Tim's C series Blog

[BigDigger]

Well I did it. After far too much dust making it to the engine filter in too short a time I gave up. They are not cheap after all. I had to knock one out a few times in a 10 hour period just to play it safe. They are designed to work with restriction, but the dust coming off of that thing is embarrasing.

Anyhow I am getting a prefilter fix installed. It's a clear bowl that get's plumbed like a snorkel to one side of the back window. There are no filter elements involved, you just keep an eye on the clear bowl and when it fills up you take it off dump it out and put it back on. Takes about 30sec to do.

According to the Service manager it will filter out no less than 80% of the dust before ever entering the filter cannister. That would be huge. Not to mention the height of the intake would cut down on dust intake. Anyhow I like the setup...I am not a huge fan of them taking up a little bit of my precious rear view, but whatever....I wasn't suffering before too bad. At 60 bucks canadian a pop for a filter this will pay for itself very quickly. This will also be FAR better for the engine so it's cheap insurance.

They are installing it Monday so I will post some pics when I get it back.

Funny thing, It's been a bit slow for work the last month. I just finished an infield for a Mini Sprint Track. Very interesting job. I impressed myself. It had to be swailed and graded for drainage over a 200' stretch. it's tricky when you really don't want to chew up the track and you are surrounded by it. It was a challenge since you can't do the top soil as you back out of it.....it's every where man....it's everywhere.

Anyhow the funny part. I figured, now is the perfect time to get a couple warranty issues handled such as recharging the accumulator valve for the ride control, it just squats as soon as it activates at speed, load and carry functions take a bit more care without it obviously. Anyhow I drop it off and don't get more than 300 feet from the building and I get a call to do a topsoil/final grade job asap. @#$*^ @#$*& * $@*#&.

Anyhow the guy pushed it back so I am good to go still. It's been clear sailing for a month and as soon as I tie it up with the dealer I get the work.

Moral of the story, don't wait to get work done on your machine if you are crying for work.

Again I will post some pics of the filter. I would be interested in what you guys think of it. This is by no means cat specific, so I imagine that this could be a nice fit for many machines. The topsoil is so dry up here now that it's a fine powder, it makes it's way into everything.


One last thing I discovered about my C series. When I shut down or start up the machine, the Rad fan spins up super fast for just a second or so and blows the dust out of it. I notice this a few times when shutting down I hear a SWOOOSH and pufff and there is a cloud of dust exiting my machine.....same with start up...so just to be sure it wasn't my imagination, I noticed my coolant temp was going up a bit.....so I idled it for a minute, shut it down and fired it up (SWOOSH) and within a couple minutes the temp came right down and stayed....so I suppose that fine dust was coating it pretty good. I did that several more times that day and it worked wonders.

Cool feature, I have never heard about it before, and I have not seen another machine do it. Though correct me if yours does. It's a neat idea and in the course of a day made a huge difference to my temps.


Over long, but par for the course for me. I just needed to vent since me and Stuve and Ksss haven't had a chance to talk about our feelings in a while :cry::laugh:

[stuvecorp]

So you are my Lex Luther, Biggie.:laugh:

It will be interesting with your Precleaner, I think all brands should come standard with something more. I know NH and Case has the Aspirator and I think Shane has a thread on here about it.

Have you ever seen those magnets with a bunch of faces that show 'how I feel'? We need the interweb version.

[BigDigger]

So you are my Lex Luther, Biggie.:laugh:

It will be interesting with your Precleaner, I think all brands should come standard with something more. I know NH and Case has the Aspirator and I think Shane has a thread on here about it.

Have you ever seen those magnets with a bunch of faces that show 'how I feel'? We need the interweb version.

heheheh...that's true, it would make emotional crap easier.....


Yeah I seem to recal someone getting the precleaner on a Cat C series. it might have been an MTL, not sure though. I am curious how it's worked out for him, or if it's even the same type of system. Prefilter or passive strainer.

[Gravel Rat]

Those pre-filters have been around for a long time. They do work I emptied a few of them. Never knock filters its bad bad bad. Have a air supply and a blow gun to give them a light dust off.

[Junior M]

Post some pics of your work!

So your doing this inbetween flying or when you dont have something to do at work?

[YellowDogSVC]

I had CAT install a vortex air cleaner and it worked so much better than the stock filter.

