Operating Big Excavator?

[Highbeam]

Depending on soil conditions a pretty small excavator can push over a monster tree. I hired a logger who used an excavator that was a decent sized 200 class machine. So pretty big. He wouldn't use the side swing technique but instead would uncurl his boom into the tree to push it away from the machine. Just toppled the trees.

I sold all my "marketable" timber in the blast zone to pay for the clearing. The saw grade logs were straighter, solid, and longer but not necessarily larger in diameter. 12 inchers were easily going into the saw log pile. Now the trees with rotten centers, a bend, shorties, or trees of undesirable species were also sold but they went to the pulp mill for less money. Basicly any stem long enough to stay on the log truck.

Paul, you could have sold the logs larger than 12" to a sawmill if they were solid, straight, and long. There is good money in it IF you have enough to fill a truck.

 

[Dargo]

He wouldn't use the side swing technique but instead would uncurl his boom into the tree to push it away from the machine. Just toppled the trees.

I've not worked on any small excavators, but on the large ones there is usually only two or three points where the pan gear wheel is in contact with anything. The design of excavators are made for extreme pressures in a direct line with the boom stick. They are not made to be able to deliver a lot of sideways pressure. In the manual of most it is pointed out that the machine is not to turn with any obstructions against the bucket or boom. There was a picture in the one I had showing the bucket pushing a pile of dirt with the bucket, one dragging a pile towards the maching with the bucket, and then one showing the bucket pushing a pile of dirt sideways with a big "X" through that picture.

As with most equipment, you can get by doing what they are not designed to do to a certain extent, and for a while. What you described is the "correct" method according to the manufacturers....for what that's worth. You get the "A" for correct operating procedures according to the book.