Top 3 Problems with CAT 299D3 XE

There is one thing I really don't like about the machine and I mention it toward the end. CAT makes a solid machine and I'm blessed to have one.

[@85ccmaster]

Im with you on the drains. Cleaning my 22' 289 after mulching is a pain, the engine bay is cramped and the drains are in bad locations

[@theMTNman]

Is the engine bay that much smaller on the 289? I think everything is easily accessible in my engine bay. Oil and all filters are super easy to change. Much better than the Deere I had or the Bobcat. Do you like the 289 other than that? The engineer that decided were the drains go never cleaned a machine.

[@85ccmaster]

@@theMTNman Oh yeah its more tighter than the 299. Other than that for what I use it mainly for, mulching, the performance is excellent for its size class

[@cg8469]

The majority of this stuff is creature comfort. I guess I understand considering the amount these things are going for now, but I've just never cared about anything like "hydraulic noise" or cupholders or whatever. With that said......... 2 comments. #1, I think CAT is the premier brand all things considered. Quality, availability, and network are the type of things you never care about until they are gone. CAT has consistently done those things right, which allows them to charge a premium for their equipment. #2, my absolute biggest complaint is the obvious intent of difficult engineering. I think that when they designed the entire CTL lineup, they purposely made it difficult to do more complicated maintenance. I'm one of those guys that doesn't let anybody touch my machines other than me. My DPF needed a complete flush in my 289, so I went to yank it off. Turns out you have to remove the motor to get the DPF off, which requires you to unbolt the hydraulic pump. Should be simple right????? No, the bolts holding the hydraulic pump on require a special access tool (basically a torque adapter for 12 point metric). There is zero requirement for that, you could easily space those bolts 6 inches further apart to access with a normal ratchet. Same thing with the DPF. You know for a fact you will have to clean the DPF at some point, but you position it such that you have to remove the radiator and intercooler?? The whole thing makes me want to find the engineering team and do bad things.

[@theMTNman]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comments. I agree about difficult engineering, much of this new technology is junk and they seem to try to engineer things so only a factory mechanic with their equipment and software can work on it. I do feel that the CAT is way easier to work on and maintain than the T300 or JD; however, I haven't looked at my DPF. You definitely have me curious because once out of warranty I do pretty much all my repairs.

[@dustynconfer9495]

Where I work there's a 299d to it doesn't ever lose any coolant and we use on some pretty rough terrain pushing it to its limits I'm amazed it stays on its tracks and through all that it never loses a drop of coolant

[@theMTNman]

Thanks for watching. I'm going to take the machine in soon for a few issues and I will address this with them. I appreciate your input.

[@e.e.w.2637]

I bought the 299d3xe and my brother bought the 259d3. I open up my machine and pressure wash it out as much as possible to get out the silt. I have had tractors hardlines rust out a hole from silt packed around them. Well brother's machine works in really dusty conditions regularly and the dirt built up under his oil pan. It rubbed a little hole in it and now he has to repair it. Just wanted to throw that out there if it will help someone else.

[@theMTNman]

Another reason for keeping your equipment clean. Thanks for watching.

[@rockstargrader]

I had the same problem and had to replace the oil pan

[@shockinawesome9595]

I know it’s a bit late but we have a 259 cat and yah the machine will setup when you life something heavy but once you get past that and get used to it doing that it’s actually really stable.

[@theMTNman]

Thanks for your input and thanks for watching.

[@Pete-iw5ji]

I run A 299D3 XE for work. That "muddy spot" is not caused by your coolant. It is actually the Condensation dripping off of the AC line directly above it.

[@theMTNman]

I would agree if it only happened when I'm running the AC. As you said the AC lines, and everything beneath them is covered in a muddy film on hot dusty days when the AC is on. Thanks for watching.

[@batterpm11]

Hey atleast you have a cup holder, more than I can say for my Takeuchi 😂

[@theMTNman]

That's a roomy cab to not have a cup holder. Without the adapter mine will barely hold a skinny can, sometimes I wonder what these engineers are thinking. They should have an operator on their left and a mechanic on their right when they are designing a machine and then you might get a machine that's easy to work on and designed with the operator in mind.

[@kyletavares8293]

What year Takeuchi? The news one have cup holders

[@batterpm11]

@@kyletavares8293 2020

[@michaelrambo4886]

I see Stowers is your dealer, they are mine also. I’m in southeast TN. Did your suit come with the hose coupler guard on the arms?? I have a 289D3 XE high flow, haven’t used it much because its at our 2nd home land. So seeing a few of your Videos have been helpful.

[@theMTNman]

Yes, the XE model in the 299 comes as shown on the video. Thanks for watching. I started making these videos because I didn't feel there was enough info out there when I purchased mine. All I could find was rigged Bobcat and JD videos. I'm glad you find them helpful.

[@michaelrambo4886]

@@theMTNman yea, i ran the paint department in the largest Cat facility in the US before retiring, and i agree i think the technical information is limited, we (Cat) need to catch up with the times and do more across the internet. Decided i only need a track-loader when i retired and not a mining large wheel loader or anything of that size. LOL But it sure was fun playing with those monsters.

[@braseltonautosales]

Stowers is a joke in sales. No inventory. Go to Thompson in LaVergne, TN. Super nice and lots of inventory

[@DS-TRUCKS]

Can't beat cat service

[@theMTNman]

My dealer has been extremely supportive considering I only bought one unit.

[@jfitz9624]

Exactly why I buy CAT. Even if it is expensive.

[@johhlocke1687]

Same here in southwest Missouri.

[@Pipeliner663]

I just got a new 299d3 the paint job is horrendous they missed all the harder to reach spots on the arms. Brand new machine rust lines running down it everywhere. Such a joke. Love the machine other then that but really piss me off after paying 140k Canadian.

[@theMTNman]

I get quite a few comments for basically a 299D3 channel but this is the MOST shocking. I don't think I've ever mentioned the paint on mine, but I am extremely impressed with it and notice how thick it is almost every time I use it. I was running it yesterday and trying to figure out a method of filling the chips to bring them up to top coat level so I could apply touch up paint. That's why I'm so shocked by your comment. Yours should be painted just as good as mine and clearly it's not. Please contact your dealership and show them the issues. My dealership took care of me on a set of tracks that were destroyed at around 300-400 hours and they should definitely take care of you on a botched paint job. I would be happy to send you close up pics of the areas on mine that I have chipped the paint so you can see what the thickness should be. Let me know if I can help.

[@Pipeliner663]

@@theMTNman ya it’s ridiculous I emailed cat directly after telling the salesman I wasn’t happy. They sent a email saying they take all these concerns very serious and will get back to me well that was 3 weeks ago. Clearly not to big of a concern to them. I just ordered a 8 ton excavator it was a toss between the cat 308 and the kubota kx080. When cat never replied it was a no brainer new orange hoe should be here in a few weeks.

[@theMTNman]

That's so disappointing to hear. My salesman worked with CAT to remedy my track issue, I think the dealership is key. I'm looking at an excavator and the only reason I will get a CAT is my dealership, they have been extremely supportive. The smaller CAT's are made in PRC which I'm not a fan of, if they were made in USA it would be a no brainer. Kubota would probably be my next choice but I'm not sure where they are made. I hope the Kubota works out for you and I encourage you to keep communicating with your dealership to get your paint issues addressed. Walk the yard with them and compare the paint job on your machine to what they have on site, and maybe both parties will have a better understanding of what is going on. Have them take pictures and send them to CAT. Hopefully if you aren't having unreasonable expectations and there is clearly a difference in quality, they will address it. These machines cost more than my house, so you would hope for good quality control.

[@TarmacBlackIX]

Take it back to the dealer and request them to spray it again. Shit happens but cat stands behind their products

[@michaelrambo4886]

That should of never passed QC, they have auditors that have to sign off on the paint and all the steps thru out the assembly. My line i had 12 auditors just for paint inspection. That wasn’t including the final finished machine audit.

[@samuelwilhoit2123]

Neat video love to see the stowers sticker I’m a mechanic at the chatt store. Also It shouldn’t be pushing coolant out any overheating or overheating codes?

[@theMTNman]

No codes and someone else told me the same thing. I'm going to take it in for a few things and I will have them look at it. Thanks for watching.

[@samuelwilhoit2123]

@@theMTNman I worked on a 259 a while ago was pushing compression out the head gasket pressurizing coolant system causing it to overflow and push coolant out but it would overheat after a while. If you run it hot and take the cap off the expansion tank and look in the tank and see air bubbles you know head gasket is leaking compression.

[@samuelwilhoit2123]

There was a service letter out for the 259 doijg that but that’s a different engine from what u got but seen it on both

[@theMTNman]

Wow, I really appreciate the info. Thankful you watched my video. After responding to you, I remembered I have thrown an overheat code while running BRX418. Muddy engine compartment from spillover is a regular thing when I'm running hard in hot weather. I'm going to look for bubbles! The machine is awesome and Stowers has taken good care of me.

[@samuelwilhoit2123]

@@theMTNman yes excellent machines as long as you keep the maintenance up glad to hear stowers treating u right

[@nate4036]

ASV is a great machine. But I’m more of a Cat reliability fan.

[@theMTNman]

Thanks for watching. My Cat has been amazing so far.

[@jacobdavis1752]

What do y’all think is Caterpillar on this machine besides the software, paint , and stickers?

[@campstrat]

It sounds petty, but, CAT is clueless when it comes to come cup holders... it's the same in my 299, 306 and 315, redbulls only folks... sorry

[@theMTNman]

It really doesn't make a lot of sense. I have a 310 on demo now and it has a lot more storage, I need to look at the cupholder.

[@christopherhouston9803]

OMG cleaning i work in mud sometimes you need to be hosed out

[@theMTNman]

Not sure I'm following you but thanks for watching.

[@AndresMendezSr]

For crying out loud....😢

[@theMTNman]

It was a struggle to find something to complain about, but everyone likes to hear the negatives.

[@jayrome7657]

Cat excavators are great with plenty of technology and engineering but the skid steers are the opposite stuck in time, bad engineering and no advancement. I recommend John Deere skid steers. 😊😊😊

[@domsileo1145]

Petty things imho….

[@gun_shine_st8137]

Smoother😂 tge thing rides like dog crap

[@theMTNman]

What do you have or what are you comparing it to? We would love some context.