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Good old Iron versus new stuff

alan627b

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Omaha Nebraska
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Damn rain. These 22 hour work weeks are killers. LOL! Maybe cat will lend us one of those new submersible scrapers..... Rain for the next 2-3 days, 2-6" expected. oh joy.
Later, folks!
 

bam1968

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Nov 1, 2014
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IA
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Excavating Contractor
Damn rain. These 22 hour work weeks are killers. LOL! Maybe cat will lend us one of those new submersible scrapers..... Rain for the next 2-3 days, 2-6" expected. oh joy.
Later, folks!
I'm just across the river from you so I feel your pain!!! Most of my work comes from local area farmers so I have to wait for the crops to come out first. So another 2"-6" of rain is not going to help matters any!!! LOL
 

StanRUS

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Mar 7, 2016
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767
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Cal
Ha, all the safety bars on those Dmodels; look like rolling jails.
39s work okay in sandy soils. Not any 39s in Calif or probably the US, most are down under.
 

squid_wood777

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western australia
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Plant Operator
Ha, all the safety bars on those Dmodels; look like rolling jails.
39s work okay in sandy soils. Not any 39s in Calif or probably the US, most are down under.
Yes lots of 39s down here Stan,most over here in the west.The rails on machines are common practice now,few people have gone over the side while doing prestarts so if it saves lives and stops injuries its a good thing.Hardly notice it anymore when ur operating its part of it.
 

StanRUS

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Cal
The rails on machines are common practice now,few people have gone over the side while doing prestarts so if it saves lives and stops injuries its a good thing
Safety nazis get carried away, IMO
On D,E,Gs prestarts; checking engine oil level and coolant level! Trans-diff levels via sight glass are checked from the ground. NO reason to be on top of the hood or right side hydraulic tank-fender. Easier servicing was a big upgrade compared to C models that requires climbing around the hitch to check trans-diff levels.
With the safety rails servicing air cleaner and fuel filters restricts the mechanics access! Typically standing on a stool working from ground level. I angle the service truck so the bumper-workbench allows stepping back and forth onto the scraper tractor; try to never step off while doing engine (or relate component) work.

One modification we do in this area; replace the right rear motor mount with a aluminum bushing-pad. OEM rubber mounts don't hold up. Saves labor to strip off the exhaust box-muffler to gain access to R&I.
 

squid_wood777

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Aug 10, 2014
Messages
119
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western australia
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Plant Operator
Safety nazis get carried away, IMO
On D,E,Gs prestarts; checking engine oil level and coolant level! Trans-diff levels via sight glass are checked from the ground. NO reason to be on top of the hood or right side hydraulic tank-fender. Easier servicing was a big upgrade compared to C models that requires climbing around the hitch to check trans-diff levels.
With the safety rails servicing air cleaner and fuel filters restricts the mechanics access! Typically standing on a stool working from ground level. I angle the service truck so the bumper-workbench allows stepping back and forth onto the scraper tractor; try to never step off while doing engine (or relate component) work.

One modification we do in this area; replace the right rear motor mount with a aluminum bushing-pad. OEM rubber mounts don't hold up. Saves labor to strip off the exhaust box-muffler to gain access to R&I.
This company im working for have the biggest scraper fleet in the country,about 80 or so 57s 37s 39s 33s 51s etc but there all working so theres no spares and we needed another at least 4 33s so the boss has gone down the back to the graveyard a couple of months ago and picked out the 4 best looking condition wise 33s and their in the shop striped to the chassis being completely rebuilt so i cant wait to see what their like.Knowing this company they will probably be like new.They dont muck around with their gear its usually top notch and you can bet they will have some new 3408s to go in them too.
 

StanRUS

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Mar 7, 2016
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767
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Cal
squid,
Calif 633s have almost vanished; reason good scraper dirt jobs are seldom, elevating scrapers don't like rocks. I bought 633C 66M699 @ RB auction in 2002 for $18thou for a 4 week job. The job didn't happen until 2008 due to building permit delays; county gov wanted $4.3million, then environmental impact study, K-rat fees, school fees etc. Finally agreed to $1.2; 33 has been sitting since August 08.
Under $10thou to get the 33 back to performance spec's; total hydraulic system rebuild, cylinders, pumps, motor, valves, tank etc. D343 engine; swapped 57B injection pump (up hp), new transfer pump, water pump, rod out radiator etc.
Video of original 633; even a front window was an option.
D343, 9-speed torque converter trans. With 9 speed going downhill the trans auto shifts into higher gears, opposite from a 8 speed.

