Is every group of cats a Pride?

[George]

I know these are not Lions but they sure make life a lot easier for me.

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I made a "nose" for the skid steer so I can clean up under conveyors and it sure comes in handy for other cleaning chores. I made it about 15 years ago and extended it about 5 years ago - - - for scrap it sure has taken the load off me as I can reach in under things, drag out the mess ( or push it out the other side ) then drop the nose and pick up with the bucket.

When I started this gravel pit the "loader" I had was a H20 international - - - rigid frame, rear wheel steer 4X4 with a 1.25 cu yd bucket - - - now the 6.5 cu yd bucket on the 980C makes quick work of 1,000 tons of material, The 980B with a 5 cu yd bucket is much more nimble and quick for moving material that has not seen sunlight in probably thousands of years but the extra height of the 980C makes loading the screens and trucks much easier. The skid steer sure comes in handy for the small trucks coming in for a couple of tons as well as keeping the entire job site clean and neat ( safe)

Now you have seen my "Pride"

 

[Silver]

I sure like the idea of having a skid steer on tracks. I don't know just what all I'd use it for but they look like one of those deals that once you have one you wonder how you ever lived without it.
Plus my wife really wants one for yard work / landscaping. But I'd sooner update my disc bine :???:

 

[Mike]

Bet tires ain't cheap for the loaders now. :lol:

Got a buddy that has a large pit, he trades loaders every year while the equip still has value and he doesn't have to buy any tires.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

I've seen a "Nose" like that used for pushing the manure from under board fences. Makes the clean up easier and nicer.

Quite the line up. We have a 926 Cat that is great for unloading bale trucks and my son uses it as a back up at the gravel pit if the big loader is down or busy else where.

 

[George]

I sure like the idea of having a skid steer on tracks. I don't know just what all I'd use it for but they look like one of those deals that once you have one you wonder how you ever lived without it.
Plus my wife really wants one for yard work / landscaping. But I'd sooner update my disc bine :???:

I had 3 skid steers on tires before I got a job that required rubber tracks - - - I bought steel tracks to go over the tires and they really helped when needed.

Rented a T190 BobCat and hated the ride it was even rougher that on tireed machines then I found out the 277 Cats had suspension and bought this machine - - - I have replaced the tapered roller bearings with sealed ball bearings ( 3 ball bearings fit in the space of the original tapered bearing and seal ) many people say they cannot maintain the bearings as from the factory and I tried and decided it was a bad design so I changed mine out and have not had any problems since my modification.

I love the suspended tracks as I can run full speed with 18 square bales over rough ground no problem and feels like I'm in my easy chair. My buddy had a New Holland with rigid tracks and it will beat you to death on rough ground and if you are not careful you will drop some bales.

I still have 2 rubber tired skid steers on other farms as I feel they are worth more than others are willing to pay and that way I don't have to haul the cat as often. But if I have to work in mud or steep slick slopes the cat will work where the others will not move. And in demolition work I don't have to worry about flat tires!

If you get a tracked machine for serious work make sure it has suspension.

 

[George]

Bet tires ain't cheap for the loaders now. :lol:

Got a buddy that has a large pit, he trades loaders every year while the equip still has value and he doesn't have to buy any tires.

I had to buy one tire about 3 years ago and I found a good blemished recap for $2,550.00 installed, about 1/2 the price of new.

If maintained properly you should get about 6,000 to 7,000 hours on a set of tires. Pushing snow seems to wear tires more than work in the pit. That is one reason I charge $150.00 per hour to move snow.

 

[George]

I've seen a "Nose" like that used for pushing the manure from under board fences. Makes the clean up easier and nicer.

Quite the line up. We have a 926 Cat that is great for unloading bale trucks and my son uses it as a back up at the gravel pit if the big loader is down or busy else where.

I keep finding new uses for the "nose" - - - between my son and I we now have dozens of attachments, grapple buckets, backhoe, roto tiller, bush hog, tree shear, bale spears, skid forks, just off the top of my head.

When I bought my first skid steer it was the biggest made ( 1975 Model 700 BobCat ) and I got made fun of as they were a toy and would never catch on - - - I still have it ( rebuilt the engine about 3 years ago ) now it sure seems small.

