Value for your Investment

This machine will exceed your expectations

ulli Versatility With the right work tool, the 973D has extreme versatility. It can sort waste, maintain haul roads, dig large quantities of dirt, then finely spread cover material. With a trash rack installed, it can doze large volumes of waste. Add a ripper to assist with haul road maintenance and loosen cover material. With its zbar linkage, the 973D is a world class digging machine. It also excels at truck loading, feeding hoppers and maintaining dump areas and haul roads. With hystat drive and a new transmission joystick control, the machine is easy to run, highly maneuverable, quick to accelerate and can turn in extremely tight spaces. lili Uptime With valuable input from our customers and Dealers, Caterpillar has been designing waste handling machines for decades. Our proven designs keep the machines running for thousands of reliable hours each year. The 973D takes machine availability to a higher level with the benefit of traction in bad weather. The 973D can keep trucks moving work in sloppy underfoot conditions and keep the landfill operational. With its stability, it can work comfortably in loose waste, demolition debris or wet clay.lili Machine Productivity Quick, maneuverable, and highly productive with simple to use, intuitive controls and bucket options to match production requirements. See bucket details on page 9.lili Waste Handling Packages For your convenience, Caterpillar offers two waste handling guarding packages. Waste Handler designed for landfills, transfer stations and material recovery facilities Waste Handler Extreme Service intended for demanding demolition work and maximum protectionlili Safety Safety is paramount around people, equipment and waste. The 973D helps protect the operator with a front windshield screen, fresh, clean air inside the cab, and three points of contact when getting on and off the machine. Forthose working around the machine, the 973D WH will sound a back up alarm when reversing, the operator has improved visibility around the machine from the new cab and sloped hood design, and all daily inspection points canbeviewed from ground level.liul

Waste Handler Guarding

Longterm protection for your machine and business

Seal Protection Guard Group

ulli Seals are a critical design element for protecting gears and lubricant fluids. In waste applications, these seals require additional protection against wire, nylon straps and other debris. The 973D WH has guarding for final drive, pivotshaft and idler seals.lili HeavyDuty Final Drive Seal Guards prevent damage toFinal Drive Duocone Seals by preventing wire, plastics and other debris from wrapping. 1liul

Final Drive Abrasion Guards 2

Final drive guarding protects two ways, first against debris impact loads and secondly from abrasivematerials like waste and demolition materials. These drives are manufactured with an abrasion resistant steel for long life.

Front Idler Guard 3

A front idler guard blocks material from affecting the yoke, link, recoil rod and idler in the drive train.

Lift Cylinder Lines and Position Sensor Guard 4

Protects the lift cylinder, hydraulic lines and position sensor harness from mud and waste.

HeavyDuty Hydraulic Tank Guard 5

Deflects debris away from the hydraulic tank.

Fender Reinforcement

ulli Reinforced fenders protect cab and sheet metal by blocking and deflecting debris with a angled design. 6lili A tapered front deflector pushes debris out and away from the machine when backing up.liul

Oil Gauge Guard 7

Act as a debris barrier that prevents oil gauge damage anddebris entry in the engine compartment.

Third Valve Lines Guards not shown

Protect steel hydraulic lines for MultiPurpose Bucket from damage caused by material pushed upwardbetween lift arms when backdragging. The guards are located atthe inner side of the lift arm.

Waste Handler Guarding cont.

HeavyDuty Bumper

ulli Protects the radiator and adds rigidity and strength to surrounding structures against debris.lili Designed to maintain excellent visibility to the rear.lili Includes heavyduty hinged grill that protects the radiator. Easy to open and clean.lili Built strong to include a hitch point for pulling trucks or other equipment.liul

Rear Striker Bar

Designed to prevent large debris from riding up the track and damaging the machine. Also serves asastep for entering the cab.

Tilt Cylinder Guards

ulli Protect cylinder, cylinder rod and hydraulic lines from falling debris.lili Help extend cylinder seal life.liul

HeavyDuty Swing Open Bottom Guards

ulli Help protect engine and drive train from damage.lili Hinged to provide easy access for servicing and cleanout.liul

Prevention

Designs to keep you running

While guarding will protect most of the machine from impact loads, additional protection is needed to keep smaller particles from clogging air circulation around and to the engine. Following are additional waste handling features thatare important to machine uptime.

Windshield Screen

Designed to keep the operator safe from debris that could break the windshield. Its hinged to allow easy access to theglass for cleaning.

Debris Barrier Package

ulli A complete set of rubber baffles and seals safeguard the engine and power train compartment against buildup of debris and cooling package against plugging. This results in longer operating time between cleanouts, maximized machine uptime and reduced operating costs. Barriersare present at interfaces between the cab, chassis, fenders and engine enclosure doors.lili The cooling package requires air free of flying debris for optimum performance. In order to reduce debris entry and encourage air flow, 5mm 0.2 in diameter perforations are designed into hood and engine enclosure doors.liul

Prevention cont.

