Why does Caterpillar use high tracks?

[HarleyHappy]

Maybe it’s the material. High track dozers do not do well around here unless it’s prepared material.
They work well in certain situations, I used one in a swamp, busting out stumps and was grateful for the better sight line but felt it lacked digging power over a regular tractor.

 

[Welder Dave]

The swampy ground would lessen digging power on any dozer.

 

[HarleyHappy]

In my opinion, my experience with dozer work, I’ll just take a regular tracked dozer, preferably wide track, over any LGP, with the materials I have worked with.
While they do have their place, I don’t think the price tag justifies them.
Personally, I think the cool factor sells a few of them and keeps their used prices unreasonably high.

 

[Shimmy1]

In my opinion, my experience with dozer work, I’ll just take a regular tracked dozer, preferably wide track, over any LGP, with the materials I have worked with.

Yep, that's your opinion. When most guys need an LGP, that's the only thing that will work. To say that they aren't worth the money is a pretty ridiculous statement, IMO. Maybe you can do just fine with a wider track. I know I sure as hell can't, over half of the hours my 6N gets are in the swamp.

 

[HarleyHappy]

Feeling a little cranky tonight?
I offered my opinion.
The LGP craze is over.

 

[Shimmy1]

The LGP craze is over.

Not a craze, at least not here. I would guess there are 5 LGP machines sold here in ND to every one standard or wide, probably more. I don't think I've seen a E-model Komatsu in any size smaller than a 65 ever here.

 

[cat951b]

Build date is 1990-09-05

Thank You Masterwelder!

 

[Welder Dave]

Here it's rare to see a D6 high track that isn't an LGP. The guy that cleared some bush for me had a JD 850J WLT that is kind of in-between a std. track and an LGP, wide long track. I'd guess he'd get a little longer undercarriage life than a full LGP but couldn't go in the swampy stuff.

 

[HarleyHappy]

Dozers are getting rarer and rarer around here.
Were even up with excavators 25 years ago, now it’s quite rare to see dozers on clearing jobs. Seems most contractors would rather have 3 excavators on site.

 

[chidog]

For smaller new dozers around here I see more John Deere than most others. Just don't see the big jobs around here like in years past.

Big jobs - the jobs and the dozers.

 

[Mquinista]

HY, we own a high track D5H, and i pretty much can service almost any component alone , everithing is at reach, i mean any component from TXM a track frame, as it was built as a modular machine. I guess CAT did a pretty decent job.
For instance, heavy service, repair and replacing components in a track frame takes a day to open chain, remove frame from tractor, unbolt and bolt everithing back in, replace and istall components, tell me if u can ever do that in any new oval tractor in a day alone.

Operation wise, well it does not climb well reward in places where one can´t drive sideways, but it drive sideways in the same place as any other machine, and if does not, its cause it slides , and when it slides one can´t do much with any dozer.

But i agree in one poin´t if CAT would build a modular machine with oval tracks, that might be a very good move.

 

[skyking1]

I remember when I got my first hours in a bogie suspension high track 8, and how it calmed down the big rocks. I watched others and whatever the maintenance cost, it was worth it to this operator.
I would jump from the 8 or 9 to the 7G and bang, bang, BOOM, ouch. Building shot rock lifts with the 8 was not uncomfortable.

 

[CM1995]

I offered my opinion.
The LGP craze is over.

Bought the first LGP back in '21 - Next Gen D3 which is the old D5G/K. Still have a D5G XL and I can say the LGP is a much better finish tractor.

Personally don't think an LGP tractor is a craze or a phase. Probably won't own another standard dozer unless it's an 8 and I doubt I will ever own an 8.

 

[Shimmy1]

Operation wise, well it does not climb well reward in places where one can´t drive sideways, but it drive sideways in the same place as any other machine, and if does not, its cause it slides , and when it slides one can´t do much with any dozer.

Same thing I said upthread. I'm guessing a set of rippers or a counterweight would solve this problem, I'd also guess the higher center of gravity is the reason they struggle.

 

[Oxbow]

Same thing I said upthread. I'm guessing a set of rippers or a counterweight would solve this problem, I'd also guess the higher center of gravity is the reason they struggle.

I believe one of the design benefits was that despite the appearance, the center of gravity is actually supposed to be lower. Yes the finals are higher, but the engine and trans sit lower.

This was the case when they first came out anyway. That would be comparing like an 8L to a 9G for example. Whether or not it still applies when comparing to new smaller Deeres or Komatsus I don't know.

 

[JD955SC]

Not a craze, at least not here. I would guess there are 5 LGP machines sold here in ND to every one standard or wide, probably more. I don't think I've seen a E-model Komatsu in any size smaller than a 65 ever here.

Pretty normal for most of the dozers we sell and see to be LGP

The narrowest tracks I’ve seen are on older track loaders

The weird tracks are the occasional dozer that uses shoes cut shorter on the inside edge to give it a wider shoe without spacing out the track frames themselves.

 

[Willie B]

Pretty normal for most of the dozers we sell and see to be LGP

The narrowest tracks I’ve seen are on older track loaders

The weird tracks are the occasional dozer that uses shoes cut shorter on the inside edge to give it a wider shoe without spacing out the track frames themselves.

Tracks on my Dresser TD7G are wider than standard. I can't make out the logo forged into the chains. More wear on the shoes than chains, so I guess they bought new chains, & salvaged shoes from? Shoes rubbed on the blade angle cylinders. I added thick plates to the sides of the C frame to guard the cylinders, and I cut an inch off the inside end of all the shoes. I worried about an inch different from the chain if it would cause accellerated wear.
The parts manual offers 17" shoes offset, 7.5" inboard, 9.5" outboard. I'll guess Dresser engineers felt it'd be OK.

 

[chidog]

Maybe because they can sell more track parts, you know it takes more links and pins and shoes.

 

[nicky 68a]

Here in the UK,std undercarriage tractors dissapered in the early 1990’s unless on D8’s and above.