What was your first track loader to operate

[Thermoguard]

Easy question for me - the MF-300 I bought a few weeks ago! Can't offer any comments on using it 'in anger' yet - as it's still receiving a bit of TLC and maintenance that's been lacking for a decade or three! So far its sum total of work here has been to tip the ripper frame and ram out of the 4-in-1 bucket, then lifting the frame onto concrete blocks to keep it out of the mud, using a length of chain over a bucket tooth. But just wait 'til I get this maintenance squared away and attack the Lantana! Cheers.

[Martyn Henley]

First tracked shovel for me was a BTD6 when i was 10 .. the first one as a working man was a 941 keeping a haul road clear at our local power station, now long gone now ... best tracked machine i used was a 1450C case, i used a MF300 doing batter work for a few weeks and a MF200 with back hoe, that was fun, i was working for Bedfordia back then.

[dpan]

No 6 Cat loader, 1957 for McDougal Hartman, IL Route2 Rockfalls to Erie Il. Loading broken concrete after original curves straighten on old road. Also D4 Traxcavator on job, needless to say hauling contractor not happy when chunks of concrete loaded from D4 in to his new Ford trucks boxes. Supt. didn't want us loading a bucket of dirt first as cushion. Remember this job well as first job as IUOE member.

[FOWLER MAN]

Drott B100, (they were new out then), followed by Cat 955 12A, followed by Case 800 and Case 1000, all in 1964.
Fred

[brian]

B100 Drott, followed by Case 450, Cat 951, 955, 941, IH 100B powershift, JCB 110 (or 112, can't quite remember), Komatsu D51, D41, Liebherr 632, Cat 953, 963, 943. Have to be honest, some of these machines I didn't spend much time on. In the case of the JCB, however long it was, was too long. It was the only tracked loader I didn't enjoy operating.

Best of the lot to grade with was the 943, one I enjoyed most was the old manual B100, but no, I wouldn't go back to one for everyday use. I'd love to try the newest baby Liebherr, is it the 641? Anyone on here with much Liebherr experience? There aren't many comments posted about them on here.

[shirtbox2003]

fiat fl6 ,too low to ground.then drott btd6, cat 951,cat955.fiat fl12 big useless lump but looked busy.cats are world leaders to this day.you only get what you pay for.lets hope cat don,t loose it with trying to do too much by venturing into cranes and trucks.the bigger you get the harder you fall.

[kopite]

First loader for me was a B100 Drott in 1967. I was 18. Thought I was was the best thing since sliced bread. That is until I went on hire on a site with another B100 being operated by an "old" guy. I soon saw that I didn't know much, and couldn't do much, but I really learned what a drott could do with a good operator on it.
Soon moved on to Cat machines and at various times operated 933, 951, 955, 977, 983. Never went back to a B100 but always have fond memories of those good old days watching a master at work.

[back stop]

Small Bristol with M/F backactor, 933 with electric start donkey engine, 951, 955, 941 first power shift, tracked loaders went out of style then.

[KWDLDK]

951 manual and D4 donkey start, timber whinch and and thnk angle blade, memories fading

[JimInOz]

Brian,
I operated Liebherr 621 & 631 Loaders & a 632 & 741 dozer.
All were good performers & I liked the hydraulic power the 4in1 buckets had.The 2 problems were service/parts back-up & oil leaks .I absolutely hated the hex head bolts used everywhere on these machines.

One of the most powerful Crawler Loaders I ever used was a FL14E...would push thru a load of dirt like it wasn't there.

Jim