LGP Eddie

Just the basic fact it's a narrow undercarriage Materials Handler, the front end equipment, Hydraulic cab riser, before you start on any modifications or accessories. Its nothing like a JCB JS130 when it comes to replace it. Eddie.

Huge repair bill versus valuation payout that had the added advantage for the insurance of what would be a hefty salvage valuation for such a tidy machine in return to offset it. Hangs in the balance, but you'll not get another to replace it, or even new would be a huge lead time before delivery. If only people realised that this kit is hard earned and people make their living with it. No problem on the pins, that Liebherr wouldn't drop half an inch in a week on the Hydraulics, they are just quality kit. Eddie.

Nutters jumping on a bandwagon and using it as a cover to carry out extreme measures. Can't say too much, it's obviously being investigated, this will be six figures of damage/recovery. You pull out what is basically the halfshaft in the centre of the gears, flicks out easy. Eddie.

I'd like to see them caught in that Westtech to be honest! Eddie.

Front end was high enough after Westtech and top quick hitch was removed for recovery, the Liebherr fitter lowered it down off a test point and used a pull lift to bring the dipper in. Between the Mansfield Team and the absolutely brilliant fitter from Liebherr, all was recovered with no additional damage into the Liebherr yard to await inspection by the loss adjuster. All I can do is await the decision now. Eddie.

For anyone who can't quite grasp the scale, this is that Westtech C550 Shear hanging off the end of the Liebherr! Eddie.

Trying to remember it like this helps. Eddie.

Yes fully fenced, shutters on, regular patrols. Phoned in and Fire Brigade did a brilliant job. Must have got it out real quick, and even removed vandal guard to check cab which was fortunately unharmed with minimal damage. Not sunk in yet, we had just about got it perfect now, but hope she will be back at it soon enough. Eddie.

Crane was quoted verbally at 7k, but once they got a sniff Insurance may cover recovery, came in at 15k on paper. I came up with the recovery solution myself, simple is always best. Just removed the halfshafts from the final drives, bog mats to reverse a very nice sliding axle recovery trailer with 20 tonne winch onto, and then simply drag her on. Once the final drives are released it's really surprising what little effort is required to move them. Repair quote is huge, but if approved by Insurance Liebherr will put this back to perfect without any issues in around three weeks. I really do have everything crossed at this point. Eddie.

Been a week to forget, after an awesome few days out with the Liebherr. Basically all going great, with a big Westtech C550 doing it's stuff on the end of it, only to get a call Sunday afternoon to be told someone had torched the machine overnight! Only got it recovered back to Liebherr today, and it's fate totally hangs in the balance going forward. Some scum out there want to learn to leave hard earned kit alone! Eddie. A video of it in action The sight that met me!

Digger Man Blog on Facebook for the actual post mentioning the deal. Here is the TDL news article with the machines pictured and a bit more detail. SANY SY16C CAB EDITION AVAILABLE NOW! - TDL Read it again myself and they are extending tracks also. Eddie.

That's interesting, the mini's pictured certainly look tidy, and from what I'm hearing they are here to stay and progressing very quickly. A good friend was out in Bauma China, and speaks very highly of the kit, with willingness to listen to market requirements then act on it quickly being key factors. I'm certain manufacturer support on pricing and great backup will be key factors to get them out of the door, but Doosan and Hyundai have shown it can be done in a very short space of time to be right up there now. Loved the little promo stunt at Bauma Eddie.

Just spotted these on Facebook from TDL Equipment, caused a bit of a stir? Apparently can be had at £50 per week with no Deposit??? Don't know anything about them, machine or dealer, but as the advert says it's paid for by breakfast Monday! The reality is with a bit of careful buying on the main manufacturers that have set in stone residual you could perhaps even better the above figure? Fair play though, that's got to get them a few calls, and I think they even have air con as standard, plus Yanmar engine. Sany, is Hyundai or the like only a few years ago, and certainly mean business. Eddie.

Looking good, really pleased it worked out for you. Eddie.

