The Ultimate Loader??

[HardRockNM]

I'll have to put in a vote for a low-hour CAT 980G with a tilting cab and LED headlights with good throw for night and underground work. They're awful fast for their size and have way more power than the Hs. I will never buy a loader without mechanical gauges; the side displays that CAT and Deere both love now are totally illogical from a workflow perspective.

 

[HATCHEQUIP]

Welcome to the forum H.R

 

[HardRockNM]

Thanks!

 

[skyking1]

This is far from what a normal person would call "The Ultimate Loader" but after 40+ years working on this stuff I'm far from normal!

If I had use for one around the yard I'd take a 966C 76J series and a blank check to the parts department at the local Cat dealer.I'd have fun taking it down to the bare frame and rebuilding each component one at a time. When done with that job find me a 980 42H series. Something about that 4 over head cam V-8 with all those rattling timing gears at idle just hit me right along with the four maxi-brake cans on the front axle.

I have fond memories of a 966C that I ran for a while at the damn job. It was tight, had great tires and a full compliment of buckets and forks and crane boom. It even had instructions and controls for a snow blower that was no longer with it. I often thought, like you, that it would have been the ultimate yard machine.

 

[HATCHEQUIP]

Yep good simple machine just didnt like the air over hyd. brakes.

 

[Truck Shop]

 

[Tugger2]

I know i could park my 910 Cat in the bucket of that 994 ,but its my ultimate loader.

 

[petepilot]

who`s gonna be first with a 40 foot bucket?

 

[skyking1]

The Dart 600's at the coal mine were 16 yard machines. I found one for sale, just what a homeowner needs for those little proyects.

 

[John C.]

The Wagner chip dozers were bigger than that.

 

[HardRockNM]

I know i could park my 910 Cat in the bucket of that 994 ,but its my ultimate loader.

I've actually taken a 242D skid-steer into the bucket of a 990G to clean it out when shifting from muddy waste material to production rock!

 

[Sberry]

If I had a blank check why spend it on parts?

 

[Thomas C Loiselle]

While my overall preference is the G or H model Cats. Something like a 980 thru 988 depending on what work load you need it for. We have a 980K here which isn't too bad. Has finger controls for implement and joystick for drive. Really liking it. Definitely has more electronics to deal with, but nice to run.

 

[Jimothy]

Saw one online, brand new at .8 tons no ROPS, fully electric no name and lime green for under 10k that’s my ride yo… that’s my ride

 

[orangeman]

Drag1Line: Thanks for posting the video on the Old Bucyrus - Erie 60-S shovel. Some real nice engineering went into that. If memory serves Bucyrus used a Caterpillar undercarriage on those. ~ Orangeman