In a test CAT 236 skid steer out performs Waldon 5100 mini articulated loader

[lake side bob]

Wondering why a skid steer will way-way out perform a mini articulated loader of the same size.
Had a test of mini articulated loader Waldon 5100 weight of 7100 lbs and a CAT 236 skid steer, weight of 7000 lbs. Test was digging into a stock pile (not virgin gravel pit bank face) of dirt from an excavation to see which machine would perform best. Well the skid steer out performed the mini loader, it was not even close.
The Waldon would not even dig into the pile while the 236 had no problem with it.
Both machines were at the same location of the stock pile taking turns loading the machines bucket with dirt.
The Waldon 5100 with the bucket on the ground (not lifting the front tires off the ground) would start to spin its tires as soon as the bucket entered the stock pile and dig holes with its tires.
The skid steer powers into the stock pile filling its bucket as boom and bucket are worked into the pile.
The Waldon 5100 can not get into the pile far enough to effectivily work the boom and bucket to get a bucket full, it got only the front edge of the bucket in the dirt. Which amounted to a small amount of dirt in the bucket.
The Waldon has a hydrolic motor powering the front and rear axles, the axles are Dana 60, no locking differentials, not even limited slip differentials.
It was really surprising the difference between a skid steer and a mini articulatedloader.
Any one have an idea why there is this difference between the two machines in stock pile digging?

 

[Tigerotor77W]

Could be a variety of factors... operating technique is one, tire choice is another, bucket type is a third. If the machine was able to spin the tires, machine power isn't an issue; it's traction. Traction can be affected by how the machine is being operated and what tires the machine is using. Without knowing either of these, it's hard to pinpoint exactly why one machine would outperform the other.

 

[Hardline]

Locking differentials would make a world of difference. The skid has all 4 tires locked in and working equally. You would be surprised how much a locker makes. JJ

 

[adam21584]

At work we have a swinger withc is similar to waldon and the diffs are lincoln locked in ours sure helps with traction. It is hard on axles and tires.

 

[Lil' Puss]

Curious if you ever switched operators. Weight distribution of the machines and weight transfer while loading also play important roles in comparisons. I also agree with the others about tire tread types & sizes, and locking differentials.

 

[lgammon]

i have a cat 236A it is a mean machine....power to weight it is better than our 277!

 

[Marc V]

Waldons are very old machines. My Kubota R420 has limited slip and digs great. Next time you want to try a similar test, get an compact art loader made in the last 10 years.

 

[lake side bob]

Late last summer 2011, installed locking differential in the rear axle of the Waldon 5100.
Then took it to a job, it pushed into the class 5 pile like it never did before, like a skid steer does.
So impressed with the performance at the end of the season I purchased another locking differential and installed it in the front axle. It was not bad, ez instructions to follow.
The difference in the machine is like night and day, impressive change for several hundred bucks.