Tech
Restoring a 1980s Terex D700A dozer after a long search (Video)
The first thing you notice about Tim Davis’ early 1980s Terex D700A dozer is lime green – all over.
The other surprise is the engine’s sound.
“One of the drawbacks – or some people considered it a drawback – was they have the old Detroit Diesel series 71 engine, which was a very reliable engine, but they were extremely loud,” Davis says. “And so operators didn’t like the noise.” (To see – and hear – his dozer in action, check out the video at the end of this story.)
He believes that’s part of the reason the dozer didn’t sell as well as other brands at the time. But for Davis, who has spent five years restoring his Terex from top to bottom, the noise of the 205-horsepower 6V-71T engine is part of its charm.
“I like them, to be honest with you,” he says.
Then he adds, “They are loud.”
It’s also a welcome sound after wanting for decades to find one of the forgotten dozer models that have mostly ended up as scrap, and being able to bring it back to mint condition.
“It was really in worse condition than I thought it was when I got it,” he says. “Once I started getting into it, I would find more and more things that were wrong with it.”
“But,” he adds, “there’s not many of them around, not many people have one. So I’m pretty proud of it at this point, but it’s been a lot of hard work.”
The Detroit Diesel on the D700A is loud but reliable and responsive. To see and hear the dozer in action, check out the video at the end of this story.Tim DavisDavis’ first memory of the green dozers was in the late 1970s when his father owned a grading company near Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I was 4 or 5 years old, and I remember going out and sitting in the back of a truck on the job and seeing them running,” he says. “I guess I just got it in my blood. I’ve always liked them ever since then.”
Then, the dozers were under the General Motors umbrella, which established its Terex Division in 1970. His dad’s Terex dozer was a 1978 B2-20B.
In 1981, GM sold the Terex line to IBH, a German company, which changed the nomenclature on the B2-20B dozers to D700A. IBH went bankrupt two years later, and GM resumed ownership of Terex. Davis’ model has a later serial number under IBH, leading him to believe his is a 1982 or 1983 model.
As Davis got older, he operated some Terex equipment. After school, he went to work for larger grading companies and is currently working for grading and excavating contractor Hoopaugh in the Charlotte area.
He says the Terex dozers were ahead of their time, especially in operator comfort and ergonomics. “Terex was one of the first ones to put the steering over on the lefthand console where basically all dozers are at today. The operator’s compartment was set up to be extremely operator friendly.”
He says it was comparable to the Cat D7G dozer of the same period. “In my opinion, it has a lot more power. It’s a little more nimble. It moves around a little quicker, but it’s very similar in size.”
He notes that Terex also put the radiator on the back. “They had a lot of innovative-type features for that timeframe you didn’t see until later on with other manufacturers,” he says.
Though loud, he praises the Detroit engine. “The Detroit really is responsive, and it accelerates faster than a lot of the competitive machines would have.”
“It’s very smooth to operate,” he adds. “The gear shifts, from a lower speed to a higher speed and higher to lower, were very smooth.”
The operator had good visibility to both sides of the blade. The dozers also had higher ground clearance compared to other similar dozers at the time. “To me, they seem to perform better in wet conditions and soft soils.”
All in all, he’s a big fan.
“I’ve just always enjoyed them,” he says. “I always loved General Motors products – Chevrolet trucks and Detroit Diesel engines and Allison transmissions – and that’s what most of those machines were equipped with, Detroit Diesel engines and Allison transmissions.”
Terex made its D700A cab for comfort and convenience, according to its brochure. “Throttle and engine shutdown are on the fire wall. Single level transmission control and steering levers are on the left. Single lever dozer control and ripper control are on the right. Master brake and decelerator are on the floor.”Tim DavisWhen his dad’s company fell on hard times, he had to sell the Terex dozers and scrapers. But in 1994, as he was getting back on his feet, he got a chance to buy the D700A his son owns today.
The owner of the now-defunct L.B. Smith Co. equipment dealership based in Pennsylvania decided to sell one he personally owned, and it was shipped to the dealer’s branch in Charlotte. Davis’ father considered buying it.
