The title pretty much sums up my question, whats the majour difference between a CTL or a MTL. Ive done some research on numerous CTLs and MTLs but cant find any majour differences. Anybody know?
MTL is the name CAT gave to their tracked machines that utilize the ASV undercarriage. The ASV suspension is fully suspended, and utilizes a track that does not have any steel in it, only Kevlar. The CTL is not fully suspended but some do add a suspension of sorts. BC offers a leaf spring type suspension and CAT uses a torsion suspension system. A CTL uses steel cables in the construction of the tracks.
Well, look at the pictures, top is CTL, bottom is MTL, the differences are pretty easy to see. http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/Caterpillar/C772075 http://r2.forconstructionpros.com/f.../1280x720/cat-277d-mtl---c814610_11651886.jpg The CTL is driven using a steel sprocket with teeth that go through a steel belt inside the rubber track, much like a rubber tracked mini excavator. MTL's are driven using lugs that are molded on the track, after a lot of use the lugs can and will pull off the track, most of ours have gotten over 1,000 hours on them before they started tearing lugs off, and they get run pretty hard. What are you doing with the machine, that helps.
MTL rides nice, but extremely expensive to replace the undercarriage parts....and from some of what I've heard on them you'll replace more often than undercarriage parts on a CTL....someone correct if that may not be true. My friend has a cat B series mtl that will cost him somewhere around $15-17k to replace the undercarriage parts and tracks...he's going for those billet aluminum rollers so will last longer.
Most of our work would involve moving dirt short distances and loading trucks with dirt/rock/gravel. A small percentage of it would also be using an angle broom to clean up areas after storms, brushcutter to clean up weeds and ****, and the occasional grading of a fire road. After checking those pictures i can see the differences. I was looking on my phone this morning when i posted but now on my pc i can clearly see the drive difference aswell as the track difference.
Sounds like a CTL would fit your use perfectly
It is often said around here the MTL is easier on turf and grass if you do that kind of work. The CTL is more durable as mentioned, but not as tidy on established yards and such. And the CTL is much hardier on rocks (not that rubber is great there).
Based on the job descriptions, seems like CTL would do the job. This article might be helpful: http://www.equipmentworld.com/how-to-get-the-most-work-out-of-your-compact-track-loader/
Thanks for that, that article really was useful in figuring out what the main dofferences and pros and cons are. Also as you and many others said, it looks like a CTL is perfect for my job, especially because i dont want to have to replace the undercarriage of an MTL
I have a Cat 289D, a CTL. The current rubber belt does not have very good traction on ice and snow. Rather than replace it with a snow specific belt, I was told by a Cat rep to install their medium duty track, which has the same tread pattern as the MTL. This works better in winter conditions. It may also be easier on the turf.
Thats a good idea, thanks bigbob. The MTL track does look a tad grippier for doing wet/icey/snow work which is great in my case because 85% of the time our buisness is working with wet ground/mud, and sometimes we also work in thin snow.
I have a T770 and wouldn't trade my tracks for anything. But, I do a lot of grading and high speed clean-up over rough ground. All the twisting and turning you'll be doing loading trucks is going to be hell on the tracks. If you're set on a track machine, a CTL is going to be the machine.
Yeah, we judt revised a few of our latest projects to incorperate CTL for grading and grooming work. Will make life easier than trying to groom with a Mini-X. On that note, anyone know what the skinniest, still usable CTL is?
I have an ASV RC85 and a RC100. They are MTL machines. great for dirt work, suck on rock/gravel. About 15K per machine to do an under carriage with you doing the labor. I get about 1500 hours before new tracks and selective wheel/axle replacement, 3000 hours do it all plus hoses, pins and bushings.