cat 345bl

[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.