2018 Mecalac 6MCR

[materthegreater]

Holiday project - forklift.

 

[Columbo]

Putting solar on the barn roof?

 

[materthegreater]

Putting solar on the barn roof?

Yep

 

[materthegreater]

I installed my new GPS receiver today. Now I can just sit back and let the machine work on it's own hahaha

 

[materthegreater]

Gotta scratch that itchy belly pan sometimes

 

[Columbo]

Now that you’ve been running this machine for a year, what’s your opinion on it?

 

[materthegreater]

Now that you’ve been running this machine for a year, what’s your opinion on it?

The functionality and versatility is great. Plain digging isn't any faster than a regular mini excavator, but it excels in tight quarters and for loading trucks. The loader function saves time either by not needing a skid steer on site, or by being able to move much more material at a time than a regular mini excavator. For a one man operation, it's a big time saver.

That being said, I've had a fair amount of repairs to do to it, as you've seen in this thread. Many were/are minor things that are just annoying but others are a bit more significant. Hopefully I'll be past the initial curve of fixing used machine issues soon... I'd like to have a new one so that I could see how they hold up with my level of use and maintenance. This one was owned by a company previously so there's no saying how it was treated or maintained. However, some of the issues I've had were inherent design flaws so those can't be blamed on the previous users.

 

[KenMac]

Gotta scratch that itchy belly pan sometimes

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Looks like a boy dog laying in the yard making himself happy!

 

[materthegreater]

Look what showed up yesterday.

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Look what showed up today

 

[materthegreater]

Look what showed up today
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The backstory on this new bucket is coming soon... In the meantime here is an update on the 2nd auxiliary circuit (offset diverter) in the next post:

 

[materthegreater]

The wiring harness came with circuits for a lot of options that weren't included with the machine, so the kit just came with a short jumper harness to connect to the solenoid valve, and a switch for the left console to select between offset or auxiliary.
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The problem is, nothing happens when I turn the switch to the clamshell (auxiliary) position. So I tested the voltage at the solenoid connector: 12 volts when disconnected, next to nothing when a load (the solenoid) is connected. Interesting. I noticed that the wires in the harness have numbers printed on them. The white wire in the connector at the solenoid is a different number than the white wire at the selector switch. According to information in the service manual, the white wire at the selector switch goes to the boom cylinder pressure switch (I verified that it does), which makes no sense to me. So then I tried to trace the white wire at the solenoid and the service manual information shows it at a multi pin connector under the cab, but doesn't seem to give any indication of where it goes after that. The other wire at the solenoid (orange) appears to be ground (or possibly power, if the switch circuit is ground) because it connects to multiple other orange wires at another point in the harness.

Needless to say, I'm thoroughly confused.

After a bit more investigation into the wiring diagrams of this machine, I discovered that I had misread the number on the wire at the selector switch so it doesn't actually go to the boom cylinder pressure switch as I originally thought. It turns out that it goes to the Rexroth computer, as does the white wire from the diverter solenoid. I also found something in the service manual that suggests that the solenoid will only be energized when the selector switch is in the "clamshell" position, and the offset switch on the joystick is pressed in either direction. I tested the wiring from the switch to the computer and from the computer to the solenoid and it all tests good, so it seems the computer is simply not sending a signal to the solenoid. My guess is that it needs to be programmed somehow to activate this function (though the dealer assured me that it wouldn't need to be). Anyway, I got fed up with trying to figure it out and designed and built my own simple circuit to control it. Don't laugh too hard at my pathetic diagram...

 

[materthegreater]

Now I can actually use the rotation as well as the tilt with this CMP bucket. The only problem is that the flow is quite low so it is very slow to rotate. Also, there seems to be no way to relieve the pressure in the circuit so I've been having to loosen a fitting every time I connect the rotation hoses.

 

[materthegreater]

I'm able to keep a nice tidy job site with this machine. Scooped crushed stone right out of the dump truck so I didn't have to dump it anywhere on site. Then I could travel to the work area and dump perpendicular to travel direction which virtually eliminated damage to the grass. In this situation it truly is better than a normal excavator and normal skid steer. Finished the job in less than half the time I otherwise would have, and no cleanup time.

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After he builds the porch I'll return to plant a flat stone for the stairs to land on.

As promised, except a change order to granite steps instead of just a base stone for wooden steps to land on. I may have to tweak the front bottom piece... There's a small gap under the top stone.



Picking them up at the granite store (in @HarleyHappy 's neck of the woods, I think):


Unloading:

 

[materthegreater]

Prepping for the steps:

 

[materthegreater]

Placement:

 

[laidback01]

wow, that's really a nice machine. were I in this business professionally, I'd be looking for one of these in my area. Granted, even with the best machine in the world, a poor operator can make a mess. you, sir, are obviously a solid operator!

 

[TheObliviousCowboy]

I never did hear back from the Rexroth dealer so I ended up buying a diverter kit from Mecalac. When I ordered it they said there is no support for this vintage machine anywhere so this kit is "buy at your own risk". They won't be able to help with installation or troubleshooting. It didn't come with installation instructions either.

I think it's just the tape that makes their parts so expensive:
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It diverts the offset circuit so I certainly won't be getting high flow but shouldn't need it for attachment rotation anyway.
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Hi! I apologize for late high jack on this post! Do you have a Mecalac part number for this diverter kit? I set it up on my 6MCR with a couple manual valves off the factory diverter at the mid boom but not having to straighten the arm all the way out to drop that middle boom down to where I can reach it and then having to get out and flip the valves would be nice..... Thanks! Chad

 

[materthegreater]

Hi! I apologize for late high jack on this post! Do you have a Mecalac part number for this diverter kit? I set it up on my 6MCR with a couple manual valves off the factory diverter at the mid boom but not having to straighten the arm all the way out to drop that middle boom down to where I can reach it and then having to get out and flip the valves would be nice..... Thanks! Chad

Hi Chad, the part number on the invoice is MNA-K7152015 and the description is "KIT DEP+ROT BENNE ON/OFF 6MCR"

Hopefully that helps you out. Tell us about you and your machine and post up some pictures!

 

[TheObliviousCowboy]

Thanks! I have a 2022 6MCR currently with only about 230 hours. Set it up with a 48" TOFT Chinese rotating log grapple and TOFT 750 breaker. Got the forks, 14", 24" & 36" toothed buckets, Wolverine auger with some HD American made bits. I've built and had built mecalac ears to allow direct connection to the connect system for all the attachments. I switched the main boom foot pedal to be reverse from the factory setting (toe in, heel out changed to toe out, heel in). Added a second attachment circuit by utilizing the middle boom diverter with valves so the L thumb switch can operate secondarily, in my case mostly rotation for the log grapple. Built a hitch receiver that direct bolts to the grade blade to use a 12000# winch as a winch or with a snatch block as a crane/drag line. And recently installed 87HP tune from a German company to up the power. Been fun and mostly just play with it now as I haven't had a lot of work for it. Was purchased to start a new business with my mom and dad who had rental businesses before and wanted something for an additional income stream. Unfortunately soon after purchasing it my moms health went south and we kinda just let it sit for a while. She passed in Nov 2024 and it sat some more except for a few things around the property and some of my projects. Decided we would use it ourselves to complement one of my businesses, Im a general contractor/builder, but it then seemed too complicated to rent to yahoos who would struggle to use it properly. Anyway, love the machine every time I use for a project I'm so impressed with what its capable of and how powerful it is in comparison to other units I've run, not a lot but enough to see the real value.

 

[TheObliviousCowboy]

Couple more....