LGP Eddie

Something I was looking at closely too in finding something better than chains for my applications, and found these that have a few links of chain to attach straight to grab hook or slider, and a needle fitted. Product Details - Products Coming up with Treadlight Forestry as a Dealer, who I'm certain are on here? Is there a way to link them into the Thread? Eddie.

I had a new N163 Direct on hire and absolutely fell in love with it, until it came to low loading the machine to another site with it! You literally had to write it a letter to ask it to set off at a junction, and it just wouldn't attain any sort of speed on a hill. With the low loader empty on the same extremely long steep hill it could be brought down to 18mph on the clock, but a T151 hi tech we had would do 27mph all day long on the same hill bottom to top. Apart from that it was a fantastic tractor and blessed with the 160ltr pump which we put to great use on a Kesal stroke processor. The real beauty was being able to simply programme in what flow you needed, and adjust it at will if more speed for a function was required. No doubt I'll be down at Lamma drooling over them again, even if I think they've gone soft now with the new look! Eddie.

Plus one for a look at BTE, they are my Kubota dealers. With regard to machine prices, never a better time to buy? Nothing moving for export, Dealerships needing to shift them, and buyers overlooking lightly used examples to go with new on crazy cheap deals and money being banded about at present. Going to knock on all down the chain with prices. Eddie.

I know where there is a Forestry cab one basically same spec and done nothing apart from used as a rough terrain fork lift! Can't get it off the guy! Hate the CVT on the road, but off it, just so handy. Is that pump not available on a Versu? Eddie.

Just spotted this whilst drooling over Valtra's as usual! Just an odd spec that may suit someone, being Twin Trac, Factory Steel Tank, decent loader, front links and straightforward as they come gearbox/hydraulics. Not everyday you see an N in this spec and probably a few on here could make very good use of, or as a base for crane? Used tractors for sale Eddie.

Yes the shiny bit is the connector block, and that is a single block for a two way circuit plus has no electrics fitted. Depending on application you can have two blocks and two sets of multiple way electrics in them to give all sorts of solutions for attachments. A good example is my Mulcher which combines flow, return and case drain, with electrics to control the solenoid valves for the opening doors, all without leaving the cab. In theory the pins don't wear as nothing ever moves, but you will get a tiny bit and the connectors have enough length to tolerate this. The connector blocks have a small amount of give via spring mounts, but substantial dowels have to line up in a few places before anything will slide together to connect. In nearly two years, I've replaced nothing on the EC-Oil Hitch or any of the attachments, with the only issue being the need to keep a light smear of grease on the electrical connectors to ensure a good contact. Sounds crazy, but the grease doesn't help the contact, it prevents it tracking across to other terminals causing issues. People always ask about contaminants, but I do nothing special apart from a quick wipe and smear of grease now and again. On just one project before Xmas I worked out it was over 100 times a day I wasn't getting in/out of the cab to connect or replace pipes/electrics as I switched between Grab, Shear and Winch setup. Plenty of images on the Engcon site but here is one of the Mulcher. Eddie.

I'd agree with Andrew in terms of not biting off more than you can chew in terms of passing the loading to the machine on smaller machines, but cut and drop needs a careful operator to keep things safe. No denying that the Exac type is the business when it comes to cutting, and their units are well built with quality rotators fitted should you require one. My applications usually mean cut and hold is a must, and having studied pretty much everything out there, nobody is really hitting the spot for machines in the 6 to 10 tonne range, hence my idea to go with this route. I have friend doing the Hurricane range of shears in Ireland, and he's making inroads now, with some great cutting units and has just done his first one with gripper which looks tidy. I'll ask if it's ok to post some pictures up. Eddie.

The Exac-One cutter is rated to 10" but it's generally accepted they will do around 14" without issues if you just move it around a little, which is easy with the Engcon. Generally if you put it in, the Exac type will cut it, which obviously is the drawback of the Tiger Shear where you can grip far more than you can possibly cut. It was my thoughts and upon studying others, simply using a Timber Grab on its side where an Excavator can put all sorts odd loading angles on it, was simply asking for trouble. The ram in the Tiger will obviously give massive holding power but make it slow, hence hopefully getting an Engcon mod that will give me around 100ltr/min through the Engcon which should put some speed in it! The Kubota will be good for around a tonne even full stretch over the side with that on, you have to remember it's on big pads, plus lengthened/widened which gives it great stability, plus is unreal in lifting power for an 8 tonne model. In my application it won't be doing more than a couple of hundred kilos. Hard to get video these days as most clients are getting quite tight about social media etc in general, but when the Liebherr goes on a job of my own I'll get something sorted. Eddie.

