LGP Eddie

Is this for yourself, and if so how far would the Haulage be? Eddie.

Hi Jon, It all depends on what size of pipe you're installing, but in general you want the trench as narrow as possible. The reality however is it's generally dictated by what you're digging it with? The old school when stone was a bit cheaper, and you weren't using a trencher was to use a 9" bucket on a JCB 3cx. A hateful operation if in good clay, and you soon get used to forgetting any idea of shaking/banging material out of the bucket. With Mini excavators now, you can go with 9" or even down to 6" on shallow narrow stuff, but far and away the best in terms of trench quality and stone use reduction is to use a tapered Tile Bucket. I have a couple myself, one for 13 tonne machines with different tips for 4 or 6" pipe, plus one for the 8 tonner that will do 4" pipe. It certainly doesn't take long for these to pay, and what many people don't realise is they tend to compact the sides as they dig, helping it to stay upright along with the tapered shape. They also form a nice pipe channel, making a much neater job all round. As for stone, if it's field stuff then 40mm clean is the norm, and you get more volume when buying this in comparison to smaller grades. Hard to say exactly what you will use without knowing the bucket and average depth/width? Eddie.

Looking good Stephen, I've done many projects and shifts on them, and they were always good bits of kit. Very handy to have the Tilt Bucket, and that seems to be piping for a grab there. The two holes are for a Transport Position, (Never gets used) Eddie.

Sorry Stephen, you've slightly lost me here? My mind is saying you are wishing to use the 3 tonner attachments on the 7 tonner? Basically straightforward advice is you can't unless it was something you simply carry like an Auger or Post Knocker? The larger machine will make mincemeat of the lighter attachments! The extra forces generated especially in the Bucket ram are huge, and when this class of machine started to appear, so did a lot of twisted JCB 3cx Buckets! Everyone tried to play a blinder and use what they had in the yard already for the 3cx, and the excavators could eat them. Certain dealers are extremely specific what buckets they will sell you with an 8 tonne Kubota, as these are know for their under spec Bucket killing ability! What attachments are on your list? Grab must be top of it? Steel Tracks is ideal for you. Eddie.

Congratulations Stephen, that is going to open up a whole new world for you! Steel or Rubber Tracks? Eddie.

Just a bit of news on the new kit available front in what will be ideal size spec for many? The first is something many have been waiting to see in what is a real alternative from JCB that finally looks as though they mean business in this class. It is there new 8 tonne machine that really has some nice features, plus a fit/finnish far in excess of what has gone before. A guy on the CE Forum has taken a unit with Steel Tracks plus Two Piece Boom that is finally being offered, and this is obviously a spec of interest. Early days, but it looks a really nice unit with loads of reach. The other is from Neuson who launched their new what is a 9 Tonner this week, and it looks a really tidy bit of kit. I've said a few times on here this is the company to watch, something has changed, they have setup a new UK HQ, appointed some good Dealers and really have been listening to what the market needs. The new 9 tonner has Two piece Boom available, plus I expect the whole range of extra pipework Neuson always provide. Hopefully the Cab will finally match up to the rest of the machine and it could be a class leader? They have also launched what could be a real woods weapon in the form of a 6 tonner with Two Piece Boom. I know all too well just what a difference the boom can make when in a tight spot, so on a 6 tonner it should be brilliant. I hope to get a look at them at the Plantworx show. Lectura Press Eddie.

I just had to share this as it really was an eye catching quality thing. Cutting a long story short I had a night in the as yet unopened Alton Towers Hotel log cabins, and the first thing that met me on the bed was this 2ft diameter ring of timber! Turns out to be a cushion! I just had to find out where it had come from, so upon a bit of Googling, came up with the manufacturers website. Turns out they do a whole range from seats to rugs, even roundwood in different species! You know you want some really! Gallerie Forest | merowings Eddie.

When I replaced all the hoses on my original Engcon Tiltrotator I noticed the hose was called Manuli Rockmaster. The hoses had lasted brilliantly in some arduous conditions, so I sourced the same hose, and it's really good stuff, ideal for grabs and rotators. It's some form of mining hose with high abrasion resistance and flexibility. Eddie.

It's the way forward on a job that size, and a 220 would be well in it's capacity. I'm not a Volvo man, as I had bad experiences with the very early models, but boy have they come a long way from then, all credit to Volvo. Eddie.

Yes Miller Twinlock on 80mm pins and 20 tonne undercarriage/motors. You must have big fields your way if you describe a 220 as compact! Eddie.

Only a little un! It's an EC160 NLC, which was basically specced because it'll pick up the 20 tonne attachments the owner has for his CAT 320, but this is a far handier size machine. It was specced with the Narrow, Long, Carriage and 900mm wide pads, as this gives decent floatation without going crazy on overall width. It should have 45mm cut off the outside edge of each pad, and then it would be 2.9 for easy transport. It also has twin proportional auxiliary circuits and case drain to be able to utilise pretty much anything from a Selector Grab to Screening Bucket. I like it a lot, but it needs a much better mirror package adding, as vision to the rear corners is poor, and a camera is no substitute, for a mirror facing inward towards the counterweight. Eddie.

