Curt and Shane's excellent adventure

[ksss]

I got rained out and could not do anything yesterday so I took the day and went to Salt Lake City to run a Link Belt LX160. I called Curt (Rock Set Grade) and I swung by his place, picked him up and we went to Rasmussen Equipment in SLC.

The excavator is in their rental fleet. Its an 06 with Esco Thumb and hyd. coupler, it had 1856 hours. Very tight. The only issue is the short stick. My current machine has the long stick and its a great foundation digger for that reason. It would be hard to get used to not having the reach. Machine was way fast. Anyway the price was very right I thought at $66K. They have over 100 excavators sitting on the lot and were not excited about adding mine. Too bad, because 66 for that machine is a buy. We were going to stop by and run the Chinese excavator not far from there. It was a 210 with 250 hours price as new 50K OBO. We ended up far away by the time that we remembered it. The Link Belt salesman bought us lunch, seemed like a good guy, unbelievably honest. Overall it was a good time. Got a free hat and lunch and it only cost the price of a 500 mile round trip to Utah.

Anyone want to buy a 9020B?

[Junior M]

Am I still paying for part of this new excavator? :laugh:

[ksss]

Am I still paying for part of this new excavator? :laugh:


Buy my old one and we will call it square.

[Junior M]

Buy my old one and we will call it square.
Hmm, sounds suspicious.. Throw in a Tak mini and we'll call it even.. :laugh:

Check out the avatar, figured it give you a good laugh.. :cool2:

[stuvecorp]

It was an 'excellent adventure' only if 'dude' was used a lot.:laugh:

[Junior M]

Not real familar with the price and work involved with bigger machines, but would it be worth your while to put a long stick on it?

[Gravel Rat]

Link Belt has always been known to put short sticks on their excavators. To change to a longer stick your looking at some coin.

[ksss]

Link Belt has always been known to put short sticks on their excavators. To change to a longer stick your looking at some coin.


Yea, I would have to change the thumb over as well. Not really worth it. It would likely start getting a little light in the arse with the thumb and coupler hanging off the end as well, but it would be hard to lose all that reach I have now.

[raschmid07]

Curt And Shane's Excellent Adventure
I know you didn't just accidentally mean to make CASE out of that haha

[Bleed Green]

I didn't even catch that when I read it the first time. I just wonder....

[RockSet N' Grade]

Rash..........didn't even see that one coming! Shoulda known there was something subliminal going on. We had a good time and I gotta add the salesman was the most open honest and straightforward salesman I think I have met in my life! He won me over, and if I ever have to rent......I am going his way! That was all good fun and KSSS you are welcome here any time........

[Mjh Excavating]

Link-Belt sure makes a nice piece of iron, I have a dealer about 8 miles from me, drool everytime I go by there.

[ksss]

Link-Belt sure makes a nice piece of iron, I have a dealer about 8 miles from me, drool everytime I go by there.


That machine was fast. I had it on the Heavy computer setting as the Salesguy said that is the max setting. I had to back it down to the Auto mode to slow it down. No doubt you could fling material with it. Much faster than my 9020B

[talus]

For all you Link Belt forestry fans. This one was/is at our local LB dealer.

[CAT powered]

Purdy. They look better with the paint worn off the bucket though.

I had an LS2700 Series II and that was an awesome machine. Definitely better than the 490 I have now.

I had a 3900Q at one point, but some BS happened and it went away. Same with the 2700.

I'd like to take a real close look at Link-Belt when I get a larger excavator. I need something bigger than the 490. That thing has a hard time lifting much of anything.

[Junior M]

For all you Link Belt forestry fans. This one was/is at our local LB dealer.
Dam! thats sexy..

Whats the point of the top of the track being up higher like that?

[ksss]

I have a demo CX160 with thumb and no coupler sitting on a foundation dig for Sat. It will be interesting to see how the machine compares. They are much the same machine except for the motor in this series the new B/X2 series are identical. I am curious to see if the computer set up is the same between the two machines. The CASE is 20K more than the Link Belt so thats a no go, but it will be nice to run a newer machine for a day.

