Cat Unleashes the Industry's Largest Track Loader, the 973
Cat has unveiled “the largest track loader in the industry” with its new 973.
Designed to clear, load, dig, carry, fill and more, the 65,901-pound do-it-all machine is powered by a 275-horsepower Cat C9.3B diesel engine. It replaces the 973K worldwide and joins the 160-horsepower 953 and 202-horsepower 963 in the Cat track loader line.
Cat says the new machine is packed with upgrades, including better fuel efficiency, more productivity, an improved cab, and optional Payload technology.
Inside the updated cab, operators will find a suspension seat with adjustable armrests/controls, a 10-inch touchscreen dash display, and a standard high-definition rearview camera. The Slope Indicate feature shows machine mainfall and cross slope right on the display, making operation easier, Cat says.
For the powertrain controls, operators can choose between the traditional V-lever and pedal steer setup or a joystick steer like what’s found on skid steers and compact track loaders. For the loader controls, you can choose between the traditional two-lever control or, again, the joystick control that operates similar to skids and CTLs.
With either control scheme, operators can adjust the implement responsiveness between fine, normal and coarse settings to match their preference or the application. Repetitive lift, lower, rack, dump and float functions can be preset to make jobs like truck loading easier. Cat says they have also enhanced the implement and steering response and improved the steering performance for smoother movements and more controllability.
Performance and Productivity
Fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 10 percent by placing the machine in Auto Mode. Auto Mode automatically increases or decreases engine speed to match the load. For even greater fuel savings, operators performing lighter-duty jobs can drop the loader into Eco Mode. Finally, Power Mode will keep engine speed high, making power readily available when you need it.
The general purpose bucket offers 4.2 cubic yards of capacity, while the optional performance series bucket can boost productivity by up to 20 percent in some applications. Cat’s optional Fusion Quick Coupler will further increase productivity by reducing the amount of time it takes to swap attachments. Fusion-compatible tools – such as buckets, forks and more – can be shared between track loaders, wheel loaders and other machines.
Source: https://www.equipmentworld.com/construction-equipment/heavy-equipment/article/15668276/cat-unleashes-the-industrys-largest-track-loader-the-973
