LGP Eddie

Absolutely, that would have been played on the Truck bonnet by a few having a morning brief this week perhaps? That’s after gathering them up, getting them off their phone, stopping them talking or looking like the Flying Scotsman pulling out of Kings Cross on a cold morning by puffing away on a vape! All whilst the quiet one ticks all the boxes on a telephone book of paperwork that’s all put back in the ‘pack’ if you want it. I’ve had enough of these generic glaze overs to know they’re generally just a routine and as long as the paperwork is done all is good to go. The industry screams out for the Foreman role, someone with some respect and some bite to his bark. No need for conflict, being asked to pack your stuff, go home and await a call is shock enough for most to realise they’ve overstepped the mark. Proper experienced guys leading projects and utilising the team in the best way, use the skills of the people around them to deliver projects safely, whilst nurturing new talent within a team. Buy all the Tickets you want, join every association going, but you can never buy experience. Guys need to know what’s expected of them, not be scared to ask for help, have no fear of speaking up at a briefing, and everyone should at all times feel able to just say can we stop and have another look at this first? I’ve nothing to add about the video that is pretty hard to watch, I sincerely hope the guy made a speedy and full recovery, it’s a very tragic gift to guys like myself running kit in educating that could be done without manual intervention. One question for me would be who’s got the phone out filming and why? Eddie.

CPCS can be gained on a Saturday morning and categories added in about an hour! The whole lot stinks, goalposts move every few years, bent tickets everywhere and the simple fact they are totally meaningless! Plenty of lads on here I’d bet are far safer on kit with no tickets than some of the idiots with them! If NPORS can get you on cheaper, go for it, they’re just a Ticket to open the door, not if you can Operate it or not! Eddie.

Five Years!! No regrets on that purchase I’d think!? Eddie.

Couple more images from access the pond. Eddie.

Think you’re all getting unduly worried. Mecalac have them setup so when you’re using them as a Skidsteer loader you drive/steer with one hand, then operate like a normal loader with the other. When you open her out as an Excavator so to speak it’s back on the two Joysticks again. Been a slow burner for a long while, guys like Graham Sandercock who went first do some fantastic work with them, but still a hard thing to even get to see, let alone a full demo. Hope to get a decent go myself one day. Eddie.

Waited yesterday with much anticipation of an opinion from a very trusted source across the Atlantic. Basically Engcon North America had put on a Dig Day with the help of Mecalac, and it was the first time I could actually speak with someone I trusted to get an opinion on if the Tiltrotator unit would integrate on the brilliant Mcr Mecalac? The guy I know comes from just outside New York, and mostly via Twitter messenger I’ve helped him put together his own full LGP Kubota setup with Engcon that he’s having great success with. First report came in and he really rated the Mecalac, and surprisingly from someone who actually owns and runs dedicated Compact Tracked Loaders, he was full of praise for its ability as a Skidsteer. As for the Engcon, his thoughts are it doesn’t integrate perfectly when using as a Loader, but obviously was fantastic for other duties, with the Mecalac handling it easily. Mecalac really need such events over here, they’ve the dealers and backup now, just people can’t get their hands on them to try. Matt’s Kubota Note the 4 way Blade we don’t get! The Mecalac Mcr with Engcon fitted and the Loader Bucket on. Eddie.

Didn’t say all their models, but the ET65 and ET90 especially are superb packages. The difference is Wacker Neuson are evolving fast, listening to Customers and Market requirements, whilst Kubota won’t update anything for years, and have seemingly focused on larger tractors. I’m still a huge fan of Kubota for their build and reliability, but they’re genuinely getting left behind which is sad to see. Eddie.

Kubota can’t compare to some of that Wacker Neuson kit now, and that new Dual View Dumper they’ve launched will sell in boat loads for them. They’ve done the job that all the other manufacturers couldn’t, and will reap the rewards. Top bit of kit. Eddie.

Almost certainly? Like I say just taken at face value but certainly has to be more to it? Some Guys would jump at a new 3 tonner for £70 a week in September and hand it back come late spring. Buy a grab and you’re sorted. Eddie.

Had to look twice at this on Twitter?? No idea of the in’s and out’s but the 3 tonner’s paid for Lunchtime Monday at that price! Eddie.