[Mjh Excavating]

That machine was fast. I had it on the Heavy computer setting as the Salesguy said that is the max setting. I had to back it down to the Auto mode to slow it down. No doubt you could fling material with it. Much faster than my 9020B

I'm going to be demoing a CX210 shortly on a large dig job, I feel the need to get into a 200 size machine, the Hitachi 120 is just not big enough or fast enough any more, it served its purpose well and i am going to keep it.

[CAT powered]

The 2700 I had long ago used Isuzu power.

I had customers ask me if it ran on electricity. It was that quiet.

The only issues I ever had with it were breaking the front window doing clearing and some idiot getting in it when it was parked and monkeying with it. I had a mechanic there tearing everything apart trying to figure out why the machine wouldn't move. #$%^& turned on the lockout for all the controls! I had a service crew out there for 3 hours at 300$/hr when it was all added up. And while the jerk was in there they broke the throttle dial and I never got around to replacing it so I always had to use the manual throttle.

[Junior M]

Dam! thats sexy..

Whats the point of the top of the track being up higher like that?
bad wording, I should've said the undercarriage being taller?

[ksss]

I'm going to be demoing a CX210 shortly on a large dig job, I feel the need to get into a 200 size machine, the Hitachi 120 is just not big enough or fast enough any more, it served its purpose well and i am going to keep it.

The CASE dealer here has an 06 210 with 2000 hours. He will throw in a hyd. coupler, it is plumbed for a thumb but does not have one. Price is mid 80's. the 210 without the thumb is priced the same as the 160 with a thumb it also has 2K hours. Money is the same (too much).

If you sit in the cab of the new B series or the X2 in Link Belt you will throw rocks at the old series. They really stepped up the cab accomondations on the new machines. Thats way out of my price range though. Maybe 4-5 years from now.

[Mjh Excavating]

I just stepped in it this year, seems everyone is starving and I don't have enough manpower or equipment.

[Mjh Excavating]

I get in those new machines and don't know how to handle myself, I've never even had a radio in a machine, the Hitachi has an AM, Komatsu is open canopy, and never put one in the T190. Boy, I'm pretty brand loyal LOL

[CAT powered]

Not everyone is starving. Just sitting on rougher than normal times. My work isn't too terribly different than it was a while back.

I've got two meetings tomorrow that might involve a large amount of trucking to the point of needing 3 additional triaxle dump trucks.

[Mjh Excavating]

I worded that wrong, lets try it again, *trucewhiteflag* guys that had no business being in business are starving.

[bobcat_ron]

bad wording, I should've said the undercarriage being taller?

That's the forestry package, higher ground clearance and the carrier rollers are higher to keep the debris from freezing the tracks solid.

[CAT powered]

Haha. That's more like it.

I've been saying for quite a while that the folks going under right now had no business being in this industry. They were the ones who jumped on the bandwagon when the market was in the upswing. Now that it is on the downswing they're all jumping off like rats from a sinking boat.

I've seen more companies come and go than I'd care to count. They always expand very rapidly. They go out and buy all the new trucks. They run the new equipment. They get the big jobs. Everyone starts getting jealous of them. Then they fail. I've seen it happen time and again. The last cycle of that in this area just ended with a company formerly known as "Winter Ridge" collapsing. I could already tell you who the next will be. It is going to be Mineri. I don't know what the hell they call their business, but they're a bunch of hacks and arsewholes and there are a lot of people who wouldn't shed a tear if one was to have serious injury come upon him.

[Mjh Excavating]

We had the same thing down here, I never saw so much new equipment being moved around in the 18 years I've been in it, I thought I was doing something wrong, but I know better now.

[RockSet N' Grade]

MJH......interesting point.........both my wife and I would come home and look at each other and shake our heads."what are we doing wrong?" we both drive older cars, i have older equipment, we have a few toys.........but pretty conservative and close to the vest........now I too get it and "I know better now" is a great way to phrase it.....Should be getting my new truck this next week.....Her name is Pearl and she is a 2000 t800 Kenworth with an 18' ar500 rock bed......she's in the shop getting a butt plate put on right now, will post some pics when she comes home. I was told by the previous owner it is bad mojo to change names, so Pearl it is. Glad I did NOT by his other truck, her name is Gladice.

