Cat has introduced the 253 compact track loader, a machine positioned for grading and material handling between its existing 249D3 and 255 models. The new loader carries a rated operating capacity of 2,006 pounds (910 kilograms) and an operating weight of 9,343 pounds (4,238 kilograms), a combination the company says supports easier transport between job sites.
Building on the Cat 259D3 foundation, the 253 uses a next-generation one-piece undercarriage with rigid, frame-mounted axles. Four fully independent axles mount directly to the frame, a design intended to improve grading capability while supporting traction and stability when the machine handles heavy loads.
Undercarriage and tracks
The 253 features a redesigned one-piece track roller frame similar to the one used on the 255, which Cat says contributes to stability and operator confidence. New 15-inch (380-millimeter) general-duty C-Pattern tracks are designed to increase ground engagement and deliver grip in mud and other soft underfoot conditions.
Zach Waite, commercial director for Caterpillar Industry Solutions, said each model in the 8,000- to 10,000-pound compact track loader class has a distinct undercarriage design engineered to optimize performance across applications. He said the 253 fits between the Cat 249D3 and 255, and that the C-Pattern track design gives customers an all-around machine able to work on gravel, dirt, hard surfaces, turf, snow and unfinished terrain. The 255 and 253 track types are interchangeable, he added.
Hydraulics, cab and controls
- Standard flow of 20 gpm at 3,336 psi (76 lpm at 23,000 kPa) on canopy models
- High-flow of 30 gpm at 3,336 psi (112 lpm at 23,000 kPa) standard on cab models
- Canopy, or sealed and pressurized cab designs, to suit customer preference
- Standard high-back, heated air-ride seat with adjustable joystick pods
- Joystick command patterns adjustable between ISO and H patterns
- Full-colour 5-inch (127-millimeter) LCD screen with soft-touch buttons
The loader is powered by an electronically controlled Cat 3.3B engine that Cat says delivers high horsepower and torque while meeting U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final/Stage V emissions standards. A two-speed transmission enables higher travel speeds.
For service and maintenance, a tilt-up, one-piece cab design provides quick access to under-cab components, and daily service and routine maintenance points are reachable from ground level, which the company says helps improve productivity. Purpose-built kits allow aftermarket customization to expand design flexibility.
Technology features
Cat's standard technology package includes dual self-levelling, which automatically keeps attachments and material level when raising and lowering for better stability and material retention. A return-to-dig and work tool positioner automates repetitive tasks, and creep speed technology helps prevent overspeeding for a smooth, precise finish in applications such as cold planing or fine grading. Cat adds that its connected-worksite technology is intended to streamline equipment maintenance.
Waite said combining the one-piece next-generation undercarriage with independent rigid, frame-mounted axles gives customers a system that helps deliver a stable platform when lifting and grading.