? for Cat Traxcavatorl Men 933B, 941, 951B and 955H and 966

An old cat "performance handbook" has a lot of information but covers all machines. Vintage sales brochures would list options of the day, some on here collect them. The 966 is a wheel loader, others you list are track loaders so I think you are also interested in a 977. Think you should stick to a 955K, 977K or newer due to parts availability. Undercarrage, loader linkage, bucket and final drives are biggest costs of keeping them going. All mentioned by you are reliable.
Later Bob

1. I'm sure Cat released some sort of promotion material on the 933/955/977 lines at the time of launch. I have never seen such a piece, but I'm sure there is one out there. Archives may have a copy, if you know what year you are looking for.

2. Longest run-955 was from 55-81, 977 from 55-82. 953/63 are from 81 to today.

3. I have heard good things about the all lines of TL. The smaller ones were overbuilt and did not have enough power to hurt themselves. The front engine models (933/955/977) were good machines for their age, but the real workhorses were the rear engine 953 and 963 models. I have heard great things about the 953B/C and 963B/C models.

4. For serviceability, I think the newer 953/63 machines are much better than the older front engine models. However, there is less "collectability" in those machines. I would find a nice old 955 to play with.

Sam

RPeck - "Promotional material" for the Cat Traxcavator lines is called sales brochures, and sales brochures were released for every new model upon its release, and on regular periods thereafter .. and when any new models, major engineering upgrades, or design improvements appeared.
The sales brochures generally applied to just one model, but sometimes brochures advertised the features of 3 or 4 models in the one booklet.
Sales brochures featured marketing blurb, glossy color pics, along with cutaways of designs and features, and listed basic attachments and engineering specifications, covering engine & transmission details, tires, braking, breakout forces & tipping loads, capacities, weight and dimensions.

Cat also produced booklets known as their "purchasing guide". These booklets covered the entire range of Cats available at that particluar time, and covered specifications in detail, along with moderately detailed attachment listings.

At the time of new model release, "Product Bulletins" were produced for each model. These "Product Bulletins" were detailed in their engineering and design technical information, and were produced to help servicemen understand the specific design details of each component in the machine.
When a model was substantially upgraded, the PB's listed the changes and improvements, along with changed Part Numbers.

2. - The only production history listed, is Serial Number/build date, in many S/N books. You may find an independent S/N book that gives some very basic info, but not any Cat book.
The Caterpllar Performance Handbook was produced yearly and provided technical details of every model of Cat available in that point in time, when the CPH was released.

When you ask about longest production run, do you mean one model unchanged? - or the longest run under one basic model number?
The 955 was produced from 1955 to 1981, but the 1981 model was a vastly different tractor to the first 955.
Every time a major upgrade was carried out, it often involved new engines, new transmissions, new undercarriage, and perhaps even a new frame design. Thus the 955C has an entirely different drivetrain, and hydraulics to the last 955L. Early traxcavators had no cabs whatsoever .. the last models often had A/C, ROPS, fully enclosed cabs.

The longest unchanged model in the traxcavator line would probably be the 955L, which ran from 1971 to 1981, in numerous S/N prefixes, according to where it was built.
The early Traxcavators are relatively crude, with manual transmissions, no cabs, naturally aspirated engines, and very basic hydraulics .. whereas the later ones are very refined with powershift trannies, nice cabs, turboed engines, and vastly improved hydraulics.

3. - You can't go wrong with any Cat Traxcavator from the early 1960's to the early 1980's. It all depends on your budget, the work you need to carry out, and the condition of the Traxcavator you purchase. A later model Traxcavator will cost a lot more than an early one, but parts are more readily available.
The way the machine you purchase, has been maintained and operated, will govern the reliability. One that has been worked on rock, in corrosive conditions, and poorly maintained will not be a worthwhile purchase. One that has been lightly worked, in good ground conditions, and well maintained, will be the one to seek out.

4. - All traxcavators are high maintenance items. They combine all the problems of loaders, in with all the problems of crawler tractors. They are difficult to work on, and are complex, and can be costly to repair.
They are relatively versatile, though, and can work where no other loader can. Their main drawback is a lack of speed. Good luck with your equipment search, and ensure that you define the work you need to do, before you purchase. Buying a machine too small is folly, and buying one too big ties up too much capital.
One of the biggest single factors in a purchase is usually the size relative to how much you have to move the beast. Big heavy tractors are a pain to move around, because they just simply cost lots to move.

I would recommend the 955K/L models.....and stay above 1972 production on the K's to avoid the D330 engine. Also want to avoid the D320 and second generation D311 engines if you can (there are always exceptions). The later units use the 3304. Also the further back you go in the loader line up the more they become just modified tractor/dozers.

Don't know of any comprehensive source of information specifically on loaders. I mostly make use of my parts and service manuals for comparison. Original sales literature would be a good source (don't have any).

Let us know if/when you get focused on specific models, I'm sure we can help with a decision. Good luck.

RPeck,

In the late 1950's Caterpillar also produced a comic style booklet's - "Operators Guides and Maintenance Guides" for the traxcavator range 933, 955 & 977. You will find these booklets listed on eBay ocassionly.

You will also find the Operators Maintenance Instructions Book, Parts Book and a Serviceman's Reference Book for each traxcavator.

Hello David
Check your private message.
Martyn