Page 12 - Equipment Echoes Issue #137

The Return of the D-2

Another Cat schematic, comparing the new crawler tractor models. Note that the new D5 incorporates two of the previous D5 and D6 versions.

machines that use the existing system. (Cat actually has reused The new nomenclature was to be applied over an anticipated
series letters in at least two instances, the D4C and D7E. The origi- five-year period to all future generations of all Cat products except
nals were built from 1959 through 1966 and 1961 through 1969 engines, generators and, interestingly, crawler tractors, as will be
respectively; the later D4C was offered from 1988 through circa discussed in a moment. Three years later, several product lines in-
1999, and the electric drive D7E debuted in 2008.) cluding telehandlers, asphalt pavers and embankment and landfill
In its coverage of the nomenclature change, Equipment World compactors have not yet been affected. Attachments will also be
prepared the following table showing how build numbers would included as they are improved.
be applied to representative machines then in production at their
next generational upgrade. Crawler tractors under the new system
Even though some models of crawler tractors were the only
Next Series Model number
letter under on machine in Model number machines “running out of the alphabet” with T-series models, they
Current model designation old system new system with Build Number were exempted, at least for the time; rather than a straight genera-
Cat 336F L Excavator Cat 336G L Cat 336 Cat 336 (Build 07)
Cat 259D Compact Track Loader Cat 259E Cat 259 Cat 259 (Build 05)
Cat 305E 2 CR Compact Cat 305F Cat 305 Cat 305 (Build 06)
Excavator
Cat 950M Wheel Loader Cat 950N Cat 950 Cat 950 (Build 14)
Cat 420F 2 Loader/backhoe Cat 420G Cat 420 Cat 420 (Build 07)

A new Build Number will be assigned for each generational im-
provement, and the Build Number will receive a letter suffix for
each minor update; for example, the first minor update of the 420
(Build 07) loader backhoe in the above table would be 420 (Build
07A). The major and minor series identifiers will be gone. Also de-
leted are overly complicated modifiers, such as L for long carriage,
CR for compact radius, and RR for reduced radius on excavators.
The machines will still bear the “value segment identifier” and
“configuration modifier,” serving in much the same capacity as
trim identifiers for a car model; examples to be retained include
XE for the 336 XE, GC for several no-frills, low-tech machines, and
LGP for low ground pressure arrangements of various crawlers.
Special application designations such as “Aggregate Handler” will
also be used. The T suffix of crawler tractors was part of what made the nomenclature change necessary.
(Caterpillar, Inc. specalog AEHQ5592 9-04, HCEA Archives)

10 | Equipment Echoes Summer 2020 | #137