[coopers]

So KSSS, from you've seen Case runs higher in price than the LB's? How new/old are you looking at? What's up with LB and Case not being too into putting long sticks on their hoes. I agree with you KSSS, the long stick is so nice for many things including foundations.

[ksss]

So KSSS, from you've seen Case runs higher in price than the LB's? How new/old are you looking at? What's up with LB and Case not being too into putting long sticks on their hoes. I agree with you KSSS, the long stick is so nice for many things including foundations.


They are both 06's. As far as stick length. I guess its all how they are ordered when they are brought in, seems hit and miss whether it has a long stick or not. I realize that with a thumb and coupler combined with a long stick that they can get tippy. Just in the demo of the Link Belt the shorter stick was apparent. I could just hold out for a 210 when one of those comes along cheap.

As far as price difference they are both used, its just that the LB is out of the rental fleet and the CASE was traded in. The problem is the CASE was traded last Fall and the excavator market has slide 30% since then, so the dealer is upside down in the machine. The Link Belt is priced about where the market is I from what I can tell on their machine.

I don't need to replace mine, I have found a bit of work for it, and I would like to take advantage of the shitty excavator market and pick up a newer machine cheap. Mine is fully depreciated, so if I sell it now or next year it will be worth about the same money. The safe bet is to wait, but I may run an ad for mine and see what I can get out of it. If I can sell it great if not, thats fine to.

[stuvecorp]

It's just fun too trade up if you can without taking a beating.:)

[ksss]

It's just fun too trade up if you can without taking a beating.:)


Exactly, if the deal is there great, but if it aint then I will continue with the old war horse.

[Gravel Rat]

The 210 Road builder looks like a nice little machine.

I have been told Linkbelt has been using short sticks on all their hoes for years.

Once your used to having a long stick and having the reach its not easy to do without.

When I worked for one of the contractors I ran 3 different excavators 2 hoes had standard sticks the 3rd had a shorter stick. I was frustrating running the machine with the shorter stick.

[coopers]

They are both 06's. As far as stick length. I guess its all how they are ordered when they are brought in, seems hit and miss whether it has a long stick or not. I realize that with a thumb and coupler combined with a long stick that they can get tippy. Just in the demo of the Link Belt the shorter stick was apparent. I could just hold out for a 210 when one of those comes along cheap.

As far as price difference they are both used, its just that the LB is out of the rental fleet and the CASE was traded in. The problem is the CASE was traded last Fall and the excavator market has slide 30% since then, so the dealer is upside down in the machine. The Link Belt is priced about where the market is I from what I can tell on their machine.

I don't need to replace mine, I have found a bit of work for it, and I would like to take advantage of the shitty excavator market and pick up a newer machine cheap. Mine is fully depreciated, so if I sell it now or next year it will be worth about the same money. The safe bet is to wait, but I may run an ad for mine and see what I can get out of it. If I can sell it great if not, thats fine to.

Huh, interesting stuff. I guess like you said it won't hurt to throw the old girl in an add and see what happens. There are some hoes going very cheap over here and it sucks I'm not ready to buy. Oh well. You can tell a difference w/ those long sticks and the extra weigh added with thumb and hydraulic QC. You get used to it and eventually you can smooth things out so it's not so tippy.

[Gravel Rat]

You get used to these newer machines with the speed. The first time I got onto a 158 Komatsu and its quick you look like amateur with the machine bouncing around. Once your used to it no problems you adjust.

[AWJ Services]

MJH......interesting point.........both my wife and I would come home and look at each other and shake our heads."what are we doing wrong?" we both drive older cars, i have older equipment, we have a few toys.........but pretty conservative and close to the vest........now I too get it and "I know better now" is a great way to phrase it.....Should be getting my new truck this next week.....Her name is Pearl and she is a 2000 t800 Kenworth with an 18' ar500 rock bed......she's in the shop getting a butt plate put on right now, will post some pics when she comes home. I was told by the previous owner it is bad mojo to change names, so Pearl it is. Glad I did NOT by his other truck, her name is Gladice.