“I remember I was about 18 years old or so, and he and I went up there and looked at the machine and talked to the salesman about possibly purchasing it,” Davis says. “At that time the machine was in excellent condition. It had very low hours on it and was very clean.”
But his dad decided against the purchase, and it ended up with a grading company in nearby Lancaster, South Carolina.
From time to time over the years, Davis would see the green dozer at various jobsites. As he got older, he began looking for his own by searching online and at auctions. But they were hard to find. And when he did see one, either the owner wanted too much, or they were too far away.
“Those things are very few and far between,” he says. “There wasn’t a tremendous amount of them made, and then back during the recession of ’08, a lot of those machines got scrapped.”
Davis’ D700A dozer before restorationTim DavisAt some point, the grading company sold the Terex dozer to a local farmer.
Then in 2017, Davis caught a break.
“So by chance, I ran across a guy that knew the farmer that had the dozer, and this fellow knew I had some interest in it,” Davis recalls. “So he took me to talk to the farmer that owned the machine.”
The dozer Davis saw was in much worse shape than it had been in 1994. It had been used to clear land and pull out stumps. “They had really abused the machine and just hadn’t maintained it really well,” he says.
But he didn’t know until later just how bad its condition really was.
The dozer required more work than Davis expected.Tim DavisOver the next five years, he would spend his spare time working on the dozer.
It would still run, but not well. It had lots of problems.
“When I got it, all the window glass in the cab was busted out of it. The inside of the cab was a mess. All of the lights and things were knocked out of it.”
The paint was scratched and scarred. The undercarriage was worn out. There were a lot of broken bolts that had to be tapped out, rethreaded and replaced.
He rebuilt the engine and the hydraulic cylinders and replaced the radiator and all the hoses.
“I pretty much went through everything on it except for the transmission and the final drives,” he says.
Some of the parts were extremely hard to find, or nonexistent.
“I had to search high and low for some of the parts I needed.”
He lucked upon a man in Cleveland who had at one time run a fleet of Terex equipment. Davis drove from Charlotte to Ohio to load up his pickup truck with parts.
But in some cases, he would hit dead ends after rummaging through salvage yards. For the undercarriage, he had to go to a machine shop to make the components.
“I’d searched everywhere and couldn’t find the replacement parts that I needed.”
At times, he wondered if it was worth it. When yet another problem would crop up, he’d have to dig into the research and hunt for a solution. It was also expensive.
“I was like, ‘Man, I’m never going to get this thing done,’” he recalls. “It was a struggle at times to keep moving with it.”
The hard work pays off.Tim DavisNow after five years, the work is done, except for some minor issues he plans to correct. The transformation has been amazing.
“I’m extremely proud of it,” he says. “I put a lot of time and effort into it.”
His father has also been pleased and helped with the restoration, along with Davis’ brother.
“They both enjoy seeing it and seeing it finished up,” he says.
His dad has even operated it since it’s been restored.
“He’s really pleased with the way it turned out,” Davis says. “It made him proud to see it go from what it was, to getting it back in basically almost like-new condition.”
Davis is also rightly proud of the results.
“I kept pushing through it,” he says. “I’m extremely proud of the machine and like for people to see it and talk about it.”
Video and more photos
Check out the video below of Davis operating his restored Terex D700A and it’s distinct engine sound, as well as more photos of the final product:
Caterpillar is bidding farewell to its 259D3, 279D3 and 289D3 compact track loaders with the introduction of its new, next-generation 255 and 266 models.
The completely redesigned models debuted at media and customer events at Caterpillar’s Edwards, Illinois, Demonstration and Learning Center last week. The 255 and 265 offer improved engine performance, more lift height, a roomier cab and more standard technology than their predecessors.
“We kept the DNA of the D3 series while reimagining the possibilities of loader performance using voice of customer feedback to lead the way,” says Trevor Chase, product application specialist for Caterpillar. “Both next-generation models leverage the many benefits offered by the vertical lift design. The new Cat 255 replaces the 259D3, while the 265 replaces both the 279D3 and 289D3 machines.”
The CTLs are the last of Cat’s building and construction products to get the next-generation treatment and simplified nomenclature. The first number (2) represents the skid steer loader and compact track loader machine family; the middle number (5 or 6) designates the machine size; and the ending number (5) is the compact track loader identifier. Skid steers will be identified by a 0 end number. Additional new models will roll out in the coming months, the company says.
