We're looking at an older CAT 229 excavator s/n 1GF00308 and would like to know the year of mfg. I can't find our S/N identification guide for the moment. And any idea of average value for average machine of that vintage. We're going to check it out and want to make a fair offer based on the machine's overall condition. Thanks for any help! -Tom
DOM 9th August 1986.
Do you have any more info on it? Hours and condition make a big difference in value.
Most appreciated, Nige! You've always been a trusted and helpfull member of these forums. Thanks again, -Tom My partner and I are going up tomorrow to do a full evaluation, so don't have anything else to add untill we see it. -Tom
Just to wrap up this thread, this machine has sat for several years after the death of a fellow local gold miner. His widow wanted to dispose of everything including the 1986 CAT 229 excavator, which other than interior and exterior cosmetics looked pretty solid and not worn out like so much of this old iron. We couldn't read the Hobbs to determine possible hours, but overall it looked like a fairly low use machine. She had just bought two new batteries for it last week when she had a couple of local guys try to get it started. After inspecting and topping off fluids yesterday (almost full tank of diesel to which we added some Stabil fuel additive), we fired up the machine and it ran like a swiss watch, smooth, no noticeable leaks or damage, good operation of travel, boom, arm, bucket, quick connect bucket mechanism, thumb, good tracks and grousers, 90% or better drive sprockets. Interior is ratty and weathered, but fully functional. Comes with three addtional buckets including what my partner refers to as a "grading bucket" (hydraulically controlled tilt). We were first told that the widow was asking around $20k for it, but would let us have it for $10k if we wanted it. My partner almost broke a wrist getting his wallet out for his half of $10k which is what we bought it for! We're looking now for a local heavy haul company to move it 26 miles to the upper gate of our mining property where it will replace the 1990 Link Belt LS3400 CII. -Tom .
All of our equipment have full manuals for service, parts, and Operators manuals when available. I just ordered the Service, Parts, and Operator manuals from Jensales.com, the Service and Parts manuals as a PDF file download, and the Operator manual as a hard copy "OEM" manual printed by CAT. It was NOT avaiable as a download and was about $60+ as opposed to $20 each for the downloads of the other two manuals. Possibly an issue with trademarks still in effect from CAT. But having as much documentation that you can get for a given piece of equipment, and being able to read and understand is your ticket to getting and keeping your machine operating and properly maintained. -Tom
One of my favorite machines. Possibly one of the best and longest lasting Cat has ever made.
Jensales manuals are supposed to be pretty good. Finney on the other hand, are not.
I've gotten PDF download manuals for six or seven of the machines we've had over the past 10 years and are generally retty good, with the exception of some that have poor photos that didn't scan well. They are always my first go-to when more info is needed. -Tom
That's great to hear since our first and only excavator is our old 1990 Link Belt LS4300 CII which has been a struggle for over 4 years. Thanks for the encouraging words! -Tom
We just made contact with a local logging company in town that will move the CAT for us with one of their rigs next week for no more than $1500. In our neck of the woods that's a smokin' hot deal!
According to my book this is the 4th 229 made in 1986 it's first year of production. There was only a little over 300 229 excavators made in the U.S. More were made in Belgium, although not a lot there either. FWD
I have never seen a 229 here in BC! Plenty of 215, 225’s and lots of 235’s (Were a common road builder)
I always thought the 220 size Cat excavator was the most versatile and mostly bulletproof machine in the 80’s. Don’t get me wrong, I ran an almost new 325 in the late 80’s for a few years that was awesome but for a personal farm machine, before mini’s became popular, the 220’s were awesome. I ran a 110 series for a few months and i wasn’t impressed at all. Wouldn’t rip a hardwood stump, much better than my 580 backhoe.
Seems like I remember a 229 was a 225 upper on a 235 bottom
The manual downloads I purchased from Jensales.com are for models 225 and 229, so your memory seems sharp as ever!
Interesting; that would make a pretty robust machine with good tracking power as well as good stability (weight down low).
We got this one for $10k, and damned happy about it too!
with the big footprint they were a little bit better in the soft stuff doing dress work after the backfill crew came thru on the big main line water and sewer jobs.
Not sure what the operators called the wide tracks, but we've always called them LGP's, for Low Ground Pressure. My partner and I are excited to see how it performs on our ground.
Any excavator with that expensive yellow color for 10k, would excite most people.
Moving Day! We figure weight is just south of 80k lbs. And we still have four additional buckets to move from the property. -Tom
We had to replace the governor cable and housing assembly which was extremely worn (the worst I've ever seen!). Four hundred and Fifty dollars from CAT, around $100 delivered from after-market supplier, and superior quality! Still trying to figure out how to get the after-market Wegman thumb to close (opening works). We have the installation intsructions which don't cover operation, though hydraulic and wiring detail is included. Were still trying to wade through muddy waters on a few details! Regards to all, -Tom