944 Loader - What to watch out for

Hello, All

Considering adding a Cat 944A loader, S/N 43A1589 to the collection. When inspecting the machine are there any particular trouble spots to be aware of? The pictures look clean the owner is asking about US$10K

Paul Bamburak
Trenton, NJ
609-882-0366

Ours was very abused old machine when we got it but it had the frame cracked just behind the fuel and hydraulic tank mounts on each side. We were able to weld and plate it and it has held up fine doing the things we use it for. Both of the ones I have seen have had cracks and repairs around the pivot pins for the boom.

Big thing is brakes and wheel seals on all 4 corners and CV joints on the back. I spent a lot of time this spring getting my 922b all dried up and brakes functioning on the front. Our 944 is missing the brake master cylinder/booster unit so it will continue without brakes for the foreseeable future.

If the machine does not have a cab make sure the center cover on the steering wheel hub is in place. The steering shaft is hollow and will allow water to get into the steering box and do all sorts of damage but there is one part that is particularly expensive in there.

I don't know if this is a common problem with the D330 motors or just that I happened to get two engines that were abused but cracked heads seem to be a problem with them. My guess is they were not warmed up and shut down correctly but both D330's, one from a 944 and one from a 950 were cracked.

Regards

Phil