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Cat 955 L

Cat977

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Feb 19, 2006
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Madison WI
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Machinist/Millwright
My pads are 18" on a 25 ton machine yours are 15" on a 15 ton. I'm not sure if it's ok to have the rails off center. But making yours into a LGP dozing machine (I believe) would cut down on tearing up the ground.
 

Spyros33

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Aug 22, 2020
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Paid a visit to the Shop today, and managed to take some pictures. I wanted to check the hydraulic circuit and see what it takes to connect a ripper.
Although on the bottom of the hydraulic tank there are some plugs that look like they could be for the ripper lines, on the side of the tank i couldnt find a plug or gate for the third lever.
I have to empty the hydraulic fluid and open the tank to see what exactly is the deal.
Does Anyone have some diagrams or know what it would take to have the third control? Is there an extra control valve that has to be mounted to the existing one or i need new control valve and/or hydraulic tank?
 

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leadfarmer

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Dec 17, 2019
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229
Location
SW PA
Take lots of pictures of the dozer conversion!

I was wondering the other day if a ripper could be added to a machine if it didn’t have one from the factory, so keep us updated and post pictures of that too!
 

Cat977

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I really like that Dozer frame! I would love to have it set up on my 977L. I would want a Quick tach system though. Just getting old and spoiled.
Adding that 3rd valve could be a deal breaker. Could be hard and expensive.
I was looking at a picture the other day of a bolt on ripper on a 977K. Looked like the counter balance plate where gone. You would probably have to drill and tap your own holes.
Best of luck.
 

Welder Dave

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Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
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Canada
I would think the mounting holes are already there and it's common to remove a counterweight(s) when a ripper is installed. The biggest issue is the hyd. control for the ripper.
 

Spyros33

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Aug 22, 2020
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Mechanical engineer, machine operator
Anyone with SIS access can give me some info about the hydraulic controls for the ripper?
 

Nige

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Jun 22, 2011
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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
I remember we had 955L machines with multi-shank rippers back in the late 1970's. There seems to be very little information about them that I can see. For the life of me I can't remember how the hydraulic system was set up.

Here is an arrangement for a 12A-prefix 955C (much earlier than your model) with a separate valve mounted on top of the hydraulic tank to control the ripper. Maybe it might work as a memory-jogger for somebody.

There are also "955 Ripper" arrangements, prefixes 65H, 84G, & 87H. The weird thing is that although they show the ripper frame, cylinder, & hydraulic lines, none of them appear to include any information about the hydraulic control valve necesaary to operate the ripper function.

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Nige

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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
OK, this is promising. Rear hydraulic lines for a 64J-prefix 955L shown as connecting to the ripper lines.
The intersting thing is the reference to a "form" for installation of an "Auxiliary Valve Conversion". Unfortunately the document reference FMO55053 does not seem to exist in SIS. Maybe the Antiquie Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club - https://www.acmoc.org/ - might be able to help you.?

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Cat977

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bunkclimber posted this a couple years ago. Maybe it could help.
I wanted to do the same thing, add a top clamp to a fork carriage on my 977,which is a two valve machine. The loader hyd pump output is like 80GPM or so with 1-1/4" hose with a Code 61/62 flange output. .you could intercept the flow from the main pump, use a flow divider to feed the Cat tank and loader valving on one side and also a satellite valve to run your outboard implements, with a appropriately sized relief valve and secondary return line back to the Cat hyd tank. You're talking BIG valves, not easy to find, or for cheap. This is what appears to be done with the 977 in the photos of the Montreal Tractor unit you saw. Whether or not they used a relief valve back to the Cat hyd tank in addition to the secondary return or not is to be seen. I've seen a couple machines set up like this for oilfield work many years ago with multi-spool valves next to the operators station and custom outboard tools for pipeline work. .Pressure doubling could develop between systems and make for a catastrophe when used under load without the appropriate relief valve. For the easiest route just get a Cat tank with the factory valves in it and plumb it from there. Best of luck.
 

avanfarm

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Jan 20, 2013
Messages
7
Location
Woodlake, Ca
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Farmer
I admire you’re ambitious nature towards this project. I’ve a 955k (61H858) that has rear hydraulics. Looks OEM, but not 100% sure. Lever is to the right of operator on the flat surface behind raise/dump/clamp controls and moves horizontally. I can remove rear cover and post some pics of control and lines if interested. Thanks to all the guys sharing helpful info with owners of these seasoned machines. - AV
 

Spyros33

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If it is not too much trouble, some pictures would be very helpfull! Thanks in advance avanfarm!
 

Spyros33

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Aug 22, 2020
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So, i did some work today on the loader.
I replaced four bottom rollers that were damaged.
Replaced seals on both left side cylinders.
Wedged two pins between sprocket and track to pull the spring back in order to work with the broken bolts on the brackets.
Also disassembled left idler because there was some play on the shaft. Shaft looked fine so i ordered only bushings and seals.
To be continued!
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Spyros33

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Korinth, Greece
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I didnt bother to measure it because when i removed the track i pushed the idler sideways and i could move it back and forth about 2 centimeters.
 

Spyros33

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Korinth, Greece
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Today's progress:
Did some precission torching on the broken bolts,cleared the threads with a 5/8-11 tap
and installed the brackets with new bolts.
It was a relief to take out the Wedged pin from the sprocket and let the spring rest on the brackets!!
Broke the right track and and now i am going to bring the new tracks to the Shop in order to cut the exceeding length of the pads.
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