[MackCat]

Well I did it. After far too much dust making it to the engine filter in too short a time I gave up. They are not cheap after all. I had to knock one out a few times in a 10 hour period just to play it safe. They are designed to work with restriction, but the dust coming off of that thing is embarrasing.

Anyhow I am getting a prefilter fix installed. It's a clear bowl that get's plumbed like a snorkel to one side of the back window. There are no filter elements involved, you just keep an eye on the clear bowl and when it fills up you take it off dump it out and put it back on. Takes about 30sec to do.

According to the Service manager it will filter out no less than 80% of the dust before ever entering the filter cannister. That would be huge. Not to mention the height of the intake would cut down on dust intake. Anyhow I like the setup...I am not a huge fan of them taking up a little bit of my precious rear view, but whatever....I wasn't suffering before too bad. At 60 bucks canadian a pop for a filter this will pay for itself very quickly. This will also be FAR better for the engine so it's cheap insurance.

They are installing it Monday so I will post some pics when I get it back.

Funny thing, It's been a bit slow for work the last month. I just finished an infield for a Mini Sprint Track. Very interesting job. I impressed myself. It had to be swailed and graded for drainage over a 200' stretch. it's tricky when you really don't want to chew up the track and you are surrounded by it. It was a challenge since you can't do the top soil as you back out of it.....it's every where man....it's everywhere.

Anyhow the funny part. I figured, now is the perfect time to get a couple warranty issues handled such as recharging the accumulator valve for the ride control, it just squats as soon as it activates at speed, load and carry functions take a bit more care without it obviously. Anyhow I drop it off and don't get more than 300 feet from the building and I get a call to do a topsoil/final grade job asap. @#$*^ @#$*& * $@*#&.

Anyhow the guy pushed it back so I am good to go still. It's been clear sailing for a month and as soon as I tie it up with the dealer I get the work.

Moral of the story, don't wait to get work done on your machine if you are crying for work.

Again I will post some pics of the filter. I would be interested in what you guys think of it. This is by no means cat specific, so I imagine that this could be a nice fit for many machines. The topsoil is so dry up here now that it's a fine powder, it makes it's way into everything.


One last thing I discovered about my C series. When I shut down or start up the machine, the Rad fan spins up super fast for just a second or so and blows the dust out of it. I notice this a few times when shutting down I hear a SWOOOSH and pufff and there is a cloud of dust exiting my machine.....same with start up...so just to be sure it wasn't my imagination, I noticed my coolant temp was going up a bit.....so I idled it for a minute, shut it down and fired it up (SWOOSH) and within a couple minutes the temp came right down and stayed....so I suppose that fine dust was coating it pretty good. I did that several more times that day and it worked wonders.

Cool feature, I have never heard about it before, and I have not seen another machine do it. Though correct me if yours does. It's a neat idea and in the course of a day made a huge difference to my temps.


Over long, but par for the course for me. I just needed to vent since me and Stuve and Ksss haven't had a chance to talk about our feelings in a while :cry::laugh:
My Cat 297C does the same thing with the radiator, I think why it does this is because the fan doesn`t run all the time, only when needed, and when it comes on it blows all the dust out.

[bobcat_ron]

My Dad's Hitachi 75 does that too, it's the best feature with a hydraulic fan, Bobcat's can't do that, unless it's now a feature on the new M series.

[BigDigger]

My Cat 297C does the same thing with the radiator, I think why it does this is because the fan doesn`t run all the time, only when needed, and when it comes on it blows all the dust out.

Yeah I thought that too....but it was running the whole time. I can actually hear it spin up briefly on shut down and start up, like the tips of the fan blades are being over sped. It also only does this on machine shut down and start up. The day I referenced the machine was running a little hot, the fan was on no doubt about it. Ran cool after it got blown out.


Gravel Rat, I agree....I felt bad doing it, but I had no compressor around. It would have been worse letting it plug up....it was pretty bad. But that's why I have a secondary filter....so no harm done.

JR, I don't fly for anyone....didn't want to chase the dream in Northern fricken no where. We just sold our business...there is little for decent business out there to buy right now so I started up a skid steer company. I also do construction work between jobs.....which means I am pretty much full time construction. :rolleyes:

Things are starting to pick up though, spring comes late up here, people are starting into it again. FINALLY

[BigDigger]

My Dad's Hitachi 75 does that too, it's the best feature with a hydraulic fan, Bobcat's can't do that, unless it's now a feature on the new M series.

