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coldtrailer

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
11
Location
Vancouver Island
Really pleased to have found this site! My introduction to heavy equipment started over thirty five years ago when I was riding as swamper on D7's and D8's that were building fireguard on forest fires in the BC Interior mountains. The machines would get stuck quite often so I ended up pulling a lot of winch line. We attached water tanks to the back of rubber-tired skidders for hauling water up steep cat guards. When the ground got too steep for the RTS we had an FMC tracked skidder with a 1000 gallon tank on the back.
Never ridden on the new high track machines. They look like they might be more likely to roll on a steep sidehill.
 

Oxbow

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
1,220
Location
Idaho
Welcome coldtrailer! Actually the high track machines have a lower center of gravity due to lower placement of the engine/ trans.
 

coldtrailer

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
11
Location
Vancouver Island
Thanks for the welcome. I understood the new configuration made it a lot easier to service the final drive. Does having the drive sprocket higher up reduce the wear on that part?
 

Oxbow

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
1,220
Location
Idaho
Cat is indeed trending toward more low track in tractors up to the D7E, but they have had obvious success with the high track design, and yes, one of the advantages is keeping shock and wear from material away from the sprocket/final drive.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,351
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
Welcome to the Forums coldtrailer!:drinkup
 
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