Loving the Guidetti Crusher, they're great tools, and that swimming Bobcat looked some adventure! Just a couple of images of what Greg's been working at to try and come up with the all elusive holy grail of Tree Shears for Midi size machines. I have a Tiger Cut 200 which suits under the Engcon use very well, being quick in operation plus has stood up to a huge amount of abuse the Kubota, which has a decent bit of weight and power can dish out to it. However it has one simple failing all these grab onto knife type Shears share in common, they can drop stuff! Simply put the greater the angle from vertical the material to be cut is, the more chance it has of simply jumping out before the grab actually closes on it. The other type of Shear is the Exac-One type which I simply couldn't use, as they are cut and drop type, but no getting away from it, simply nothing to touch them for cutting ability. Having been totally disrespected by the Salesman for the Hans Habbig on the Liebherr, I was determined not to spend money with them, and despite being a top quality item with very safe cut/hold, they don't have a great cut capacity on smaller models. I looked at getting an Excac-One type and putting a Timber Grab on as a gripper, but having studied a few it looked too flimsy for my applications. It then came to me why not pull the knife out of the Tiger and utilise it as the gripper, then put an Exac-One cutter underneath? So that's what I've done, and as well as being not too difficult, it keeps the Engcon Ec-Oil to connect up without leaving the cab. It will be a bit slow at present but hopefully a mod to the Engcon will give me a good bit more auxiliary flow to improve that. So the 'Tiger Lopper' is born and I can't wait to try it! It should hopefully have the Strongest grip/cut combo for it's size? Eddie.

The absolute truth there Bob and I was doing a complete rewind on my 6.5 Tajfun winch yesterday to keep the cable wound on properly by winching a T series Valtra with Farmi Chipper uphill. I think Greg was just trying it out to be honest, but it simply dragged the whole lot dead uphill with the wheels sliding on a hardcore road until he decided to let the brakes off! The winch was going nowhere as it was on 12 tonne of machine with the butt plate dug in though. Winches are seriously powerful bits of kit and when I use the big Superwinch on the Kubota I prefer not to go too ridiculous on anchoring the machine, as if it gives a little it's generally time for a complete rethink? Eddie.

A good real world solution would be to get the superb 13 Tonne lightweight Snatch Block from Tajfun via Kilworth as an everyday redirect and normal duties snatch block. It really is a work of art, and everyone who has used it simply loves it! For the real heavy stuff get yourself the full 16 tonne version, but it will undoubtedly be a heavy lump in comparison and it can sometimes be difficult to get the correct size for the rope. Eddie.

As previously mentioned and doing a bit of studying, if they could put a ram in there that gave at least some adjustments and plugged straight into the two way auxiliary it could really be something that many would be attracted to or even hire companies can add to a self drive if required? Eddie.

Must be a bit of crossed wires here, that was just something for the guys looking for solutions to what is usually 1.5 to 3.5 tonne machines on here, usually limited by transport they currently utilise. I wouldn't be putting a Thumb on the Liebherr, I'm not a huge fan of the concept there are now much better but admittedly more costly alternatives available. Eddie.

It's quite hard to see without the machine in front of you how it all works at the Shear end. The basics of it are that that Shear manufacturer only provides a very high mounting point that loses considerable height at full stretch, and adding in the Engcon unit magnifies this somewhat. The extra weight of the Engcon is not desirable at the extremes of reach/height so I asked John Craig to manufacture this double bracket. To say it's been a challenge for him would be some understatement, but fair play he's done an amazing job on it. The reality is with the bare quick hitch in the rear bracket I can get the maximum possible reach/height without resorting to brackets that simply increase reach/height in the form of an extension. John had so many factors to get around from hoses tilting 70 degrees each way to the simple fact it has to sit flat for transport. Obviously the proof will be in actual use, but it seems perfect so far. I've a few mods being made to the Grapple Saw to give max geometry as obviously this will spend life under the Engcon for the maximum versatility. I have found the bucket I want for it now, and hopefully the guy selling it will come a bit closer to what I see its worth! All being well the machine arrives this week, and I'm looking forward to getting in a big field with nobody looking to give it a good shake down before it goes to work. Eddie.