HA!!! I love it. yeah it's an amazing feature....it absolutely shocking how much crap comes out of it.

[bobcat_ron]

I always was my rad out with eater the next day when it's home, even that water is yucky coming out.

All this radiator talk brings back horrible (and painful burn) memories from my Bobcat days, man that was a PITA back then.

[Junior M]

Yeah I thought that too....but it was running the whole time. I can actually hear it spin up briefly on shut down and start up, like the tips of the fan blades are being over sped. It also only does this on machine shut down and start up. The day I referenced the machine was running a little hot, the fan was on no doubt about it. Ran cool after it got blown out.


Gravel Rat, I agree....I felt bad doing it, but I had no compressor around. It would have been worse letting it plug up....it was pretty bad. But that's why I have a secondary filter....so no harm done.

JR, I don't fly for anyone....didn't want to chase the dream in Northern fricken no where. We just sold our business...there is little for decent business out there to buy right now so I started up a skid steer company. I also do construction work between jobs.....which means I am pretty much full time construction. :rolleyes:

Things are starting to pick up though, spring comes late up here, people are starting into it again. FINALLY
Nice, and I just asked because you said when you first started here that you were a commercial pilot..

[YellowDogSVC]

I always was my rad out with eater the next day when it's home, even that water is yucky coming out.

All this radiator talk brings back horrible (and painful burn) memories from my Bobcat days, man that was a PITA back then.

still is:cry:

[Junior M]

still is:cry:
would you like your CAT back? Let me remind of all the issues it had?

NH should be your next step.. :cool2: :rolleyes: :laugh:

[bobcat_ron]

Are there any complaints of dust in the cab from your 246C yet?

[BigDigger]

Nice, and I just asked because you said when you first started here that you were a commercial pilot..

Oh yeah, no worries man....I am a commercial Pilot, I am almost done my Instructor rating, and I have my float rating and lots of time on various planes. I will do my instrument rating when I have time. I have had opportunities to go fly and further that side of things, but it all involves moving me and my family away....the money isn't THAT good and I can still fly to enjoy myself now. At least I am trained at a high level, it might interest you to know that Canadian Flight Training standards are even higher than American Flight standards, though I think they are starting to close the gap. But this is why some American Companies love Canadian Pilots that have complete conversion training to an FAA license. Good times. :canadaflag:

[BigDigger]

Are there any complaints of dust in the cab from your 246C yet?

Zero. But it looks like the dealer put some time into making sure the fit was good. It has been an absolute joy to work in and it's sealed up so nicely, even when I am in a cloud of dust you don't smell it.

The big thing is keeping the Cabin filter clean. While dust might not come in, it's the dust from the floor mat that you bring in that seems to be what spreads about the cabin, especially with 2 vents blowing into the foot well.....and we all know how hard it is to take off your shoes before getting into your machine :laugh:

I must say that the AC has performed very well, it's so nice and sealed that it seems that it doesn't need to work as hard to cool things off. you need to point all the vents up....the other day my feet got ice cold :)

[bobcat_ron]

Zero. But it looks like the dealer put some time into making sure the fit was good. It has been an absolute joy to work in and it's sealed up so nicely, even when I am in a cloud of dust you don't smell it.

The big thing is keeping the Cabin filter clean. While dust might not come in, it's the dust from the floor mat that you bring in that seems to be what spreads about the cabin, especially with 2 vents blowing into the foot well.....and we all know how hard it is to take off your shoes before getting into your machine :laugh:

I must say that the AC has performed very well, it's so nice and sealed that it seems that it doesn't need to work as hard to cool things off. you need to point all the vents up....the other day my feet got ice cold :)


I noticed that too, keep the vents away from the floor, I worked in ash last week and my cab filter was plugged, but no dust in the cab, geez these Cat B series are way easier to seal up!

[stuvecorp]

Oh yeah, no worries man....I am a commercial Pilot, I am almost done my Instructor rating, and I have my float rating and lots of time on various planes. I will do my instrument rating when I have time. I have had opportunities to go fly and further that side of things, but it all involves moving me and my family away....the money isn't THAT good and I can still fly to enjoy myself now. At least I am trained at a high level, it might interest you to know that Canadian Flight Training standards are even higher than American Flight standards, though I think they are starting to close the gap. But this is why some American Companies love Canadian Pilots that have complete conversion training to an FAA license. Good times. :canadaflag:

That's cool your a pilot, do you have a plane? The last couple years I have gotten more interested in flying, more like a Piper size plane.

