Dart 600C Documentary

[@mikekopie9897]

I am always amazed to see equipment of this vintage still in service. Says a lot for simplicity. I doubt the overly complex, computerized equipment made today will be on the job in 30 years. Thanks for another great video.

[@PAmining]

Oh for sure! I can't see much new equipment lasting for decades. Most equipment today is designed with a life span in mind. Back in these days, things were built to last. Thanks!

[@raganusmc]

I agree man!! I love the older equipment just amazing.

[@laurencegibbs2753]

Problem is if it’s built to last you don’t get repeat sales. For the producer that’s great but it sucks for consumers

[@luissantos-1972]

Hi from Portugal Thank you for this documentary. Since I was 6, 8 years old , I've never forgot this machine loading Wabco and Euclid trucks in a quarry in Sines, Portugal where was built a seaport. I never forgot the unic features of it. Greetings and all the best

[@PAmining]

That's awesome. Glad you enjoyed it and that it brought back memories! And greetings from PA!

[@jaredc.3508]

I've been waiting for the day for you to do a video on one of these for years, Thank you!

[@PAmining]

Haha! Well I hope it was worth the wait. Fyi, the D600B will be coming up in the future ;)

[@boom-rl7me]

Had no idea dart loaders even existed, thanks for taking the time to share! Any chance of getting some mine tours, I assume you visit different pits frequently. Not only are we fascinated by the equipment, but also the massive holes that it has created.

[@PAmining]

Absolutely! I plan on doing some videos about pit design and maybe some shorts to discuss random popular questions. Thanks!

[@douglousfye4193]

Johnson&Morgan had an early 600 working at their Moshannon job. It came there new in the late seventies or early eighties. I remember it well because of the offset cab. Not sure what ever happened to it. It was either sold or retired on that job. It was cool to watch working. Thank You for this great documentary.

[@PAmining]

That's cool! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@craigsibley8161]

Another great documentary 👍👍👍

[@MrPNutt]

This is such a unique piece of equipment. Thanks for the walk around on this cool machine and keep the content coming, I truly enjoy listening to the commentary, but I’m a tractor nerd, so equipment of any kind is my happy place.

[@PAmining]

Haha you're welcome buddy!

[@met9072]

I also appreciate the research you put into your videos. Informative and interesting, thank you.

[@jw4620]

A brutally strong dinosaur. Thanks!

[@kenuber4766]

We had these loaders at a Uranium mine in Wyoming in 1980. We also had Dart 100 ton belly dump trucks, with a 50 ton pup trailer.

[@PAmining]

That's awesome. Sounds like the company went with a package deal.

[@williamhall9204]

@Ken Uber I was wondering if you recall how those Dart 600 loaders performed.I’d also be interested to know if the operators liked the Dart 600.And how about reliability.Were the big loaders able to handle the harsh mining conditions without a lot of breakdowns? I would really appreciate if you could get back to me. It’s not too often I can get information about the old school equipment from someone who actually worked with the machines. Thanks and Take Care.

[@kenuber4766]

@@williamhall9204 Damn you want a novel. Hahaha. Most operators said it looked like they forgot the cab when they made it. Most thought it was ok. 1980 they were still pretty new in the field. Cat was coming out with their new D10 high track, and that took every bodies attention. Loaders were just ok, they were soon over taken by Diesel over Electric units. The ones we had 26 yrd buckets and moved pretty slow. Nothing really to report...They were soon swallowed up by newer and more economical units.

[@kenuber4766]

The bottom fell out of the Uranium market in 1980 and that was the end of that story!

[@williamhall9204]

@@kenuber4766 Thanks a lot for replying.You had me laughing with your first sentence.The information you provided is very interesting and much appreciated.Take Good Care.

[@TripleJDigs]

First time I’ve ever heard of this brand, thanks for sharing! And great style on commentary!

[@PAmining]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it and learned something new!

[@williamhall9204]

@PAmining No doubt one of the coolest loaders of all time, like you said. The Dart 600 was a very powerful machine as well. That 875 horsepower rating always gets my attention.The Dart 600 was only a few tons heavier than the Cat 992C,but had a power advantage of 185 horsepower. The 600 also featured a rock bucket 2.5 cubic yards bigger than the 992C.With that said, my guess is the majority of contractors purchased the Cat 992C due to the incredible product support and logistics system that Caterpillar developed. I wasn’t aware that Unit Rig manufactured the Dart 600 series up to 1994.Thanks for another informative and entertaining video production.

