davejstl
New member
I recently bought a use Cat 259B3 with about 3100 hours. It ran perfectly for a while, then I come out one day and it won't start. It just clicked when I tried to start it, so I jumped it and it ran fine for a while. Battery is dated May 2021.
Then the loader arms started getting jerky. Instead of smooth operation, they would go up or down in jerky motions about a foot at a time. Soon after that (probably less than a minute), the machine wouldn't move anymore. Loader wouldn't move, tracks wouldn't move, but engine was still running fine.
I stop the machine, and of course it won't start on its own. I jump it, and get it moving again.
Since then, I have to jump it every single time. It usually runs fine for at least a few minutes, but usually the same pattern will occur - loader stops working, then the tracks.
Are these issues related, or coincidence? Today I plan to try my tractor battery in the Cat to see if the battery is an issue.
I also cleaned out the belly pan the other day. There was an inch or two of material in there - not sure how much was in there when I bought it vs my minimal usage. All hoses looked to be in good condition to my not-a-mechanic eyes.
Ideas?
Then the loader arms started getting jerky. Instead of smooth operation, they would go up or down in jerky motions about a foot at a time. Soon after that (probably less than a minute), the machine wouldn't move anymore. Loader wouldn't move, tracks wouldn't move, but engine was still running fine.
I stop the machine, and of course it won't start on its own. I jump it, and get it moving again.
Since then, I have to jump it every single time. It usually runs fine for at least a few minutes, but usually the same pattern will occur - loader stops working, then the tracks.
Are these issues related, or coincidence? Today I plan to try my tractor battery in the Cat to see if the battery is an issue.
I also cleaned out the belly pan the other day. There was an inch or two of material in there - not sure how much was in there when I bought it vs my minimal usage. All hoses looked to be in good condition to my not-a-mechanic eyes.
Ideas?