LGP Eddie

But at £450 a week tops for a brand new latest 13 tonne machine that’s fully backed up on site and reasonable transportation costs, then is it worth owning? If you can get your work into week blocks, then almost no notice is required to hire and attachments are easily sourced too, because these latest machines are piped for them. Eddie.

It’ll be a lump, there’s no plastic in it!? No way you could bend the 200 type blade, I make no excuses for the abuse I gave mine with an 8 tonner and yes I blew all the bolts off a few times. Cutting Willow up to about 20”!? This type is different, but again I’d doubt it, bolts would almost certainly go first. I rate the TMK and would sell them if I could alongside too. There’s little in them, just the Intermercato is as simple as they come, literally just keep the blade bolts tight and that’s it. Eddie.

Not tried it myself and the guy hasn’t come up for air with it yet, he’s having a real old sort out around the place with it. The build is typical Intermercato like a tank, huge ram, so should be no issues. He’s had Willow down well up to around 16” with a few cuts and 10” Hawthorn no problem. This would be a good unit under a Tiltrotator, where the ability to rotate around the tree whilst cutting, helps go way over rated capacity. The exposed blade makes this manoeuvre better with an Intermercato than a TMK. The hold is always very strong on Intermercato, but you’ll never replicate something like a Westtech with it’s height and extra grip in this class or price range. Not an expensive Shear and a good upgrade from the previous model. Eddie.

Just a couple of things I supplied last week. One of the new Intermercato T-Cut 25, which is a new improved model giving the ability to cut either side of the blade and a true 250mm capacity, rather than just a larger blade fitted to a smaller unit. This Bobcat is at the lowest end of its weight range, and being long arm I specced the guy loose pins, in case the quick hitch needed to come off. However it’s worked out brilliant, he’s absolutely delighted with it and no handling issues at all. His plan is to take an extra head bracket or two for 6 and 8 tonners, then Hire it out locally. The second is the Intermercato TG12-UG7 fitted to a Volvo Ec18. First I’ve supplied of these and the guy is absolutely delighted with it. It was a tight deadline as he’d a Project for it, so a bare 6 way valve was dispatched with it and he’s simply fitted it himself with a foot operated switch to get up and running asap. He plans a neater install, with properly guarded valve and neater pipework when time allows or the valve could actually go on the machine if he wished. A couple of good setups and Yes the Bobcat owner has fabricated a Screen Guard now as recommended. Eddie.

CPCS Scheme doesn't exactly work like this and certainly doesn't require 3 years or a higher standard to attain a Blue supposedly Competent Operator Card. This Scheme has killed Plant Operating skills stone dead, it's called a "Ticket" because that's all it is, an entry to site, box ticking for HSE, arse covering, money printing racket! I know lads who've got a Blue Card from a standing start in 6 months and only attended one Saturday morning for the paperwork and a few photos in a machine to get the Red. The card gives absolutely no indication of an Operators previous experience or skill level, and leaves a lottery for employers/hirers who have to literally wait and see what they've got in the seat? Please don't even think of modelling anything on this scheme! Eddie.

Last bits of info come in on this Rototilt R1 and it's all good news! The unit with Gripper fitted is only approx 145kg, and the Gripper itself opens to a useful 400mm. One to put on anyones list in this class. Eddie.

Just checked up and the Rototilt R1 does cover from 1.5 to 3.5 tonne in its class. For the smaller machines you can have it on S30, but for the larger carriers you can go S40 and this is where the Gripper Unit mounting is added. The Gripper is a full retrofit setup, so can be purchased at a later date or fitted/removed as required. Certainly a Unit to take a look at in this class. Not the best image, but this is the R1 Unit in S40 hitch form with the Gripper fitted. Eddie.

You’d normally go under on what is a full fat tail machine, but wrap around especially lead filled to keep it most compact will do the trick. If you can get 300kg on it should transform it nicely. If you want to leave the roof on the parish Church then guys like these will fill your counterweight for you. https://www.midlandlead.co.uk/products/other/ Eddie.

Just do the counterweight yourself it’s generally a simple process if some suitable mounting points under the machine can be located. Shaun was very lucky with his Komatsu, some good big mounting bolts underneath already that could be simply sourced longer to retain the counterweight nicely. Making it is as simple as propping up a sheet of thin ply under the machine that’s sitting perfectly level and marking out the shape you want with a spirit level around the back of the machine or whatever method you come up with that works for you. Steel weights are easily calculated and you can see what clearance you have on things like the Blade Ram guard when it’s slewing. Once you’ve got your pattern sorted get it cut at your local profilers and source the longer bolts. Sean made a great job of his, it’s really not hard, I did the patterns for my Liebherr, it was profile cut in Wigan and fitted in Scotland by John Craig. I’ve not studied it thoroughly myself but talk is of the just launched Rototilt R1 being where it’s at with these smaller machines. I don’t know what hitches are available, but it looks configured to take a detachable gripper unit and is classified up to 3.5 tonnes carrier weight. If that’s the case, it’s ideal as the gripper can be removed when not required or even added after the initial purchase when funds allow. Engcon have this ability on their larger units, where users can keep adding things like the Gripper or Ec-Oil automatic hitches as you go, but not on the smaller stuff. Eddie.

