Cat J621 motor scraper

[Someguy]

Hi Deas,

I agree that some of those beasties will give you a bad ride.
However I've been fortunate enough to sample a lot of machines and know which ones to steer clear of.
Also, I resisted the urge to go "cowboy" and concentrated on doing a good job.
My backs still in good condition 56 years on

Hard Riding Scrapers:
Cat 613
Cat 619
Cat J621
Cat DW-21
Cat 627 (non-cushion hitch)
Euclid TS-14 (if operated too fast)
Terex TS-18 (made me feel seasick !)
Euclid S-18
Terex S-11E

Good riding scrapers:
Any Cat 3-axle unit, especially DW20's
Cat 637
Euclid SS-12
Euclid TS-24
LeTourneau Westinghouse C
Wabco 111A
Michigan 110HT
Wabco 222
Wabco 333FT
Wabco 252FT

There are others which I've forgotten but that'll do for a short list

Which of those scrapers had suspension ? So the 2 axle tractors ride better than the single axle buggies that are so common these days ?

 

[alan627b]

Cat started putting cushion hitches on the 600 series in the late 60's, and the were pretty much standard by the mid 70's.
615 had a suspended axle, maybe the latest 613.
Terex has the suspended axle on the Loadrunner TS24B's, I am not sure about other models. Maybe the TS14 C and newer?
Komatsu scrapers from the late 80's had a suspended axle too. Suspended axles being a nitrogen gas/hydraulic strut sort of setup, similar to the how the cushion hitch works on a Cat.
Some later John Deere scrapers have the suspended axle as well.
The 3 axle scrapers ride better than a 2 axle with no cushion ride, some of the other guys will have to tell you exactly how much better. I haven't been fortunate (?) enough to run a 3 axle....yet.
Allis Chalmers and International scrapers are stiff knecks. And that's what they'll give you, too!
alan627b

 

[WabcoMan]

Which of those scrapers had suspension ? So the 2 axle tractors ride better than the single axle buggies that are so common these days ?

The 637 had cushion hitch - and believe me it needed it.
You soon remeber to engage it if you'd forgotten !

I've operated several types of TS-24 and they all rode pretty good.
The 24B 'Loadrunner' was an excellent ride.
It had the suspended axle.

3-axle scrapers by their very design are easier riding but take a bit more room to turn round in.
They're not much use in hilly country however.