OK OK I bought the Cat 246C instead

[BigDigger]

For reasons I won't go into here, I pulled the plug at the last minute on the 247b, great machine great guy to deal with, and he was kind enough to let me out of the deal (just before money changed hands)

I bought the Cat 246C. 2008, with 1 year full machine left of a 2 year warranty. Absolutely loaded on every level, including stereo. No high flow though. Though I see no need for it at this point.

I am very happy with the machine, VERY. I will post some pics here tonight likely if I can.

It has 400 hour on it. Someone else paid top dollar and I still get an essentially new machine.

I just had to go for the bigger machine, the cab and the better hydrolic flow. I think the VTS will be a good way to go. I am looking for used set's right now, if anyone knows of some. As long as they also do well in winter or have winter tracks available.

Anyhow I will post some pics soon.

I am a happy cat now. Sorry for the misdirection before, I really had commited to the previous deal, but I realized that more capability was going to give me more peace of mind. I trust that the new changes to AMICS will also make some nice differences to the performance as well. Only time will tell.

[stuvecorp]

As long as you show pictures it's all good.:) I think for plowing you will be happy. Have you had the chance to run a VTS equiped skid? There is some good deals on used VTS by the way.

[BigDigger]

Thanks for the reply.

No I haven't run VTS before. I hear good things, but I have been spoiled by ASV ride, though I have never had to pay the bill for it :laugh:

I would be interested in some feedback for sure!

[BigDigger]

Uploading to photobucket as I type this :)

[BigDigger]

My wife was not there to hold the camera for me.....But you can say it....I'm damn sexy :cool2:

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4812.jpg

The Hauler

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4816.jpg

Note the chains [junior]

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4813.jpg

Clearing snow at my Bro and Laws, he needed me to dig out his fifth wheel, that's my In-Laws Monaco Class A w/Tag Sweet Piece of Cheese

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4874.jpg

in action

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4878.jpg

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4879.jpg

Booty Shot for you Skid Steer Porn Types :cool2: :drinkup: :laugh:

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4875.jpg

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu272/MagnumB/IMG_4876.jpg

[BigDigger]

I know this is photo heavy, but in the age of broadband....suck it up ;) :laugh:

[stuvecorp]

I haven't seen a new one like that, like the smooth sides from the bottom of the chassis tub to cab. Looks clean.

[BigDigger]

I haven't seen a new one like that, like the smooth sides from the bottom of the chassis tub to cab. Looks clean.

Yeah, I agree, nice to clean too. It's a sharp little vehicle. I am very curious if this new AMICS update will release the hounds. If it does, it could be a top performer in it's class. As it stands it seems to do a nice job already.

[BigDigger]

:o :o Oh, so I should say that this is the first time I actually did anything with this machine, understandable since I picked it up yesterday.

Anyhow I got sucked into a ditch and high centered with 1 wheel off the ground. I thought I was screwed.

After those pics where taken the family took off to a birthday party. I was all alone, no one to help.

I be darned if I didn't dig for an hour, but I got it out. I can't believe I actually got it out but I did.....hehehehe, I learned something today from that.

The edge of the driveway looked level, but only the snow was, the ground sloped away...and zip I was gone. Hell of a way to break in the new machine.......Oh hell wait a minute, did the new machine just break me in?????:laugh::laugh:

[stuvecorp]

Would the 440 be close to that? I not real up with the CAT specs, my Interweb doesn't go there(something about site advisor saying its naughty.) That will look good with VTS on it. Sidenote, I would like to see guys paint their VTS to match the machine, think it would be sweet.

[Tigerotor77W]

Would the 440 be close to that?

Yes. The 246C is rated at 2150 pounds and 75 HP.

A stronger comparison may be between the 256C -- 2350 pounds and 82 HP.

BTW -- BigDigger -- sweet machine. Hope all goes well. She looks nice!

[Junior M]

Thats one dam nice machine, I'll say it! I wouldnt mind having one of them!

And yeah, so what you got chains, but your strap on the snow bucket wont last long on that edge, get some little leather covers about 6in long for the strap or go the high road and buy the expensive non fraying ones like I've got..