[@PAmining]

Absolutely, I think you hit the nail right on the head. Cat had the product and field support that Dart lacked, and let's face it, Cat had/has a loyal following. From what I've heard from anyone who's run them, they were a good loader with lots of power. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@josephalexander3884]

I’ve never heard of Dart before. Very innovative. Thank you for an informative video.

[@PAmining]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! Dart also built a line of mining trucks as well

[@imdavid28]

Amazing how the axle reduction gears allow for such a small drive shaft in relation to the size of the rest of the machine. Love the videos, Justin! Keep up the good work!

[@PAmining]

Cool isn't it! Absolutely, glad you enjoyed it!

[@larrydunlop378]

These Darts had what Dart called triple reduction axles. They had an extra reduction at the axle input pinions and of course standard planetary reduction out at the wheel hubs.These were a great loader in their time.

[@bigmackstruckstop9213]

Wooow what a kool dart machine never seen before, but that's awesome and I'll catch ya on the next one

[@HansRadmacher]

At the time we had many of those at the Steel plant. Now we have Komatsu WA800 and WA900 with the same Offset cabin as the Dart. As a mecanic it's a nice machine to work on

[@404nitro]

Always a great watch here and well executed.

[@PAmining]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nopelindoputraperkasa5869]

Incredible .. equipment works quickly and easily .. steady ..! Greetings from traditional Indonesian gold prospector ❤️🇮🇩🌼🌺⚒️⛏️👍👍👍

[@PAmining]

Greetings from PA!

[@brianw8963]

Wow, was just reminiscing over some of Your 4600/2400 videos(My favs.) and this showed up. Was surprised to see one of these old units still in existence. Pretty fine looking machine for its age and was evidently well cared for. A couple company’s I’ve worked for over the years had a couple, but Was one of the very few machines that I never operated. I had no idea of all the “features” built into this machine! Thanks again “Justin” . Hope I got the name correct.

[@PAmining]

Haha, yes you did! Your welcome, glad you enjoyed it! The 4600 was "a lot of information to get right" lol. I will be doing a new video on the Lima 2400 in the future. Thanks!

[@brianw8963]

@@PAmining Really looking forward to that one Justin. My Grandfather was an old Shovel man and moved on to the Lima 2400, first one He was on was one of the first 10 made and I ended up being a 3rd gen. drag operator and ran one of last new 2400B models made by Clark. Over 43 years in the coal and still at it, though the drags in this area have disappeared. I actually have an old black binder 2400 BLH Lima bible(operators manual) in excellent condition. I don’t know what year it was from but it must be pretty old as the price was 5.00$. I would gladly share it with You.

[@localcrew]

That’s a very innovative design. Cool machine.

[@kimlamb5821]

I drove one of these for a couple of years at oaky creek coal mine in Queensland australia

[@rsmith8646]

Very cool. Kinda reminds me of all the underground equipment I've operated with that offset cab

[@megashovelmanam1517]

Love that Steering Wheel on the Dart Loader, it seems like these days equipment names get bought and sold, I think some of the Unit Rig equipment might be manufactured under CAT possibly especially with Haul Trucks.

[@PAmining]

I miss all these different manufacturers! It definitely made for interesting engineering feats. And yes Cat now offers the Unit Rig electric drive truck line, though who knows for how long.

[@megashovelmanam1517]

@@PAmining I do too, but I think CAT has them now about 17 years possibly, the original equipment may be Historical.

[@larrydunlop378]

These were a unque design to say the least! Only large loader built with the offset cab. Seems like they were trying to replicate other loading tools of the time ie: shovels. Operators who ran them said they were great to see out of with that offset cab. A very large loader when they came out as they had 50% more capacity than the 992s of the time. Not so well known is that Dart made an electric version of these to compete with the large LeTourneaus. It was the model DE620 with two electric motors, one going into each differential. Another great video PA of a very rare machine!

[@PAmining]

Thanks friend! Most reviews I've heard on these machines were that they were a good strong machine. I believe the DE620 was only offered during the production run of the 600 B model, which it was based off.

[@MrAerocomposites]

wonderfully detailed as always. You are a great presenter.

[@PAmining]

Thank you sir! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@fredmiller5651]

Thanks for the post Justin. Another cool find. 😎

[@PAmining]

You're welcome! Thank you

[@mattberg916]

innovations that the other manufacturers never picked up on

[@MrMan5014]

That’s a very unique loader that seems to have been ahead of it’s time!!…it’s too bad they didn’t make more of them because they seem to a great deal of forethought and engineering put into them!..from what I know, their trucks were no different and performed quite well!!…love the vids my friend!!..you are extremely knowledgeable about any equipment but especially the old gear which I’m most interested in!!!..keep it up!..

