Hey all, new to the form. We recently purchased a 2006 Cat D3 LGP. Its got 1,000 hrs on it. Everything is in great working order. So recently i noticed travel speed is slow. On the Track Speed Gauge 1 at the bottom and 3 at the top, when its in or at 1 and you hold the button down to increase the track speed the gauge goes up from 1 to about 2.5 and stops. It will not go into 3. Why i don't know hoping y'all can help me out on this.
does it do it in both forward and reverse? there is a possibility the previous owner got it configured that way from the dealer...
???? I have no clue. Didn't even think about that ? I was figuring it was a mechanical issue not a tuning issue.
Yes it dose it in both forward and reverse. How would one go about resolving this issue ? We are very mechanically inclined, i hate to take it to the cat place if we don't have to. This is our first dozer and are fairly new to the drive systems on them and how they work.
max speed can be programmed in with ET/Laptop. Sounds like yours is set to less than 100%. No way to change it without the software/service tool that I know. Dealer can also program reverse to forward ratio with R being between 50% and 200% of F speed.
Right on, is this software available for purchase somewhere ? Sounds like it would also serve as a diagnostic tool also. Where could one purchase the program to do this ?
It is probably locked out, 3rd is hard on them. I know of a few outfits that will fire you on the spot if they catch you in 3rd
Cat Electronic Technician (ET) is an extremely powerful diagnostic, adjustment, and calibration tool. However if you only have the one machine the software is probably going to be too expensive for you. The cable/black box to connect the laptop to the machine Diagnostic Connector runs about $1000-1500 depending which type you buy. The software is around $750-1000 and it is on a 1-year renewable licence. The latest versions (I know because I have one on my laptop) start to count down from 365 days immediately the licence is renewed. When the "Days Remaining" gets to zero your licence lapses and you have to stump up another $750 or so to get it renewed or your ET doesn't work no more.
Hahaha , thats too funny. They would probably fire me if they see what i do with it anyway, regardless of being in 3rd gear. I need 3rd for light LIGHT grading, finishing up small windrows less than 4 to 6'' in hight. and traveling to different spots on the tracks.
I guess if its your machine you decide whats best for it. What do you do with it that you think they would fire you? 3rd gear forward isn't to bad when traveling far distances but I dont like to do it.
We electronically lock out 3rd speed on all our tractors from the day they arrive on site ......... 3rd speed tears up undercarriage.
We build race tracks....... supercross, motocross, arenacross, and other dirt related action sports stuff. 3rd gear is nice and by no means are we abusive to our equipment. But speed in a lot of cases is our best friend when operating. Quick track work between races, traveling from one place to the other across the track etc. As far as firing goes, some of the angles of the jumps we build are VERY steep and must be for the jump to be correct. Had a few where when tracking in she would almost flip over backwards. Also in tight tight areas. Jumps 3' to 5' tall and 10' to 20' apart. Sometimes as the front idler wheel is going up one the rear is coming down the other with the entire dozer riding on only that. all other rollers not touching the ground. Oh and back blading, I've been lurking on here an hear about people freaking out about back blading, well we do ALOT of that. We use it a lot differently than most folks.
I herd that, if i had a bunch of yo-yos running my stuff id do the same thing. Yes 3rd will eat up the u/c but we use it only when we have to. Ita a PITA when you need it and its not there. We got it from a RB auction and couldn't run it wide open when we tested it. Im glad i know that it can be calibrated and its not a mechanical issue. Thanks Y'all for all the help. !!!
And when it comes to replacing the undercarriage, which will happen sooner rather than later the way you are using the machine, your local Cat dealer (or whoever you buy your undercarriage from) will love you for it........
got d3gplg cat dozer set track speed jumps back into slow travel change control no differents
Burning up undercarriage, wearing out cutting edges backblading, it all comes down to cost per hour versus income per hour, if it makes you more net profit at the end of the day (not just feel better because you think you're getting more done) then it doesn't really matter what anybody's opinion is, no offense to old hands and those with more experience. In an operation like the ones Nige is used to, you're not being productive moving at high speed, if things are laid out properly you're loaded down and in the push at the torque peak as much as possible, that's where the money is made, not in reverse flying with the tracks flapping in the breeze. The kind of work you do, with the apparent time constraints, it probably makes sense to use the available speed, and hey small dozers are a lot cheaper when replacing undercarriage and they usually don't hurt themselves near as easy as the behemoths do. :IMO
When pushing dirt with a dozer the saying always was (and still is I suppose) "Big Load Slow". That's where you get the maximum grunt from the power train and are reducing the the wear on the machine to a minimum. Hence the numbers stack up best.