Yes she has the factory kit, plus the front/top screen guards and Demolition spec side skirts that are well worth having. Not cheap, but all Factory and a lovely bit of kit. Eddie.

I've been handed the keys to this to help out the Kubota on the heavier work. Let's just say I wasn't complaining! It was specced by myself for the owner and is simply a thing of beauty! Eddie.

I had great success with a Digbits Thumb on a Takeuchi Tb016 for very little money. It paid for itself first week out. It was on a friend's machine, and it's been a real bonus to him since.The best thing we did was junk the standard stay arm and replace it with a tractor top link which means you can adjust it to be exactly where you want it. However that being the very cheapest option and solely bought for one job, I'd recommend you pay the little extra and get yourself a decent grapple. Plenty to choose from and hopefully guys on here will share their experiences of them as there is a huge range of price/quality variations out there. Someone like Abiljo will make whatever you want and ensure its Hardox, as that's ideally what you want. Eddie.

I had a message regarding Kubota and Volvo, and somehow can't find it? Could you just PM me again please, and I'll pass on my thoughts. Thanks. Eddie.

I use it a fair bit and it's been good for us to be honest. I have some big 44mm for recovery use, and for simple rough work where we would want to pull a windblow with a 20 Tonne Excavator and the like. This has had so much hammer it's untrue, and really is incredible for the cost. I bought some 20mm and that hasn't proved to be as strong as it's rating may suggest? This was bought to simply pull down windblow or hung up with the Tracked Dumper when required, and was specced at 20mmm to suit a large snatch block for redirecting. Depending on your application just go as big as you can sensibly handle, and it should be a good buy? Eddie.

Just for general information really as guarding is very important. Cabcare do a range of fully certified versions that can be simpler Cab mounted right up to the real deal full demo spec. If you look under Yanmar they do one for the Vio cab, and for anyone else searching they also do a great setup for the Kubota. I would think that they will do a lot more than these if asked, plus they are certified which will eventually become an issue in itself. Rock / Demolition Guards Catalogue | CabCare Eddie.

Punching well above it's weight there Stephen! Nice to see the machine is really making a difference for you. I agree on the transport, if you have a regular professional outfit, plus a couple of backup options it's not too bad. I sometimes don't move for months on end, so it's a balance as to if it's worth the hassle of doing it myself, and the Client always pay anyway. Eddie.

Yes I went over to his yard to run him through all he needs to know to keep her in perfect condition, top people and I hope we may see the two machines turn out together on a project yet! Still cleans up very nicely and really is a straight to work machine. I don't shy away from working my kit hard, but it never wants for anything and it really was working flat out until the moment it left. I'm biased but I think he's bought well, and I may yet get to do a shift back on it if he's stuck for an Operator sometime! Eddie.

Should have just bought my old one Stephen! The guy that bought it came to look at my current setup to see what it could do, with thoughts of a much larger machine. Once he'd seen what it could do and how I look after my kit, he had no hesitation. I'd say he saved a minimum of 45K, and got a fantastic full setup ready to go straight to work. These Pocket Rockets are where it's at for a lot of this work, and there is another machine literally just about to come into the mix that will provide a cost effective compact, powerful solution. There is also a great dealer for them in your area too. I have a demo already booked, so I'll share my thoughts. The winch is out to work shortly so I'll get some video of it in action. Eddie.

Lovely bit of kit, is that infeed conveyor available on the 1590? Eddie.

What you after exactly, as I've hunted high and low for the right 150hp+ unit with Twin Trac to add a crane to, that isn't simply being moved on since someone else had the best of it? I know where there's a T191 Twin Trac with Botex 560 on it that needs some tidying up if that's any use? Eddie.

That is going extremely well, must have a decent flow, but you can get all that with head fitted onto a trailer behind a Defender legally? If so take that link off here mate, that's a cracking niche you've got yourself there!! It's either Takeuchi of Bobcat that have a possible towable tracked version out now? Eddie.

I've had plenty of call for one and would be interested in any good contacts especially with Tracked Skidsteer or small dedicated carrier machines. As for purchase, unless you're going to run it yourself or have someone who will look after it as their own I'd be a bit cautious? Mulching is hard on everything, and no matter how careful things can and will break, but much of this is preventable with a decent operator who keeps absolutely everything in top condition. It's a feast or famine job, so ideal if you have other applications for the machine when the Head is sitting idle. Eddie.

It probably will be more unstable in standard form, I have plenty of extra width/length and weight to keep things bolted to the floor. Take that two piece in the woods and you'll not want to part with it though! Fair spec for a hire machine. Eddie.