Just like their distant cousin the CTL, track loaders are pretty much all about versatility. And while the relative upstart CTL has quickly become the Swiss army knife of a lot of jobsites, the tried and true track loader takes that versatility to a different level.
The power and size of an actual tractor with swappable tools and the multi-terrain versatility of tracks is a powerful combination making these machines capable of doing just about anything, anywhere.
And with its latest track loader, Cat has made everything good about the 963 even better. There’s more power, an updated cab, increased uptime and several improvements inspired by Cat’s latest dozers.
Check out the video above for all the details.
The new 963 slots right in the middle of Cat’s three-model track loader lineup. The machine in its standard configuration weighs in at 44,881 pounds and the standard equipment general purpose bucket has a capacity of 3.2 cubic yards.
The 963 is powered by Cat’s C7.1 engine, providing 202 horsepower. Notably, this is the same engine in the smaller 953, though on that model, the engine only provides 160 hp. It’s also the same engine inside Cat’s new D5 dozer.
But there are a couple of big advances to point out on this new 963 when it comes to the engine.
First of all, Cat says they’ve squeezed 15 percent more peak torque out of the C7.1 than what was there on the previous model. That additional torque is providing a nice chunk of additional power to the ground when the machine is under load and has sped up cycle times when both digging and dozing.
The 963 pairs this extra engine power with load-sensing hydraulics and position-sensing cylinders for more refined control and giving the machine the ability to better understand what’s being asked of it.
Speaking of response to machine load, in addition to the extra torque, Cat has also managed to enable a reduction in fuel consumption on the 963 through the use of three engine modes.
Cat says you can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 percent by placing the 963 in Auto Mode. Auto Mode sets engine RPM at 1600 for normal tasks and then automatically increases or decreases engine speed to match the load on the machine at a given time.
Cat has really designed this auto mode for those who’d like to save fuel but don’t feel like moving between engine modes a lot.
For further fuel savings and when you’re in light enough applications that make sense for it, you can drop the machine into Eco Mode which has a wider idle range.
Finally, there’s Power Mode which increases engine speed, making power readily available when you need it.