[@PAmining]

Thank you I appreciate the compliment; glad you enjoy the videos! 😃

[@chucksinger1916]

Really cool Justin Thank ya! I never heard of them But pretty neat how they were designed Hoping to see Tyler’s mine around Ligonier over Thanksgiving!

[@PAmining]

You're very welcome! Enjoy!

[@coalminer2483]

Cool looking old loader

[@kennys9855]

My farther operated a Dart loader in the 70’s, in the coal fields of Eastern Ky. A very odd duck it was with the off set cab.

[@PAmining]

That's cool! Bet the cab took some time to get used to! Thanks for sharing!

[@kennys9855]

@@PAmining yes sir, my father didn’t care for it, but it feed us.

[@gidney100]

Now that is something very cool and different..

[@chrisstaylor8377]

We had one of these at Paraburdoo mine west Australia 1970

[@kdm6287]

Read about them and seen photos, but never seen one in as much detail at this. Ahead of there time. How successful were they i don't know Great video thanks.

[@PAmining]

That's one reason I enjoy doing these videos, to show this stuff in other ways than pictures. Thank you!

[@kdm6287]

@@PAmining Well, ur doing one great job at it. A very well done.

[@The_blindpizzaguy1300]

OK so I have a couple of questions but first of all I need to clarify something. I am a totally blind person, so these questions are related to what the loader actually looks like.. first of all is the cab narrow like an excavator cab or is it wide like a wheel loader cab, and is it on the left or right side of the machine?

[@PAmining]

No problem! The cab is large, measuring 52 inches by 60 inches with an operator and trainer seat inside. If you are sitting in the seat, the cab is positioned on the left side, not centered like on other other loaders. Hope this helps!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Thanks, Pal and I never Darted but I bet it was a big bear with the 16V in it. Thanks again and Blessings!

[@PAmining]

Haha, thanks man!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@PAmining Thank YOU! Running around with you has been a HOOT!

[@devinstroud5221]

Is that old tandem drive dump truckstill around from one of your videos from around 6 ish years ago

[@PAmining]

No that truck got cut up. A lot of the equipment I've filmed over the years has sadly met that fate. Dont realize how much your preserving the history until it's gone!

[@devinstroud5221]

@@PAmining that sucks most of the equipment i used to play on as a kid recently met that fate its kinda sad honestly.

[@christeal2708]

Does the other Dart in the video get used anymore or is it a parts machine? Looks a little worse for wear. This one appears to see some action from time to time, looks to well maintained to be retired

[@PAmining]

The one you caught a glimpse of in the background is also still operational. I would say they both see action occasionally. Thanks!

[@raykaufman7156]

Interesting machine. Seems like it was kinda the top of the line in it's day.

[@8068]

The offset cab is worth the price of admission alone. Instead of having to 'look through the boom and bucket' during loading you can actually see everything. Really nice feature. Is this old loader still in operation or has it been "parked"? Thanks for another excellent video.

[@PAmining]

It definitely is unique! You can tell the engineering thought was to position the operator as on a shovel or excavator- offset of the digging implement. And this unit is still in operation. Thanks!

[@Bassrboy]

Nicely done

[@timgilbert5936]

What is the bigger loader parked beside it

[@PAmining]

You can't tell that's a 992G lol? I wouldn't say it was bigger either, in fact, standing on top of the Dart your above the top of the 992

[@oldstudbuck3583]

That machine still in use?

[@PAmining]

Yes sir it is!

[@michaelalan1546]

Hey, I didn’t happen to see how that machine shifted into gears, did it have a gear selector or something?

[@PAmining]

I did forget to mention that. The gear shift lever for the transmission is on the tree below the steering wheel on the left side

[@michaelalan1546]

@@PAmining thank you I was curious about that.😊

[@terrellscaife2411]

Now this vehicle will not pass the California emission standards so with the cab being all set, is it more beneficial than having the cab in the middle?

[@bigredc222]

Good video. Thank you.

[@daleolson3506]

Looks like a well thought out design. I suppose they aren’t made any more. Too bad

[@PAmining]

Nope, the last until was shipped in 1995. Thanks!

[@jamesmcivor2588]

We had four of these things in northern Canada in the mod 1980s, had the Cummins engine and Clark transmission, the rest was complete junk. Dry shoe brakes, boom nitrogen was removed after we couldn't keep nitrogen in it at -35. Hosing and electrical was the worst, downtime was the worst of all equipment

[@PAmining]

I think at the end of the day, the Canadian winters are hard on any machine lol.

[@Porty1119]

Offset cab and an ejector bucket option? I think Dart's engineers took some heavy inspiration from underground LHDs. All it's missing is side seating!

[@PAmining]

For sure! In my opinion, I feel the ejector bucket version was a way around not having to design and build a larger version of this machine to load bigger trucks, which would only be a result of low sales.

[@larrydunlop378]

@@PAmining The Dart literature I have says they could Center load 120 and even 170 ton trucks with the ejector bucket. The advantage was the increased reach as not having to dump the bucket, the bucket stayed flat. An added bonus was by Not having a high reach boom there was No reduction in capacity so both the Non ejector and ejector versions both carried the same 15 cu yd bucket!. The literature says the dump height was 20'.1" an increase of 5.'3" over the non ejector bucket.

[@mercedesbenzisbest]

PAMINING for president 2024

[@PAmining]

Blahaha!! Thanks I guess lol.

[@raganusmc]

Got to love them old big heavy equipment If I could I would buy that sob just to play with it lol

[@robertkowalski9263]

Very interesting

[@weedozzles]

I really like the narration even if it sounds like it's coming from a speak n spell

[@roberthumberston8803]

somebody got new boots.

[@michaelmackey754]

Awesome

[@williammiles1957]

I ran one of these at a rock quarry in cave in rock illinois it was a horse we also had Komatsu wa 800 loaders

[@PAmining]

I'll bet it outworked the Komatsu. Thanks for sharing!

[@ryanv3751]

The right side of the cab looks treacherous!

[@benterbieten9540]

It would take a guy a minute to get used to that machine.

[@EFCasual]

What a iron dinosaur.

[@cartoonfan959]

probably not as good as LeTourneau ? also rather confusing I though the company became KW Dart ?

[@PAmining]

I wouldn't say that. I think both brands have their own perks. The KW was dropped from the company name when Dart became a division of Paccar in 1970.

[@ferdinandocappelletti6740]

Very insteresrting machine. Unfortunatly disappear for the typicol without brains business men, Terex best know, as example

[@ArmpitStudios]

That’s wild. It sounds like Dart had some very good ideas.

[@tomasneel1980]

This narrator, what a goon

[@MidasImperius]

When I was little, my uncle worked as an operator / mechanic in an iron mine in northern Norway. He'd sometimes bring me along on the job since he knew I was interested in heavy machinery. At the entrance of the mine there were three pieces of decommissioned machinery serving as a display of sorts. A big Lectra Haul dump truck, some old Bucyrus cable shovel, and a Dart 600. The dart always interested me the most since it was not only the biggest, but also the strangest wheel loader I'd ever seen, with its small pistons sitting on top of the loader arm, and the offset cab. My uncle never worked on that loader so he couldn't tell me too much about it, and over the years since, I've often tried to look up information on it, but it turns out to be a fairly rare and obscure machine, so anything of note is hard to come by. The first time I ever found a youtube video of one was that old video Vantagetes made where he walked around and made fun of one over six years ago, and in that video he mentioned that you were working on a video featuring a Dart loader, and I've been looking forward to that ever since, since you go way more indepth and actually explain and talk more about the machine than Vantagetes did in his trash talk video. Thanks for uploading this!

[@PAmining]

Haha, thank you! It was worth the wait I hope! Lol. That's an interesting story and I can see why you'd be so interested in learning more about the machine. I can remember having similar experiences as a kid, where I'd see some piece of equipment from a distance that would look absolutely enormous to me and I'd always want to see it up close. For example, I remember passing a 5110B and an EX1100 on a big highway job when I was little and I thought it was the biggest excavtor ever lol. FYI, I will be doing a video on the D600B in the future :)

[@williamhall9204]

@Midas Imperius Not really such an obscure machine, when you consider over 400 units were manufactured. Plus with the Dart 600 series we’re talking about loaders that weigh between 96 and 101 tons.I’m a big fan of the Dart 600 loaders and I really like the unique design of the machine.Obviously some very talented engineers designed this big loader. Take Care, fellow equipment enthusiast.

[@Patrick13879]

You cannot beat A CAT