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As my requirements grew I needed more lift capacity so I took the weight bracket and weights off a 510 MF combine rear axel and tried to make them look factory.

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For something with a 25 HP Wisconsin air cooled engine it will still preform a lot of work!

 

[Denny]

I replaced my John Deere 250 with a Cat 236B2 Skidloader best move I've made this year.

 

[George]

I really feel like my life is made easier by a good skid steer than by any other piece of equipment.

My son got a great price on a new JD 326J and traded the 328 we had for it. We were able to get the 326 in the new church fellowship hall - - - due to zoning regulations we could not build a "NEW" building so we had to "remodel" and had to leave the restroom's until after the framing inspection then we were able to tear out the old restrooms and put in new - - - stupid but we complied. I feel they thought we would just live with one restroom but we now have 2 handicapped equipped restrooms and a nice new kitchen, The new restoration is 2 story and I hope it will serve our community for many decades! The 277 Cat is 6" wider so we could not get it in but with the 326 on the breaker and back hoe and the 700 BobCat hauling material in and out we got the job done!

First job out of the box I had to bring the Cat 277 as the 326J with over sized tires would not climb the muddy hill, just dig ruts. the 277 with low ground pressure tracks acted like I was on flat dry ground.

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Tight fit

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[Denny]

The one down fault of my 236 is it is about 4" taller and won't fit in my cattle trailer the 250 would which was very handy.

 

[3 M L & C]

I find it a bit amusing how you scold everyone for having a John Deere tractor Denny then you have the most expensive brand of skid loader.

 

[Denny]

I find it a bit amusing how you scold everyone for having a John Deere tractor Denny then you have the most expensive brand of skid loader.

I didn't scold anyone you want to pay tractor payments go ahead.I just see no need to spend $100,000 where $10,000 will get it done. My skidloader cost $16,000 used it had low hours but very abused in a concrete crush plant very good mechanical but cosmetically it looked rough the insurance from the paid for John Deere 250 was $12,500. I only lost $20,000 in 800 hours on the John Deere. I wouldn't buy a new tractor no matter what color it is so don't feel picked on over a green one.

I've never seen a Belarus skid loader so I had to buy a name brand and just for the record the cat is better on fuel than the John Deere and I bet that is from the foot feet throttle vs the hand adjust in the 250 John Deere. I bought the cat because I have several friends that own them and they get along quite well with them and the service is great at our local cat dealer not so much at the John Deere Dealer. I've been soured by John Deere.

 

[3 M L & C]

I find it a bit amusing how you scold everyone for having a John Deere tractor Denny then you have the most expensive brand of skid loader.

I didn't scold anyone you want to pay tractor payments go ahead.I just see no need to spend $100,000 where $10,000 will get it done. My skidloader cost $16,000 used it had low hours but very abused in a concrete crush plant very good mechanical but cosmetically it looked rough the insurance from the paid for John Deere 250 was $12,500. I only lost $20,000 in 800 hours on the John Deere. I wouldn't buy a new tractor no matter what color it is so don't feel picked on over a green one.

I've never seen a Belarus skid loader so I had to buy a name brand and just for the record the cat is better on fuel than the John Deere and I bet that is from the foot feet throttle vs the hand adjust in the 250 John Deere. I bought the cat because I have several friends that own them and they get along quite well with them and the service is great at our local cat dealer not so much at the John Deere Dealer. I've been soured by John Deere.

No body ever said anything about a new tractor in previous post. And not every John Deere tractor cost 100,000. Your numbers you throw around are a bit scewed. You say you lost 20,000 on your old skid. I'm pretty sure you deducted it on your tax's so how much income tax did you not pay when you bought it originaly? Also anything that is a cat is super duper quality in my book. The only problem is when you have to work on one those cat parts are dang expensive. I had to get my truck worked on last year and forgot just how pricy everything cat it.

At any rate I'm sure it's a nice machine and hope the best of luck with it for you.

 

[George]

I replaced my John Deere 250 with a Cat 236B2 Skidloader best move I've made this year.

Come on how about some pictures?????