cat 345bl

[yzman14]

Hi i wanted to know if there are any big problems with the machine. (engine,hydralics,u/c,etc)Does this machine work well at ripping fair sized trees?Does it consume alot of fuel,and whats the gal/hr?

 

[Bob Rooks]

Hi,i would like to know if the 345 has any major problems.(engine,hydralics,u/c)does this work well at ripping fairly large hardwoods and ripping fence lines back,because i have about 150 acres of trees to rip for farmland. does the 345 burn alot of fuel,if so whats the gal/hr.and roughly how much would a hyd thumb and a forestry package cost?

I'll speculate that new machines have no problems at all, and for used ones, well, that depends on their maintenance and operator's history. Personally, if you're only doing 150 acres one time, I would consider hiring it out and be done with it. A machine that size can use over 65 gal/day.

 

[yzman14]

I'll speculate that new machines have no problems at all, and for used ones, well, that depends on their maintenance and operator's history. Personally, if you're only doing 150 acres one time, I would consider hiring it out and be done with it. A machine that size can use over 65 gal/day.

well I am fixing up and building a farm lane/road and digging a fair sized pond and digging some ditches.and is the Deere 450c lc,Deere 450lc and hitachi ex and zx450's better on fuel? if so,what is there gal/hr? (I prob will not be running at full pin either)and do they have any problems?

 

[Bob Rooks]

well I am fixing up and building a farm lane/road and digging a fair sized pond and digging some ditches.and is the Deere 450c lc,Deere 450lc and hitachi ex and zx450's better on fuel? if so,what is there gal/hr? (I prob will not be running at full pin either)and do they have any problems?

I would contact a dealer or visit company websites to get specifics on max. fuel consumption rates. Fuel consumption will vary greatly depending on the operator and condition of the engine, but seeing as "it takes oats to feed horses", most machines of that size will be pretty close to the same.

"Full pin" ??

 

[yzman14]

"Full pin" ??[/QUOTE]

what i mean is that i wouldnt be at full throttle all the time. do you think a 270,300 size machine would be better for my applications?

 

[Bob Rooks]

Really hard to say without seeing the lay of your land and the trees you want to grub out. I know the PC300's are a real workhorse.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Just some "first glance" observations and questions for you to consider:

Those are big excavators, capable of doing a lot of work - with a competent operator. As far as "ripping" trees and digging stumps, the bigger - the better. A 345 is a beast.
Not trying to start a fight here, but you don't sound like an experienced operator. You said that you wouldn't be running the machine at full throttle. They are designed to run at full throttle.
If you've never run one of these, or have very limited experience, you might be better off to pay someone else to do it. (unless the machine is free, and will be delivered to your property at no cost?)
And, if you're going to "borrow" it for a few days, are you responsible for repairs/maintenance while you're using it?
If you are planning to purchase a machine like this, do you have any idea what it can cost to fix it if something breaks? (IIRC, the main hydraulic pump is in the $20-25K to replace) Or, how much it costs to have it moved? (A 345 is a really big machine that weighs about 50 tons. That's an oversize/overweight load, and it's expensive to pay a "heavy hauler" rig to move it.)
I think Bob's fuel consumption estimate is a little conservative. You're probably looking at closer to 100 gallons per day, maybe a little more.

 

[yzman14]

Just some "first glance" observations and questions for you to consider:

Those are big excavators, capable of doing a lot of work - with a competent operator. As far as "ripping" trees and digging stumps, the bigger - the better. A 345 is a beast.
Not trying to start a fight here, but you don't sound like an experienced operator. You said that you wouldn't be running the machine at full throttle. They are designed to run at full throttle.
If you've never run one of these, or have very limited experience, you might be better off to pay someone else to do it. (unless the machine is free, and will be delivered to your property at no cost?)
And, if you're going to "borrow" it for a few days, are you responsible for repairs/maintenance while you're using it?
If you are planning to purchase a machine like this, do you have any idea what it can cost to fix it if something breaks? (IIRC, the main hydraulic pump is in the $20-25K to replace) Or, how much it costs to have it moved? (A 345 is a really big machine that weighs about 50 tons. That's an oversize/overweight load, and it's expensive to pay a "heavy hauler" rig to move it.)
I think Bob's fuel consumption estimate is a little conservative. You're probably looking at closer to 100 gallons per day, maybe a little more.

are the hitachi and Deere 450's any smaller than the the 345 and and any cheaper to run because I have heard that the Deere 450 gets 23-38l/hr.

