LGP Eddie

Another way to do that, simply get the manufacturers to put taller side plates on the Head Bracket, and space the plates at the correct width so the Grab will go under the pins and fit snugly between the plates. Obviously this makes the pins too long for the machine, but the trick is to get them to fit a larger diameter pin for strength, turned down to the correct size in the centre like a ‘dog bone’ so when on the machine it remains centred. You’ll get a nice solid bite at a better angle then and the machine won’t bother about slightly higher side plates. Eddie.

Yes been on the Alpha, does everything asked and a top quality machine, but the Dash 4 is showing it’s age now. I think the Takeuchi at present is the safer bet. The Wacker Neuson ET90 is for the brave almost certainly class leader, and as discussing the JCB, who would have thought that possible from Neuson products 4 years ago? Things move on, and we all like to think we bought the best out there. Plenty on here will remember the Blue and Red from the Tractor days, it’s just human nature. Eddie.

Usual story and unlikely any have ran any for years now. Again the example is a four year old machine, a huge amount has happened since then. Makes no odds to me what brand snobbery anyone has, I get asked to spec all different makes of machines for people, some I question in my own mind why on earth they choose that brand, but it can be as simple as a good local dealer that sways them. The 85z I specced is proving to be a classic example of a guy simply finding out for himself what’s currently on offer and so far having enough success to be placing an order for another. I recently had a guy on about an 8 tonner, and he literally expected to get his thoughts on having a Kubota Kx080-4 alpha confirmed by me. He was slightly surprised I didn’t even have it in my top three. I’m not a stick of rock brand guy, Machines move on and some get left behind, you’ve got to lose the blinkers sometimes. Eddie.

The Westtech is simply a case of if you can get it in there, it'll cut it, but it's not the tool when you want maximum manipulation and totally secure hold to section something awkward down. The Hans Habbig under the Engcon can get in some incredible places and do the business, cut capacity is poor for such a large unit, but I'm working on that at present. Absolutely nothing whatsoever in terms of any losses, JCB Insurance were brilliant, but what a nightmare process and I can't convey just how much I just want to be back in the seat putting it all behind me.

Thanks, simple is good. The jak is very similar to the nisula I have already priced up so will be taking to wilsons shortly about this as hadn't actually realised they sold them even though I'd said to Simon I was thinking of fitting one to the botex. They perhaps just concentrate on the Shears for Excavators, but quality from them looks good and there may be a deal to be had. I'd say Nisula would be well up any list. Be good to see how you get on, should be a great setup. Eddie.

Thought I'd add a few images to this thread now I'm starting to get back on my feet a bit. Unbelievably the big Liebherr is still not back out to work almost 12 months after the Arson attack, and without going into all the details, it's been an horrendous experience dealing with Loss adjusters, Insurance and worst of all Liebherr. However an awful lot of people worse off than me and just keep moving forward. I've specced up the Kobelco and that's out to work doing a fantastic job and I'm extremely happy both with it, and being back at work. The Liebherr should hopefully be out later this week, they have made an incredible job of it, it's just like new, they just manage to make a couple of tiny sagging jobs into a full blown crisis! I've taken advantage of the time to sharpen up the attachments into some great tools that fit either the Kobelco or Liebherr, with the Engcon Ec-Oil system common on both. Plus a slightly trick extension for the Mecanil Head that should make a huge difference. Eddie. Eddie

Some rubbish paint out there on some premium brands. My own Kobelco isn't a patch on the Liebherr or the best I've ever come across, Kubota which needs an angle grinder to get to bare metal! Volvo is just primer I'm certain and a few brambles can have 100k of machine looking secondhand in seconds. I think there's a clear split on what are the latest generation machines in terms of quality, the Hydradig is one clear example that really stands out as having moved up several notches, with their 8, 5 and now 1.5 tonne models having received the full treatment, but only time will tell if the paint sticks so to speak. Quite how they used to be able to paint them no issues and then went backwards is a bit crazy, but you're not wrong it's been dire on some past models. Eddie.

