Hi! I am helping a friend in a remote area of Alaska -- she has a Cat 966C wheel loader, mid-70's vintage. When she is driving it, the loader has a pronounced shimmy. When she turns the steering wheel one way or another, the shimmying stops momentarily but commences again as soon as the loader begins traveling straight again. Needless to say, we can't get a mechanic out here to look at it -- do you have any suggestions? This lady relies on this piece of equipment for her livelihood and it's really important that she gets it running better... Your help would really be appreciated!! Thanks! Eric
First thing I'd be looking at is how much slop is there in the pins and bushings at the ends of the steering cylinders. Next I'd be looking at how much looseness there is in the center pins( Cat calls them the hitch). Next pull up the floor between the peddles and the seat there is a large arm and tie-rod like link in the steeing that mounts above the upper center pin. Make sure that is mounted tight and no slop there. There is also a small rod, about 3/8 diameter that goes from the steering valve to the arm on the steering box at the bottom of the steering column, check the rod ends on that and the connection to the steering valve. One more thing, on the front side of the steering column tube there should be a 1/4 or 3/8 pipe plug. Take that out and pump a cup of oil in there to lube up the splines inside there. Good luck!