CaterpillarMore power and torque
Cat equipped the 255 with a C2.8T engine and the 265 with a C2.8TA engine, both at 74 horsepower. This gives the new machines a significant boost in torque – 13% for the 255 and 43% for the 256 – over their D3-Series predecessors. The engine and cooling package are mounted lower in the frame for added visibility out the rear window and stability while lifting heavy loads.
Customers attest that the added lift height makes truck loading easier. The 255 offers 10 feet 4 inches of lift height, while the 265 can reach 11 feet high.
“The lift height has made a big difference when loading trucks,” said Derrick Roger, owner of Coast to Coast Lawnscapes, who spent several months testing the 255. “You can get on top of that truck now and empty the bucket; whereas, before you would have to shake the bucket to try to get the material to fall out.”
The 255 delivers 36% more tilt breakout, 26% higher lift breakout force and a 24% increase in rated operating capacity (ROC). The 265 also delivers 19% higher tilt breakout force and 22% higher lift breakout force.
Standard hydraulic pressure has been increased to 3,500 psi, allowing the 255 and 265 to operate all Cat Smart Attachments with the standard auxiliary hydraulics provided.
If demanding attachments require additional hydraulic flow, customers can have their Cat dealer activate the high flow functionality on the machine or remotely via software update. This makes it possible for the CTLs to hit 30 gallons per minute of flow at the standard system pressure.
A High Flow XPS factory option increases auxiliary hydraulic system pressure to 4,061 psi for both models, while also increasing the hydraulic flow to 30 gallons per minute for the 255 and 34 gallons per minute for the 265.
The torsion suspension undercarriage delivers better operator comfort, track wear and material retention, plus the stiffer design results in smoother graded surfaces, Cat says. A new 12.6-inch bar-tread narrow track option is available on the 255.
A more spacious cab
Cat says it has increased the cab width by 2.75 inches without making the machines wider and the footwell-to-ceiling height by 1.8 inches. The larger cab gives operators an additional 1.5 inches of hip room and 1.1 inches more width between the joysticks.
A range of new mechanical and air-ride suspension seat options are available, including a ventilated and heated seat. A new automatic temperature control allows operators to set a specific temperature. Relocated vents help cool or heat the machine quickly.
The standard package includes the same 5-inch LCD monitor as the D3 Series CTLs, which offers Bluetooth connectivity and functionality for the rearview camera feed, creep, job clock, and maintenance reminders.
Customers can upgrade to a new 8-inch advanced touchscreen monitor, like the display found in Cat’s next-generation mini excavators and small loaders. It delivers advanced radio control and supports the 270-degree multicamera option. The advanced monitor pairs with the advanced joysticks for integrated control of all machine functions and adjustments.
“You can adjust the movement – or the aggressiveness or the conservativeness – of how your tracks and lift arms work through your advanced touchscreen display,” Dante Thomas, skid steer and CTL marketing manager, said. “And you can control of all of your display functions from the advanced joysticks. There are buttons with enter and select functions on those joysticks that you’re able to change any functionality that is possible.”
Cat also redesigned the entry, making the 255 and 265 easier to enter and exit. The cab door can be opened even when the lift arms are not fully lowered to the frame stops. It can be removed without tools in less than one minute.
Advanced technologies
Calling the 255 and 265 “one of the most attachment-friendly machines on the market,” Thomas says both the standard and advanced monitors can run Cat Smart Attachments, such as the dozer and grader blades and backhoe.
“It has attachment recognition that when you plug the attachment into the machine, it recognizes which attachment is connected. It adjusts your joystick pattern, so it gives you intuitive and simple control,” says Thomas.
The available Cat Product Link Elite system tracks machine hours, location, asset utilization, provides fault code details and delivers advanced monitoring and machine health, that is remotely accessible via VisionLink. In addition, Product Link Elite provides remote flash and troubleshooting capabilities and quickly enables the remote activation of the SEA High Flow feature.
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Quick Data is a snapshot of new and used wheel loader sales trends from Randall Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data, TopBid auction price service and EquipmentWatch market trend reports.
