Caterpillar 977k or 977L push loading scraper?

Hi, Quadrajet2000.
There isn't a simple answer to this question, at least IMHO. The 977 will get the job done as it is up there in a similar bracket with the later D7Es and the D7Fs but you may need to remove the front floor section of the bucket to be able get onto the scraper push block at an angle that will be 'ackshully' PUSHING the scraper instead of trying to slide under the push block - in other words be able to set the back of the bucket at a similar angle to a dozer blade without cutting tires to pieces and/or having the rear edge of the bucket floor banging on the top of the push block frame.

Turning the bucket to the full dump position would NOT be something that I would do either as it it would be placing a huge strain on the crowd rams and linkage and also on the bucket floor in a way that it was not designed for.

Either way, it would to be loading up the lift rams but that will at least be in a direction in which they were designed to be at their strongest.

Just my 0.02.

Hi Deas Plant, thank you for such a quick reply. I kind of thought about a GP bucket being a problem but I'll most likely have either a multipurpose aka 4in1 or just a brush rake on the machine so I should be able to avoid tire cutting. I also thought about a modified cushion block to hang on either a rake or blade side of a 4in1 but I wasn't sure the 977 was up to the push power before going through the trouble. Sometimes it's just nice to talk with someone who knows these machines better than I.

Have a great day.

Hi, Quadrajet2000.
It was the multi-purpose/4-in-1 bucket that I was referring to. You could probably do it with the rake - IF the rake is built strong enough where it would count, in the middle.

The trick is that you need to be able to get a LITTLE of the weight of the scraper on to the front end of the pusher to gain traction but you also need to do that without lifting the rear of the scraper off the ground 'cos that alters the angle of the scraper cutting edge away from its optimum cutting/loading angle.

If the 2 machines are where you can put them together to see how they fit, I would suggest doing it. If they are not currently within easy reach of each other, take some side-on photos of the 4-in-1 bucket and the rear of the scraper, being sure to take them from the same distance away from both machines to maintain scale, and then try matching them up to get an idea of the 'geometry' of the 'fit'. I think you will see that you would have to take the floor off the 4-in-1 bucket to make it work 'cos you need the dozer section of the bucket to be standing close to vertical. If you roll it back to where the bucket floor MIGHT clear the scraper tires and/or the push block frame, it will be so steep that the push block will just want ride up the dozer face of the back of the bucket.

Just my 0.02. Hope it helps.

Hi, Quadrajet2000.
It was the multi-purpose/4-in-1 bucket that I was referring to. You could probably do it with the rake - IF the rake is built strong enough where it would count, in the middle.

The trick is that you need to be able to get a LITTLE of the weight of the scraper on to the front end of the pusher to gain traction but you also need to do that without lifting the rear of the scraper off the ground 'cos that alters the angle of the scraper cutting edge away from its optimum cutting/loading angle.

If the 2 machines are where you can put them together to see how they fit, I would suggest doing it. If they are not currently within easy reach of each other, take some side-on photos of the 4-in-1 bucket and the rear of the scraper, being sure to take them from the same distance away from both machines to maintain scale, and then try matching them up to get an idea of the 'geometry' of the 'fit'. I think you will see that you would have to take the floor off the 4-in-1 bucket to make it work 'cos you need the dozer section of the bucket to be standing close to vertical. If you roll it back to where the bucket floor MIGHT clear the scraper tires and/or the push block frame, it will be so steep that the push block will just want ride up the dozer face of the back of the bucket.

Just my 0.02. Hope it helps.

Hey QuadraJet2000,

The simple answer is yes... it'll work. Not the most productive choice, but yes it will do the job.
Glen

Hi Glen, I'm glad you guys are giving me some positive feedback on this. Not the best option but at least I feel a little better knowing this may work.

Thank you and have a great day.

[quote="7upuller"]Hey QuadraJet2000,

The simple answer is yes... it'll work. Not the most productive choice, but yes it will do the job.
Glen[/quote]

Quadrajet2000

Many years ago I looked at a used Cat 951B with a four in one bucket that the Cat dealer had for sale as a replacement for a TD-9 with a Drott bucket. One of the uses for it was to be able to push our little S7 Euclid scraper. The salesman cautioned about the 951 having a different transmission gearing/torque converter made for pushing into a pile to load the bucket with street pads which were engineered to "slip" but not churn like a dozer. The equivalent dozer, probably a D5 back then, was setup to doze which needed a little different design which would not be bothered by pushing scrapers. Of course it is obvious that the force on the loader arms puts it up pretty high on the machine instead of down low on the undercarriage.

We did not buy the 951 but the negatives about pushing the scraper was not the reason. Not sure how much work you would have for the scraper/loader combo, but it will work as Glen says.

I can't remember if we pushed the scraper with the TD-9 or not. We probably did when one of the dozers was not available but it is too long ago. For sure I have no memories of the open bucket floor hitting the scraper tires. I think I would remember that!

JanM