Video shows WHY emission engines are req'd; easy to see haze-smog in the background. Pi$$ poor conditions to operate scrapers; no haul road maintenance.
 

squid_wood777

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western australia
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These 33 rebuilds that are going on down here could be alot more than yours or anyone elses in the states Stan, your new parts should be alot cheaper as there in the same country and the availability should be high,no shipping fees to pay etc.If you go second hand the cost will be alot cheaper you would hope.Knowing Piacentini,s they will probably get as much new stuff as they can and these scrapers will go well hopefully and last for a lot more years.I remember seeing a near new 33c in the 70s at a mine in the southwest and it came with no cab or rops and it gets cold down there so the bloke operating it was about twice his normal size due to all the extra clothing he had to wear.They eventually put a rops on it which considering the height of some of the walls it ran on was a good idea.I dont know what the motor was probably same as you mentioned Stan but i remember it was quick.
 

StanRUS

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Mar 7, 2016
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767
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Cal
If Placentini is close to Perth, Hofmann sell lots of parts; like hitch pins and bearings. They also rebuild pins and probably have exchanges. Cat was sourcing pins (mid 90s early 2000s) from Capstone, so freight charges from Australia were in the prices.
D-Model parts that are interchangeable with E or Gs won't have a obsolescent price premium; Cat does mark up prices for out-of-production goodies. Our local Cat dealers have to pay inventory tax; so a D-mod trans cover gasket is no longer in stock and has to come out of the warehouse. That means tomorrow morning, LOL.
I needed new radiator frames for a D8L (2010), one came from Australia and the other from Belgium two day air freight.
D-Model Hitches are beefed up compared to Cs; longer service hours to repairs.

C-Model inline 6 engine is easier to work on. You can in-frame overhaul if the main bearing caps' interference fit into the block saddle is still alright. C-model hydraulic pumps are harder to work on, driven off the rear of the engine: 1 @ rear left side and 2 bell housing mounted underneath. D-model pumps are simple trans driven.

Cool Placentini takes pride in their equipment. Post up a few photos of the 33 rebuilds.

What happened to ABI group? They used have a large scraper fleet in Australia.
 
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squid_wood777

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western australia
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Will post photos of the rebuilds Stan.Abi group was taken over by Lendlease who are more into building office blocks bridges and that sort of construction more so than earthmoving.They seem to have kept the earthmoving side of it going along alright though over on the eastcoast dont hear of them over this side since they finished a fair sized road job up north a couple of years ago.
There is some very large road jobs goin on over east and Lendlease who im fairly sure still have a good sized fleet of 51s and 57s are right in amongst these big road jobs.
From what ive been able to check out over the last few years from websites etc Piacentini still have the most even though they sold alot of 57bs they have alot of 57 Es and Gs to replace them.
From what ive read and heard Lendlease unless theyve bought up large just recently for these road jobs are still the same or maybe abit less in fleetsize (30 to maybe 40)compared to Piacentini 60 plus maybe even around the 80 mark.
Fairly sure some of Lendleases mineral sands mining jobs have finished and the scraper fleet was parked up for awhile until work came up.Heard some may have been sold and not replaced but cant be certain as east coast is along way from here and rumours rule.
 

squid_wood777

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western australia
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If Placentini is close to Perth, Hofmann sell lots of parts; like hitch pins and bearings. They also rebuild pins and probably have exchanges. Cat was sourcing pins (mid 90s early 2000s) from Capstone, so freight charges from Australia were in the prices.
D-Model parts that are interchangeable with E or Gs won't have a obsolescent price premium; Cat does mark up prices for out-of-production goodies. Our local Cat dealers have to pay inventory tax; so a D-mod trans cover gasket is no longer in stock and has to come out of the warehouse. That means tomorrow morning, LOL.
I needed new radiator frames for a D8L (2010), one came from Australia and the other from Belgium two day air freight.
D-Model Hitches are beefed up compared to Cs; longer service hours to repairs.

C-Model inline 6 engine is easier to work on. You can in-frame overhaul if the main bearing caps' interference fit into the block saddle is still alright. C-model hydraulic pumps are harder to work on, driven off the rear of the engine: 1 @ rear left side and 2 bell housing mounted underneath. D-model pumps are simple trans driven.