Precleaner with Prescreener

ulli Essential to all waste handlers, the precleaner with aprescreener attached prevents trash from entering theengine air intake.lili Integral to the system is a turbinetype dust ejection system that extends filter life.liul

DebrisResistant Air Conditioner Condenser

ulli The air conditioning system is designed so that the air inlet is protected from falling debris.lili Provides excellent visibility to the rear of the machine.liul

Louvered Rear Grill

This grill is designed with louvers angled at 45 to deflect debris.

Trash Resistant Radiator and Coolers

Providing space between radiator fins allows smaller debris to pass through. This promotes better cooling performance and reduces the number of cleanouts. The 973D is equipped with a 6 fpi radiator and coolers.

OnDemand Fan

This feature reduces cooling package plugging, enhances cold weather operation, improves fuel economy and reduces exterior noise. In the waste handling applications, a lower air flow reduces the amount of garbage collected on air inlets which increases the maintenance interval.

Track Shoe Options

Double Grouser Track

ulli Provides good balance and traction with a smooth ride.lili Available with a trapezoidal center hole that resists track packing and track chain tightening.liul

Single Grouser Track

ulli Aggressive track for good chopping action in debris.lili Offers the best traction in poor underfoot conditions.lili Available with trapezoidal center hole that resists track packing and track chain tightening.liul

Operator Environment

Promoting safe, engaged, and productive operators

The 973D has a new cab that promotes comfort and focus on the job. Operators enjoy greater visibility around the machine fostering greater confidence and safety.

Service Intervals

The time between fluid and filter service intervals has been significantly increased, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity for the 973D WH.

Safety

ulli ROPSFOPS operator protection integral to the cab structure.lili Greater glass throughout improves visibility around the machine.lili Sound reduction the 973D has exceptional noise reduction in the cab, lowering operator dynamic noise to 77 dBA per ISO 6396. Thisreduces fatigue and promotes greater focus on the job.lili Rubber isolation mounts dampen vibration transmitted from the machine into the cab for comfort and focus.lili Automatic temperature control and filtered air is pressurized to keep dust out, and allows the operator to set cab air temperature to their preferred level.lili Heavyduty hinged windshield screen protects the operator from debris capable of breaking glass. Convenient to open when cleaning the windshield.lili A threepoint seat belt is retractable keeping it clean and 75 mm 3 in wide for comfortable restraint.lili Excellent coverage to the work area can be extended with an optional lighting adding illumination forward and to the rear.liul

Convenience

ulli Optional transmission joystick see bottom RHS picture offers low effort control of machine direction. Two joystick transmission control patterns are available to suit operator preference.lili The air suspension seat includes a removable headrest, lumbar adjustment and a rear seat document holder for the OMM.lili The seat and its armrests are fully adjustable allowing the operator to customize their operation of the machine.lili Power train controls on the left side will tilt for quick and easy access into the cab seat.liul

Cat Work Tools

Options that make the most of the 973Ds strengths

For the greatest return on your investment, your 973D should be equipped specifically for the demands of your job site. The 973D comes with two bucket options, trash rack options and a ripper. Choosing the right bucket will make the most of the machines versatility. Both buckets offer long life and durability in waste applications. General Purpose Landfill bucket has a capacity of 4.9m3 6.4 yd3 and can be equipped with an optional trash rack for dozing lightweight materials. This bucket is designed for easy loading in stockpile or hard bank materials. Adding the trash rack helps prevent material from spilling over the top and increases dozing capacity by 52.

Multi Purpose Landfill bucket has a capacity of 4.6 m3 6.0 yd3 and can greatly expand the 973Ds versatility. It can act as a typical bucket for loading trucks, dozing waste or digging. It can also instantly change into a dozertype blade for spreading cover material, or it can sort material with the ability to clamp on to debris. Byadding the trash rack to this bucket, its capacity todoze and load material increased 53.

Ripper A 3shank parallelogram ripper facilitates working in frozen ground and hard materials like asphalt, rocky ground and hard clay. Ripper shank options are available to help improve ripping productivity.

K Series Tooth System offers options that match the requirement of your job site. The system is easy to change, stays secure on the bucket, and offers long term sharpness.

Operation and Service

Service convenience and operator efficiency by design

Fast Fill Fuel System

In highhour applications, pausing to fuel can be a drain on productivity. The 973Ds fast fill system is capable of adding fuel at568 Lmin 150 galmin.

Counterweight Package

Machine balance is critical in poor underfoot conditions, load and carry and truck loading applications. Caterpillar offers a counterweight package that provides 1460 kg 3,218 lb to the rear of the machine. Counterweight is ideal for machines not equipped with a ripper.