[SiteSolutions]

It sounds like your C series machines have reversing fans. The bigger Cats have had those for several years now. They run in one direction, and then change direction... probably when you stop / start the machine. It's by design, to do exactly what you've described: blow the dust out. By regularly reversing, they never pack the radiator / other cooler cores with too much junk; it always gets blown out.

[BigDigger]

It sounds like your C series machines have reversing fans. The bigger Cats have had those for several years now. They run in one direction, and then change direction... probably when you stop / start the machine. It's by design, to do exactly what you've described: blow the dust out. By regularly reversing, they never pack the radiator / other cooler cores with too much junk; it always gets blown out.

Hmmm...good point, I thought that at first too, Ron, can you speak to this? doesn't it always blow out? up to this point I haven't spent much time checking airflow direction, but I always thought it blew out. Actually I find there is NO dust obvious from the top at any time, you would think that's where it would be most of the time if it was drawing in air.

[BigDigger]

Stuve,

Do it man. It's worth every second. It's a challenge, and it will push you *if it doesn't I would never fly with you* :)

It's easier with the new FAA sport class you have down there. If you find you like it a lot, just go and upgrade to the private.

I always recommend the Commercial license, even for personal use. I will tell you now I can out fly a private pilot of equivalent hours. It hones those skills and makes you a better pilot with more in depth knowledge. Of course now that I am almost done my instructor rating, I could outfly many equivalent hour commercial pilots, but that's because you have picked apart and understand the mechanics of everything. I don't mean to sound cocky, not at all, but if you decided to go that route you will be amazed at what you learn. Besides, it is instructors that teach commercial pilots :laugh:


Flying = One of the best decisions I ever made, right after signing up for this forum of course:drinkup:


:drinkup: oh and remember 8 hours from bottle to throttle.:drinkup:

[bobcat_ron]

Hmmm...good point, I thought that at first too, Ron, can you speak to this? doesn't it always blow out? up to this point I haven't spent much time checking airflow direction, but I always thought it blew out. Actually I find there is NO dust obvious from the top at any time, you would think that's where it would be most of the time if it was drawing in air.

Mine doesn't reverse, ever. The air just blows up through, it draws the air from the engine bay which is why the engine air filter plugs (err I mean "restricts" itself) faster than any other brand.

[BigDigger]

Yup mine is the same.

[YellowDogSVC]

would you like your CAT back? Let me remind of all the issues it had?

NH should be your next step.. :cool2: :rolleyes: :laugh:

For a lot of things I'd take the CAT if it worked right. I really like my S330 setup, though, and it has been a good machine even if it is ridiculously heavy.

[stuvecorp]

Stuve,

Do it man. It's worth every second. It's a challenge, and it will push you *if it doesn't I would never fly with you* :)

It's easier with the new FAA sport class you have down there. If you find you like it a lot, just go and upgrade to the private.

I always recommend the Commercial license, even for personal use. I will tell you now I can out fly a private pilot of equivalent hours. It hones those skills and makes you a better pilot with more in depth knowledge. Of course now that I am almost done my instructor rating, I could outfly many equivalent hour commercial pilots, but that's because you have picked apart and understand the mechanics of everything. I don't mean to sound cocky, not at all, but if you decided to go that route you will be amazed at what you learn. Besides, it is instructors that teach commercial pilots :laugh:


Flying = One of the best decisions I ever made, right after signing up for this forum of course:drinkup:


:drinkup: oh and remember 8 hours from bottle to throttle.:drinkup:

I find it interesting but don't know how useful it would be, I don't really travel so I can't come up with a real reason to say I need it. My Grandpa flew back in the day and have been around it growing up. There use to be a guy that had a Stearman that did crop dusting on the marsh, he even had the scarf/goggles/leather helmet.

That sport pilot sounds like it's a good way to start.

[BigDigger]

I find it interesting but don't know how useful it would be, I don't really travel so I can't come up with a real reason to say I need it. My Grandpa flew back in the day and have been around it growing up. There use to be a guy that had a Stearman that did crop dusting on the marsh, he even had the scarf/goggles/leather helmet.

