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Buying Advice Needed Cat 977L 1984

evotech

New Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2018
Messages
1
Location
New York
I bought some land in southern California that will need a house pad, some roads cut and overall a good amount of dirt work. The ground is decomposed granite and hard as heck. I can only afford one machine and I was thinking that a 977 with a 4 way bucket would be a good versatile machine. So what I found. It is a 1884 977L and claims to have around hours on it. Not sure if that is believable based on the age. The machine just received a new coat of paint which also makes me wonder if it was bought at auction and being puffed up for a quick flip. I will speak the owner today. Anyway, can anyone tell anything about the condition of the undercarriage from these pics? This is all new to me. I will probably have a local shop survey the machine prior to purchase.
IMG_20180205_223625_01.jpg IMG_20180205_223633_01.jpg IMG_20180205_223639_01 (2).jpg IMG_20180131_064106_01.jpg
 

RustedHeroes

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2016
Messages
171
Location
Bonnyville Alberta, Canada
Hi Evotech,

I think you missed listing the hours in your post. Like Old magnet said we would need measurements or some close up pictures to gauge the undercarriage. The pads look great but the rails look pretty shot from what I can tell.
My experience with this model of machine has been very positive, they are tough, versatile and powerful.

what are they asking for the unit?
 

Junkyard

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
3,621
Location
Claremore, OK
Occupation
Field Mechanic
The Krylon overhaul always concerns me....I'd rather have one that looked like hammered dookie and was tip top mechanical. Could be an honest machine though and paint was the last part of improvements.

More info will help us help you.
 

Former Wrench

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2014
Messages
470
Location
Montesano, WA
Occupation
Retired
Any chance of leasing it for a week or two? You could put it to the test and burn off some of the new paint smell. I like the ripper for your hard ground work.
 

bam1968

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2014
Messages
529
Location
IA
Occupation
Excavating Contractor
Can you even legally run the darn thing in California? I'm no expert by any means on this whole CARB thing but from what I have heard that could be an issue. I think it would be worth checking into anyway. Just my $.02
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,436
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Rails from what I see are SALT, sag indicates the tension in the seals is gone maybe the seals are completely failed measuring will tell the tale there. As far as the Paint Job Overhaul there are a great deal of covers missing on sensitive areas, hydraulics tubing equipment access points so someone has been into it for some reason and hour meters do not always work nor do they stay working in rough conditions. Major scale ripper in back, where what I can see of the 4 way is a great deal of weld buildup/hard facing on the sides so I presume this was a severe application machine and was beat to hell in the process. What price did they toss at you?
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
In picture three is there chrome peeled off the tilt cylinder shaft or am I seeing things. Looks to me that hydraulic repairs were patched as cheap as possible and no care giving to proper replacements. That usually is a good indication of how the rest of the maintenance was done. I would want to test it for a few hours working it hard "if" the price was very right.
 

RustedHeroes

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2016
Messages
171
Location
Bonnyville Alberta, Canada
I find it insulting when a new member can't be bothered to respond after they ask a question. You have a bunch of folks on here with good intentions offering valuable advice, a simple thank you would suffice....

Common courtesy is unfortunately very uncommon these days.
 

AllDodge

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2011
Messages
2,290
Location
Kentucky
There is a possibility the new guy has not responded because he was not notified. If I remember from my first sign up, the default was no email response, had to check the other box to get notified.

Another 5 gallon overhaul
 
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