Securing an excavator to a stepdeck

I prefer CAT style when I have "Excavator" style controls out side my legs. Some of the newer CAT backhoes have excavator style controlers set with John Deer/back hoe style movements. I know its a back hoe.. but unless those controls are between my legs.. it throws me off.

I can switch between the 2 easily in an actual excavator. Not sure why.. just doesnt feel right on a back hoe with out things being a certain way.

Its kind of like if you ever ran a Bob Cat.. a real one with pedal controls. Then try to run one with joy sticks... its doable.. but doesnt feel right with out those pedals.

Hurst

 

I'm pretty sure the difference is boom/stick for JD/SAE excavator controls, bucket and swing are the same? Frustrating digging & loading trucks for awhile switching machines as I remember.

If I had to run a 4-stick Case backhoe from the usual 2 stick I'd have to cross my arms to get anything done.

I digress, but I worked for a guy many years ago that if you couldn't load and unload a backhoe into a dump truck from the ground you were still looking for a job (I know, that's not a new one). Getting it up there was easy, coming down (mentally) wasn't for some reason. Securement? Ha! Chain the gate, kick the tires & light the fires. Those were the days.

 

Interesting, I was just curious all of the "bigger" companies in my area run cat controls on an excavator and Deere on backhoes. Our backhoes have the "excavator" style joysticks instead of wobble stick like they used to. There is a switch on the dash to switch back and forth, some guys run the Deere some Cat. It seems n my area the guys who run Deere controls on excavators are farmers or smaller guys who started with backhoes then bought excavators. It just neat to see how it is in different parts of the country.

 

I learned and mastered my equipment in Md. Spent the last 11 yrs working in Fla till 2010.

I can finish grade with a rubber tire loader as well as I can with say a D3 or D5.

My machine of choice is either CAT 345 or Hitachi 450. Both have smooth controls and usually even after 5000 hours of service.. they still remain in good condition. Unlike say a Case or Kobelco which usually get sloppy after 2500 hrs.

I run pretty much everything from box blades, scrapers, graders to all loaders, dozers and excavators.

Only machines I never really had time to do well in are Grade-All type machines... those controls will throw you for a loop.. and cranes. Everything else I am a seasoned 1 man crew.

Got out of it because after being topped out with the company I was working for.. he sold up shop and left.us jobless. The only companies hiring wanted to start me at $ 12 - $14hr. I was making that 20 yrs ago. Really upset me because I really liked working with my pipe crew. We had a hell of a team. Was nothing to lay 800 - 1000 ft of rcp 8ft in the ground.. that included setting structures and manholes being mudded up.

Refusing to go backwards.. I fell back on the only other thing I know.

Hurst

 

Yes. I meant boom/stick. The forward/backward motion on either stick is reversed. Left/ right motion would be swing and bucket. I had to stop and think about that for a minute. LOL

Hurst

 

@Hurst

I've been meaning to ask you, what's the biggest track machine you have loaded with your ramps?

 

Komatsu D61 dozer.



Hurst

 

Thx for the pic. Your ramps are longer than I remembered. I was curious about the teeter totter effect when loading.

 

The stands are adjustable. I can raise them another 6 inches from where they are in the pic to reduce the angles.

Being as heavy as the machine was,.. I honestly thought the stands would collapse. They are rated 25k lbs each,.. so theoretically they should hold more than I can scale. I wanted the ramps flat and level to each other to disperse the weight evenly. 4 ramps and 2 stands. Plus the carrying racks.

The teeter,...


.



I have had two 2002 Covette Z06 up the ramps,.. had to use some boards on the bottom to get them up the ramps with out scraping,.. but did not bottom out or scape going on to the trailer.

Hurst