[BigDigger]

Thanks for the tips on the straps....I will look into it.

That is 20k worth of strap (strap capacity), it was actually a temporary solution....but I am liking the strap thing...I think I will get some non fray straps.....

thanks for the comments...I like the machine too so far...I will keep posting pics as I do things with it.

[bobcat_ron]

Thanks for sticking with CAT!

[CarterKraft]

Amen, I will ask around and see if we have any VTS for sale, yea right we have got everything for sale!

[BigDigger]

HAHAHA....nice....hey when are these new AMICS updates supposed to be coming? Any ideas Carter?

I stuck with cat for you Bobcat Ron....just to keep the CAT machine alive on these forums.

[Junior M]

HAHAHA....nice....hey when are these new AMICS updates supposed to be coming? Any ideas Carter?

I stuck with cat for you Bobcat Ron....just to keep the CAT machine alive on these forums.
You suck! We need more Bobcat guys! ;) :laugh:

[CarterKraft]

I would suspect mid year, almost there.

Trust me when they hit I will post for all, maybe I should just PM certain people then we can sneak attack those "other" machines. LOL

[BigDigger]

HAHAHAHA....hell ya...put me on that short list!!!

[BigDigger]

Junior, I do this to keep you humble ;) :)

[stuvecorp]

I would suspect mid year, almost there.

Trust me when they hit I will post for all, maybe I should just PM certain people then we can sneak attack those "other" machines. LOL

Any time, we'll be ready.:)

[Tigerotor77W]

I would suspect mid year, almost there.

Trust me when they hit I will post for all, maybe I should just PM certain people then we can sneak attack those "other" machines. LOL

I'm game! Just let me know when. :p

[BigDigger]

I agree we will pounce on the competition.....(purring...)



sweet mother...I am losing it!!!

[ccstrebe]

Thanks for sticking with CAT!

X2..............Can't go wrong with Cat

[ksss]

It would seem smarter to me to go with the larger machine. Smarter yet would have been Power Tan but that would make the forum more boring. The 246 would have to be compared against the 430. The 256 did fair well against the 440.



Digger get your AMICS Super Chip installed, I'll crack a couple injector lines and we might be fair (that should get me down to 75 hp and 190 foot pounds).:weightlifter:

[BigDigger]

It would seem smarter to me to go with the larger machine. Smarter yet would have been Power Tan but that would make the forum more boring. The 246 would have to be compared against the 430. The 256 did fair well against the 440.



Digger get your AMICS Super Chip installed, I'll crack a couple injector lines and we might be fair (that should get me down to 75 hp and 190 foot pounds).:weightlifter:

yes but cracking common rail fuel injection lines would expose your pretty engine compartment to a 23,000 PSI fuel leak.....geez I would hate to see your pretty power tan machine burnt to a crisp :cry::laugh:

[BigDigger]

It would seem smarter to me to go with the larger machine. Smarter yet would have been Power Tan but that would make the forum more boring. The 246 would have to be compared against the 430. The 256 did fair well against the 440.



Digger get your AMICS Super Chip installed, I'll crack a couple injector lines and we might be fair (that should get me down to 75 hp and 190 foot pounds).:weightlifter:

I should say that the higher roc on the 256c is because it's vertical lift. It's heavier too, the little 246C even with a few less horsepower is a little sports car.....lots of power. I would agree though, the 430 is a comparable machine....still, I just don't fit in those small/tight/itty-bitty case cabs. I am not a garden knome, I had to buy the Cat because Cat yellow = sex appeal :cool2:

[stuvecorp]

I should say that the higher roc on the 256c is because it's vertical lift. It's heavier too, the little 246C even with a few less horsepower is a little sports car.....lots of power. I would agree though, the 430 is a comparable machine....still, I just don't fit in those small/tight/itty-bitty case cabs. I am not a garden knome, I had to buy the Cat because Cat yellow = sex appeal :cool2:

If you wanted the Hot Rod of skids you would have gotten a 440 in PowerTan.:waving:

We are easily amused aren't we?:o

[BigDigger]

If you wanted the Hot Rod of skids you would have gotten a 440 in PowerTan.:waving:

We are easily amused aren't we?:o

Yeah but I just wanted a little sports car...not a Hot Rod....I don't like the classics :laugh:

[CarterKraft]

Yes, something more refined, if you know what I mean.

