Does anyone know where I can find any information on these two Unit machines? My grandpa has had them for 30+ years and hasn't used them for at least 20. (They run - he just moved them to this location a couple of years ago when he was tidying up his yard.) Any guesses how much they would weigh??
Unit Dragline and Powered Shovel
- Thread starter racolton
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Scooby074
Super Member
Dont know much about them other than if i had them and they ran, id have one heck of a pond:thumbsup:
That said, there is a thread that has some info over on HEF old but free crane need info?
And a bit more here : http://www.constructioncollector.com/editorial-Ford.html
That said, there is a thread that has some info over on HEF old but free crane need info?
And a bit more here : http://www.constructioncollector.com/editorial-Ford.html
Good find on that thread! I found some key info that I need:
"We have a few of the 614's and we do not permit them for overweight (just overwidth) when we move them, they scale around 30,500# to 33,260#. We move them with the booms on and have no buckets with them."
My truck can only tow 30,000 lbs legally, so I'll have to remove the booms to try to get the weight down. (And take the back roads!)
If I get the dragline I do plan on making a large pond at my new place. That won't be until 2013, though, too much work to do on the current house before selling and then on the "new" house before move-in.
"We have a few of the 614's and we do not permit them for overweight (just overwidth) when we move them, they scale around 30,500# to 33,260#. We move them with the booms on and have no buckets with them."
My truck can only tow 30,000 lbs legally, so I'll have to remove the booms to try to get the weight down. (And take the back roads!)
If I get the dragline I do plan on making a large pond at my new place. That won't be until 2013, though, too much work to do on the current house before selling and then on the "new" house before move-in.
Scooby074
Super Member
Glad to be of a little help at least. A crane/dragline could be fun for sure:thumbsup:
Taylortractornut
Elite Member
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Thanks for posting the pictures of those two old girls. My neighbor had a fleet of them and when he passed away his rotten son traded the last 2 to the local pill dealer for a bag a dope. I got to do some serious clamshelling with one cleaning out his creeks. He had some shovel and hoe fronts for them but they are in china now.
Unit was ahead of the other crane and shovel makers as they had the cabs higher than the rest of the house. I hated that in the 5299 American I learned in. One thing I really liked was the automatic digging dogs they had in them to lock the brakes when digging. I also worked along side a unit shovel that was just like yours. We were cutting down a bank and I was running an old Koerhing excavator on top of the ridge and and old crane hand was in the shovel both had similar buckets. He literally smoked me at the end of the day he was ten loads ahead.
Do they have 2-71 Detroits in them?
Unit was ahead of the other crane and shovel makers as they had the cabs higher than the rest of the house. I hated that in the 5299 American I learned in. One thing I really liked was the automatic digging dogs they had in them to lock the brakes when digging. I also worked along side a unit shovel that was just like yours. We were cutting down a bank and I was running an old Koerhing excavator on top of the ridge and and old crane hand was in the shovel both had similar buckets. He literally smoked me at the end of the day he was ten loads ahead.
Do they have 2-71 Detroits in them?
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
Brings back some memories. Late sixties/then early seventies after a stint with US, I worked for an excavating contractor. We were moving alot of dirt to build roads. The beastly old Cat track loader was constantly broke down, working in the "pit".
The owner bought a two old cable machines, one a shovel, one a backhoe, for 600 bucks. I cannot recall the make. They both had 3cyl Detroits. We had this old curmugeon mechanic/welder on the crew that knew how to run these beasts so he had at it.
When I worked there, we never did use the hoe but that old shovel made my boss a lot of money. It took very little maintenance to keep it running. Mostly, all it did was move a few feet every now and then so track maint was minimal.
When we did have to string a new cable or something, it would take weeks to wash/wear off that black grease, lol!
The owner bought a two old cable machines, one a shovel, one a backhoe, for 600 bucks. I cannot recall the make. They both had 3cyl Detroits. We had this old curmugeon mechanic/welder on the crew that knew how to run these beasts so he had at it.
When I worked there, we never did use the hoe but that old shovel made my boss a lot of money. It took very little maintenance to keep it running. Mostly, all it did was move a few feet every now and then so track maint was minimal.
When we did have to string a new cable or something, it would take weeks to wash/wear off that black grease, lol!
Tractornut - I finally got back out there to look under the hoods, the power shovel has a 2-71 and the dragline has a 3-71. (I think.) Still haven't found the plate that says which model they are, unfortunately. (There was several inches of snow and ice all over the machine.) I took pictures of the plates inside the cabs, however, and added them to my page: Unit Crane & Shovel Corp. - Colton Family Website I'm guessing they are both 614s.
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We owned a Bantam drag line about the same vintage, between the spool brakes slipping, the exhaust fumes in the cabin, the intense heat, and the wasps attacking you while you try and deal with the first three problems, operating it was an experience. :thumbsup:
Sonny580
Veteran Member
IF they been sittin 30+ years in that same spot,---Forget bout moving them!!! ---Why???---Tracks stuck royally and would probably never come loose again!
I had a Bantam 35 until a year ago and it sat too long so it too went to Chima in pieces because of that! (just some food for thought!--LOL!!! ) thanks; sonny
I had a Bantam 35 until a year ago and it sat too long so it too went to Chima in pieces because of that! (just some food for thought!--LOL!!! ) thanks; sonny
Sonny - I'm not worried about them being stuck, my grandpa drove them to their current location about 5 years ago when he was first planning on auctioning his "stuff" off. Even if they are stuck, my M-817 has a 20k winch so I should be able to double up the lines and drag them onto the trailer, then worry about the pins when I get them home and away from any scrappers that might attend the auction next summer. 
Ray - I'll make sure to install a fan to help with the intense heat and exhaust fumes so all I will need to worry about are hornets and slipping clutches/brakes.
Ray - I'll make sure to install a fan to help with the intense heat and exhaust fumes so all I will need to worry about are hornets and slipping clutches/brakes.