Demand for wheel loaders has softened with new and used financed wheel loader sales down year-over-year from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023 according to Randall Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data.
Financed new wheel loader sales dropped 10%, while used financed wheel loader sales fell by 15% compared to the same period last year.
Cat (22.4%), Deere (21.0%) and Komatsu (12.4%) held their positions year-over-year as the top three sellers of new financed wheel loaders. Top models sold included the Deere 544 P-Tier (401), Deere 624 P-Tier (380) and the Komatsu WA270-8 (364).
[Watch: “A Really Solid Machine” – Test Run of Komatsu’s WA475-10 Wheel Loader]
Cat (28.5%) and Deere (22.9%) also snagged the No. 1 and 2 positions for the highest number of financed used units sold, with Case (14.7%) claiming the third spot. On the date we examined the data, the top-selling models were the Case 321F (340), Cat 926M (164) and the Case 621G (159).
During this period, there were more buyers of new loaders in Florida (955) than in any other state. Buyers of new wheel loaders were also prevalent in Texas (893) and Illinois (665). Those states were also top buyers of used financed machines, with 712 units sold in Texas, 413 in Florida, and 412 in Illinois.
EDA data is compiled from state UCC-1 filings on financed construction equipment. EDA continually updates this data as information comes in from each state.
[Related Content: A Rundown of the Latest Wheel Loaders for 2023]
Used Wheel Loader Market
Used wheel loader prices rose 10.1% for the 12-month period from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023, according to Randall Reilly’s EquipmentWatch market trend data.
The average price for a used wheel loader was $137,465 in July 2022 compared to $151,367 in July 2023. The average age of used wheel loaders fell slightly during the period, dropping from 8.8 years to 8.3 years.
EquipmentWatchThe average age and price were calculated on 153,356 resale listings during the period in the EquipmentWatch database.
Over the last 12 months, prices for used wheel loaders have in general increased, with the largest gains in October 2022 (6.5%) and February 2023 (2.9%).
EquipmentWatch defines fair market value (FMV) as the monetary value of an asset that can be expected in a transaction with a single seller and single buyer, neither of whom is under any compulsion or time restriction to complete the transaction. FMV for heavy equipment is most closely associated with the private resale market, as opposed to the public auction market.
Wheel Loader Auction Prices
Caterpillar also dominated the auction charts, accounting for 18 of the top 20 wheel loaders sold in terms of price for the 12-month period of September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023. Deere and Komatsu were the only other manufacturers to appear on the list.
The top auction price spot went to a 2021 Cat 966M with 2,188 hours. It sold for $400,000 at a Ritchie Bros. auction in Orlando, Fla., on September 21, 2022. The second-highest price paid was $315,000 for a 2019 Cat 980M with 7,836 hours at another Ritchie Bros. sale in Atlanta, on December 1, 2022. Rounding out the top three was a 2018 Deere 944K with 8,941 hours. It sold for $290,00 at a J.M. Wood Auction Co. sale in Montgomery, Ala., on March 21, 2023.
In total, there were 358 wheel loaders sold at auctions tracked by Top Bid during this time, with an average price of $99,747. (This does not include any units sold for less than $5,000.)
EDA, Top Bid and EquipmentWatch are owned by Randall Reilly, parent of Equipment World.
[Related Content: Heavy Equipment Auctions Set for Second Half of 2023]
Volvo Construction Equipment bought Terex’s off-road truck line in 2014, and six years later, it rebranded its articulated haulers under the Rokbak name.
On this episode of The Dirt, we hear from Paul Douglas, Volvo vice president of rigid haulers, who explains the differences between the old Terex line and the Rokbak trucks. He also gives a hint at some of the new things coming from Rokbak, including redesigned cabs and replacing the current trucks with new models. There’s also the possibility of a new size truck to hit the market.
Rokbak, as with other construction equipment brands, is working toward a zero-emissions future. On this episode, he explains where the articulated dump truck market is heading in terms of alternative fuel. He adds that customers will see big changes in emissions and engines in the next five years, with the ultimate goal of reaching zero emissions within 10 years.
So to learn more about Rokbak and what the brand has in store for the future, check out this episode of The Dirt.
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