It’s a valid point, but the nature of the work leads to a Grab and then it needs to be a fixed Grab to get the best from it and ideally worm drive too? The potential for a Tiltrotator to be the worm drive rotator with the added bonus of tilt thrown in, just add the Grab, can’t be ignored by many on here. I was first using a Powertilt in 1996, they are fantastic units and you would think many more would utilise them. Come to think of it, you’d think as just about every machine is piped you’d see many more Tilt buckets about? Eddie.

Richy B has a 2.7 tonne machine so he’s able to go with an Engcon Ec02 on s30 type pickup with a top hitch so he can drop the unit off and easily go down to a 9” Bucket if so required. Its always preferable and forget what any dealers tell you to run a Tilty right at the top end of its weight class to ensure the machine is more than up to handling it and you get less ‘dulling’ of the machine functions. If you don’t get what I mean by ‘dulling’ just imagine a machine with a full bucket or not, totally different feel to them. Dealers want them at the other end of the weight class to help protect them a little from the forces of larger machines. Trust me they can run right to the top of their weight class and a touch over no issues. The Kubota here is a classic example of a carrier machine handling a unit that really needs an extra tonne of carrier machine to get the best from it. Combine the integral gripper weight and the fact it’ll almost certainly be on s40 hitch which really is 4 tonne and above territory, and you start and see why an extra slice of counterweight is required. Donnk isn’t alone, my good friend Sean Gratton took the Ec204 in full spec with top hitch and s40 on his 3 tonne Komatsu and has ended up putting a slice of counterweight on it to settle it down. It really is a total and potentially expensive minefield out there! Remember the ‘S’ type hitches are denoted by pin size, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm etc, you don’t have to match your carrier machines Bucket pin size to this! For example a Kx080 Kubota which has 60mm Bucket pins as standard will run a S45 hitch which is obviously 45mm pins. Do your Homework, ask existing users they are generally happy to share knowledge and regardless of your brand preference to purchase, get yourself off to one of Engcon’s brilliant dig days they’ve been running. You can see many setups, try them and speak to the actual owners. Eddie.

All depends on the specification you finally settle on. You’ll be having something starting with a 6 to just make it Tilt and Rotate I’d expect, pinned to the machine, running off your pipes and controls. By the time you’ve got a top quick hitch, full control system, new Joysticks etc, you can double that. Absolute minefield and everyone has a different opinion, but the general consensus now is how can we take something great and make it cheaper. If one UK supplier could sell you a unit that operated by pulling it with blue bt cord out the front window they would!? Personally I just tell guys to wait a bit longer until you can afford a control system and take the full benefits. Eddie.

Just a heads up to this as the listing doesn’t show the machine in the first image. Don’t shoot the messenger, nothing to do with me if you think it’s cheap or dear. What I do know is it’s from a good genuine home, the Steelwrist is full spec with control system so no issues using a grab on it through the auxiliaries at the same time as Tilting/Rotating. https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-ECR48C-with-Steelwrist-X06-25-500-plus-VAT/323371446235?hash=item4b4a70afdb%3Ag%3AHw0AAOSwWo5bXP0c&_nkw=steelwrist&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=p2380057.m4084.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.Xsteelwrist.TRS0 Eddie.

Hard to put a scale, but it looks perfect to work with a decent loading shovel for all them bloody pieces that are a nightmare to chase about with Excavators in any quantity. A good setup yard with a suitable bay and room for trucks should be cleared out in no time. Wouldn’t be hard to find a local silage gang with a loading shovel resting between seasons too. Eddie.

No problem, hat off to you for the investment and great to see more product being utilised where possible.? I went off and found a video, words wouldn’t do it justice!? Eddie.

Justin Kingwell has just purchased a monster of a machine and is advertising for such feedstock for it I believe? By the look of it he’d clear it out for breakfast if you could line the trucks up! Eddie.