 

[dfkrug]

Wow, a CAT 345. That's 3x heavier than the CAT 315 in my avatar. Even the 315,
at 30,000# took special equipment to get into my mountain building site. I
hired the guy for one day, and that machine was impressive, quiet, and efficient.
It is amazing what you can do with the right tool.

 

[excav8ter]

If your not experienced in clearing trees with an excavator, you should leave it to a pro. You could wind up a statistic VERY quickly! I would not touch tree clearing with out a hydraulic thumb on the machine either.

 

[tonyoz]

As a rule of thumb a Cat excavator will burn twice the amount of fuel compared with a Hitachi for no greater production.

 

[Bob Rooks]

You can't blame a guy for dreamin' though, but I agree, if you're a novice, stay out of the big machines untill you get a lot of seat time.

Hitachi Construction Machinery : Products : Excavators

Cat Products: Forest Machines

Cat Products: Large Hydraulic Excavators

And as for the Cat's using twice the amount of fuel as a Hitachi, can you back up that claim with some numbers? I believe it is pure conjecture.

 

[dfkrug]

if you're a novice, stay out of the big machines untill you
get a lot of seat time.

So....how are you supposed to get seat time, then?

I have got only a few dozen hours in a mini-X, and I got pretty good. It also
convinced me to put a hyd thumb on my backhoe. I volunteer my time
free when any friend rents interesting construction machines.

All I can say is start slow and get a lot of practice.

In looking at the CAT site, I see the 315, at 38K# and 122hp, is called a
"small excavator", sandwiched between minis and medium Xs.

 

[yzman14]

If your not experienced in clearing trees with an excavator, you should leave it to a pro. You could wind up a statistic VERY quickly! I would not touch tree clearing with out a hydraulic thumb on the machine either.

is the komatsu pc270lc-7 a good tree clearer?I would clearing with a thumb too.i will also have a forestry package too.i want a machine because i want to use a machine on my own property and after i am more experienced i can do some work for other people.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Start small and work your way up. I wouldn't want to start on a machine that was way beyond my competence.

Man dies after tree falls on excavator - YNN, Your News Now

Tree falls on excavator operator | KING5.com Seattle

 

[swick1]

Watch dirtman2007 on youtube. He shows how to clear trees.

 

[heron]

I ran a 345 when I was a kid working with my dad and grandfather. Very loud turbo! Used lots of fuel but with production comes cost. Yes...to the full throttle comment. I always ran larger equipment as most of the time I was working in quarries, sandpits and large road jobs(fed.). Clearing trees was something I learned to do with an excavator when I was 9 and I'll tell you make sure you have a thumb and a cage around you. I liked knocking trees over with a larger D8/9, having a ground person cut them and a skidder carry them out of the way. Forgot to say I also ran on that same job a evenly sized Hitachi(about 4 yds) and it was much quieter and seemed better on fuel and it was nice as I didn't always have to idle down to talk with someone in a trench.
Then you must consider cost of trucking, repairs etc...can get really pricey. Unless I was really pushed or had lots of space I would stay smaller.

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

A 21 ton machine is all you would need, the 45 ton machines have a hard time finding "side work" unless your into that stuff, big production dirt work. A 200 or 230 hitachi will burn a lot less fuel than a 320 or 330 Cat. I have both. I also have a 450 Deere and honestly man a few hours in the seat is no where near enough time to start clearing bush. I've got thousands of hours in them and still have bumps and bruises on the machines from being in the bush. Get a older D8 or similar with a blade and a brush rake and go to town. And it goes without saying make sure the machine is well guarded. More for you than the machine.