I have a 922B loader with no cab and it's great. dose everything I asked it to do and slowly getting her all tuned up last year I line bored the bucket and made her a little tighter still have per cup seals to do on her ]in the head. I have been at the limit a few times on what it will lift and with my toys getting bigger, not smaller I was wonder if a 944 is much of a step up or should I go right to a 966 or a more modern 950? this is just for hobby work, lift dead things, push old cats around dig a little gravel and push some snow. the 944 that I looking at has a very nice factory cab and is in what I think good shape but it too has head problems run's but eat's antifreeze. I am fine with a rigid frame loader just wonder if the 944 is kinda like a 112 vs 12 grader? my loader is a 59A 4168 and the loader I looking at is 43A1346 series A.


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"mog5858" wrote:

I have a 922B loader with no cab and it's great. dose everything I asked it to do and slowly getting her all tuned up last year I line bored the bucket and made her a little tighter still have per cup seals to do on her ]in the head. I have been at the limit a few times on what it will lift and with my toys getting bigger, not smaller I was wonder if a 944 is much of a step up or should I go right to a 966 or a more modern 950? this is just for hobby work, lift dead things, push old cats around dig a little gravel and push some snow. the 944 that I looking at has a very nice factory cab and is in what I think good shape but it too has head problems run's but eat's antifreeze. I am fine with a rigid frame loader just wonder if the 944 is kinda like a 112 vs 12 grader? my loader is a 59A 4168 and the loader I looking at is 43A1346 series A.


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It will lift more, but not a huge amount more. The one you are looking at is an early short wheelbase one with the flat fenders (compare to your 922B), giving less rear axle oscillation . The brakes on the early ones were air boosted not air actuated and gave more trouble (at least in my experience; roading the thing on city streets could be "interesting"). I don't think you'll find it quite as nimble as the 922B either.
If it were me, I'd be sticking to the devil I know, mainly for the unknown extent of the engine problem vs the limited benefits. An early 950 may not be all that more modern (production started 1965), but the difference is night and day.

thanks for your thoughts. that's what I was kinda thinking but it sure is nice to get a second opinion on things sometimes as money sure doesn't grow on trees anymore.

"mog5858" wrote:

thanks for your thoughts. that's what I was kinda thinking but it sure is nice to get a second opinion on things sometimes as money sure doesn't grow on trees anymore.

That 944 has the cool fiberglass "cockpit" cab on it. Probably has good hydraulic steering gear at the bottom of the steering shaft as the rain was kept out of the steering wheel shaft.