Expensive day at work

[wbvs58]

Need to check the barrel for straightness and roundness. Piston needs to be checked for the same. Bore of the gland needs to be inspected real well because it was the fulcrum around which the rod bent.

But generally speaking it could be fixed depending on what all is wrong and how cost effective it is to do so.

Yes and as you say time is of the essence with getting it back on the road.

Ken

 

[Lucky]

Same cylinder for a comparable Deere is just over 14k and I'd guess the others aren't terrible far off.

The 17k Cat cylinder is available tomorrow even up here in the middle of nowhere, the Deere cylinder is 2-3 weeks lead time. That's why Cat has the market around here even if they are more costly. 2-3 weeks downtime is unacceptable for most operations.

90% of them time when talking to someone that makes their living with equipment they say go with CAT because you can get the parts tomorrow. I don't know that someone who has never been in business for themselves fully understands the downtime cost. When we had the gas station people were constantly asking why I'd hire someone to fix something that I could do myself. I did do allot myself, but the cooler, pizza machine, or gas pumps can't be down for 3 days until I get a chance to fix it.

I've got a nephew trying to start a fencing/dirt work business and I'm having hell getting through to him on downtime. His last little debacle might have taught him a lesson though. I keep telling him you can listen to someone that's been through this for 25 yrs or listen to your broke buddies. It's like my old buddy said though " the only lesson you ever really Learn is the one that takes the hide off or cost you money".

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I bought my logging equipment solely because the dealer is 100 miles away and stocks enough parts to build 2-3 of each machine from their parts stock (including cabs and frames). So no matter what broke you could make a call (even after hours they had a parts line) and get yourself up and running. Machine down means your not earning anything AND your still making the payments on it, double kick to the nuts.

 

[Nesikep]

Not sure what model that is. But while on the phone with Cat parts this morning for some customer parts I jokingly asked about a boom cylinder for a 330D and he told me $17,658.76.....

we have a 330F and I think those boom cylinders are still considerably smaller than the 548.. Then with our exchange rate you're up at 30k CAD

I've watched some Cutting Edge videos, I'm sure they can do it.. we have other cylinder shops here, and they can do it too..

I hear the machine is just getting traded in as is, there's a rush to get the new machine here, and it sounds like we're getting a loaner for a couple weeks

 

[Nesikep]

That really sucks, hopefully it's an old-age stress failure and not an overload issue/user-operator issue. I always feel better if the equipment gave up the ghost and it wasn't the operator.

I think it's both.. the crack is rusty, and was puking rusty water out, and if the operator ever looked at his machine he'd notice that.. heck, you could see it from the seat of the cab!

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I think it's both.. the crack is rusty, and was puking rusty water out, and if the operator ever looked at his machine he'd notice that.. heck, you could see it from the seat of the cab!

Fairly common place for excavators to crack. I repaired a Deere 160D last spring. Key is to notice things and repair before it breaks.

 

[Nesikep]

Fairly common place for excavators to crack. I repaired a Deere 160D last spring. Key is to notice things and repair before it breaks.

Yeah, this was screaming for attention for a couple weeks from what I can tell