That sport pilot sounds like it's a good way to start.

I think it's a great way to start. Personally I consider it continuing education. You learn a ton and while you may not lack confidence in life, it sure is nice to know that 90% of the time your the only guy in the room who can fly. It's a brotherhood.....*sisterhood too*

The sport pilot does not require justification, neither does the private, the commercial does since it's at a very considerable cost and the reasons for that may not be as sound. Privates just for flying privately, how much do you need to justify that :drinkup: hehehehe.....it really has been a wonderful experience. I enjoy almost every minute of it....don't ask about the almost parts :canadaflag:

[BigDigger]

AHHHHH CRAP...here I was all set to get the prefilter installed, now they are telling me that the C series chassis is different enough that the B series install won't work.

So we are looking at options. Who was it that had a Cyclone filter again???? it was on a C series. Can you provide any more information?


Cheers

TimR

[Treemow]

AHHHHH CRAP...here I was all set to get the prefilter installed, now they are telling me that the C series chassis is different enough that the B series install won't work.

So we are looking at options. Who was it that had a Cyclone filter again???? it was on a C series. Can you provide any more information?


Cheers

TimR

I have a Mustang mtl25 and I installed a Centri Precleaner. It works really well. They will put together a kit to fit any machine. Here is a link. http://http://www.centriprecleaner.com/index-2.html

[BigDigger]

Great find!!! thanks. I sent them an email.

Tell me does it just shoot the dirt out or does it contain it until empty....I am just concerned that it spits out dirt only to be ingested again. Just a thought, please let me know what you think. What kind of improvement did you see in terms of filter life or even the look of the filter after hours in dusty conditions.

Cheers

[Treemow]

When mulching in the summertime I was stopping every three hours with a plugged filter. I can probably go 40 hours now. The precleaner is sized according to the engines aspiration needs. It spins like crazy. If you were to put your finger in it I think it would chop it off. I'm not kidding. I thought leaves and such would be a problem but it just shreds them.

[BigDigger]

Just a little teaser.

I just got the new Flash for my AMICS. User adjustable profiles baby. on the fly. There are 6 in total. 3 for loader arm and bucket and 3 for hydrostatic drive control. Slick...very slick. At least in one respect it removes the training wheels, I will explain later. In the mean time I will leave you with this. It does not affect cycle times.

Had fun today with it, but very little time to mess with it.

I will post a new thread on this one in a day or two.

Cheers

[stuvecorp]

Just a little teaser.

I just got the new Flash for my AMICS. User adjustable profiles baby. on the fly. There are 6 in total. 3 for loader arm and bucket and 3 for hydrostatic drive control. Slick...very slick. At least in one respect it removes the training wheels, I will explain later. In the mean time I will leave you with this. It does not affect cycle times.

Had fun today with it, but very little time to mess with it.

I will post a new thread on this one in a day or two.

Cheers

Something I was pondering last weekend was why they have some of the 'programing' for a skid? Why am I not bothered by how much computer controlled an excavator is but am venomously apposed to having it in a skid?

[ksss]

Something I was pondering last weekend was why they have some of the 'programing' for a skid? Why am I not bothered by how much computer controlled an excavator is but am venomously apposed to having it in a skid?


Thats a good question. I guess for me I can see the benefits of the computer controlled excavator. I have not seen anything but loss of productivity by the computer intervention in a skid steer, granted I know not what the latest "flash" has done. This I think we can be sure. The more reflashes the CAT C series gets, the closer it tries to get toward the performance of the noncomputer regulated skid steers.

I'll bet CAT put a switch in the cab that allows the machine to go from training wheel up to training wheels down at the flip of a switch.:laugh:

[stuvecorp]

I ask that question not to really stir anything up but to see why or what do guys think the pro or con is to it? Do you want a machine that has to or could get re-flashed/re-programed?

I think I'm good enough to have a barbaric machine and can be very productive, don't want the machine holding me back. I feel if it is too high tech it likely would have higher maintenance or long term costs, or am I off on that? I did play with a 450S3 and felt I would have to get better as it was super fast compared to the 440 or 70XT currently.

[CarterKraft]

pretty simple guys

electrohydraulics = software

CAT skids have always had computers 2 to be exact, they control the interlock system and the auxillary hydraulics.

now they control the solenoids in the control valve were the pilot lines used to connect.