It just so happens I know someone who can help you with those Money problems.............:rolleyes:

[ksss]

It just so happens I know someone who can help you with those Money problems.............:rolleyes:


Ha thats funny:laugh:

[Treemow]

It just so happens I know someone who can help you with those Money problems.............:rolleyes:

I know sixteen thousandnairs, I don't have to work, I watch my employees work, I don't borrow money........YADA...YADA....YADA.......

[ksss]

You get used to these newer machines with the speed. The first time I got onto a 158 Komatsu and its quick you look like amateur with the machine bouncing around. Once your used to it no problems you adjust.

Yea I know but it hard not to look like a rookie when you first jump into the machine. I am heading out in the morning to dig a foundation with the CASE. We will see how it runs. Its in the middle of nowhere so if it takes a little while to adjust I could do it in private.

[stuvecorp]

Yea I know but it hard not to look like a rookie when you first jump into the machine. I am heading out in the morning to dig a foundation with the CASE. We will see how it runs. Its in the middle of nowhere so if it takes a little while to adjust I could do it in private.

That sounds like a perfect thing to do on a Saturday.

[coopers]

KSSS you gunna be able to grab pics?

[ksss]

KSSS you gunna be able to grab pics?


Yes I plan on getting some photos of it. I brought the 440 VTS home tonight to take to that job in the morning, so I will get some pictures of it as well. I am having my website redone as we speak so I want to get some photos of the VTS specifically for the site.

[Junior M]

Yea I know but it hard not to look like a rookie when you first jump into the machine. I am heading out in the morning to dig a foundation with the CASE. We will see how it runs. Its in the middle of nowhere so if it takes a little while to adjust I could do it in private.
Wait, potato land is already in the middle of nowhere, how do you get farther out in the middle of no where? ;) :laugh:

And I assume you are taking the skid to do some serious dirt moving, why not take the 465?

[ksss]

Wait, potato land is already in the middle of nowhere, how do you get farther out in the middle of no where? ;) :laugh:

And I assume you are taking the skid to do some serious dirt moving, why not take the 465?


Normally I do, but I think the VTS will come in handy grading out the floor in the loose gravel and the property was plowed about 2 feet deep throughout and it been raining so the VTS might move around a bit easier, and lasty I need so pictures of it.

[Junior M]

Normally I do, but I think the VTS will come in handy grading out the floor in the loose gravel and the property was plowed about 2 feet deep throughout and it been raining so the VTS might move around a bit easier, and lasty I need so pictures of it.
well, that makes perfect sense, thats a first! :laugh:

[coopers]

KSSS, let us know when ur website is update too. That'll be neat to see.

[stuvecorp]

KSSS, let us know when ur website is update too. That'll be neat to see.

I've been thinking of doing a website but don't know to much about them.

How did yesterday go?

[ksss]

I've been thinking of doing a website but don't know to much about them.

How did yesterday go?


Not bad, for kicks I dug the hole with the machine on ISO pattern. After a day I couldn't adjust, I am afraid it too late. I will forever be an DEERE pattern buy. I have got some photos, ended up getting rained out before I could dig the garage footings.

The machine is nice but I think the LB is faster, although the CX was plenty fast. Maybe I just adjusted to it, I don't know but the LB just felt faster. The longer stick was not as missed as it normally would have been, this was a 8',8" wall with about 2.5 ' of concrete reveal so I was only in the ground about 6'. The power is impressive, and it comfortable to run. I think the machine would be too tippy with a long stick and the thumb and coupler. I noticed at full extension with a heaping bucket that it would get tippy if you were not smooth (no small task when running that dicked up pattern). It will go back to the dealer tommorrow, too bad cause it would be nice have, but not at their price. There are a some holes to dig but not enough to make up a 20 plus K difference. Still am not sold that I don't want the longer stick. I may run a 210 for the next one and compare the difference.

[Junior M]

Not bad, for kicks I dug the hole with the machine on ISO pattern. After a day I couldn't adjust, I am afraid it too late. I will forever be an DEERE pattern buy. I have got some photos, ended up getting rained out before I could dig the garage footings.

