953 loader opinions

[Ralph Harris]

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[Ralph Harris]

Thanks for the replies I end up getting the machine for 30,000 as nice as it is you never know about Equipment. Anything can happen at any time but the machine looks extremely clean and I can’t wait to put it to work.

I’m thinking about adding a root rake in the near

 

[CM1995]

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Is this the machine you bought or the other one?

The machine in the pics looks well taken care of.

 

[Welder Dave]

Looks pretty good. Was it repainted recently? Tracks might be a little too tight. You might be able to put longer bucket teeth on and use the bucket like a root rake. Just use some caution in hard ground.

 

[HarleyHappy]

What a beauty!

 

[Nige]

I’m thinking about adding a root rake in the near

A rear-mounted ripper was an option when the machine was new. It shouldn't be too hard to find one in a breakers yard.

Got a Serial Number yet.? I see the plate in one of your photos but it's unreadable. LH side of the machine between the lift cylinder pin and the lift arm pin.

 

[pittsburgh cat man]

Be aware a lot involved installing a ripper. Hyd tank has to be removed and 3rd valve installed and control linkage installed. Can't say i ever saw a lot of rippers on 953s might be harder to find than you would think

 

[CM1995]

The handful of 953's around here that have a ripper on the back the owners took the teeth out and use it as a bumper and one put a hitch on it. It's a loader it doesn't need a ripper IMO.

 

[Ralph Harris]

 

[Ralph Harris]

It was and is the driest machine that I have looked at. It hasn’t been repainted. I’m 90% sure that it’s all original. I found zero leaks anywhere obviously that doesn’t mean that it won’t leak in the future and it does have the four-cylinder engine which I’ve heard is not as good as the six cylinder engine, but it seems plenty powerful
It has two lever Bucket control, which I am not familiar with, but seems fairly simple
It drove a little nicer and worked a little nicer than the 943 that I test drove

 

[Ralph Harris]

The guys going out of town before we can make a deal so I have a little time possibly to look at other equipment. What do y’all think about a 455G John Deere or a 755 John Deere Track Loader
I’m also interested in a excavator but would like to find one with a front blade

 

[Nige]

20Z01499 - built August 1987.

Looks llike a very clean straight machine.

 

[pittsburgh cat man]

They only made the 943 for a few years because most people opted for the 953 because of more hp in my opinion the 4 banger is a lot more friendly to a guy that wants to do his own work ie changing injector on a 3204 is just a brush job and stick them in where a 3116 involves reaming seats, pressing them in and by the way if they don’t clean up you have to change the cups and then adj injector all this takes special tools

 

[CM1995]

What do y’all think about a 455G John Deere or a 755 John Deere Track Loader

There is really no comparison between a hystat 953 and a powershift 455G. It's comparable to saying I have a 10K trailer I want to tow - which one will perform better a Ford Ranger or F350?

On the vintage 755 JD loader you will be looking at they were built by Liebherr for John Deere. Those loaders do not have a great reputation. Not familiar enough with Deere to know when JD started making their own loaders.

 

[Catsparky1]

I have never seen a track loader of any sort ever that didn't have a ripper .

 

[Welder Dave]

The original 755 and 755B were designed and built by JD. They are usually credited as the first hydrostatic crawler loaders/dozers (1976) but I think it might have been JCB that had a hydrostat loader before them. They were good machines in their day but I think a lot of parts are obsolete and there won't be many mechanics left that are familiar with working on them. I think the JD hydrostats were a big reason Cat went to hydrostats. Just so much more productive than powershift loaders. Not as big of a difference on the dozers because they don't change direction and turn nearly as much.

 

[CM1995]

The original 755 and 755B were designed and built by JD. They are usually credited as the first hydrostatic crawler loaders/dozers (1976) but I think it might have been JCB that had a hydrostat loader before them. They were good machines in their day but I think a lot of parts are obsolete and there won't be many mechanics left that are familiar with working on them. I think the JD hydrostats were a big reason Cat went to hydrostats. Just so much more productive than powershift loaders. Not as big of a difference on the dozers because they don't change direction and turn nearly as much.

Yeah the original 755's were all JD and front engine. Hard to find one now when did they stop making them? Can't remember the last time I saw one.

Pretty much any 755 around today in the hobby budget range will be a Liebherr. I'd like to run one of the newer JD made ones.

 

[Ralph Harris]

Yeah, I really appreciate all the information as always. I’m pretty much committed to this 953. I can’t remember ever trying out a piece of equipment that was so nice and tight.

 

[Ralph Harris]

It’s definitely the nicest one that I have seen. I’m definitely leaning toward buying it thing that worries me. The most is the repairs on these big machines.

 

[CM1995]

The most is the repairs on these big machines.

No doubt - yellow iron is expensive. That's why it cost what it does to hire the work out.