Big Loads - Post Photos Number 2

Nothing new, but we have to keep the photos going!

Thank God for 2 speed rears this morning. Getting this started in the mud took a bit of umph!

And these gals were recruited to watch over the equipment.

 

I thought you guys might appreciate this old iron.

 

I had to study that a bit to understand all that is there, including what looks like a piece of concrete for extra counterweight?

 

I have never seen another one. It’s half cable, half hydraulic. I would like to know a little more about it. I don’t believe it was concrete just old chalky white paint.

 

I can see how the cable might work to move the stick out, but not in, and I don't see hydraulic lines for the bucket. I wonder if it was used more like a drag line, in that you use the cable to extend the stick and thenlet gravity load the bucket while raising the boom? I could probably spend several hours examining that close up!

 

If you look close there is another cable to pull the stick in.

 

I think that the old hydraulic pumps/ rams probably didn't have enough juice to operate that long of a boom. They kind of made a hybrid between hydraulic excavator and a drag line.

 

That's home-brew. There's probably not another rig exactly like that anywhere in the world. It would be fun to play with but I'll bet it's slow compared to today's machines. And cables to splice. I sure don't miss splicing cable.

 

You may be right. I don’t know. It was at an international paper mill. Didn’t look like it had been moved in years. But it was certainly interesting enough for me to grab a picture. I wish I had the time to inspect it and know more about it.