My CAT 426 Project

edgephoto said:

Thanks. I finally got her home. My brother sold his business so I had no choice. Currently sits in my neighbor’s yard waiting to be moved up to my land. We are just starting the build process.

I have a few small things to finish. One thing I need to do is check 4WD operation. I want to make a mat for inside the cab.

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Glad for you. Enjoy the work.

I used my 426B to move a good amount of clay and topsoil. Dug out some stumps and moved some big rocks with it. Then sold it when I no longer needed such a big machine and got my money back. They are a good, strong workhorse. Getting the boom to lock into place was “interesting”, but once you get use to it, not too bad.

I’m back to working with a small TLB now, that I can also use as a tractor. The backhoe comes off the Kubota L45 in about 10 minutes and the three point goes on in the same time. Sometimes I miss a full size, and miss having the cab sometimes. But, I rented a 10,500 lb enclosed cab Bobcat mini the last time I needed to clear an area and pull a bunch of bigger stumps and rocks. The speed of doing that type of work with the mini excavator with hydraulic thumb is remarkable.

Keep us updated on your machine and your home project. I’m watching this thread, but would appreciate it if you let me know if you start a new one on your home/property project. Have a good one!

My backhoe is sitting in my neighbors yard. I still never did the last couple items but am going to do them soon as I will be moving the machine up to my new house build in a few weeks, once the pros are done with the site work.

I am glad I hired people for everything. For one I had a heart attack Jan. of 2025. On top of that the rocks and ledge are no match for a 426. The excavating company brought in some huge excavators to hammer and move the rocks. Some were bigger than a Suburban. I will use the machine to clear trails around the property, make places for sheds and to move firewood around.

I'm working on an '86 416 now for (hopefully) similar reasons as you. Our cabs are about identical. I'll be trying to match your craftsmanship on that battery box soon! Appreciate your thread.