Cat 973K Track Loader - Steel Mill Configuration

    
• Specialized heavy duty guarding, insulation, thermal deflectors and high temperature seals throughout the machine.
    
• Welded side bars reduce thermal distortion of the track roller frame.    
    
• Anti-abrasion guards protect the final drive seals.    
    
• Pressure relief/flash spark arrester on fuel tank cap.  
    
• Steel mill cab with heavy duty, laminated windshield glass.    
    
• Metallic screen on windshield grill to help protect glass and maintain good visibility; hinged for quick cleaning access.    
    
• Metallic shield integrated in bottom of cab doors helps protect windows against slag.    
    
• Specialized heat resistant seals and cab materials.    
    
• Steel plate on top of cab greatly reduces radiant heat transfer into cab.    
    
• New high capacity slag bucket features thicker structures and stronger teeth/cutting edges for longer service life.    
    
• Choice of track shoes lets you optimize your loader for traction and to work on paved surfaces.   
    
• Synthetic, fire-resistant hydraulic fluid.

Caterpillar recommends that Steel Mill machines be exposed to hot slag for less than 15 minutes each hour to allow for adequate cooling time between cycles. Typically, two machines per furnace and a backup machine for the site provide the best uptime. The timing, frequency and duration of the work and cooling cycles varies by job site, but exceeding the recommended exposure time will prevent the machine from meeting expected performance levels.

    
• Heavy duty front guard and bottom guards    
    
• Heavy duty laminated windshield glass    
    
• Side bars welded on the track roller frame    
    
• Metallic rings on low and high linkage    
    
• Floating solid pin on lower bucket linkages    
    
• High temperature seals in the equalizer bar, idlers, track rollers and final drives    
    
• High temperature braiding on wiring harnesses    
    
• Silicone material used on windshield, side windows and cab door seals, front baffles, front and rear wiper blades and door stoppers    
    
• Thermal insulation of front guard, equalizer bar rubber pads, air cleaner hose, bottom guards, enclosure doors, fenders, lift cylinders heads, hydraulic tilt lines, hydraulic lift lines, hydrostatic lines, cab sound insulation, DEF lines, lift rotary sensor and lift linkage sensor    
    
• Radiator guard with counterweights helps improve machine balance    
    
• Fire resistant floormat   
    
• Fuel spark arrester and pressure relief    
    
• Cab door windows protected at bottom    
    
• Additional metal roof on top of cab    
    
• Metallic door handles and push-button release    
    
• Manual brake release system located in the cab    
    
• 8 heat-resistant lights

    
• Visibility Kit, Double Camera    
    
• Windshield Protection    
    
• Tilt Cylinder Guard    
    
• Lower Final Drive Abrasion Guard

    
• Reversing Fan, Steel Mill
    
• Metallic Turbine Precleaner on Engine Air Inlet
    
• Tracks, Sealed & Non-Lubricated For Steel Mill
    
• Ecosafe Hydraulic Oil
    
• Steel Mill Cab
    
• No Product Link
    
• No Bumper
    
• 3.0 m3 (4.0 yd3) Slag Bucket
    
• Heavy Duty Bumper Counterweight

    
• Track Roller Guard, Steel Mill Arrangement
    
• Final Drive Abrasion Guard

Note: A Partial Steel Mill package is available for Cat® 953K and 963K Track Loader models. The base package offers specialized seals and guarding, as well as machine features to allow dealer upgrades to your track loader for work in high-temperature conditions. The Partial Steel Mill package does not include modifications required to work in hot slag. Please consult with your Cat dealer for details.