See I drive a 25k lb F-750 with 230 hp all day.
When I go out on Friday night I pick "The Ultimate Driving Machine" from the garage and grin ear to ear. Sure my Excursion is nice but I need something a little more refined.

[Junior M]

See I drive a 25k lb F-750 with 230 hp all day.


service truck for CAT?

[Tigerotor77W]

I should say that the higher roc on the 256c is because it's vertical lift.

Uh, Kaiser, he's just enjoying his machine and delirious from the, ah, happiness. You can ignore this...

(Darnit, bigdigger, you're screwing up the potency of our "take over LawnSite with Cat propaganda" threat when you get drunk and post wrongs like this! :))

[ksss]

Uh, Kaiser, he's just enjoying his machine and delirious from the, ah, happiness. You can ignore this...

(Darnit, bigdigger, you're screwing up the potency of our "take over LawnSite with Cat propaganda" threat when you get drunk and post wrongs like this! :))

Ok Tiger for you I will overlook this little "detail". I will say this Digger, its more fun to beat up on CAT guys when they are more "informed". :walking:

I have to share this with you guys.

The last three Conexpos we have gone to the CAT dinner and the CASE dinner. Let me share with you the stark differences. Typically the CAT dinner is at Ceasars which is an incredible place, however it is finger food only, and very few places to sit, so unless you are smart like us (only because we learned the hardway) you run in and get one of the few places to sit. We go to the CASE dinner and everyone has a place to sit and they have a great show put on. The biggest difference however is in the people. At the CASE shows, everyone is dressed appropriately, looking good and kept. The CAT show is unbelievable. I kid you not, guys show up in muscle shirts, wife beaters, tore blue jeans, and missing teeth. Not all of course but a surprising number look like this. I kid you not.

Facinating.

Sorry I digress.

[BigDigger]

OK, so I mixed my ROC with wrong drink........I have to show at least some small imperfection, makes you Case guys feel human, maybe even normal....

[BigDigger]

I suppose since I am terribly wrong I should ask for clarification, but this would be showing further ignorance....my ego won't take it ;o)

I thought ROC is rated operating capacity, the ROC on the 256C is higher *or so I thought*, that's in part becuase it is a vertical lift machine. extra weight in the back impacts that number, as well as the nature of vertical lift. It has a little extra horsepower but weighs more. I ask in all seriousness. Explain how I am wrong. I have not yet attained perfection so it stands to reason that I might be wrong once in a while.

[ksss]

I suppose since I am terribly wrong I should ask for clarification, but this would be showing further ignorance....my ego won't take it ;o)

I thought ROC is rated operating capacity, the ROC on the 256C is higher *or so I thought*, that's in part becuase it is a vertical lift machine. extra weight in the back impacts that number, as well as the nature of vertical lift. It has a little extra horsepower but weighs more. I ask in all seriousness. Explain how I am wrong. I have not yet attained perfection so it stands to reason that I might be wrong once in a while.

The higher ROC of the 256 is due to counter weighting and being a larger machine, but it is a radial lift machine.

[BigDigger]

OH shoot.....that's right....hehehehe...ok that was an honest mistake, I do know the difference between the 2....just a mistake....crap. I went of memory and assumed it was Vertical....oh well.

[ksss]

The 256C is a new model for CAT. Machines in this size seem to be pretty popular. The BC 220 and CASE 440/450 which are also in this class sell very well. I think CAT wanted a machine to compete with these machines. The 246B was too small to go head to head with the others. I really like the higher hp, decent ROC and clean visibility of the radial lift machines in this class. Especially since they can be narrowed down considerably with different wheel options. You can get a lot of machine in a small package. Atleast with the CASE you can get down to 64" with the 12X16.5 tires.

