Pete61

I heard the rumor mentioned on an earlier version of this site about 5 years ago, at the time I was asking about the little YCT 282 with 2 cyl engine (it proved impossible to import into my country). By the little loader I meant the YCT 306 with loader equipment. I know of many crawlers with a variable pump driving a fixed displacement motor for each track, my idea was to save money by keeping the conventional or diff steer & just use one variable pump & one motor for cheapness, (a Sweedish guy did just this when he converted an old Allis HD6 crawler). That said I read the Eaton transmission pump on the Terramite costs $3000 to replace (probably more than the cost of the YCT clutch & gearbox), so a non starter. It was just that you would have all speed & FNR direction, along with braking in just one lever.

The Hamney crawler I very much admire, I can see just one disadvantage, that is it's weight. At 5 tons it could not be transported on a trailer in the way the 306 could. I would though be interested to know what transmission was in use. The Japanese makers believed that a torque converter had no place on a crawler sub 100 Hp, as it sapped power particularly at part throttle. Mitsubishi made the Cat 941 & later 931 under license, the versions for their area market had a 'direct drive powershift' with a foot clutch 'inching pedal'. Komatsu did a similar thing, very pleasant to drive as the revs were there to crowd & lift the bucket, with a soft transition to reverse. (not sure if this was a wet 'oil clutch' but think so). The red Hamney also seemed to have a european style offset backhoe as an option. Have you guys had any trouble with low sulfur diesel? It plays havoc with rotary distributor mechanical fuel pumps, many people over here add a lubricity enhancer additive usually Millers or Opti Lube. Standadyne is of no help for this.

As far as I know the Liebherr & Deere trackloaders have much in common. The only other major make is Cat, & they dropped the front engined 933 & 935 hystats recently. I am a bit surprised the Chinese still keep the faith in small crawler loaders as there is supposed to be no market demand for them! That said an old guy over here runs an old 943 for new freeway batter finish grading & several big contractors fight for his services. he makes a good living.