The machine is nice but I think the LB is faster, although the CX was plenty fast. Maybe I just adjusted to it, I don't know but the LB just felt faster. The longer stick was not as missed as it normally would have been, this was a 8',8" wall with about 2.5 ' of concrete reveal so I was only in the ground about 6'. The power is impressive, and it comfortable to run. I think the machine would be too tippy with a long stick and the thumb and coupler. I noticed at full extension with a heaping bucket that it would get tippy if you were not smooth (no small task when running that dicked up pattern). It will go back to the dealer tommorrow, too bad cause it would be nice have, but not at their price. There are a some holes to dig but not enough to make up a 20 plus K difference. Still am not sold that I don't want the longer stick. I may run a 210 for the next one and compare the difference.
And yall get on my back for running DEERE and one of the most respected guys here runs it! Come on! :laugh:

can you post those pics?

[ksss]

And yall get on my back for running DEERE and one of the most respected guys here runs it! Come on! :laugh:

can you post those pics?


What really impressed me was the VTS. I have liked it since I put it on the 440, but to be honest, I also miss my wheeled 440. Pretty bad when the smallest skid steer you have is a 465. However it really shined on Saturday. I ramped down in the holes to smooth up the floor. Usually its a hassle working in the cobble rock (if you recall from other pictures of my foundations the dirt/rock is largely the same everywhere. The wheeled machine spins out and it generally is a pain to work in. The VTS was terrific, much more traction in that material, climbed in and out of the hole on a very steep and muddy ramp. Overall it really shined in this application. I wont be digging anymore holes with ISO. The bottom of the foundation looked like 5 miles of bad road before I smoothed it out.

[Junior M]

What really impressed me was the VTS. I have liked it since I put it on the 440, but to be honest, I also miss my wheeled 440. Pretty bad when the smallest skid steer you have is a 465. However it really shined on Saturday. I ramped down in the holes to smooth up the floor. Usually its a hassle working in the cobble rock (if you recall from other pictures of my foundations the dirt/rock is largely the same everywhere. The wheeled machine spins out and it generally is a pain to work in. The VTS was terrific, much more traction in that material, climbed in and out of the hole on a very steep and muddy ramp. Overall it really shined in this application. I wont be digging anymore holes with ISO. The bottom of the foundation looked like 5 miles of bad road before I smoothed it out.
:laugh: You could always win that S3 440 and you'll have the best of both worlds, or you could find a decent used 440 and keep it around?

[kreft]

any pics shane?

[ksss]

any pics shane?

My I.T. division (read my wife) is working on that.

[Junior M]

My I.T. division (read my wife) is working on that.
Figures, he can run 2 different patterns of trackhoe controls but cant post pics.. :wall :laugh:

[CAT powered]

No, Junior. He can only run 1 pattern. That's why he needed to re-grade everything once he was done.

Of course that could just be the norm. for power tan, but I don't know. I run Deere.

[Junior M]

No, Junior. He can only run 1 pattern. That's why he needed to re-grade everything once he was done.

Of course that could just be the norm. for power tan, but I don't know. I run Deere.
You can run 2 different patterns if you dig a hole with the opposite one. The only thing I can freakin do with ISO is break something. :laugh: If you think I suck at running Deere controls, you really dont wanna see ISO..

[stuvecorp]

I think every excavator should have the pattern changer. I have given up the idea to try running the other style, am stuck running Deere.

[ksss]

No, Junior. He can only run 1 pattern. That's why he needed to re-grade everything once he was done.

Of course that could just be the norm. for power tan, but I don't know. I run Deere.


Well now I cant run anything. I jumped into the TK to put it in the shop today and now the Deere controls are screwing me up. I thinking that little experiment was not a good idea.

No doubt, the hole was not as nice as it would have been had I stayed with DEERE controls. I dumped the foundation 2000 square feet in 6 hours, so it probably took an hour longer having to think about the control pattern. I never could push the material down the spoil pile. For whatever the reason I really struggled getting that motion down in ISO.

That pattern was probably the only positive lasting contribution Deere has ever made to the construction industry.:laugh:

You should try one of these Sumitomo machines CAT. Pretty sweet.

[ksss]

I think every excavator should have the pattern changer. I have given up the idea to try running the other style, am stuck running Deere.

Both the Link Belt and CASE machines had the pattern changer. I think it is standard in the LX and CX machines. I put quick couplers on the hoses on the control bank of my 9020B to change the pattern for those who cant run SAE/Deere.