Then chuck it in the bin and actually try them real world. Paper specs for dimensions only, the figures for horsepower, flows, breakout forces etc are absolute lottery stuff. Even the same machines side by side brand new are generally different. Eddie.

Very popular in Europe, but literally going crazy for them in America. As ever the UK will warm to it in ten years time!? Eddie.

Don’t mind admitting to being slightly nervous, but I was up at Molson’s Workshops yesterday to see how far off the Sennebogen 718 Mobile is off being ready to go. Loads of compliance stuff being added at present, but delighted it should be available from December. Full range of attachments to shakedown on this first, and looking forward to getting it away from prying eyes and seeing what it can really do. Eddie.

I think you’ll find it should be all down to Safety and cost should be a secondary consideration? If they have the room then they’ll crash them over, if they want them taken down in controlled sections without any manual intervention then I can offer something far more effective and safer than any Harvester. As for cut to length, I wouldn’t look at it as essential to have it exact, plenty of outlets and transport options always available, but it’s near enough if I wanted it to be and I’ve no issues handling after. Harvesters are strong bits of kit, but lifting and handling is where Material Handlers excel. Eddie.

Not a job for a Harvester if you need to consider the surrounding trees. I’ve the kit to get such trees down in safety without manual intervention and need little room to do it. Eddie.

Took me an age to crack it on an Excavator, but got it now. Eddie.

Won’t be the cheapest I’d expect, but Pladett gear is top quality and a fully integrated unit not a rotator bolted to a grab unit. I’ll find out more but I’d expect touch over 3k with Head Bracket.

Spotted this lovely little Selector Grab whilst out at the Pladett factory this week. Only 75kg and beautifully made with 3 years warranty. Certainly turn a 1.5 tonner into a versatile tool.? They also had the smallest Powertilt I’d ever seen? Eddie.

You’d be surprised just what they can do! If you can still find a tidy Takeuchi TB016 that isn’t crazy money, there’s little risk to dipping a toe in, apart from ending up with a kit addiction!?

Can’t really convey what a journey it’s been so far with this machine, but cracking it now. Have a new Felling Head landing shortly for it, moving away from Big Shears, they have their place, but not for me. Hard to scale, but touching nearly 19 metres of outreach or height in this configuration with extension and around 13 metres when the Engcon and Shears are on it. Seriously versatile and productive now. Eddie. 8CCFEDAA-780B-4618-8F8E-C8DABA49BFFD.MP4 EF984694-4DE5-4F8D-9A0B-FDEEAD9EF0E1.mp4

All change at present with my Kobelco unit now sold and I’m concentrating efforts on getting the Liebherr setup with some new attachments, plus a Low Ground Pressure Unit in build. The Kobelco went as a package and part of it was to supply this total beast of an Intermercato TG55 SR5 Grab. I’m having this fitted out with an Engcon Ec-Oil to fit the Kobelco’s setup for them. This opens up to some 2450mm and down to 150mm. Can’t wait to see it finished should be some tool, biggest I’ve supplied as yet.? On the Tiltrotator front, I was delighted to see SMP finally getting a Dealer up and running in the UK and putting out a nice setup paired with the superb EMA Buckets. In no way a poor relation SMP from talking to owners of some serious setups in Sweden. Their Hardlock quick hitch is a really nice unit. I was pretty surprised at prices quoted for this 13 tonner setup with Gripper. My prediction is we’re going to see a lot more. Eddie.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council used to run what looked like a reverse silage trailer with shaft running straight through it and a wheeled PTO chipper towed behind it. Some tool in its day and I was poking Birch into it with a 13 tonner, no grabs or grapples, just the bucket.?

Did some with Concrete Sleepers, sounds horrendous, but decide for yourselves? First row upside down to form a footing, then stacked using the angled sides to best advantage to form a slope profile. Backfill as you put each layer in, and stagger the joints. Eddie.

Who was after the Rubber Duck with Two Piece Boom? No better home than where this came from.? https://www.mascus.co.uk/construction/used-construction-other/other-2013-volvo-ew140d-ew140d/virnykqj.html Eddie.

Must be nearly 10k in a good serviceable Kesla Stroke Head and Computer ready to go again? Eddie.