Don’t know who you’re speaking to or not as it seems, but boy Molsons won’t be happy with this. They are generally spot on with any dealings I’ve had, genuinely care about making the machine exactly as the Customer wishes. Molson are doing some great Engcon installs plus any extra touches like guarding and lighting to give guys in the UK the closest thing to a Swedish Dealer service, where machines generally have extras fitted to at least the cost of the base machine, most often more! Eddie.

Anyone thinking of a 4 pipe Setup and a Tiltrotator, do your homework as you'll inevitably end up with a changeover switch to go from Tilt to Grab or Rotate. One of the budget Engcon deals leaves you without Auxiliary ports to even run a grab. The Control systems cost, you can't beat them for nice setups to operate and they only need the 2 pipes, but 4 pipe machines will always command a premium come resale. Anyone thinking quick hitches should be thinking of fitting the 'S' type whatever their application, they are the best out there, and if you want Twinlock then Steelwrist and SMP produce some great ones. Eddie.

Yes a standard 12v 6 way diverter valve would do the trick no problem to change from offset to another auxiliary circuit. You may be surprised just how well you get on with a semi-hitch. I rate them very highly and properly maintained provide a very quick and safe solution to smaller machines. Just ensure you don’t have a welded in pin on the Buckets as you’ll need to swap holes if you need to reverse the bucket. If you ever thought of a straightforward Grapple with the Powertilt, it can be done. Use a 3 point linkage top link or propshaft with uj’s to make the stay bar, that’ll allow you to actually tilt the Grapple and will make a cheap, handy setup. Anyone with a non hydraulic thumb like a Digbits item, swap the stay for a top link anyway. Allows you to adjust it with different buckets and get it setup just how you like it. Eddie.

Ideally you want to keep away from diverter valve setups if possible, as contentious as it may be, you simply can't get the same control or production having to switch from one function to another to operate the grab. Many have gone this route based on cost which is fair enough, or simply not exploring enough other options that may be available to gain another completely independent circuit. Based on the fact Takeuchi already offer it, my first call would be to Summit Hydraulics to see what they can offer? These guys make up many kits that come straight out of dealers yards often passed off as OE lines. My Kobelco has a Rotate circuit done by them for Molson as an example. Another route is to put your diverter on your offset circuit and pipe that up the boom/dipper so you have what is generally a low flow controllable circuit for your rotate without interrupted operation, and if required you divert back to give the necessary offset operation. You may have to use the a foot pedal for control, but again that's better than any changeover setup. Manufacturers in general are catching up, and anyone purchasing is wise to opt for the 4 pipe setups if they can, as the extra will always come back in residual value. We just need to educate them on case drain lines now! Eddie.

I switched from a work Defender to an AWD Transit due to the change in my work, and in all honesty I wish I’d had one years ago! It’s been brilliant for me, only had it stuck once and so were the two double cab pickups following, would leave my current Defender for dead on Snow/Ice covered roads until it gets really deep. I put four winter rated all season tyres on it, soon after purchase and well worth the money. I get a consistent 30mpg, and the only issues have been the DPF not doing the odd regen and needing a plug in to force one. Hope to be in a position to get a new shape version as they’re starting to come through now off the fleets. Tows better than a Defender 90 on the road, stable, plenty of torque and a nice spread of gears. I was mad after the lovely looking Sprinter version, but nothing about at the spec I wanted, I’ll be staying with the Transits now. Eddie.

It all depends on the applications, the TB225 gives guys who simply loved the TB016 exactly what they wanted, a bigger more powerful one! You have to remember this machine goes down almost as narrow as a 1.5 tonner, so has a fair chance of getting where required. Plenty of capacity left for buckets etc without being right on the towing limit all the time. All the pipework required is available from the factory, and I don’t think I’m sticking my neck out much in saying this will exceed the almost legendary TB016 in terms of residual value if it proves a solid performer. It may yet be a pile of crap, but I’d doubt it. Can’t wait to have a go on one to see what they’re like. Loads more options out there if you’re simply chasing the maximum power reach etc, but for a lot of guys here this gets 2.5 tonne plus into a back garden with little hassle. Eddie.

Just an image of a Komatsu mini with full Engcon setup that's gained a bit of counterweight to offset the Engcon setup on the other end. This has the long stick and top quick hitch fitted above the Engcon, so going this route, should give the best of all options.

Full fat machine all day long if you can get them in. Some nice machines to look at, but watch the weights if you're intending to tow and need to carry attachments. The Takeuchi Tb225 really has to be most peoples starting point now, such will be the versatility and stability of the expanding undercarriage, and the weight falls spot on to leave enough spare capacity for attachments. Having the necessary pipework available from the factory is a huge bonus. If you have other means of moving the machine that gives you the ability to go over towing weight, then you have a fantastic range to choose from. Eddie.