Thinking of buying a 941b

Hi, Tim5700.
These are good, solid little track loaders, not much to watch out for beyond regular maintenance. Try to get yourself the operation and maintenance instructions, parts and service manuals for it if you buy it.

Whether or not they will load a tri-axle dump truck depends very much on the height of the sides of the truck. They do a pretty good job of clearing and those bucket teeth will make a good rake for stacking brush and timber with little or no dirt.

Unless you have had prior experience of those front-engined Cat track loaders, you may think the bucket crowd control is working back to front - push forwrd to dig, pull back to dump. That is factory standard and it that way for a reason. When you have dumped into a truck and are backing away, you can use one hand to operate both levers to return the bucket to the dig position.

They are a FAR more handy machine with a 4-in-1 bucket and rippers but they do pretty well just the way that one is too.

Check the track gear for wear. It the wear lines on the sprocket teeth are close to or at the top and/or the running faces of the bushes are very worn, you could be up for some pricey repairs soon.

You will have an AWFUL time trying to keep dust out of that cab UNLESS you fit a filtered cabin pressurization system. There are a LOT of leaks in that cab to try to seal and many of them are hard to seal. If needed, you can possibly run the incoming filtered air through the heater unit.

Just my 0.02.

I have had mine since 1987 and except for replacing the cylinder seals and a few hyd lines I have had no trouble. The glow plugs really help starting a cold engine. check the bucket/lift linkage pins and bushings as they do wear.
Engine side panels are nice when your pushing up brush.

Oh--and the hour meter doesn't look original

I agree on the Hour Meter because theere is limited wear on the Foot Controls as well as around the Control Sticks on the right side, there is Paint worn off on the Left side. This to me indicates more than 4k hours. Definitely check the pins and bushings in the Loader, take a shovel and dig out the undercarriage to look for worn Rollers and Rails. An hour of your time invested into a $15k machine may some you a lot more down the road. Also check the Fluids to see if it has been well maintained.

Thanks for the help everyone. A couple more questions: What's a good method to check for worn pins and bushings in the loader? You mentioned to check the fluids, where would I find the locations to check them on the machine? It appears as though the side panels are missing on the machine, any place I may be able to find replacements? What would an estimated cost be to replace the undercarriage if it ends up needing replaced? Thanks again!

Tim

If the loader and bucket pins are properly secured so the have not been turning, joint wear is not always obvious. To check for slop in the loader and bucket pins and bushing, start the machine and by moving the loader and bucket in various positions watch the pin joint for movement as the arm pin moves from one side of the slopped out hole to the other. You will have to set the bucket on the ground and use down pressure to check the loader arm pins. As the bucket bushes against the earth the slop will show up if there is some. To check the bucket pins hold the bucket level a few inches of the ground in a level position and then tilt if forward putting pressure against the bucket from the ground. Again you will see the joints move if loose. As always if available it is good to have an extra set of eyes if possible. Good luck.

pins and bushings wear are measured over 4 links--or 5 pins center to center. best to do it on the upper track after its been run a bit to loosen it up and then final movement in reverse to put it in tension.
new--27.00
25% worn--27.14
50% worn--27.31
75% worn--27.48----they should be turned at this point
100$ worn--27.67

fluids--engine--dipstick, transmission,steering clutches---under seat dipsticks, final drives---pipe plugs underneath rear of machine by sprockets.
It sounds like you should get a mechanic or somebody familiar with these machines to check it out for you

By the way i paid $12K for mine in 1987--i think $15K is a bit high unless its in great great shape.

Thanks for all the great information. Yesterday, another 941 came up for sale in my area. Much less money but looks a lot more beat up. Any opinions on this machine, and if it's worth what he's asking? The sprockets and idlers look pretty worn to me. He said the left lift cylinder is seeping and one of the bucket bushings is pretty worn.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/hvo/4464813325.html

Tim

those sprockets are really shot. If you plan on brush and tree work a ROPS is a very good thing to have.

Not trying to be rude but I couldnt find a way to make a new post so I jumped in yours. I jus bought an house an some land and thier is a 941b trackloader on the land dont kno anything about it but I would like to try an get it goin. I say its been sitting awhile by th looks of it but they have a bucket on the stack so makes me think its has run before. What all do I need to check to tey an fire it up?