Karcher gets my vote, had a smallish upright type one for years now and still perfect. A lot don't know a Karcher will suck water from a drum, it's amazing, you can literally wash a machine with a few 25ltr drums of water and a small genny anywhere Makes a huge difference if you've had a mess of a hydraulic burst or the like to get it all cleaned up in a few minutes. Eddie.

That's a real nice handy setup, I like the Doosan kit, should go well for you. Be interesting to see how she handles the shear once in action. So pleased to see guarding on the machine, it's simply a must when shearing. Eddie.

You can get two stage hydraulic bottle jacks with better lift height which is obviously preferable to single stage versions. I've been meaning for an age to treat Greg to one of the Hi Lift Rescue Jacks to mount on the tracked dumper. They are more expensive than the standard versions, but really are packed with handy features, and are designed to work with chains, already having the slots for links, and will winch, spread etc etc besides just lifting. One thing I will say to anyone going to use a Hi Lift Jack, make certain you have someone show you the correct operation, as they really can bite if you don't know what you're doing. However used correctly, extremely powerful and versatile, I've even seen a box section slipped over the rack with a serrated tongue welded on the end to form an extremely effective tree jack. Cheapest I found them so far was here? https://www.firstfour.co.uk/hi-lift-first-responder-jack-48.html Eddie.

Nice two piece Boom on the Volvo we don't see over here, and anything Herder should be real quality. Not wishing to sound negative, but the pipework for the shear could use a bit of a rethink for this environment, and no excuse for not having the top and front of the cab guarded. Eddie.

I take it you don't have front PTO on the Valtra? if you DM me I'll point you in the right direction. Eddie.

It will almost certainly be what's called an Integrated Grab or Gripper as they're sometime called, from any of the Major Tiltrotator Manufacturers, Steelwrist, Engcon or Rototilt are the main players. Great if expensive bits of kit, I have one on my 8 tonner. [ame] [/ame] Eddie.

I can't get a video of the much faster Trydent Winch, but this gives a great idea of what such a compact setup is capable of even with their more basic slower Warrior winch. The Defender is doing nothing much more than ticking over here, and a 5 tonne machine with the larger faster setup would be doing just the same. [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETKGdGWGahs[/ame] Eddie.

For the 5 tonner I'd be speaking to Red Winches for one of their very impressive spec Twin Motor Trydent winches with the extra long drum. This winch has a really decent line speed in the high gear, with still a reasonable pull. Dropping down when required to full power. This change in speed I'm certain can be achieved from the cab by running electrics down the dipper, and you'll get 100m of 12mm rope on this which is a handy amount especially if using a snatch block to double up. This type of company would almost certainly be able to tweak it further for you, depending on requirements. You will be able to fit a radio remote like a basic Lodar to this, as power 12v power is easily achieved to a convenient point on the dipper. It's really just a case of having a mounting with suitable, blade/spades made up to fit your hitch, and have some way of latching the auxiliary circuit. I know who I would have build the mount, but there are several companies out there who would turn out something tidy and it really depends where you're based. My advice if you are using such a setup is to ensure the operator remains in the machine to ensure in the event of anything beginning to move the base machine, he can immediately cut off the operation. If you run the 12v to the Lodar, you will be able to kill either the electrics or unlock the latched hydraulic circuit to stop all operations immediately from the cab irrespective of the external operative who would be using the radio remote. Obviously the machine operator can do the whole job if he likes by having the Lodar remote in the cab with him. If you know you're making a pull that's heading towards full power, then fit a hawser back from your winch mount to the undercarriage frame of the machine, and ensure you keep everything inline. Many people underestimate the power of winches, and they will twist booms and dippers for fun if not used correctly. You should be able to run one of the numerous plasma ropes on the Trydent and get a great light setup that will save some serious work. RED Winches Trydent XL The larger machine brings more options, let me know what machine, hitch and pipework you have on it. Eddie

Can you describe your thoughts on how you want the winch setup to ideally be? For example a powerful winch with spade type anchor and controls from the winch frame. Or full fast skidding winch with radio remote etc? Approximate ideal cable length and acceptable line speed in metres per second really help to build a picture. What carrier machines? Eddie.

I'm working on it! Eddie.

Need that behind my Liebherr!!:thumbup1: