Cat Challenger MT765B

[AlistairR]

Looking at buying a second hand Challenger 765B with 6500 hours on. What is there to look out for when going to view any specific issues. It a 2007 year. Not wanting to be a main workhorse , but need something to pull a mole drainer twin leg

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[startinghandle]

I remember reading an article in one of the tractor magazines that a driving test is needed before going on the road

 

[nick...]

Clunky transmissions and very poor air con are only real issues
nick...

 

[farenheit]

advantage : sounds brilliant
Disadvantage: you won’t need to open the window to hear it

 

[AlistairR]

Clunky transmissions and very poor air con are only real issues
nick...

Would you walk away if I thought the powershift was clunky or is quite normal for them? Never owned or operated a Challenger before

 

[Robt]

They are very very strong tractors!
Gearbox is clunky between shifts. They all are. 12 to 13 is worst i think.
Check inside of tracks for wires showing.
Check idler wheels for rubber falling off.
Check if it had top of exhaust extended to help with noise.
Check if the bottom right hand of windscreen is cracked (heat from exhuast)
Check the idler wheel oil seals/bearing. If they are wheeping, You may have caught early enough.
Other than that, they are very strong.
Always ensure you are completely stopped before putting into park.... else, bang, big bill!

 

[farenheit]

Always ensure you are completely stopped before putting into park.... else, bang, big bill!

Do they all have that particular reverse gear range where it goes from painfully slow to "holy shite" ? R3 to R4 perhaps?

 

[Robt]

Do they all have that particular reverse gear range where it goes from painfully slow to "holy shite" ? R3 to R4 perhaps?

Yes they do. That wall suddenly appears rather quick!

 

[John]

Very noisy in the cab very clunky and wouldn’t pull the twin leg very well. Plenty of power but couldn’t put it down very well.

 

[AlistairR]

There is a C 2012 at sale in Lincolnshire 2012 Cat Challenger MT765C rubber tracked crawler with Zuidberg front linkage, 6 spools, track weigh (brown-co.com) Looks like the drive wheels have chunks of rubber missing from them, is that an expensive fix?

 

[snarling bee]

We would struggle with a twin legger here with a 765, even a 75/95E would loose grip. Need a quaddy on it.

 

[s~~t shoveller]

Surprised people say clunky...ours seems smooth in comparison to other powershift boxes I would say.

 

[Flatlander]

Robot has excellent points to check. Might want to use a mobile phone and video inside of the drivers. Check for any sweating or seeping from the reaction arms. Not common on the 700 series but on the 800 series it was very common here in Canada. With 6500 hrs on the motor the fan bearings will be ready for greasing. Mine has the grease nipple but you can only access it when the fan and hub are removed. Check also the steering. She should pull in a straight line without any correction. With auto steer it’s not that noticeable in the field but if she is pulling to one side it either need calibration or the ORings could be leaking inside the steering motor. That’s a big job and costly. Mentioned was poor air con. Both of my challengers has this issue and both cured by putting in a cheap tap in the heater hose. The control module that shut the hot coolant from circulating fails early in the tractors life. All in all my 765 is a power house for its size. In a push we planted 2100 acres in six days with a 42 ft jd1980 drill and 10 ton air cart pulled by the 765.

 

[haybob]

Check for cracks on the inner side of the front idlers. Do not be tempted to reduce the cab temperature down to the lowest setting especially after you have just turned the engine on and it's getting warm. Leave it set around 20- 21degrees and give it chance to sort itself out.

 

[deleted user 837354]

For the uninitiated, am I right in thinking there is one particular batch of models which were a fudging nightmare but it wasn't the B series? I'm sure I read that here, thought someone would mention it for the benefit of any interested parties.

 

[diesel1]

Change the reaction arm bearing oil every 250 hours, if these are over looked you will be sorry!
I have a MT765A, fantastic machine! It's a 2002 machine, not cost me anything in repairs, 6400hrs.

 

[Snyder Organics]

Robot has excellent points to check. Might want to use a mobile phone and video inside of the drivers. Check for any sweating or seeping from the reaction arms. Not common on the 700 series but on the 800 series it was very common here in Canada. With 6500 hrs on the motor the fan bearings will be ready for greasing. Mine has the grease nipple but you can only access it when the fan and hub are removed. Check also the steering. She should pull in a straight line without any correction. With auto steer it’s not that noticeable in the field but if she is pulling to one side it either need calibration or the ORings could be leaking inside the steering motor. That’s a big job and costly. Mentioned was poor air con. Both of my challengers has this issue and both cured by putting in a cheap tap in the heater hose. The control module that shut the hot coolant from circulating fails early in the tractors life. All in all my 765 is a power house for its size. In a push we planted 2100 acres in six days with a 42 ft jd1980 drill and 10 ton air cart pulled by the 765.

I am looking at a 765B. one has really high hours 9700 for $56000 CAD is a really good price, Or is it?

 

[Flatlander]

I am looking at a 765B. one has really high hours 9700 for $56000 CAD is a really good price, Or is it?

In todays market place it would appear reasonable, those hours are not high for a challenger. But it will all depend on condition and how well it’s been maintained. Reaction arm oil should have been changed every engine oil change ,track condition,drivers and mid rollers are all big ticket items if they need replacing. Pair of 24 inch tracks will cost you 25k here. Mid rollers 400 each and rear drivers 3k each and you’ll need to replace them In pairs or it stretched the tracks being uneven in size reaction arm replacement is 10k a side. I bought mine fir roughly the same money but was at a third of this hours. Like all machinery it’s dependant on whose had it before you. Love mine thou. Great little tractor and a power house.

 

[Snyder Organics]

Wow you got a great price, if happen to find another one. HAHA This is great information Thanks

 

[AgroEmanuel]

Great tractor Challenger!!!