As David Wills reported in a previous thread,we have over 1000 Cat machines in ownership by members of Chapter 2 .The chairman and directors of chapter 2 have been trying to get a discounted parts scheme set up with Finning.Can anyone from Caterpillar inc. HQ help to fullfill our request? With over a 1000 machines its the equivelant to a very large plant hire firm. ACMOC members raise thousands of pounds for good causes and also promote Caterpillar products in publications. ie 70year old machines still working hard,proving Caterpillar products durability.Can the administrators of this board help?
Martyn
Chapter 2

Martin,

With over 200 views on this thread so far, I'm surprised that your question hasn't generated a single response \ comment \ debate from the wider ACMOC membership \ BB users?

Why is everyone so slient on this topic?

As noted by Martin, Chapter 2 did seek to forge a closer relationship with Finning UK Limited in 2005. After nearly 12 months of discussions, representatives of Finning UK Limited did indicate that they were willing to offer discounted consumable items to ACMOC members purchasing consumable items (filters, fluids etc, etc) for the restoration of vintage Caterpillar equipment.

Following management changes within Finning in early 2006, this offer was promptly withdrawn and even denied that discussions had ever taken place to this effect?

In the UK, dealers seem to focus solely on selling new machines and pay little attention to supporting vintage equipment. We even offered to support Finning in new equipment launches and provide a small vintage equipment displays at the UK Operator Challenge Final, but this offer was flatly turned down due to a perceived lack of a suitable area for the display (even though the final was being held at the Cat Backhoe Loader assembly plant at Desford?).

The stock answer I received from Finning's, is that the current Classic Parts Offer from Cat provides this support! But when you closely examine the list of Classic's machines included they only start from 1960 upwards, all the early J & U series tractors are excluded? Don't Cat regard these machines as classic tractors or are they ignorant about the number of classic J & U tractors in existence around the world?

Shouldn't the ACMOC BoD be doing more to promote the extension of the range of machines included in the classic parts offer for the benefit of the membership?

Come on BB Users, don't hide behind the PC, let's have a healthly debate on this issue, let's put pressure on the BoD to attempt to do more for the membership!

David

cat want top dollar for everything, always have always will no exceptions.
pity;

I think that the club could produce and sell more diecast models and use some of the profits to make some reproduction parts. The construction collectors like 1:50 scale. I would concentrate on that scale to capture more of the diecast collector dollars.
An oil guage would be a good start for a repro part. Just my two cents.

I will offer my $.02 worth even though I am not a member of any chapter. You who regularily peruse these postings will realize that I have been weeks looking for a full set of bearings for a D2 5U engine. Cat has the rod bearings--four bearings for close to $700.00 There are no more mains.

It wasn't so many years ago that I recall Cat, like rolls-Royce, claimed to have every part for every model that they ever produced. After what, 90 years more or less? This would be quite an undertaking. Can't blame them for backpedaling just a little.

All large corporations figure they can boost the bottom line, and stock value, by replacing with new machines rather than support repair services, Cat and RR included. It seems to me, however, that if this is their philosophy they should make a model that can truly replace a D2, and they do not. If a guy needs a wheelbarrow he doesn't want to shell out for a Mack truck. Contrary to what some importers might say, there is no crawler tractor that can replace a D2 and I say this from years of orchard experience running them. So of all the models to drop from the parts line, why in h___ the D2? It just doesn't make any sense.

I'd have to say, don't expect any great amount of consideration from Cat. It doesn't fit the template for the corporate model in capitalism as practiced in USA.

Jack:mad:

I think Caterpillar inc. should start taking more notice of ACMOC,also I think that the US based directors should make representations to Caterpillar, that the membership feel that they just tolerate us,give us very little in return for the publicity we generate with our machines.I think we should have a questionair sent to all members of ACMOC on their expectations.Chapter 2 has done this and it was found very usefull.BB administrators,what do you think? We could gain more members if we could show we are more proactive with Caterpillar.

Jack I don,t know if NAPA auto parts stores can help you or not to get some bearings.Many of the cat bearings were Federal Mogul so maybe check with the Co. on getting some bearings.

Jack, I just ran down this bearing supply house in NJ & you could try them for some engine bearings. The # is 1-(800) 466-2327 & it,s the Tri-State Bearing Co. 280 North Midland Ave. Saddle Brook NJ 07663 Also their E-mail is <a href="This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On a more positive note I have found my local Finning Caterpillar branch most helpfull in any requests I have made to them.But they as agents are in a way dictated to what the can and can't do.This was not made easy as they have gone through a reorganisation.There has got to be someone out there that can ask the questions on our behalf to Caterpillar inc.

Thanks, SJ. I'll give TriState a try soon. As I said in another thread, I've had to take a work break on behalf of the boss who will cut off my groceries if I don't get her some results in a hurry! NAPA looked in every book they had, struck out but gave me an 800 number to call.(?) If I eventually get some results, I promise to post them. I can't be the only one in this boat.