One question though, for anyone, if you could buy a new pickup that was built to 1970standards, A/C included, power steering, brakes etc. would you.

Think about the amount of moving parts that were added back then, I am sure there people that didn't want the changes but I know I sure do.

[CarterKraft]

about the fan cleaning....

When the machine starts it takes a second for the ECM to "boot" and start outputting current to the various solenoids, drive, lift, tilt, dump, demand fan etc.

During that split second the engine which is not electronic has started and the gear pump is pumping the rated GPM for the RPM the engine is turning. this amout of flow is enough to spin the fan up to max speed before the solenoid comes in with the correct current to spin the fan at the RPM required for the engine coolant temp at that time.

Was it designed to do that who knows, it is a bonus though.

[stuvecorp]

pretty simple guys

electrohydraulics = software

CAT skids have always had computers 2 to be exact, they control the interlock system and the auxillary hydraulics.

now they control the solenoids in the control valve were the pilot lines used to connect.

One question though, for anyone, if you could buy a new pickup that was built to 1970standards, A/C included, power steering, brakes etc. would you.

Think about the amount of moving parts that were added back then, I am sure there people that didn't want the changes but I know I sure do.

I wasn't meaning it as an attack on Cat, more a question for debate but it looks like it's not something anyone cares about.

I would take the old truck if it didn't have the stupid door dinging thingy:hammerhead:.

[ksss]

Here is question I have been asking myself. Why has E/H not been implimented in excavators? You see it in some backhoes, some motor graders and skid steers but no excavators that I know of. There are some excellent advantages to E/H no doubt. I don't think CAT has done a very good job with it's execution, but thats my own opinion. I think it is a little odd that of all the platforms to utilize E/H it seems a little odd to me that they put it in skid steers. Time will tell how reliable this will be. Like new pickups I guess, you will need a tech to hook up a lap top to tell you whats wrong with it. There is no doubt they will be much more costly to maintain than a non E/H I don't think there is anyway around that.

[stuvecorp]

Here is question I have been asking myself. Why has E/H not been implimented in excavators? You see it in some backhoes, some motor graders and skid steers but no excavators that I know of. There are some excellent advantages to E/H no doubt. I don't think CAT has done a very good job with it's execution, but thats my own opinion. I think it is a little odd that of all the platforms to utilize E/H it seems a little odd to me that they put it in skid steers. Time will tell how reliable this will be. Like new pickups I guess, you will need a tech to hook up a lap top to tell you whats wrong with it. There is no doubt they will be much more costly to maintain than a non E/H I don't think there is anyway around that.

One thought is the skid is always in harsh conditions, bouncing, usually run by inexperienced operators, little regular maintenance and not much room - that doesn't sound like an ideal platform for advanced features. From a consumer/end user point of view I want the machine to last a long time and be as bulletproof as possible. I think I would rather have a more simple machine than one with a lot of electronics. Anyone else?

[SellingIron]

With E/H you have control of your flow. You can control a bobcat SJC unit from 0 to 100%. Works well with trenchers, mulching heads etc. If your pushing dirt all day than no need to use it. Bobcat released new adjustments for the SJC machines. You have three different settings to work with for the joystick control movements. You can do it right from the cab in no time. Also, if your machine pulls to the left or right You can adjust it from the cab. Keeps you from taking it to the shop.. I'm sure thats one reason cat changed over to E/H. Bobcats excavators also have three different power levels that you can adjust from the cab...

[ccstrebe]

Just a thought.................. maybe they have them on the skids first to use them as a real world long term test platform to work the bugs out and to get some long term data before moving onto the bigger stuff.

[bobcat_ron]

Here is question I have been asking myself. Why has E/H not been implimented in excavators? You see it in some backhoes, some motor graders and skid steers but no excavators that I know of. There are some excellent advantages to E/H no doubt. I don't think CAT has done a very good job with it's execution, but thats my own opinion. I think it is a little odd that of all the platforms to utilize E/H it seems a little odd to me that they put it in skid steers. Time will tell how reliable this will be. Like new pickups I guess, you will need a tech to hook up a lap top to tell you whats wrong with it. There is no doubt they will be much more costly to maintain than a non E/H I don't think there is anyway around that.


Cat has been using E/H in their big hoes (345-5000 series) for some time now, one of the reasons is the heat generated by the pilot valves makes the operators complain, even the 320's I run have some heat inside the cab that will make me turn on the A/C.