I thought this quite a neat thumb for those not wanting to weld anything to their machines and be able to remove it completed when on normal duties. Eddie.

Many Thanks for all the kind words, it's been some project so far and should hopefully be completed and all shaken down over the Xmas period. The machine is waiting for its other attachment which will be a big grapple saw running under the Engcon Tiltrotator unit, giving something like an 800 cut in one or obviously more if I choose to step cut it and take it with the machine. The Engcon is fitted with the Ec-Oil system which means I don't get out of the cab to switch between the Shear and Grapple Saw, with the huge benefit of no dangling hoses to get snagged. For those that missed it, the Shear has a never been done before setup where it actually has two Ec-Oil mounting points, one for max reach/height at the rear and one for standard use on top. The Shear is good for 450 mm and with double grippers is the safest available on the market. One little trick is the Shear tilts 70 degrees either way, but if required I can add in the Engcon and control both tilts simultaneously to give 115 degrees of tilt of required. Max reach is approaching 16 metres and height something like 15 but we haven't had the tape on it yet! Transport wise its a sensible 3.2 metres, and as I said before will come with rubber block pads if required. Obviously it will excell at handling duties as well as taking down, with the benefit of the massive lift capacity Materials Handler spec machines have over traditional Long Reach Excavators. The load chart is very impressive, and it would be capable of putting some serious butts onto transport at a reasonable radius. Early days, but I have reserched long and hard on this since my eyes were fully opened to the potential of such a setup. For those wondering if I'm crazy, go back to page one of this thread and you will see its something I've already experienced the benefits of. Eddie.

I'd agree if you're clearing out an existing pool a long reach can have many benefits, but if it's constructing new you have to remember with a long reach you actually lose a weight class in terms of capacity? Basically a 13 tonne long reach carries 8 tonne buckets, a 20 tonne long reach carries 13 tonne buckets etc etc. Eddie.

Have a look around for a 16 tonner if possible, Volvo Ec160, Hitachi Zx160 or 180, Case Cx160 or 180 etc etc as these are the thinking man's machines. Basically you will get them in where your 14 tonner will go, but they will be almost as capable as a 20 tonner. The reason you don't see more is they cost pretty much every penny of a 20 tonner, because some are pretty much just that very slightly scaled down. However they are very popular with Owner Drivers who have realised you end up with a hugely capable machine constructed of components from a larger weight class that have an easier time of it during its operating life. Sounds a nice job. Eddie.

Certainly not a daft question and yes I've ensured its set at full power downwards so it'll dig no problem. As for grading its smooth as silk, but that is Liebherr quality! Sat 3 days with the dipper end 50mm off the floor and never moved! Eddie.

No a Tilt/Elevating cab is a very rare beast, as it's usually Tilt for Demolition and Elevating for Handling. But it's a nice cab, and has great vision, plus I had a top wiper added which should help. Eddie.

Thanks for all the kind words, it's exceeded all my expectations and I'm really pleased so far. Looking forward to getting it to work, and yes it has some projects, but will obviously be looking for more! A fair bit more attachment spec to go on it yet, and there will be a set of Rubber Road pads for it too. It's certainly not for every job, but in the right circumstances, a short burst with this machine, will be an extremely safe and cost effective solution. Eddie.

If you're thinking of moving the Liebherr, you best get a bigger tractor too mate!!

I went to cast an eye over my new Liebherr machine today and he's ready to go apart from another attachment that's on it's way. It's joining the "Wide Boy" Kubota and should make for a pretty efficient setup. Loads of details and firsts in terms of setup on it, and really looking forward to putting it to work. Here's the "Big Feller" Eddie.

Couldn't put it better myself Stephen. Eddie.

Is he the cheapest, hardest working guy you've ever had? Eddie