Sorry to derail slightly but do you have any recommendations or avoidance list for swinging tilting shear grabs as thinking of getting one for the forwarding trailer to clear roadside and trackside regen without having men on the road cutting and chipping. I'm have great success with the Mecanil, fantastic quality and really incredible performance, however that's a saw type. I was at Wilson's dropping something off and had a look over the JAK range of Shears and I liked them. Just by coincidence a guy with a Kubota asked me my thoughts on them the following week and I said I'd have no issue in going with one, he's been delighted with his since. A long way around saying maybe have a look at this one, it caught my eye as just about as straightforward way of doing whats required as possible and that's usually the best way. Eddie.

if you want a quote on any of the Intermercato Grabs and Shears just DM me, I supply a few now at competitive prices and know how to spec them. Eddie.

If you think that some JCB don’t compare with the latest Jap offerings you’re kidding yourself. They can’t do them all overnight, but their half the Compact Range has been done and the large Excavators about to follow. JCB will never compete on every level and to be honest if they cut their ranges in half and concentrated on them more it could possibly be a good thing for consumers, but as a business they seem to do more than ok. The guy who purchased that 85z took his mate who literally has every Takeuchi from micro to 14 tonner to the Factory with him, he was literally stunned by their new 8 tonner and couldn’t fault it. Its a case of getting your own experiences with JCB, not listening to the masses on Facebook and the like who when you dig deeper turn out to be a seat filler for an agency and have never even sat in the Model they are slagging off. Eddie.

They are assembled here, and yes it’s one of the few places sheet steel still goes in one end and machines come out the other. Obviously components come from all over the world, but JCB are simply the engine that powers the economy where I live. The Engine plant is close, as is the Cab plant, with the A50 literally a main JCB artery and a great place to see kit. They have good times and bad, seen massive layoffs and big Xmas bonus’s alike over the years, but they are on the up at present and so are the machines. I specced an 8 tonner for a guy before Xmas, and the reality is nothing came close to what JCB could offer straight out of the factory to the exact spec required. No messing about with third party suppliers to make modifications or buying components not required. The price saving going this route was incredible, and the machine, an 85z turned out to be fantastic. It’s in daily use in a Waste Transfer station, and is loaded up Saturday lunchtime for weekend duties on a Firewood operation and then back to the Transfer yard Monday. Heading for about 700 hours already and no issues.? I’m just starting a 6 tonner Project from them, should be a real nice bit of kit.? I had a sneak look at their new large Excavator a couple of weeks back, someone forgot to cover it, and it’s going to be a bit of an eye opener, nothing like the current JS. Eddie.

I did, I would have bought a full spec ET90 and done the whole works to it, guarding Engcon etc etc, however the factory wouldn't listen to my request to put a 50mm raising piece in the slew turret from the factory, as it's a nightmare job after, and that was the end of that. Be a JCB next if I do another 8 tonner.

Kx080-4 was a total lemon for Kubota and lost them a huge amount of sales. It can be tweaked to make it go, but most just move them on and get a later alpha version. The Original Dash 3 is still a better machine in a lot of aspects. Takeuchi have the worst reputation out there for pins and bushes, paint is like primer compared to Kubota. The KX080 was the original machine that took the 8 tonne class to another level, with 60mm pins and massive slew ring in comparison to others it was like a mini 13 tonner. Plenty have caught up now and are pushing 10 tonnes for what are supposedly 8 tonne class? You won't go far wrong with either Takeuchi or Kubota, but Takeuchi are on the up and Kubota on their way down in most peoples opinion that I know. The same message always comes through, holding onto models too long, (Dash 4 is out of date already) don't gives us features other markets get as standard,(six way blades etc) and concentrate too much time on Tractors now? Eddie.

Best Hitches are the ‘S’ type and Buckets from the two main Tiltrotator suppliers Engcon and Steelwrist to go with them are the way forward. Best of all spec it right and you’ve already got the Hitch/Buckets ready to add in the Tiltrotator at a later date if required. Takeuchi have come on leaps and bounds, they never have the fit/finish of a Kubota for me, and lack a bit of spark when operating them. I was on a TB260 recently, did everything asked, but a Kx57 would have kicked it’s arse. Komatsu is still the Mini everyone overlooks, and they are superb.? Eddie.

I think you perhaps need to rewind a bit and give some idea what you're looking for in terms of a base carrier? You looking to go new or used? Reduced tailswing or full size machine? You use Mulching Head and Flail together in your question, are you looking to Mulch standing material down to the floor and incorporate it or simply Flail scrub and vegetation. Regarding manufacturers, all will do the task in mind and pretty much without exception they will all come with the pipework required these days as manufacturers are catching up to the requirements of end users. 10 tonne is more of an emerging class led by manufacturers simply having to beef up 8 tonne machines to cope with user demands. They have eaten a huge slice of what used to be 13 tonne machine class, and 13 tonne machines have jumped to 15 tonne plus in a similar fashion. You would probably be stunned what one of the latest 6 tonne class machines can achieve now, such is progress. There's an awful lot to consider when making the purchase of the carrier machine and most come back to who is local that gives good service? Eddie.

