Bucket Pins

[Egon]

Actually, I'd like a 57 Chrysler but that is all nostalgia.

They may be nice to look at and bring back thoughts of youthfulness but for a daily driver??? No thanks.

 

[Soundguy]

Soundguy, spoken like a man who does not make his living with a tractor.

Again.. you may be wrong.

For the past 15 ys I've been working for a general contractor.. A huge portion of our HE fleet is 60's and 70's equipment.. with some of it being from the 50's. yes.. we have a few pieces from the 90's.. but the majority is 65-78'

Made plenty of money over the years with that old equipment... We have 1-full time mechanic, and 1 mechanics helper, and 1-full time grease/lube man. Never had a problem keeping it all going... There isn't a whole lot of functional difference in how equipment operates over the past few decades.... I can look out my window and see plenty of iron to prove that.

soundguy

 

[Egon]

How many hours does the equipment get put on in a year??

 

[Soundguy]

How many hours does the equipment get put on in a year??

How many hours does it get used? Lots... This isn't a yard of equipment that sets and watches the people work.. the peopl drive the equipment.

For example, Just pulling our sheets on our scraper pans for this past month.. Our pans are getting 54 running hours per week for the last month. That's typical usage on a 'dirt' job.

Equipment will get run in sequence. generally, pans run the first part of the job, then dozers and laoders come in while pans continue to run.. then comes in graders, then rollers at the end. Depending on the specific type of job, pans may get a break in the middle, and then come back in at the end, or if there are big DRA/WRA's to handle.. pans and dozers will be busy full time on the job, as well as our excavators.

Quality well maintained equipment lasts along time. Our lube tech works nights and weekends and services all the machines based on hours of use, except that all machines get greased daily.

So yeah.. our machines are getting as many or sometimes more hours in a month on average, than the regular homeowner puts on his scut/CUT in a year.. etc.

( exception, not every peice of equipment runs a full week.. IE.. the rollers are lower hour machines.. then again.. or springfield rollers are from the 50's.. and the 'NEW" ingrams are from the 60's! ) Works is also seasonal.. right now.. work is slowing for the construction industry in many parts of the country.. etc. )



Soundguy

 

[Egon]

I would assume that if you look out your window at the multi million?? [ from previous posts] equipment it is not working!

Then again can you remember mentioning that construction grade equipment should not be considered??? with agricultural equipment?

Note : no quotes!


The number of hours and total hours on your employers equipment seems to have been missed.

Do the operators make a full time living from the equipment??

The last construction job I was on was away back in the late 60's. It was a camp job. I'fn I can recall there were about 250 employees. The equipment ran 24 hours a day 27 days a month. Mechanics and service personnel were the only people who started or stopped the equipment!

I can recall one cut of 385 ft. that had at least 10 D9H's with U blades [ obsolete now] side dozing. Yea, I had to make sure the stepped slope came out as was designed! It did although the owners survey team had some fits till they discovered their mistake.

Uh- I had a hand level and myself! No survey crew! Still got the hand level and it still works but maybe my old bones don't do so well anymore.

Carry on!

 

[Willis Fecon Bushhogging]

I have a local steel yard but I don't know if they work with hardened stuff (suppose I should ask). What's 'plunge' the holes? Actually, if i could cut the pins shorter I could make a retainer and put a bolt in to hold it. Think a diamond wheel would cut them?

Thanks for the replys.
Jake

Not sure how far you want to go, if you cant find the original replacement, I would go to a Hydualic shop and get them to find a old ram that is the right size for your application, they can cut to size, weld a stop on one end and drill a lockpin hole in the other. The size of the pin, determines the lock pin size, but I wouldnt go smaller than 3/8" bolt and a self locking nut, anything smaller seems to break. Now, if you are using clip pins, just use the correct size for the application. I like bolts, they wont come out, but they are harder to get out
just my two cents worth

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Not sure how far you want to go, if you cant find the original replacement, I would go to a Hydualic shop and get them to find a old ram that is the right size for your application, they can cut to size, weld a stop on one end and drill a lockpin hole in the other. The size of the pin, determines the lock pin size, but I wouldnt go smaller than 3/8" bolt and a self locking nut, anything smaller seems to break. Now, if you are using clip pins, just use the correct size for the application. I like bolts, they wont come out, but they are harder to get out
just my two cents worth

Darn, I read thru this whole thing only to find the answer I was to give posted about a half hour ago.
I do many machinery pins around here from hyd cyl rods. They are surface hardened and have a good nickel content, making them very tough. Anyone ever try to cut a cyl rod? My band saw won't do it. If you can't find a used rod, you can purchase a new length from these guys- Bailey Hydraulic Cylinders Manufacturer

 

[wedge40]

Jake did you ever get your pins? If you bought material and are having them made, please post back with the results. Mine are brand new, but since I have a Korean (Or Chinese) made product I figure at some time I'll be in your boat.

TLBUSER - could give a tad more detail on the mcmastercarr web site. If you click on your like it goes to the beginning of the McMastercarr website. I'm guessing a P/N would be what is needed.

Wedge

 

[Egon]

I did go off track. My apologies for the needless reading.

 

[Soundguy]

Lets see.. I'll try to answer in order:

Much of it is not working at the moment.. construction industry in florida just hit the toilet last month.. My point was.. we have a fleet of equipment from a bygone era that is in good working mechanical condition, and up until just recently.. has been working full time.

I don't recall mentioning that construction grade equipment shouldn't be considered.. got a quote on that one? I do remember saying that it was hard to direct compair a new diesel engine to an antique gas engine... not sure I mentioned industrial / agricultural differences... though if you can dig up a quote.. I'll concede that point. ( For the most part.. ag and industrial equipment.. at least the engines were the same back in the 50's. It's common to find old ford tractors with a replaced engine that came out of a power unit.. water or air pump.. or generator.. combine.. etc... generally the only difference was a fuel pump and temp gauge was added, if the original ag purpose engine didn't have one.. like for a ford N.. etc.. )

I don't have access to total equipment hopurs for all equipment, most of that peperwork is with our cpa for tax planning. I gave you a hour account of some equipment that i was aware of as i was figuring payroll and billing for that particular job when I read the email.

Yes... our operators are employed full time.

( depressing fact is that this equipment is in good condition and just waiting to run.. however due to age.. it's resale is practically nothing compaired to newer equipment.. even though it is capable of doing the same work.. etc.. )

soundguy

I would assume that if you look out your window at the multi million?? [ from previous posts] equipment it is not working!

Then again can you remember mentioning that construction grade equipment should not be considered??? with agricultural equipment?

Note : no quotes!


The number of hours and total hours on your employers equipment seems to have been missed.

Do the operators make a full time living from the equipment??