Farkle or work

[Tinhack]

Is that "little dozer" a pipe layer? If not, what's the boom beside it for?

Yes, it used to be a pipe layer. It has heavy weights that pivot out by a hydraulic cylinder on the opposing boom side. The boom can be removed but is handy for lifting. I moved my Bridgeport mill into the shop using the boom. Most of the time, the boom is off so I can get under the trees. Here's an old pic of the layer in action--Circa late 1950s.

 

[Tinhack]

Sounds like you don't "need" a tractor.

Sure I do. That's why I have four. :thumbsup:

 

[Jim Nelson]

Yes, it used to be a pipe layer. It has heavy weights that pivot out by a hydraulic cylinder on the opposing boom side. The boom can be removed but is handy for lifting. I moved my Bridgeport mill into the shop using the boom. Most of the time, the boom is off so I can get under the trees. Here's an old pic of the layer in action--Circa late 1950s.

View attachment 670101

I've run a couple of those, Thet were both D-6's. One was laying pipe and holding it while the welder did his thing. It was a pretty good job but I quit when the trench crew started going out at lunch time and getting doped up. I nearly got one one day when working a deep trench where I couldn't see the bottom. There was one guy giving me hand signals and he had me swing a pipe over the welder who was welding and bent over out of my sight. The welder rightfully threw a fit and I quit when the company refused to do anything about the dopers.
The other time I ran one was compacting slopes with a sheep foot on a long cable. One day after moving to a new site the maintenance crew that put the roller on didn't tighten the cable enough and the roller came loose and went flying down the slope. I was working in a housing development we were building and if it hadn't been for a ditch and heavy row of brush that roller would have gone into a brand new house.

 

[Tinhack]

Nothing that exciting for me. I sure tested the lift capabilities of the boom though. Tried to lift an old Toledo OBI punch off the deck of a trailer. After a couple of tries, I ended up dragging the punch to the side of the trailer and positioned the dozer as close as I could. The boom was at about a 5 degree angle. I was just able to get the punch lifted off the deck and pulled the trailer out from under it. The punch only weighs about 3500 pounds but moving it got the juices flowing.

 

[Smokeydog]

Most of my modifications are for work multipliers or time savers. Long list of chores that need to get done and list of things I want to do. Getting the first list done quicker, safer leaves more time for the second. Some people are limited by what they can buy. Some are unlimited what they can make. Life is better fully engaged than riding the clutch all the time.