[Mr. Rain]

Here is question I have been asking myself. Why has E/H not been implimented in excavators? You see it in some backhoes, some motor graders and skid steers but no excavators that I know of. There are some excellent advantages to E/H no doubt. I don't think CAT has done a very good job with it's execution, but thats my own opinion. I think it is a little odd that of all the platforms to utilize E/H it seems a little odd to me that they put it in skid steers. Time will tell how reliable this will be. Like new pickups I guess, you will need a tech to hook up a lap top to tell you whats wrong with it. There is no doubt they will be much more costly to maintain than a non E/H I don't think there is anyway around that.

I could see that there would be more application for a skid vs. a hoe simply because of the wider range of applications a skid sees. Way more variation in what they're being asked to do, thus the ability to program becomes more valuable. With E/H, you'd have the ability to control more aspects of performance at the push of a button, or add specific functions that would be a nightmare to accomplish with oil and valves. Just a thought.

[BigDigger]

It's interesting that I certainly haven't heard of any significant complaints regarding reliability of the Cat setup from day one.

Bobcat SJC on the other hand has been considered an unmitigated disaster. I hope the new M series get it right, That's one of the reasons I avoided the Bobcat machines.

BTW excellent discussion here. I gotta say you Case boys are always good for a debate. That takes critical thought, which denotes intelligence, thusly proving gene pool viability....and yet you shut down all those intellectual mechanisms and buy a Case. We all make mistakes in life. It's just that some people have to drive them.:laugh::drinkup: (quote that one JR)


JKJK, those where actually good talking points. But I must say that Cat does seem to have a very reliable E/H system. That it's programmable isn't a negative at all. It's nice to see improvements, or even adjustments to feel. something you can't do with any other machine. Setting sensitivity or stick travel depending on the job sure helps. I was on grass today doing some load and carry work and the lowest setting on the wheels really prevents any jerking back and forth....helped preserve the lawn. Though I gotta say my Brawler tires are like an enormous russian woman with a uni-brow coming to give you a massage. No matter what you do, you know you (lawn) are gonna get messed up. :laugh: those 900 extra lbs count for something.


Hey KSSS You get your tires yet?


Today I stripped 36 yards of topsoil for a college, had it hauled to another site and then spread out. It was done for a college and one of the teachers has kept a huge garden there for 30 some years. He has put so much time into that soil that you wouldn't believe how beautiful this stuff was. I wanted to roll around in this (naked). Anyhow the college is closing down (to make way for a highway) and as a parting gift *among others* they had me strip and transfer this soil to his new home garden. Very cool. Anyhow he feeds families with this garden, it's very productive. This guy was so excited when I came over he just couldn't stop shaking my hand. Satisfying and I made a buck.

Anyhow there is my day. Gotta love it.

[stuvecorp]

Why do I feel like someone just gave me a lollipop that tastes like poo?:p

I like hearing other points of view, I may not agree but can't hurt to ponder. Isn't that fun when clients are appreciative?

[ksss]

Why do I feel like someone just gave me a lollipop that tastes like poo?:p

I like hearing other points of view, I may not agree but can't hurt to ponder. Isn't that fun when clients are appreciative?


Yea, I think we were given roses that smell like poo.

I just got my tires delievered today. I posted this digger but maybe you did not see it. Deere was not looking at the right line on the computer for the Galaxy tire. $3200 to me. I bought the McLarens. My 465 is out on a job, as soon as it gets close to home I will throw them on. I have laid out 1200 yards of topsoil over 4 new yard projects. The 465 is unreal. It continues to amaze me how much material that machine can hog.

[Junior M]

Big, your posts are starting to sound more and more like Ronnies.. ;)

The whole rolling around naked in dirt and the big russian woman, I just hope you dont go as far as denting the tail gate on your skid.. ;) :laugh:

Can you ever get us any pics of your work? Come on!


btw, its quoted.. :cool2:

[CarterKraft]

As has been said before CAT has used EH on all the "real" machines for awhile now.

Big excavators, wheel loaders (big and medium), trucks, scrapers etc.

nothing magical, just plain evolution.

[BigDigger]

As has been said before CAT has used EH on all the "real" machines for awhile now.

Big excavators, wheel loaders (big and medium), trucks, scrapers etc.

nothing magical, just plain evolution.

I agree.:clapping: