 555G share same 4 cyl. 4045T / 70 hp and 90 hp respectively. This is from Ritchie Specs.
There are more 455G's available to me in my price range, and I have read the 4045 is a good engine, but I read the earlier 555’s had a British Twin-Disc transmission that gave a lot of trouble.
• Does the 555G have the problematic transmission? (several of the JD 450,455,555 for sale adds have tranny issues)
• Is the Japan made 933 and 939 reliable?
• 933 and 939 C models have Hystat tranny, although more expensive to purchase, what is life expectancy compared to direct drive? Is Hystat a deal breaker either way?
• Finally I would like to hear your opinion of these machines, with lowest cost of ownership the most important factor.
This is for my personal use clearing 10 acres, moving a lot of dirt and rocks, but I am no hurry to get the job done.
Thank You
Johnny Walker

I would stay away from the deeres just for basic reason of parts availability! Cat is superior! Deere did have tranny issues and both have downs n ups! 939 and 933 are both nice lil machines but you can find a really nice 955l for around 10-15k that is mechanical and will run forever ! The hystats are nice and I personal have owned 977l, 953a and d3b and c and currently a 963! For production and visibility the rear motor machines can't be matched but for a good reliable machine that you can let sit and not worry bout 955k-L can't be beat! Or a 977! 951 is a nice direct drive machine that u can find cheap as we'll ! Lotta good track loaders floating around u can steal cheap ! Good luck

DMiller · Dec 25, 2015

A great deal of parts availability has to do with region of our nation where the dealers are. I buy Deere pieces from a local dealer(35 miles away) and they are readily available, Cat on the other hand does have decent availability but much has to be special ordered here. 6 of one half dozen the other, would not buy Komatsu Dressta or Liebherr as they do not have good supply chains but the other two yes on equal footing.

Deliacorpny · Dec 25, 2015

DMiller said:
A great deal of parts availability has to do with region of our nation where the dealers are. I buy Deere pieces from a local dealer(35 miles away) and they are readily available, Cat on the other hand does have decent availability but much has to be special ordered here. 6 of one half dozen the other, would not buy Komatsu Dressta or Liebherr as they do not have good supply chains but the other two yes on equal footing.

I agree , where I am based outta ny there's 4 diff locations all within a half hr to get to ho penn who our local cat dealer !! I would stick with a cat or a deere! The 455 and 555 were great lil machines too ! Lotta guys bought em ! Used to see a handful or demo guys buy me and move me around in containers, drop me into basements ect! Still believe in track loaders and I use my 963 on almost every job!

jwalk2c · Dec 26, 2015

Thanks guys for the great advice. If you get a opportunity could you watch this video of a 939 that will coming up on auction. At 17 sec mark the machine changes from forward to reverse and there is a pronounced slap. And there after you can occasionally here this sound, I have watched a good many videos and never heard this .

http://www.auctiontime.com/OnlineAuctions/Details.aspx?OHID=11267369&lp=mat

There is a major design difference in the tipping or curl design between the Deere and the Cat. The Deere tipping cylinders attach at the machine end to a cantilever, while the Cat 939,933,935,939 fasten directly to the upright mounting frame.
I wonder if this makes much difference? Lift specs between the machines are similar .
Thanks
Johnny Walker

Caterpillar 933,935,939 John Deere 455G, 555G advice needed for 1st purchse

jwalk2c

Well-Known Member

DMiller

Senior Member

Deliacorpny

Active Member