I finally started my pond

[Brahmus]

We've got a very old Bobcat 325, (1995?) lots of grunt and at only 5500lbs or so I can pull it with the half ton truck. It's only got 2500 hrs, or so the meter reads and runs like a top. The only thing we've done is change some hoses. I do wish is tracked faster and had a little more reach but overall for being as old as it is, it's a solid machine. We also just picked up a Komatsu PC78 (17,000lb) unit, can't remember the year 02 maybe. It's got 4000hrs but it's in great shape! Paid 25K for it with a new undercarriage. We looked for comparable Cats but they were just to much $$. So far the Komatsu seems to be a good machine though it doesn't feel like it has the grunt like the little 325 does in comparison to it's size. Probably due to the longer arm but the bobcat can overpower itself much easier than the Komatsu.

Eddie, I couldn't tell from the photo but that looks like a much older Cat for having so few hours on it. That really is a good price if it's solid underneath also! Ofcourse you already know this but I like talking machines. We've (dad and I) recently aquired these machines (less than a year) along with the dozer and the tractors we've already had and are doing a little dirt work on the side. It's stress free work that makes you feel good!!

 

[bindian]

If I buy an excavator, it will be delivered here and stay here, so transportation wont be an issue. I'm not interested in getting into the dirt business, so it would be used to load my dump truck and take out trees. Right now, it's been too muddy to run the backhoe. I've been unable to get anything done for over two weeks now, and if we have a wet winter, I might have to write off the rest of the year to the weather. With a tracked excavator, I should be able to take the trees down and then when it dries out enough to drive the backhoe, I can move them to one of my burn piles then. While a bigger machine would probably be better, they are more money to buy, more to maintain, more to fix and harder to sell. I think the 12 to 16 tonne machines have the best resale because you don't need permits to move them, you can haul them with a ten wheel dump truck and they are big enough to get most jobs done.

As for Steph talking me out of it, I'm afraid that she's very supportive and has already been encouraging me to buy it, or one like it. My only saving grace right now is that I don't have that much cash, and I'd have to finance it to do it this year. I really don't want to to do that, so it's a question of saving more money, taking on the debt or working with what I have when the weather allows it.

Did you look through the other listings on that website? I saw quite a few Bobcat excavators listed, but don't know if the prices were good for the hours and size of the machines.

Eddie

Eddie,
My laptop, for some reason, didn't show the link your included. I just found it and there are some neat machines there. Also, I have been rearranging and rethinking my wish list. I think my next piece of excavating equipment will be a Compact Track Loader around 80-90 hp. This will work better in smaller ponds and can interchange loader attachments with my 6520.
hugs, Brandi

 

[mike69440]

We also just picked up a Komatsu PC78 (17,000lb) unit, can't remember the year 02 maybe. It's got 4000hrs but it's in great shape! Paid 25K for it with a new undercarriage. We looked for comparable Cats but they were just to much $$. So far the Komatsu seems to be a good machine though it doesn't feel like it has the grunt like the little 325 does in comparison to it's size. Probably due to the longer arm but the bobcat can overpower itself much easier than the Komatsu.

I have a PC75, you got a good deal with the PC78! Anyway, the Komatsu's don't have the dipper power of a Bobcat pound for pound, but have decent bucket and boom power. I was very suprized when i operated a Bobcat 335, however the machine was just too light for the work I do

 

[bindian]

Hey guys,
In ads for tracked equipment, when they say 80% u/c....what does that mean? Is the drive components 80% wore out or 80% of new?
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

It's kind of misleading, and depending on who does the measurements. Brand new tracks and components would be 100%. The misleading part is that when they get down to 60%, they are just about toast. The metal just wears out with use, and as that happens, the rating for those components goes down.

Eddie

 

[bindian]

It's kind of misleading, and depending on who does the measurements. Brand new tracks and components would be 100%. The misleading part is that when they get down to 60%, they are just about toast. The metal just wears out with use, and as that happens, the rating for those components goes down.

Eddie

Eddie,
I understand it is a calibated eyeball call. So after 60%, things wear out faster and faster? What is the visual indication, points on spockets?
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

There are measuring points that the manufactures have for their machines. For my Case dozer, the book shows me where to measure from and what the wear is. I've never figured it out on mine, I can feel the bushings and see that they are still round, but my sprocket is getting ready to be replaced.

On the sprocket, you want allot of flat metal at the end of each tooth. The more they wear, the more of a point the develop. This is what touches the bushings, and the more the sprocket wears the greater the opening and the less contact that you have with the bushings. The bushings are in the chain and are the big money items to replace. You can have them turned in most machines, but it takes a special press to do this. To have it done, you either have to remove the track and bring it to a shop, or bring the machine there and have them do it. Big money either way. The more wear you have, the faster other parts start to wear. At 80%, you are still good and have a long ways to go. Of course, a track loader is doing allot of driving, so wear is going to be an ongoing issue. Different machines also wear faser then others. And rubber tracks are totally alien to me, so I couldn't guess what goes on there.

Just feel the bushing in the sprocket with your hand to see if it's round or flattened out. If you can feel the wear on the side that's touching the sprocket, you know that it's getting ready to be replaced or turned. Check the other side to see if it's new or has already been turned. At 80%, there should be minimal wear on the bushings, and you shouldn't be able to feel very much be touch.

The rails are the part of the tracks that ride on the rollers. They are the flat metal parts that also wear out, but it's pretty slow and not really a concern until they are gone. If you see flat metal on the sides of the rails, then it's not something to worry about.

The idler can develop a groove in it from the rails, especially if the tracks are too tight. It's a pricey replacement, but not one of those things that wears out very quickly either.

Same thing with the rollers. If one stops turning, then it will create a groove in it and cause excessive wear on the rails. If they are flat and you don't see any grooves in them, then they are fine. Some have oil in them and might be leaking. If this happens, you might have to replace it before it seizes up.

If you posted close up pictures of the tracks and started a new thread on the machine that you are interested in over in the Construction Equipment forum, you'll get allot of feedback on the condition of the undercairrage and probably some insite on that particular machine that you are looking at.

Heavy Equipment Forums - Powered by vBulletin is a good site for Construction Equipment, but it's not like TBN. They are friendly enough, but sometimes you get a helpful response, other times you get arrogance and smart mouth replies. It's worth a try, and doing a search on a specific machine over there can give you some insites from time to time.

Eddie

 

[bindian]

Thanks Eddie!
hugs, Brandi

 

[philbuilt]

Brandi,
The JD had the cab, ac,radio and the controls seemed very natural
for me to use. I also like how compact the swing cab is, I maybe wrong
but I think it rotates over the track foot print. If you can drive in you can swing the cab without over hang. The Bob cat I used only had 10 hrs on it
and it was nice as well. The seat was off to one side and it had a big butt. One last note all the machines that I have operated have been rentals and I think that they limit the strength.
Phil

 

[bindian]

Today's rains put Lake Marie in overflow for the first time since I finished raising the overflow level. These photos were this morning with about a 3 inch rain in the rain gauge. Now the rain fall is over 4 inches. The overflow is working great. With the concrete being about 1/3 inch below the pipe level gives some pause to minnows swimming over.
hugs, Brandi