Windshield Sealed

The front windshield is sealed to ease replacement in the field and maximize uptime.

Electronic Monitoring System

This system identifies the specific machine issue, displays the fault and facilitates quick resolution by service personnel.

Product Link Enabled

This option can keep vital personnel in contact with the machine, its performance including fuel use, itsparts and service needs and out of spec operation or locations. Service is more efficient with advance notice of required parts, and timing can bearranged per your schedule.

Tiltable Cab

This feature allows service personnel to access important drive train and hydraulic components. The cab can tilt 30 degrees in the field with the aid of a hydraulic jack or tilt 90 degrees using an external lifting device.

Maintenance Package Deluxe

Choosing this option when purchasing the machine will add the convenience of quick evacuation for engine oil and sediment flushing of the fuel tank.

Customer Support

Caterpillar has the most experienced dealer network in the world

Commitment Makes the Difference

Cat dealers offer a wide range of solutions, services and products to help you lower costs, enhance productivity and manage your operation more efficiently. From the time you select a piece of Catequipment until you trade or sell it, the support you get from your Cat dealer makes the difference.

Dealer Capability

Cat dealers provide the level of support you need on a global scale. Dealer expert technicians have the knowledge, experience, training and tooling necessary to handle your repair and maintenance needs, when and where you need them.

Product Support

When Cat products reach the field, they are supported by a worldwide network of parts distribution facilities, dealer service centers and technical training facilities to keep your equipment up and running. Cat customers rely on prompt, dependable parts availability through our global dealer network, meeting your needs 247.

Service Support

Cat equipment is designed and built to provide maximum productivity and operating economy throughout its working life. Catdealers offer a wide range of service plans that will maximize uptime and return on your investment, including ulli Preventive Maintenance Programslili Diagnostic Programs, such as Scheduled Oil Sampling and Technical Analysislili Rebuild and Reman Optionslili Customer Support Agreementsliul

Application Awareness

Operating and maintenance costs are influenced by many application and sitespecific factors, such as material density, loading position, payload, grades, speeds, haul road design and maintenance. Your Cat dealer can provide you with an understanding of the effects application characteristics and operating techniques have on maintenance and operating costs.

Operation

Your Cat dealer offers training programs to help operators improve productivity, decrease downtime, reduce operating costs and enhance safety.

Sustainability

A commitment for future generations

Caterpillar is committed to building safe products that contribute to your business, promote efficient energy use andhelp protect the environment.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The 973D is a Tier 3Stage IIIA emissions compliant machine with reduced levels of carbon dioxide and soot.

Sound

The 973D has reduced noise levels of 77 dBA dynamic with noise reduction technology throughout the cab.

Fuel Efficiency

ulli Cooler environments will see a fuel benefit from the ondemand cooling fan that uses energy only when itsneeded. lili Electronic governing and the fine, accurate injection offuel make the Cat C9 engine responsive to load yet mindful offueluse.liul

Life Cycle Costs

Caterpillar and your Dealer can offer you remanufactured parts, customer service agreements and rebuild options. Themachine is designed to limit downtime with 500 hour oiland filter changes, waste specific guarding and protection, and quick evacuation of engine oil and hydraulic oil. Scheduled oil sampling can monitor the health of your machine. Parts commonality with other Cat equipment reduces parts stocking requirements at either your shop orthe Dealers.

Recycle

When the time comes, all of the steel that makes up the 973DWaste Handler can be recycled and reused.

Drive System
Maximum System Pressure	6527 psi
Weights
Operating Weight	65157 lb
Buckets
Capacity - GP Landfill	6.4 yd3
Capacity – GP	4.2 yd3
Capacity – MP Landfill	6 yd3
Capacity – MP	3.92 yd3
Width – GP Landfill	114.56 in
Width – GP	114.56 in
Width – MP Landfill	112.91 in
Width – MP	112.91 in
Undercarriage
Track Shoe Width – Standard	21.6 in
Track Shoe Width – Optional	26.6 in
Track Gauge	85 in
Ground Pressure – Standard Shoe	12.4 psi
Ground Pressure – Optional Shoe	10.1 psi
Track Shoe Type	Double Grouser, Extreme Service
Service Refill Capacities
Fuel Tank	164 gal
Cooling System	11.6 gal
Hydraulic Tank	49.9 gal
Ripper
Type	Parallelogram
Number of Pockets	3
Overall Width/Beam	86.6 in
Penetration	15.6 in
Ripping Width	72.4 in
Hydraulic system – Implement
Main Relief Valve Setting	3988 psi
Output	91.4 gal/min
Cycle Time – Dump	1.4 Seconds
Type	Closed Center Load Sensing
Cycle Time – Raise	6.5 Seconds
Cycle Time – Float Down	2.7 Seconds