299D xhp and hm415 demo

[cat 297c]

My local cat dealer finally got the hm415 in this week. My salesman called Monday and said it was good to go, picked it up this afternoon going to run it tomorrow 8-10hr i'll let y'all know how the 299d preforms in 100 degree heat.

[Eric H]

I will be interested in your review. I am testing a sk 140. Basically the same machine with more cooling options. I would like to know how a stock unit handles the heat.

[ditchhopper]

Thats hot.

[timberwolf71]

Cat, I look forward to your thoughts on this set up. I've had the 299D XHP for 2 weeks now, but with a HM 315 converted with bigger hoses to produce more flow. Also the door has been removed being the conversion kit to run the door won't be available till the end of July or so. So far I really like it. The mechanic that plumbed the head to work with this machine told me that I wouldn't see full potential of the hydraulic power with the HM 315 conversion he came up with, but it would give me a good idea of what to expect from the HM 415. He also said that this configuration was only running in XPS mode and not XHP mode and wouldn't do so until paired with the HM 415... Long story short.... Took it out to a job and went to mulching and was actually really surprised at the performance. After running it a couple of days the sales rep called me up and wanted to know what I thought ??? I repeated to him what the mechanic had told me about optimal performance and that I couldn't imagine it getting any better with the HM 415...Sooo I look forward to hearing how that 2 stage head does with that loader... The only thing with this demo is it hasn't got the forestry debris package on it yet and most important it hasn't got the pre cleaner installed yet and I still feel the need to blow the filters out every couple of hours as hot,dry and dusty as it is here. I'm confident that snorkeled pre cleaner will make this issue a lot better !

[cat 297c]

Just got in from the job I was on today with the 299d. Wow cat really did there homework and listened to there customers. The job I was on was extremely dusty, and temperatures in the upper 90's. I never had to stop to blow out the radiator or oil cooler. The hyd oil temp and water temp stayed in check all day I took a picture today of the gauges at 2 o'clock the hottest part of the day u can check it out below. The engine bay at the end of 10 hrs was clean not a leaf or any other debris, which if it wasn't sealed go I would have found out I cut 1 acre of wild Youpan and privet, then trimmed 1/4 mile of fence row. The 415hm is a great match with the 299d the head never stalled out or jammed and I was trying to do just that I cut a 12 in blackgum down with no problems. The 2 speed motor really makes a difference compared to my old 315hm. An the a/c works amazing I had to shut it off serval times to keep the windows from fogging up. As far as comparing the 299d xhp to other machines i really can't. In the past few weeks i've ran serval machines tl 250 an t870 an out of the two the bobcat is the only one that comes close but the 299d smokes them both hands down. I would go as far to say that with chipper teeth on the head it would cut just as good as my rayco 140. All an all awesome machine great job by cat. I took some before photos but forgot to take afters.

[tuckinlugz]

So how much does it cost? What about the machine only?

[timberwolf71]

[QUOTE=cat 297c;2919475]Just got in from the job I was on today with the 299d. Wow cat really did there homework and listened to there customers. The job I was on was extremely dusty, and temperatures in the upper 90's. I never had to stop to blow out the radiator or oil cooler. The hyd oil temp and water temp stayed in check all day I took a picture today of the gauges at 2 o'clock the hottest part of the day u can check it out below. The engine bay at the end of 10 hrs was clean not a leaf or any other debris, which if it wasn't sealed go I would have found out I cut 1 acre of wild Youpan and privet, then trimmed 1/4 mile of fence row. The 415hm is a great match with the 299d the head never stalled out or jammed and I was trying to do just that I cut a 12 in blackgum down with no problems. The 2 speed motor really makes a difference compared to my old 315hm. An the a/c works amazing I had to shut it off serval times to keep the windows from fogging up. As far as comparing the 299d xhp to other machines i really can't. In the past few weeks i've ran serval machines tl 250 an t870 an out of the two the bobcat is the only one that comes close but the 299d smokes them both hands down. I would go as far to say that with chipper teeth on the head it would cut just as good as my rayco 140. All an all awesome machine great job by cat. I took some before photos but forgot to take afters.[/QUO Think I've made my decision.

[ramzee1]

Cat,glad you liked it. That's what I think abouth the performance, for a skid steer right off the lot, it can go to work. The air conditioning is just like you say you have to turn it up alittle to keep the bottom part of the windows from fogging up. I've got a set of Quadcos put on my 415 but work came to a standstill, haven't had a chance to try them out. Hope yours keeps going. Good luck.

[cat 297c]

Cat,glad you liked it. That's what I think abouth the performance, for a skid steer right off the lot, it can go to work. The air conditioning is just like you say you have to turn it up alittle to keep the bottom part of the windows from fogging up. I've got a set of Quadcos put on my 415 but work came to a standstill, haven't had a chance to try them out. Hope yours keeps going. Good luck.

Ramzee, have u had the chance to run the 415 with the quadco chippers yet? If so how much better did it perform?

[ramzee1]

Cat,
Still haven't, we've been out mowing. When the machine gets back home I have some tree tops to clean up from a storm, should be in the next week.