[Junior M]

The 256C is a new model for CAT. Machines in this size seem to be pretty popular. The BC 220 and CASE 440/450 which are also in this class sell very well. I think CAT wanted a machine to compete with these machines. The 246B was too small to go head to head with the others. I really like the higher hp, decent ROC and clean visibility of the radial lift machines in this class. Especially since they can be narrowed down considerably with different wheel options. You can get a lot of machine in a small package. Atleast with the CASE you can get down to 64" with the 12X16.5 tires.
You know whats weird I've never seen a 220.. ;) Atleast not in this area..

[bobcat_ron]

........The biggest difference however is in the people. At the CASE shows, everyone is dressed appropriately, looking good and kept. The CAT show is unbelievable. I kid you not, guys show up in muscle shirts, wife beaters, tore blue jeans, and missing teeth. Not all of course but a surprising number look like this. I kid you not.

Facinating.

Sorry I digress.


Simple explanation:
Cat makes products for the everyday man, the wife beater, the redneck, the hill billy, the momma's boy, the average Joe Plumber, Case makes products for the man who thinks they are sophisticated and better than everyone.

[ksss]

Simple explanation:
Cat makes products for the everyday man, the wife beater, the redneck, the hill billy, the momma's boy, the average Joe Plumber, Case makes products for the man who thinks they are sophisticated and better than everyone.

You may be right.

[stuvecorp]

Simple explanation:
Cat makes products for the everyday man, the wife beater, the redneck, the hill billy, the momma's boy, the average Joe Plumber, Case makes products for the man who thinks they are sophisticated and better than everyone.

Ron, you're welcome to join the PowerTan Club anytime.:waving:

[bobcat_ron]

Ron, you're welcome to join the PowerTan Club anytime.:waving:

Well their mini excavators do look mighty nice, my old man and I looked at a CX27 last week, man what a "bigger" machine compared to the Hitachi ZX27 we have now, massive counterweight, longer track frame, bigger buckets, and awesome cab. But they are Kobelco, so money talks.

[ksss]

I have rented some of the smaller CASE/Kobelco machines (CX36 and 17B) when I could not get mine into the work area. There is a CX17B here that is privately owned I have rented. Amazing little machine. I would like to have it. It has thumb on it. Very handy little excavator. The expanding undercarriage is the ticket for getting into tight areas. I have also rented the 322 BC. The hyd. on the Kobelco were much more smooth than the BC and the zero tail is very handy since if your using this machine you obviously don't have any extra room.

[CarterKraft]

Simple explanation:
Cat makes products for the everyday man, the wife beater, the redneck, the hill billy, the momma's boy, the average Joe Plumber, Case makes products for the man who thinks they are sophisticated and better than everyone.

Not around here, the Power Tan is for the permanantly tan, if you know what I mean.

Really, it seems the majority of CASE owners are hispanic, I don't know why they just are.

[BigDigger]

just thought I would try a bump...not sure why...just need attention I guess :rolleyes:

[stuvecorp]

I was at the grocery store today to pickup some evil green and a pizza and this chick was wearing her pink cat shirt as she got in to her Dodge Dakota with 'Redneck Girl' on the windshield. Just thought I would share that with you BigDig.;)

[BigDigger]

Wow, Dreams really do come true!!!!

Cat girls are cute...

Case girls are named Earl....:laugh:

[ksss]

Wow, Dreams really do come true!!!!

Cat girls are cute...

Case girls are named Earl....:laugh:


Thats pretty funny.

[stuvecorp]

Wow, Dreams really do come true!!!!

Cat girls are cute...

Case girls are named Earl....:laugh:

I didn't say anything about 'cute', she wasn't my type.:laugh:

[Junior M]

Wow, Dreams really do come true!!!!

Cat girls are cute...

Case girls are named Earl....:laugh:
bahahahah! Thats freakin great, I am puttin it in my sig!

[BigDigger]

bahahahah! Thats freakin great, I am puttin it in my sig!

Cool :):drinkup: