Cat 247 B2 ??

[Back To Good]

Hi everyone.
I am in the market for a new skid or CTL.
I was starting to lean towards the Case 430 or 440 based on research and
cost but the local Cat dealer came out with a 247 B2 MTL for just under 30k!
That's just about the cost of a Case 440 wheel machine.
The undercarriage stories scare me but maybe these new B2 improvements
have fixed some of the problems.
I tested the 247 today for about 15 minutes. It was very smooooth.
Maybe a bit under powered. Its hard to say with that short of time in the seat.
I also tried out an ASV PT60. I wanted to like it but I really didn't.
Very nice looking machine.
The response time was sluggish, and it had a cheesy feel.
The foot throttle design is horrible. It was sticking.
It did not have the smooth tight feel of the Cat.
I will go try out a Case wheel machine tomorrow.
I would like to here some feedback on the 247 B2 undercarriage.
Thanks.

[mrsops]

Hi everyone.
I am in the market for a new skid or CTL.
I was starting to lean towards the Case 430 or 440 based on research and
cost but the local Cat dealer came out with a 247 B2 MTL for just under 30k!
That's just about the cost of a Case 440 wheel machine.
The undercarriage stories scare me but maybe these new B2 improvements
have fixed some of the problems.
I tested the 247 today for about 15 minutes. It was very smooooth.
Maybe a bit under powered. Its hard to say with that short of time in the seat.
I also tried out an ASV PT60. I wanted to like it but I really didn't.
Very nice looking machine.
The response time was sluggish, and it had a cheesy feel.
The foot throttle design is horrible. It was sticking.
It did not have the smooth tight feel of the Cat.
I will go try out a Case wheel machine tomorrow.
I would like to here some feedback on the 247 B2 undercarriage.
Thanks.

back to good i here some real horror stories about cat track machines as well but i here they did make improvements on them but we shall see.. case i have no idea about. asv i didnt like. i currently own a bobcat t190 and its been holding up just fine for me..

[cat2]

I think you will like the case. I have a bobcat and john deere and they are both holding up very well

[Back To Good]

back to good i here some real horror stories about cat track machines as well but i here they did make improvements on them but we shall see.. case i have no idea about. asv i didnt like. i currently own a bobcat t190 and its been holding up just fine for me..

I should stop by Bobcat also. Last time I ran one it had foot controls
that drove me nuts.
To many years running loaders. I could not get the foot thing down.
Can you get pilot controls and foot throttle with a bobcat now?
I don't like running equipment with a fixed throttle if I don't have to.

[mrsops]

I should stop by Bobcat also. Last time I ran one it had foot controls
that drove me nuts.
To many years running loaders. I could not get the foot thing down.
Can you get pilot controls and foot throttle with a bobcat now?
I don't like running equipment with a fixed throttle if I don't have to.

yeah you can get pilots now with a bobcat

[bobcat_ron]

Back to Good, PM me, as I own one and I've got a lot of good things to say!

[ksss]

CASE has just released its new series of machines called the Series 3. I doubt you will be demoing one of those but you might. Pilots controls are an option on all CASE machines. If they have one with ride control you need to try it. Best thing to happen to a skid steer. The 440 would be the one to demo. Very powerful. CASE has some incentives right now as they are trying to clear machines out for the Series 3's. If you want tracks the 440CT is an animal (eats CATs for lunch).

[Back To Good]

CASE has just released its new series of machines called the Series 3. I doubt you will be demoing one of those but you might. Pilots controls are an option on all CASE machines. If they have one with ride control you need to try it. Best thing to happen to a skid steer. The 440 would be the one to demo. Very powerful. CASE has some incentives right now as they are trying to clear machines out for the Series 3's. If you want tracks the 440CT is an animal (eats CATs for lunch).

ksss, There does not look to be much difference between the 430 and 440
on paper.
Is the 440 worth the $3000 price difference?

[Back To Good]

Back to Good, PM me, as I own one and I've got a lot of good things to say!

Sorry Bobcat Ron. This is my first day posting and I guess I don't know what
"PM me" means. Personal message??
Tell me how.

[ksss]

On the current machines there is considerable difference in the engines. The 430 is 74 hp nonturboed with 2000 pounds of lift. These are solid machines. My brother has one and is a fine ma chine. The 440 is 83 hp turboed with 2200 pounds of lift. The torque of this motor is without equal in this size machine. The reason I suggest demoing this one is you can see what it can do. If it is more power than you need you can step down to the 430. The added resale of the 440 will give back much of the price difference between the two.

[qps]

CASE has just released its new series of machines called the Series 3. I doubt you will be demoing one of those but you might. Pilots controls are an option on all CASE machines. If they have one with ride control you need to try it. Best thing to happen to a skid steer. The 440 would be the one to demo. Very powerful. CASE has some incentives right now as they are trying to clear machines out for the Series 3's. If you want tracks the 440CT is an animal (eats CATs for lunch).

Yeah....there having a fire sale on the CASE stuff...can't give it away so there offering incentives...:laugh:

[Scag48]

Yeah....there having a fire sale on the CASE stuff...can't give it away so there offering incentives...:laugh:

hahahaha :drinkup:

[ksss]

Yeah....there having a fire sale on the CASE stuff...can't give it away so there offering incentives...:laugh:

Hey I can unpack that CASE hat and send it to Scag.:nono:

Acutally Tim it is too bad you bought your 297C so early. Cat is just releasing their new undercarriage deal. Buy 1 and get the second undercarriage for full price. Cat guys are all over it. They say they cant believe that CAT is only going to charge them full price. Great deal they tell me.:clapping: The only thing I can think of they are used to getting such great deals from CAT that they could not pass this one up.:dizzy:

[qps]

Hey I can unpack that CASE hat and send it to Scag.:nono:

Acutally Tim it is too bad you bought your 297C so early. Cat is just releasing their new undercarriage deal. Buy 1 and get the second undercarriage for full price. Cat guys are all over it. They say they cant believe that CAT is only going to charge them full price. Great deal they tell me.:clapping: The only thing I can think of they are used to getting such great deals from CAT that they could not pass this one up.:dizzy:

JK about the fire sale...tell Mrs. K she's my new best friend.....funny you said that...I stated counting all the boggie wheels on it the other day and I needed a friggin calculator..:dizzy:

[Scag48]

With Case's new incentive program, will they upgrade the plastic mailbox flag to a steel version in their excavators for free? Or will they wait until you break it off once before they offer? :laugh:

[ksss]

With Case's new incentive program, will they upgrade the plastic mailbox flag to a steel version in their excavators for free? Or will they wait until you break it off once before they offer? :laugh:

How about this Scag. You buy one and I will pay for the flag to be replaced with a steel one. I talked to my salesman about finding me a used CX160. He has one that will be traded in a couple of months. It has about 5K on it. Ironically it is the same guys who owned my 9020B. I am curious if the "flag" has been replaced. If you like I will sell you my 9020B when that CX comes in. The flag is STEEL on the 9020B.:cool2:

[Scag48]

You really upgrading to a CX? Sounds like a good move, they going to cut you a screamin' deal on it? I don't have the funds for a machine now, I'm strapped to my @$$ with a land payment. It's nice to own at least one thing that is appreciating in value every day and costs me nothing to maintain.

[ksss]

You really upgrading to a CX? Sounds like a good deal. I don't have the funds for a machine now, I'm strapped to my @$$ with a land payment. It's nice to own at least one thing that is appreciating in value every day and costs me nothing to maintain.

I bought some property last Summer. Yea property, typically it doesn't depreciate but there are always taxes. I am just getting bids together to build a shop on the property. Looks like 60K later I will have a shop.:cry:

We will see what the price is on the CX when it comes in and what the economy is like. This 9020B has been a great deal for me. It is depreciated out. Runs like a champ, its a little slow and kinda raggy on the inside but it digs a hole and the heater kicks ass. I am starting the rebuild on it this year. New plexiglass, seat, control handles, coupler and 42" bucket. That is 7500 dollars. Next year I will continue if I still have it. I figure it will take three years and it will look like it did when it was new. I am going to replace the engine with a reman. That is next years primary goal. She will be like new when your ready to buy.:cool2:

[Scag48]

Tell them $55K for that CX160, that'd be a score. Next you'll need a big Pete to keep up with (2) 16 ton machines, when you gonna buy a new 379?

I'd like to have a machine of my own in 2 years even though I'll still be operating union. My biggest issue is that I have nowhere to store anything here in the urban jungle, I'm tired of paying my dad rent for the 700 square foot box complete with outdoor parking lot and if I can generate enough income to buy a house that sits on 1/2 an acre somewhere I'd do it in a heartbeat. I need to figure out a way to structure a business that will comply with my union employment, then I'll start doing side jobs on the weekends with rented equipment. In time, I'd like to build my name on the weekends and pull sticks for somebody else to support my diesel habit. Maybe in 10 years I'll be in a good enough position to go back to self employment, assuming I don't get tied up with a female who tells me I have to stick with a regular paycheck instead of calling my own shots. I'm trying everyday to make sure I don't get stuck with "that" girl, it's a challenge that's for sure. So many great ones for the short term, not so many great ones you'd actually want to get involved with.

[coopers]

don't get tied up with a female who tells me I have to stick with a regular paycheck instead of calling my own shots. I'm trying everyday to make sure I don't get stuck with "that" girl,

HAHA, Scag, luckily when I laid down the 5 things I will do and have in life, my girl was like "whatever!" haha. How are prices back east there for homes? Not too friendly of a market on the west side. I'm hoping to get into a house by fall but we'll see....might have to rent for a bit until then which is never fun but what can you do?? :hammerhead: I am the same as you, just want to do some dirt work for a bit to support my craving...thinking of helping a friend out in screening topsoil and compost for his nursery, sit on a backhoe every other wknd or something works for me. But we'll see how my schedule is and his. What machine you looking into to possibly purchase in the next couple years?

Blake
WA

[Scag48]

Prices are a little better on the eastside now that the housing market has slowed a little, but it's not too much better in Chelan than it is over here. $200K doesn't buy much in Chelan for a house and we both know $300K is the bottom end of the market in the Seattle area, although when you head north to Everett some deals can be had.

I'd like to buy a 3 ton mini in a couple years, maybe a skid, not really sure what would serve me best over here.

[coopers]

Yeah true....I figured that if I decide to buy a mini, which at some point I'm sure I will, I'd go with a 9k lbs machine. Seems to be what I end up using the most when I do side jobs.

[coopers]

Yeah true....I figured that if I decide to buy a mini, which at some point I'm sure I will, I'd go with a 9k lbs machine. Seems to be what I end up using the most when I do side jobs.

[CarterKraft]

Do you know what kinda place 300K buys around here?

Everytime I here pf house prices in other parts of the world I can't beleive the deals we get down here.

[bobcat_ron]

At the end of the day, a first timer will be more comfortable in the Cat skids then a rigid and very tight and narrow cab Case.

[ksss]

At the end of the day, a first timer will be more comfortable in the Cat skids then a rigid and very tight and narrow cab Case.

You really need to seek help BC Ron. That sht your smokin is messing with your head. Remember there is a reason they call it dope.:waving:

[bobcat_ron]

Trust me, I've sat in every Case on the lot and they are tight! Those long joysticks felt like they were trying to poke me in "no-man's-land" everytime I got into the cab and the awful design of the door and not to mention the rather obstructed view of the rear of the tracks/tires from inside the cab.

[mrsops]

Trust me, I've sat in every Case on the lot and they are tight! Those long joysticks felt like they were trying to poke me in "no-man's-land" everytime I got into the cab and the awful design of the door and not to mention the rather obstructed view of the rear of the tracks/tires from inside the cab.

your 100% right ron very bad design of the door and the visability is terrible on those case machines.. just like the new holland cant see anything

[Scag48]

You guys better watch out or KSSS is going to send a bounty after you two :laugh:

[cat2]

So i guess we don't like case than? I never drove one before so i can't say. My bobcat has great visibility. My john deere is ok. but not great. What i don't like about the deere is the boom goes back when you raise it, so if i'm next to a wall and turn while i'm raising the booms, it will hit. I like the raduis lift better. The john deere will be traded in on another john deere. The bobcat, well i'm not sure yet. It will either be another bobcat. gehl. or case. or maybe john deere. wow the day that i have all john deere:nono::nono:

[bobcat_ron]

You guys better watch out or KSSS is going to send a bounty after you two :laugh:


I'd like to see that!

[cat2]

You really need to seek help BC Ron. That sht your smokin is messing with your head. Remember there is a reason they call it dope.:waving:





Are you still on that stuff Ron? you should give that up. its already affecting the way you think. Know how i can tell?














You bought a Cat:nono:

[bobcat_ron]

Don't be knocking our beautiful BC Bud, it's better than the Ditch Weed the nuts from Cali be smoking!

[Back To Good]

Well I took an 07 Case 430 for a spin today. Very nice machine.
The ride control and 2 speed made quite a difference.
Power was good.
It was very smooth for a wheel machine but still was nothing like the Cat 247 B2 MTL
I tried out the other day.
Another thing I noticed is that it spins out easily. It was a little muddy but not deep mud. There was a little slush mixed in too.
I had to work to get a bucket full of dirt.
The 247 B2 would just dive into the pile and I could scoop enogh dirt to go over the
back side of the bucket in the same conditions.
I also tried out a Takeuchi TL130. It beat me to death and had no traction in those
conditions. The Case actually did better. I think in different conditions the TAk would
do some serious digging but it did not like slush at all. It also felt very tipsy on uneven
ground.
The Cat undercarriage scares me but I can get a 247 B2 with 4 in 1 bucket/Cab/AC and heat for a couple thousand less than the new 08 Case 430 with same options.
The 430 would have ride control and 2 speed which the 247 does not have.
I guess I need to figure out my hourly cost of the track machine compared to tires.

[bobcat_ron]

With the amount of tire spinning you'll do, tracks will always surpass the amount of work that you can do.

[cat2]

you can not compare a tracked machine and a wheeled machine. Of course the tracked machine is going to have a smooth ride and have more pushing power in mud.

[stuvecorp]

That sounds like a good price for the Cat. I am biased of course but I will never have a skid without a two speed, (or ride control) for what I get in to it is a major benefit. I had a 440 with OTT's and for the money compared to what some are spending on maintenance I would be out of business. Look at what you really need for your business.

[Scag48]

Depends on your work, but going with the 430 might be a better option. The operating costs with tracks are higher, sounds like you are aware. However, you can get more work done with tracks, it's just a matter of figuring out if the added productivity will cover the higher cost of upkeep.

[BIGBEN2004]

Well I took an 07 Case 430 for a spin today. Very nice machine.
The ride control and 2 speed made quite a difference.
Power was good.
It was very smooth for a wheel machine but still was nothing like the Cat 247 B2 MTL
I tried out the other day.
Another thing I noticed is that it spins out easily. It was a little muddy but not deep mud. There was a little slush mixed in too.
I had to work to get a bucket full of dirt.
The 247 B2 would just dive into the pile and I could scoop enogh dirt to go over the
back side of the bucket in the same conditions.
I also tried out a Takeuchi TL130. It beat me to death and had no traction in those
conditions. The Case actually did better. I think in different conditions the TAk would
do some serious digging but it did not like slush at all. It also felt very tipsy on uneven
ground.
The Cat undercarriage scares me but I can get a 247 B2 with 4 in 1 bucket/Cab/AC and heat for a couple thousand less than the new 08 Case 430 with same options.
The 430 would have ride control and 2 speed which the 247 does not have.
I guess I need to figure out my hourly cost of the track machine compared to tires.
On the TL130 you have to run it different than you are used too. You can't put the bucket all the way down and begin trying to dig in dirt. The bucket goes below the level of the tracks and will pick up the front of the tracks and take all the traction away from the machine. I have had mine buried in mud and have had no problem with traction. Just the other day I was doing a job that was frozen and began to thaw and I thought I was going to have problems but it just spun some and started doing its job. As far as the tipsy part I have also ran sideways on a 3 to 1 slope and not even began to feel tipsy and that was with the bucket half way in the air. They look tipsy but have a very low center of gravity. Front to back they might feel tipsy but that is because they have class leading hydraulic break out force and can lift more than the machine will stabilize. I have already put mine beside my friends Cat 257B and it crushes it in every department except for the smooth ride.

[Back To Good]

That sounds like a good price for the Cat. I am biased of course but I will never have a skid without a two speed, (or ride control) for what I get in to it is a major benefit. I had a 440 with OTT's and for the money compared to what some are spending on maintenance I would be out of business. Look at what you really need for your business.

Yes, it is the price of the cat that is messing with my head.
I will be using it for building trails, landscaping, and road maintenance on my
wooded property as well as picking up side work doing whatever I can
get. Probably grade work, and light excavation
I have been in the construction business for 17+ years but have only
run skid steers a hand full of times. We just don't use them in the asphalt
and grading business that much.

[Back To Good]

On the TL130 you have to run it different than you are used too. You can't put the bucket all the way down and begin trying to dig in dirt. The bucket goes below the level of the tracks and will pick up the front of the tracks and take all the traction away from the machine. I have had mine buried in mud and have had no problem with traction. Just the other day I was doing a job that was frozen and began to thaw and I thought I was going to have problems but it just spun some and started doing its job. As far as the tipsy part I have also ran sideways on a 3 to 1 slope and not even began to feel tipsy and that was with the bucket half way in the air. They look tipsy but have a very low center of gravity. Front to back they might feel tipsy but that is because they have class leading hydraulic break out force and can lift more than the machine will stabilize. I have already put mine beside my friends Cat 257B and it crushes it in every department except for the smooth ride.

I see what you are saying. I was probably picking up the front track like you
said and The Tipsy feeling was front to back.
I could tell the TK had power but I just could not get it to work for me
which is lack of CTL operating experience on my part.