So, it's a 977H, believe it's 53A, should have the 6 cylinder D333 with a turbo.    

Going to look at it tomorrow; will likely buy it.  Owner really doesn't know much about it; he knows that it ran and operated 3 years ago, but he was told there was some sort of "pump" problem.  He's not sure if it's an injection pump, lift pump, water pump, oil pump, etc.

Appears to be in good condition, but looks like the track has no tension on the right side.

I don't have any experience with a D333, but my general plan is to check all fluids, give it a good inspection, make sure levers are all in neutral/disengage position, then hook up my jump pack to the batteries (or at least the battery cables if the batteries are MIA) and see if she'll turn over.  I'm guessing the battery compartment is under the fuel tank.

If it turns over, then I'll check to see if it's got fuel in the filters, drain some water from the filters (if they have a drain), I'll put 5 gallons in the tank (if needed), crack loose the injector lines, and spin it over to bleed the lines. 

If the injectors get fuel, I'll tighten 'em up and I'm thinking it'll start up, maybe with a whiff of ether.

If no fuel to the injectors, I'll check the rack to see if the plungers are all hung up in the up position.  If they are, I will gently persuade them to return to the down position, likely using an electric heat gun, Kroil, and some gentle persuasion. 

If it starts, then I'll check to see if the bucket will raise.  If so, I'll see if she'll move backwards and forwards.  Hopefully the clutch isn't hung up.

If she moves backwards and forwards, I'll see if I can get some grease in the tensioner on the right side to tighten up the track.  If that works, I guess I'll take a victory lap or two around the property.

What did I miss?  

Scott

     

Hi, bulletpruf.
They were/are a good. solid machine, not as productive as a similar sized dozer for earthwork but with a SERIOUS advantage when it comes to clearing, the extra reach of the loader over a dozer - and you would have a built-in rake with those teeth on the bucket.

Just my 0.02.

Deas wrote:

Hi, bulletpruf.
They were/are a good. solid machine, not as productive as a similar sized dozer for earthwork but with a SERIOUS advantage when it comes to clearing, the extra reach of the loader over a dozer - and you would have a built-in rake with those teeth on the bucket.

Just my 0.02.

Thanks for the input, @Deas Plant.  I will let you know what happens.

Scott

batteries are under seat 24 volt start, presuming it is direct elect start not pony.
NO clutch 53A are powershift.
Early are lever steer, later pedal steer.

It runs and operates! Lever steer machine.

Left steering clutch is not working well at all but it runs great.

 

Ok, so here's a quick recap - we got there around 10 am, got unloaded and check out the 977H. It's a lever steer model, but didn't find a serial number. Owner gave me some manuals for a 53A, so I'm assuming that's what series it is.

All fluids looked good, so we pulled the top cover off and removed the stack so we could peek down the turbo. It looked fine and the wheel spun, so we checked to see if it had batteries and it did. A pair of truck batteries under the seat. Checked the air filter and we didn't have the right tools to remove it; I needed a 12 point thin wall socket and all I had was 6 point impact sockets, so we skipped that step.

Next, we hooked up a jump pack to the batteries to see if it would turn over, and it did. Damn thing almost started when I bumped it! That's after sitting for at least three years. Had planned to check fuel at fuel filter, bleed injectors, etc, but skipped all that. Gave the glow plugs 30 seconds and then hit the starter and she fired right up and settled into a nice idle! Woohoo!

Then I checked the hydraulics and the bucket moved fine. No issues. Then i put it in gear and she moved forward and in reverse, too.

At this point, we halted to work on the right side tensioner, because the right side track was loose as hell and I didn't want to drive it around with it like that and throw a track. You could tell someone had tried unsuccessfully to add grease, because there was a pint or two of grease just sitting there right next to the zerk. We removed the spring cover, removed the zerk, cleaned it up and emptied a few grease guns into it, so we got all the slack out.

Then I took it for a short drive, and now I think I realize why it was laid up. Left side steering clutch doesn't seem to be working very well at all. It will barely turn to the left. Turns to the right mighty fine. Kind of the opposite of NASCAR. It'll be enough to get it loaded on the lowboy, but it's not very useable as-is.

Next step is to get it home; need to get a lowboy laid on tomorrow.

BTW - thanks to Craig @seiscat for the technical information, advice, and moral support!

Scott

Hi, bulletpruf.
Good stuff. The pedal steer machines were a BIGGGG improvement over the lever steers but the powershift machines were a HYOOOOGE improvement over the stick shift machines so you're ahead in that department.

Unless somebody has 'fooled' with it, the bucket crowd control lever should work in what some would say is 'bass-ackwards' in that you push the lever forward to crowd the bucket back and pull it back to dump the bucket. But, like most things that Cat did with their machines, there was/izza reason for it and it works pretty well once you get used to it 'coz you can move both levers together to lower the bucket AND return it to the 'dig' position at the same time.

Just my 0.02.

Deas wrote:

Hi, bulletpruf.
Good stuff. The pedal steer machines were a BIGGGG improvement over the lever steers but the powershift machines were a HYOOOOGE improvement over the stick shift machines so you're ahead in that department.

Unless somebody has 'fooled' with it, the bucket crowd control lever should work in what some would say is 'bass-ackwards' in that you push the lever forward to crowd the bucket back and pull it back to dump the bucket. But, like most things that Cat did with their machines, there was/izza reason for it and it works pretty well once you get used to it 'coz you can move both levers together to lower the bucket AND return it to the 'dig' position at the same time.

Just my 0.02.

I really do like the powershift, but with lever steer, I think I need a few extra arms.

Yes, the bucket is counter-intuitive, but I'll eventually get used to it.

Thanks,

Scott

Hi, bulletpruf.
With the lever steering, it'z not so much needing extra arms but rather prioritizing what the arms and hands that you DO have get to do at any given time. I suspect that you'll 'figger' it out fairly quickly.

If the bucket level indicator or self-levelling mechanism isn't working, that often gives people some static. When the ranch that I was working on in CA, bought a Cat 966C 4WD articulated loader, the bucket leveller wasn't working on it. That never bothered me but the ranch foreman at the time - not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it came to machinery - wanted to know how I knew where to set the bucket to dig or level. I don't think my answer helped him very much, "Experience."

I did eventually weld an 'L' shaped piece of flat bar on the top of the bucket to help the poor sucker out - one of my weaker moments.

Just my 0.02.