The $24,000 question

[mike69440]

Mike,

Looks like quite a trench. How long is it and how long did it take to dig? I dug a 500 foot trench 4 ft. deep last year for electric. Took me most of a month with the L39 with some time off for rain delay. Always exciting digging in Vermont soils. I've been using the rocks I removed for stone walls.

I have a 24" bucket on the Komatsu and in deference to NH rock, an 18" on the L39.

Trench is 4' deep x 225' or so. A pro could have done it in two hours.

I started at 7:40 PM and finsihed at 11:05 PM working with the boom light, so 3-1/2 hours.

It took over 2 hours to pressure wash an dig out the 1 yard of mud in the undercarrage Sunday afternoon. I looked like a mud baby. She needs a greasing bad.

I fiqure except for the larger rocks which I would have had to dig around with the Kubota, the Kubota could have done it in 10-12 hours. Maybe my estimate is low, because you can spend 2 hours on a larger rock or stump.

The L39 hoe is nicely matched for the machine, but the controls are more fatiguing in the L39.

It may be a blessing you did not buy the 11,000 lb machine, as if I were to do it over again I'd be looking at something in the 11-14 ton range.

 

[catvet]

Would love to be in the 11-14 ton range but don't think I could afford it. Be hard to convince my wife that I "need" that big a machine. Also, not having really looked at that size I'm not sure if it would make it through our woods without widening all the trails.
Must be nice to have the thumb on the L39.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Have you ever heard of a trencher??? I know that we in IL don't have the rocks you have but we try to trench as much as possible. The big trench we have gone up to 16" 60 deep its slow but still a lot faster than a hoe.

 

[ddigger]

Hi guys I`m new to this site, enjoy it very much.
I have a L39 that I use around the place here and am overall pleased with how it preforms for it size. That being said I make my living with a 330L CAT EXCAVATOR. In todays used equipemnt market A guy could pick up a much larger machine for nearly the same price and be much happier with the added wieght and stability not to mention the reach advantage of a bigger machine.Just a thought.

 

[catvet]

Ddigger,

Can't argue with you as far as larger machines being available for not much more money. The ones I've seen tend to be older and more hours. I'm not very knowledgable about engines, hydraulics, etc so the older the machine the more concerned I am.

I suspect I'd go through more fuel with a larger machine also.

Lastly, it would be tough to convince the Mrs. that a large machine is needed and would be more difficult to get through the woods without doing damage to more than I want to.

Good thought though. Thanks.

 

[mike69440]

I think you would find anything from a Cat 307 to 312 size or other similar brand machine useful.

I wish both my L39 and PC75 were just a bit larger and heavier.

If you need more machine than a small excavator, hire out the heavy earthmoving.

I don't think you will be happy with a Mini Excavator (less than 5 Tons) as the L39 can do the same job. Althougth the L39 would be slower, it is as strong. A small excavator will be 2-4 x the L39.

 

[catvet]

Mike,
I agree with you concerning size of excavator. It needs to be able to dig more, lift more, reach further than my L39. I would like to have it be quicker doing jobs (though if it had all the above it would be even if it was another TLB) but that is not a primary concern for me since all my work is personal not business.

My L39 has served me well and I think it's a great machine for it's size but I'm constantly up against it's limitations.

 

[mike69440]

Mike,
I agree with you concerning size of excavator. It needs to be able to dig more, lift more, reach further than my L39. I would like to have it be quicker doing jobs (though if it had all the above it would be even if it was another TLB) but that is not a primary concern for me since all my work is personal not business.

My L39 has served me well and I think it's a great machine for it's size but I'm constantly up against it's limitations.

All things being equal an excavator of equal size will out dig a TLB speed wise. For instance an L39 or L48 will dig a stump about as well as a KX-121, but the TLB would have it bucket blown off in trenching. Using my L39 to stumpout large trees and moving boulders, is an exercise in machine brutality. The PC 75 has a tough time, but is far better suited for such work. For some of the work on my property, a Cat 330 would not be too large.

The L39 is a excellent size for much of my work. It has been quite dependable these last 400 hours. (Total hours are 650 on my tractor.)

Do you have several hundred hours of excavator work? If you do not, consider hiring out. I've put about 200 hours on the PC75.

 

[catvet]

Mike,

Again, all good points. I just reached 500 hours on my L39 in a bit less than two years. I've only scratched the surface (sort of a excavator term?) of the projects I want to do. Suspect could easily put several hundred hours on a excavator. Besides what fun would it be to hire it out?

 

[mike69440]

The nice part of having an excavator that has a thumb and bade provided the machine is operational is the machine is quite versatile. I've been flat out with other stuff going on to play in the dirt much, but in a day I laid the pipe and backfilled about 60 . I used the thumb to load the excess rocks into the L39's bucket. I used the L39 to cover the pipe with sand and fill the trench about half way. I then used the dozer blade on the excavator to backfill and grade the rest.

The excavator pushes dirt much better than the L39.

The L39 is more stable and can handle more load due to the following mods which really help in the amount of work it can do.

Front remote for grapple.

Accumulator on hydraulics to absorb shock.

Turned up hydraulics about 5%

Front bucket with hook, built up side cutters and a rear scraper/grader.

Beefed up front guard.

Extra hose protection.

Front Trailer hitch.

50 Lb front weight.

Tool box and mounting plates on loader uprights.

Loaded loader tubes with 4 bar stock.

750 lbs of rear wheel weights.

Swivel loops for towing.

Reinforced BH bucket with side cutters and hook.

Extra lights, On off switch for seal safety switch, 12 outlet and extra trash and cup holders.