DMiller
Senior Member
Will work on getting the photo, may not even be WABCO but sure looks the part.
Clark-Michigan 290M tractor with a LeT -Westinghouse 18 yard scraper. The army had several versions of mix and match tractors and scrapers for this application. Cat made one tractor, MRS made another, I think Euclid made another scraper option too. The version in your pic seemed to be the most popular combination. I used to work on several of them, IIRC the Cummins engine was rated at 375HP and they were good loading machines, the weak point I remember was the fiber discs coupling the convertor to the engine. Dumb idea, but it's common Twin-Disc co. idea.Well NOT Wabco. by what I can figure is a Clark Michigan, but has been repowered and does NOT function anymore.
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What I see here anymore instead of scrapers are massive high yardage excavators to lines of dump wagons. Most of the trucks are Volvo while the excavators are Cat or Komatsu. Move a lot of dirt in short order and do not leave much dress out work behind when done with the dig outs. Fella on a site told me were using 1/3 less fuel and moving 1/2 again more dirt per day this method over scrapers with elevations changes more rapid.
Subbing may end up quicker, more economic financially and time wise.
I've got quite a few hours in a 111A, none in any of the larger units. I'd be sure to check the electrics for the chain drive. How much can you slow the engine before the contactors chatter or drop out?
If you buy the Wabcos and they don't work out, will you still have enough money to rent other equipment or hire out the job? Or is this a Hail Mary?
Subbing may end up quicker, more economic financially and time wise.
Word I got was #14 brought $7K locally and #12 brought $6K online. I know the buyer of #14 and immediately got a phone call with questions. Here I go again.
One of our former machines going up for auction in George, Washington on May 18, 2018.
https://www.yarbro.com/project/details/27497/
Marlow
Yer right far superior than 639s.Nearly every 39 ever made would be still running ,most of them are in Western Australia.Dont see any wabco,s of any size anymore out here and since alot of the earthmoving companies in the states like Sukut Indies Peeds etc run Cat i wouldnt think there are very many Wabco,s anywhere and i guess that would be mainly due to the fact they are rough unreliable noisy buckets of garbage.Hey Marlow
Love shots of how to fill up a water cart! That out does anything I have ever seen tried.
I have too say I have never been lucky enough to have a go at one of these big beasts but they certainly look as if they would have been a lot of fun. Certainly far superior to the Cat 639 (only ever seen photos of these as well).
I posted a couple more shots of my 229F under the Wabco Scraper Pics thread.
Below is a shot of a V Power C'Pull here in Canberra. Australia back in 1973-4. The guy operating it taught me the skills of the trade and is avery good friend.
Cheers
Gordon
Amazing that Cat stopped producing the 639 in 1984 because "...it never quite found its niche in the market..." Eric Orlemann Caterpillar Chronicle p108, yet Wabco continued to produce 353FT's until is sold out to Dresser. The last Australian delivery in 1985 which is still working today for Footstool Earthmoving in New South Wales. I think you need to learn a lot more about the history of the Letourneau/Wabco machinery and its operation before making wildly inaccurate statements. My 229F still run rings around a Cat 621G, and I should know, I operate both!Yer right far superior than 639s.Nearly every 39 ever made would be still running ,most of them are in Western Australia.Dont see any wabco,s of any size anymore out here and since alot of the earthmoving companies in the states like Sukut Indies Peeds etc run Cat i wouldnt think there are very many Wabco,s anywhere and i guess that would be mainly due to the fact they are rough unreliable noisy buckets of garbage.
To say they never found their niche in the market wouldnt be exactly right.According to a article i read the earthmoving business (civil) in the states around that time died in the a$/= abit and the demand wasnt there,in fact a few companies in the states who had 39s and had no work for them sold most of them to OZ companies who couldnt get enough of them.Conflicting stories on how many were built but ive seen figures from Gavin 84W and he works for cat in Sydney and so im taking his word that there were 39 made.There would be 20 or so in West Oz,doubt if theres 20 Wabcos anywhere in West oz.Wabcos had their place no doubt but that was long ago,as did Euclid and a few others but there no longer produced so to say that a few small operators that still run them are proof that they are the machine is not right either.They may not be able to afford the over the top prices that Cat charge for their machines.As for not knowing about Letourneau wabco history ive read most articles i come across about scrapers weather they be cat wabco or whatever make and i know who made the first ones but i also know who made the the most and who made the best and that would be Cat.Amazing that Cat stopped producing the 639 in 1984 because "...it never quite found its niche in the market..." Eric Orlemann Caterpillar Chronicle p108, yet Wabco continued to produce 353FT's until is sold out to Dresser. The last Australian delivery in 1985 which is still working today for Footstool Earthmoving in New South Wales. I think you need to learn a lot more about the history of the Letourneau/Wabco machinery and its operation before making wildly inaccurate statements. My 229F still run rings around a Cat 621G, and I should know, I operate both!
For a long long time has never made the best ,dozer, excavator, grader or anything else in their line including skidsteers What Cat does is out spend the others in marketing $ to mop up suckers who believe in their BS. The bright ones buy elsewhere.who made the best and that would be Cat.
*rough reliable noisy buckets of awesome. There, I fixed it for you.they are rough unreliable noisy buckets of garbage.