Had the visit from John Craig to get the Engcon system installed and finally got to see what this Kobelco is made of. Delighted to see it handles the big Westtech no issues even full over the side, and John really has got everything spot on with this install, ironing out all the little creases we had left to finish on the Liebherr, and these mods can now be transferred over to that. One thing that many people never grasped was the unique twin Ec-Oil mount that was constructed for the Hand Habbig shear. Simple fact is the Liebherr never needed it, it has so much reach/height but what a difference it makes to the Kobelco, it's going to be seriously useful. Just to give some idea, removing the Engcon and picking up on the top hitch removes a straight 800kg of weight, and that's a decent lump of timber in itself! Just all the Prolec slew/height/dig monitoring system to setup and a few more guards to fit and it's good to go. Eddie.

It's got so bad they'll be fitting machines with revolving doors soon to get the seat fillers in an out quicker until they find one that's not a chancer! I foresee some changes as the Aberdeen bypass has produced an unbelievable amount of incidents relating to Plant and most fingers point to having the ticket and not an ounce of experience. Eddie.

Just working speccing kit and solutions for others would do me, or Operator training that means they can actually Operate, not simply having bought a ticket! Hopefully a few shifts left in me yet! Eddie.

If you simply tap into the pipework for the boom offset circuit and extend this to the dipper end with your other auxiliaries, then you can simply press the current button installed to switch from grab to rotate. No need for anything else. Obviously these will be manual valves to change the flow from offset to your new extra auxiliary circuit, or you can fit your 6 way valve and a switch here to do it from the comfort of the cab. Eddie.

Thanks, still work in progress, be great to see them out together but any volunteers to operate the other one? The fat bottom girls! Eddie

Kubota is one of the most expensive to convert because you have to cut and widen the whole machine to get the pads on. The simple reason for this is the massive slew ring in comparison to others. Take a CAT 308 you could bolt 1 metre wide pads on with no modifications and get going. The slew ring however is about the same size as a Kx57 Kubota's, hence the CAT wouldn't be my choice for heavy attachments. Bolting the 1 metre pads would be cheap, but it will absolutely eat track chains! A properly cut/lengthen/widen on a Kubota with 900 pads with bottom rollers fitted as heavy duty top rollers, full track guides etc will be expensive, (JccEngcon will tell you) but it will last and last, even swap to the next machine by swapping tops, and won't worry overly about stumps/rocks/hardcore if just operated sensibly. Hitachi Zx85 on 800 or 900 pads is about the best substitute for the real thing. Eddie.

In a word no, it's not something I'm concentrating on. A case of they won't know what they had until they lost it. Paperwork trumps any standard of work these days. Eddie.

He's not got it now mate, this arrived Friday!

In simple terms if you wish to use a grab under the Engcon offer unit, you would have to add in what is called and 'SS9' setup. this will allow you to change between the Tilt function and the Grab. I'm guessing at something like £1500 extra on the package. You can go all the way to a full control system that will allow you to Tilt/Rotate/Grab at the same time, and even add your blade and tracking to your levers! That Komatsu pc30 is setup just like this and is unreal. That's obviously going to cost a chunk on top. I do know they sold a fair few at the Plantworx show, not huge money to get you basically Tilting/Rotating, but if you want to use a grab and many here would, you've got to factor in the upgrade. Eddie.

Again I apologise for this being Engcon, other brands are available but the fact is the 2.5 and 3 tonne sit across two models, the Ec02 for up to around 2.8 tonne and then the Ec204 takes over. Loads of options that can change the final spec/price, and it really takes a little time with a prospective purchaser to ascertain what they currently do, and what they may hope to achieve in future. However anyone running machines up to around 2.8 tonne with two dual acting auxiliary circuits, Volvo, Kubota 27's, Yanmar etc, get in quick and fill your boots, this offer is seriously good! Worth putting in the shed for a prospective machine upgrade at that money, or call someone like summit equipment to see what the other circuit and Joystick with roller may cost to add if you already have a single circuit. EC02 special offer | engcon Eddie.