We own a 943 and was currious why cat quit building them my dealer told me that the 939 took it place but that thing does not have a chance aginst the 43. The my 935c will almost out preform the 939. I was currious if anyone out there has any input on the reason they stoped the production i would appreciate it.
I think that sales just wernt what they were for the 53 and up. It was probably more cost effective to retrofit a D4 with a bucket.
No More 943??????????? Hi, Stick Pro. The 'mumble' that I heard was that it was costing Cat almost as much to build a 943 as a 953 and the sales just weren't happening, at least within the U.S., so it got the chop. It's a long, LONG way from a 939 to a 953 and the 939 is a bit of poor country cousin by comparison with the old 943's. Sad.
Sometimes the flame can feed the fire in a situation like this. Since the numbers are not there in sales, the machines cost more to produce, and if they cost as much as a 953, why not just buy a 953? Now if they were selling as many 943's as 953's, the cost for a 943 might adjust.
'43 or '53?????????????????? Hi, Stumpjumper 83. Personally, I'd far rather have a 953B anyway. They're a way better machine. BUT, I'd certainly take a 943 over a 939 if that was the choice.
Oops, I should have made myself clear on the topic of why cat might have decided to drop the 943.
We love our 943 at 16000 hours and counting. I was told the price for a 943 was too close to the price of a 953 to sell. For tight work around homes, rough grading and backfill, I think the 943 is better suited. Smaller, more nimble less weight close to foundations, etc. and very low fuel use compared to a 953. We have dug quite a few basements with ours, although not first choice it did well enough. Even on a long day digging it never used even thirty gallons of fuel. The 939 is not in the same class at all.
What's inna name? Hi, Komatsu 150. With a name like yours, how come you are extolling the virtues of a Caterpillar product, specifically a 943???????????? LOL.
Deas, looks like we got aanother Dozerboy 575 reincarnation hahahah. Just kidding Komie
Dozer 575 incarnation Hi, Biggixxerjim. If he is, he would be an unusual form of the critter. I can't honestly remember ever hearing the 'original' saying anything good about any Cat except the D8H-K. Can you?
good point. guess they sold the most iron because everyone is stupid??
we use our 43 for diging pools mostly but it also does any other job we need it for a 53 is to big to get into some of the backyards that out 43 would bearly fit in i have seen some specs on the deer 605 that is close to the 43does anyone have any experience with deer crawler loaders
Lotta stoopidd peepul ow thair. Hi, Biggixxerjim. Sure must be a lotta stoopidd peepul owt thair and heaps in previous generations too, 'cos they bin buying ther 'rubbish' for a while now. Hi, Stick Pro. I can remember only one job where I had a 953 and wished for a 943. But then maybe I'm a bit abnormal. I've even worked a Cat D5B wide gauge on house pads where the boss said it needed a 943 or 953 with a 4-in-1 bucket. On one house pad, I cut 2 water tank pads alongside the house pad, both 16 feet square, the first one 3 feet lower than the main house pad and the second 2 feet lower again. Vertical walls on 3 sides of each tank pad and the floors cut to +/- about 3/4". Good fun - makes you think.
You are a funny bunch of guys. To be serious, I would have liked to buy Cat. At the time the only machine Cat had below by max weight was a rebadged machine built by Mitsubishi (?? don't remember). It seamed like an older generation machine, it had a Cat engine but it was much louder and the hydraulics were slower. It even had a mechanical swing lock. Max bucket was 1/4 cubic yard smaller than the 150 and it was $10,000.00 more for a pretenda-Cat. Komatsu shot me a super deal and financed it at 2.7% back when interest was around 8%. That's the story.
We'll forgive you. Hi, Komatsu 150. O.K. We'll forgive you - - - - - - - - THIS time. DON'T let it happen again, you hear. LOL.
I'm actually curious how the Deere 605C is doing... any Deere guys chime in?
last 943 I have one of the last years of the 943 which was discontinued in 1992. Would anyone know or how to find out the seriel # on the last 943 made? Mine is a 19z01902 ordered after the first of the year and arrived about June. At that time I got 1 of the last 2 my dealer got. Just curious to find out. Thanks Steve
I checked our territory machine population and find 19Z1905 as the highest serial # in our territory. I don't have access to last serial # made.
19Z 943's Hi, Divedigger. Where I play, we have a couple of 19Z 943's. I think one of them is 1311 but will check - - - if these old memory cells can hold the thought that long. After all, there is a 'sleep' 'tween now and then. LOL.
The HPCU (Hydrostatic Power Control Unit) was costing Caterpillar more to build and warranty than the price of the entire 943 machine.
Please site the official source of this information.
I think they shoulda keep them in production. I am currently using one to dig a pond wit several other equipment and I love it. It's a good support machine and I would love to see the "c" model of the 943.
we have one i think it is an 80, i think that was the first year. it is still doin great, it is on its 3 engine a and around 20,000 hours on it
Didn't deere cancel the contract with Liebherr to stop building it for them? I think Liebherr is selling it as their 614.