[CAT powered]

I can run both controls to a certain degree although I prefer ISO controls.

I'd love to have a newer Link-Belt.

I loved my old one. All in time I'd like to invest in a newer Link-Belt 210 with a pro-link thumb.

[ksss]

Figures, he can run 2 different patterns of trackhoe controls but cant post pics.. :wall :laugh:

Posting pictures I can do. She has to download them from the camera to the home computer and to the laptop. That I cant do or perfer not to know how to.

[ksss]

I can run both controls to a certain degree although I prefer ISO controls.

I'd love to have a newer Link-Belt.

I loved my old one. All in time I'd like to invest in a newer Link-Belt 210 with a pro-link thumb.


Wait till you jump into this new series, way faster than the series II or Q. I wanted to try the X2 machine while in SLC but didn't. If it is faster than the LX you would have to take Dramamine to keep from getting motion sickness.:laugh:

[CAT powered]

Yea. I'd like to have a Link-Belt as long as it's got an Isuzu diesel.

And Kaiser with my camera it's as simple as plug in the camera on both ends and select what pictures you want to load onto the computer.

[ksss]

Here are some of the pictures. Power Tan Haters beware.:cool2:

[Scag48]

Looks like you took backwards to a whole new level digging over the finals! :laugh: :drinkup: Good looking machine.

[ksss]

Looks like you took backwards to a whole new level digging over the finals! :laugh: :drinkup: Good looking machine.


Ha! Right or wrong, I put zero faith in the "don't dig over the final drives" wives tale. The excavator spins all the way around, and I dig where it suits me. :clapping:

[Scag48]

Ha! Right or wrong, I put zero faith in the "don't dig over the final drives" wives tale. The excavator spins all the way around, and I dig where it suits me. :clapping:

I'm neither for it nor against it. I'll only dig 100% over idlers if I'm working for someone who believes in it. I see a little merit in the logic, but not enough to get me to quit doing it voluntarily.

[Gravel Rat]

I never heard of that people say your not supposed to dig over your final drives.

That little 160 Case looks good the stick looks short. I can see thou that dig bucket wouldn't last long there is no wear bars on the backside and heal of the bucket.

Looking at the pictures again it doesn't look like a long carriage machine it would make it a little bouncy.

[stuvecorp]

Nice, PowerTan.:usflag: That 440 is pretty.

[Mjh Excavating]

Ha! Right or wrong, I put zero faith in the "don't dig over the final drives" wives tale. The excavator spins all the way around, and I dig where it suits me. :clapping:

I don't believe in that rule either, over the side, idlers, final drive, like you said KSSS, The machine spins 360

[bobcat_ron]

Wow, you got some rock problems in that soil.

[jefftb]

Wow, you got some rock problems in that soil.

Nah Ron, those are potatoes-look closer. This is a rock problem.....
:laugh:

[talus]

I like the CX 160,however if it was my money I'd go with the red and grey version. I hate red but that tanish color eeeeeeeeeew.:laugh:

[kreft]

shane, your making me look twice at case.

[Junior M]

shane, your making me look twice at case.
Why, your NH is so high quality.. :rolleyes: :laugh:

[Mjh Excavating]

shane, your making me look twice at case.

He's slooooooowly bringing you to the other side, you just don't realize it, he may have already converted me.:)

[stuvecorp]

He's slooooooowly bringing you to the other side, you just don't realize it, he may have already converted me.:)

Resistance is futile!

[kreft]

Why, your NH is so high quality.. :rolleyes: :laugh:

they use to be made by the same people, "junior". New holland finally used the right head.

[ksss]

I never heard of that people say your not supposed to dig over your final drives.

That little 160 Case looks good the stick looks short. I can see thou that dig bucket wouldn't last long there is no wear bars on the backside and heal of the bucket.

Looking at the pictures again it doesn't look like a long carriage machine it would make it a little bouncy.

I am not sure whats up with the smooth bucket. Think its an AIM but I am not sure. It is odd that it does not have wear bars. I liked the Esco thumb on the Link Belt better than the Amulet thumb on the CASE.


