A Project I Had Not Planned On Doing

[bindian]

That is very nice work and I like how you wrapped the wires to keep them from chafing. I have an ancient Kubota KX-71 mini excavator that appears to have been rewired by a minimalist after some long ago rodent and other damage. The only electrical bits that work are the starter, glow plugs, and an add-on oil pressure and temp gauge. The way it is wired now you turn the switch to run for 30 seconds to heat the glow plugs, then turn the key to the start position and when it starts you switch it to off and take the key out. When you want to shut it down you pull on the mechanical throttle valve to choke it out. Next project on it will be rebuilding some of the track rollers and making a new track tensioner system. Maybe one day it will have lights that actually work.

MickeyDBC,
Thank you. The wires are in split conduit. Just bend it and shove the wire in. How often do you have to use your glow plugs in Dime Box? I'm not sure if mine work. Never had to move the key to the left key position to start her.

When you pull the handle to shut down, it pulls the fuel shutoff closed, just like mine.

Mom and Dad had 78 acres out from Dime Box and Lexington back in the 60s. Back when land was around $140 an acre. Not sure where nowadays, but I think it was coal strip mined over.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Fired first try?! Dude (dudette), that deserves a plaque or something. Super impressed.

Thanks. Well, she was purring like a content kitten when the wires smoked. Label all wires in two places before removing, replace one wire at a time and relabel and install. Luckily the wiring was just like the wiring diagram so at least I had an aggie blueprint to fall back on if the wiring had been changed.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I have a couple of big parts tumblers that have centralized grease systems. Of course the lines rot out way too early but have had a hydraulic shop make new hoses for them. Much cheaper than I expected and these will probably outlast the tumblers by many years.

I will remember that if the air shock hose doesn't pan out.
hugs, Brandi

 

[YLee Kioti]

YLee Kioti,
I like your user name. Been catchin' any roadrunners? Thanks for the kind words. What service were you in? Or were you strictly civilian?
hugs, Brandi

Well Mr. YLee is a tad slow even in hi range field mice out run him and snicker.
That's when the hawks come and swoop up on them....:laughing:

US Army: Avionics 35K/P and part time crew chief on CH-47's and UH-1's.
I do miss the smell of JP-4 burning and hydraulic fluid.

Guess to others that makes me a candidate for some medical terminology nowadays...lol.
Do see lots of road runner in the hill country. Plan on spending time up there in the fall. Lots of Texas music in Luckenbach, German cuisine in Fredrichberg and lots of vineyards to sample.

I admire the tenacity of those that set a goal and grab on to it.
Keep us posted on how all the projects that lil beauty does for yah!
Regards...LH

 

[bindian]

Well Mr. YLee is a tad slow even in hi range field mice out run him and snicker.
That's when the hawks come and swoop up on them....:laughing:

US Army: Avionics 35K/P and part time crew chief on CH-47's and UH-1's.
I do miss the smell of JP-4 burning and hydraulic fluid.

Guess to others that makes me a candidate for some medical terminology nowadays...lol.
Do see lots of road runner in the hill country. Plan on spending time up there in the fall. Lots of Texas music in Luckenbach, German cuisine in Fredrichberg and lots of vineyards to sample.

I admire the tenacity of those that set a goal and grab on to it.
Keep us posted on how all the projects that lil beauty does for yah!
Regards...LH

Thanks for your service. I used to rebuild wrecked and wore out helicopters for Heliflight and Air Logistics. Heliflight was started at Montgomery County Airport as a helicopter completions center. We did single pilot IFR STCs on Sikorsky S-76 and Dauphin IIIs. Also 1000 and 1200 hour inspections on Bells, along with Bell rebuild fixtures that I love working on and around. I rebuilt Bell 206 and Bell 212s.

I loved it there and would have stayed, except for the early 80s oil field bust. So lots of us were transfered to New Iberia, La. and Air Logistics, 7 on and 7 off. I got out of there as fast as I could and into the airlines. The Army Reserve is there now in those hangars.


Here is a link to a pressing project for the excavator..... https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/251326-instant-pond.html?highlight= If the rain would stay away. Excavator use starts on page 32 and post#315

Also here.........https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/359501-my-place-cat-mahindra-ducks.html
hugs, Brandi

 

[YLee Kioti]

Thanks for your service. I used to rebuild wrecked and wore out helicopters for Heliflight and Air Logistics. Heliflight was started at Montgomery County Airport as a helicopter completions center. We did single pilot IFR STCs on Sikorsky S-76 and Dauphin IIIs. Also 1000 and 1200 hour inspections on Bells, along with Bell rebuild fixtures that I love working on and around. I rebuilt Bell 206 and Bell 212s.

I loved it there and would have stayed, except for the early 80s oil field bust. So lots of us were transfered to New Iberia, La. and Air Logistics, 7 on and 7 off. I got out of there as fast as I could and into the airlines. The Army Reserve is there now in those hangars.


Here is a link to a pressing project for the excavator..... https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/251326-instant-pond.html?highlight= If the rain would stay away. Excavator use starts on page 32 and post#315

Also here.........https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/359501-my-place-cat-mahindra-ducks.html
hugs, Brandi

Thanks for the links.
Awesome work wasn't it. Ha, been long time since I've had a chat with another rotor head!

Some of our CH-47 pilots (probably retired by now) flew off shore out of the Houston/La. area. Talked to them during our N.O. reunion few years back. Small world.

Have a great week.

 

[bindian]

An update here. I had her out Sunday earning her keep. I was tacking out pine trees for a friend's driveway. Photo shows me at the back of the driveway moving a stump with the hyd. thumb. I love that thumb!
hugs, Brandi

 

[dfkrug]

Wow, what a great machine, Brandi. I do not know how I missed this thread.

Like others, I love your neat wiring repairs with all the plastic protection. There is a class-action suit, currently directed at Toyota, for using soy-based plastics in automotive wiring. This has led to Huge amounts of rodent damage, which has been increasing in recent years. It seems all majors may have been using wires with this kind of insulation.

Anyway, I would love to hear more about the hydraulics on your machine. I looked up the E70 and it seems to be from the late 80s-early 90s. Does it have pilot-operated controls?

 

[bindian]

df,
Thanks! I have heard of mice and rats getting in cars and eating plastic parts. But the wiring insulation made out of soy was new to me.

It does not have pilot operation. Wobble sticks directly connect to push pull rods to the valves. 2490 psi at 13.2 gallons per minute. The sales brochure, I found on ebay, says she will pick up 4830 pounds 7.5 feet in front of her, up to 7.5 feet high. I love her. Did I say I love the hyd. thumb too?
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

Love seeing pics of your cat out on a job!!!! I'm still day dreaming of the day I buy an excavator, but doubt it will ever happen. Too many other "must have's" on my list that I have to do or have first.