Cool Placentini takes pride in their equipment. Post up a few photos of the 33 rebuilds.

What happened to ABI group? They used have a large scraper fleet in Australia.
Stan ive heard conflicting stories on how many 639s were built.Ive heard around 50 up to 500.I reckon if anyone could find out theres a good chance you could.
In Western Australia anyone who has them usually only has one or two except for the Thomas family who have 5 between Dad,who once owened them all before selling one to one son and 3 to the other son and keeping one himself.He has had 9 tru blu 39s over the years plus turned a couple of 33s or 37s into 39s.The word is Piacentinis have 11 39s one is parts and the other 10 are moving sand.Im not so sure about this yet but given they are the experts at moving mineral sands it is possibly true.Be interested to see what you can find out.​
 

StanRUS

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Stan ive heard conflicting stories on how many 639s were built.Ive heard around 50 up to 500.I reckon if anyone could find out theres a good chance you could.
squid,
No google search? Production 1979 to 1984, total manufactured under 300.
Reference source: https://contractormag.co.nz/classic-machines/caterpillar-639d/
Roading 637Cs Jpaydirt
IMO, good video. Using 2nd gear loading (torque convertor) with hitch locked down (if you don't you can't put down pressure on the cutting edges), diff-lock and shift-hold pedals. Look like NO seat-belt, big fine in Calif...Flat land Big Sky Country
 
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squid_wood777

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western australia
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squid,
No google search? Production 1979 to 1984, total manufactured under 300.
Reference source: https://contractormag.co.nz/classic-machines/caterpillar-639d/
Roading 637Cs Jpaydirt
IMO, good video. Using 2nd gear loading (torque convertor) with hitch locked down (if you don't you can't put down pressure on the cutting edges), diff-lock and shift-hold pedals. Look like NO seat-belt, big fine in Calif...Flat land Big Sky Country
Like the old 37s Stan good clip.So i seen that Newzealand contractors mag article according to a few people over here who have had a bit to do with them some are saying around 50 or so admitting they dont know for sure but none reckon 300 were made.I googled and just got rubbish.See if there is some info segment you can get into on a Cat site that might be able to tell me something.
 

John C.

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According to my serial number book it shows to prefixes 88X and 99X both starting at Sn. 674 and ending at 711. First year is 1980 and last year is 1985. That would indicate a total of 74 but Cat skips serial numbers all the time so the actual total is most likely less. My book also states the serial numbers with 75 following the three digit prefix is a Cat certified rebuild. For example a serial of 88X75000 would be a rebuild.
 

Bluox

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WA state
According to my serial number book it shows to prefixes 88X and 99X both starting at Sn. 674 and ending at 711. First year is 1980 and last year is 1985. That would indicate a total of 74 but Cat skips serial numbers all the time so the actual total is most likely less. My book also states the serial numbers with 75 following the three digit prefix is a Cat certified rebuild. For example a serial of 88X75000 would be a rebuild.
88X is a scraper prefix and 99X is a wheel tractor prefix so a 639D would be have both a 88X and 99X serial number.
So your numbers show 37 units
Bob
 

StanRUS

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88X is a scraper prefix and 99X is a wheel tractor prefix so a 639D would be have both a 88X and 99X serial number.
So your numbers show 37 units
Bob
Counting 639s on HEF
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/any-639-operators-out-there.36047/
E.L. Yeager had 8 maybe 10 639s, sold and shipped to Australia early 90s (93-95?). Those 639s worked at local open pit sand mining operation Cisco, Corona Calif for few months. Yeager's 639s were the only ones I've seen in action. Replaced by Willy Rasmussen's (Pacific Tractor) 657E augers and 631Cs-D9s

One 639 (was in) Canada, operated by Kidco or Prairie Road Builders
 
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squid_wood777

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western australia
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Im in touch with Gavin 84W who works for Cat in Sydney.He looked up the prefix list and came up with 39 639s built and at least 20 or so are in western australia and Piacentinis have 11 of them.
 

StanRUS

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Im in touch with Gavin 84W who works for Cat in Sydney.He looked up the prefix list and came up with 39 639s built and at least 20 or so are in western australia and Piacentinis have 11 of them.
Contacted NZ mag with the correct numbers manufactured @ 39
 
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