As far as digging over the finals, If you were digging in sewer line or something that allowed you to run in one direction I would likely dig over the idllers, but foundations are a little different, a little harder to keep the from digging over the motors. You could do it if you were dedicated not to, but all the spining around to keep from digging over the finals would take a toll as well I am sure.

[Junior M]

they use to be made by the same people, "junior". New holland finally used the right head.
Key word: USE. I was speaking of the current times, not the past, "Kreft."

[ksss]

they use to be made by the same people, "junior". New holland finally used the right head.


They are made in the same factory. The Power Tan assembly line is called the Proffessional Grade assembly line, and the NH line is called.............well............ its the NH assembly line.:rolleyes:

[ksss]

He's slooooooowly bringing you to the other side, you just don't realize it, he may have already converted me.:)


Picture the scene from O' Brother Where art Thou where they have walked into the river to have their Sins and Trangressions washed away. Come on in fellas the water is WARM. No Kool Aid here.:weightlifter:

[jefftb]

If the finals were not made to be dug over, why the heck did they put them somewhere they could be dug over?

Its kinda like my attitude with trees and raking leaves, if the Creator did not intend for them to fall to the ground and lay there, why does it happen....

[bobcat_ron]

I laugh every time people bring up the issue of digging over the final drives, they must be the people that have never seen a final drive and planetary system on an excavator that's been disassembled and how they bolt to the frame of the undercarriage, no proof that digging over them damages them.
What kills finals is travelling long distances and using gear oil for lubricant in the gears, my Dad changed the Hitachi's over to 40wt engine oil, and the finals don't heat up anymore as much.


Flame on.

[Scag48]

You're not supposed to back drag with a D8 either, but I've seen it done. Case in point, just because you're able to do something with a machine, doesn't mean you should. My point is, wherever you stand on the over the idler rule, I wouldn't assume that it's okay just because the machine is able to do it.

Look what I started, all I wanted to do was hassle Shane, which by the way never gets old, and here I go threadjacking. Good times.

[kreft]

Picture the scene from O' Brother Where art Thou where they have walked into the river to have their Sins and Trangressions washed away. Come on in fellas the water is WARM. No Kool Aid here.:weightlifter:

that was on yesterday. lol

[Junior M]

all I wanted to do was hassle Shane, which by the way never gets old

Dam right it never gets old.. Its more fun when he jokes back though.. :laugh:

[ksss]

I laugh every time people bring up the issue of digging over the final drives, they must be the people that have never seen a final drive and planetary system on an excavator that's been disassembled and how they bolt to the frame of the undercarriage, no proof that digging over them damages them.
What kills finals is travelling long distances and using gear oil for lubricant in the gears, my Dad changed the Hitachi's over to 40wt engine oil, and the finals don't heat up anymore as much.


Flame on.


Honestly I don't whether digging over the finals causes damage or not. I guess I don't care either. It would seem to me to be a long term kinda deal if its even an issue and so I would factor it into the cost of ownership. The hassle of always digging over the idlers would cost productivity. Maybe its a push if the damage theory is even for real.

Over at HEF they beat each other up big time over this issue. I never saw any validity to it but what do I know.

[CAT powered]

It's ok, Kaiser. Come on over to the Link-Belt side. We're a friendly bunch. And our machines aren't painted the color of calf sh*t.

[ksss]

It's ok, Kaiser. Come on over to the Link-Belt side. We're a friendly bunch. And our machines aren't painted the color of calf sh*t.


I love the color of CASE machines!!!

I already have one grey and red (my Takeuchi), no harm in another I guess.

My CASE dealer was a little bummed when I broke the news to him of the Link Belt deal. He cant touch it, which I knew.

[Scag48]

I love the color of CASE machines!!!

I already have one grey and red (my Takeuchi), no harm in another I guess.

My CASE dealer was a little bummed when I broke the news to him of the Link Belt deal. He cant touch it, which I knew.

So did you pull the trigger on that LB?

[minimax]

Ksss, I have been away from a computer for week and just saw this tread,Did you look at there 2700Q link belt at van's equipment in WA.The 2700Q has 1880 hours,long stick,but no thumb,but the price is only 35K.

minimax

[RockSet N' Grade]

KSSS.......bring your check book down here this Friday. I will buy lunch. Auction in Toole........Richie Bro's.