" Have any before and after photos of what you have done? i am curious to see what those big machines can do other than just load haul trucks. "
I'll post b4 and after pics.
Grapple:
The clamshell is really way to small to use as a grapple, on this size machine. I think i am going to weld some teeth or plates on both sides of the mouth(?) because I try to stick a rock in as far as it can go to get a good bite and it starts to hit the "V" opening around the perimeter of the clamshell and the wedge effect works against you and spits it out. And if you dump the bucket all the way(as you would a non clamshell bucket) so that the rock is basically sitting on the bucket then weight of it exceeds the overload and the clamshell rams won't hold it(which really surprised me).
Grapple Potential:
As is, I'd say its only good for about a 8-10 ton rock, if I can get it to bite better i think i might grip a 20-30tonner. It only opens about 5' so you have to have a skinny part to grip. I guess the thing to do is to configure it so that it hits the rock in three points. How else can i stick it in as many points as possible without making a full out dedicated multi/independent-tine grapple?
Backdragging to fill the bucket:
I probably do this more then I use it like a normal shovel. It works really good. Open the clamshell and scrape it on the ground backwards, then close the bucket, you can get about 80% of what you can by pushing it into the dirt the conventional way. Never thought of it, but I guess, its basically just using it like a hoe. Your pulling the material toward you. You can do it back and forth(push load, pull load) and not have it pile up on either end of the hole from trying to get the bucket so full that it spills over on the end of the stroke.
Dozing:
As I mentioned, opening the clamshell up and using the back of the bucket as a dozer works pretty well. But because of the geometry of the boom, if you actually want it smooth and level you have to use the tracks. maybe a really good operator could make it level with the boom.
Finish Grading :falldownlaugh
When i smooth the road out behind me I usually just set the bucket on the ground and swing it side to side as i am tracking backwards, this is the fastest and smoothest way to cover up my skid marks that i have found.
Side Loading:
It doesn't have as much slewing torque as i thought, so if i need to push a pile or rock sideways then i do it just like i see people hit a golf ball. I fill up the bucket if its a big pile, line it up to the right height, (make a short stroke and hit it a little to make sure it will move) then swing it back as far as i can and bam, hit it with the side of the bucket at about 20mph. Like a 60,000 lb hammer. I certainty wouldn't do that with a hoe stick. If i need to do it to a boulder i put a pile of dirt in front of it first for cushion. It sounds like rough, but its probably the smoothest operation you can do, the machine doesn't shake or jerk.
Tree transplanting:
I was hoping i could do 10 and 12" trees but the bucket just isn't big enough. I think 8" is doable depending on the soil. Its kind of a pita to get it dumped out without debarking the tree. I haven't really tried much.
I think it would much more versatile with some forks which would be easy to mount in the bucket or for long term mount off the backplate of the clamshell.
I'll post b4 and after pics.
Grapple:
The clamshell is really way to small to use as a grapple, on this size machine. I think i am going to weld some teeth or plates on both sides of the mouth(?) because I try to stick a rock in as far as it can go to get a good bite and it starts to hit the "V" opening around the perimeter of the clamshell and the wedge effect works against you and spits it out. And if you dump the bucket all the way(as you would a non clamshell bucket) so that the rock is basically sitting on the bucket then weight of it exceeds the overload and the clamshell rams won't hold it(which really surprised me).
Grapple Potential:
As is, I'd say its only good for about a 8-10 ton rock, if I can get it to bite better i think i might grip a 20-30tonner. It only opens about 5' so you have to have a skinny part to grip. I guess the thing to do is to configure it so that it hits the rock in three points. How else can i stick it in as many points as possible without making a full out dedicated multi/independent-tine grapple?
Backdragging to fill the bucket:
I probably do this more then I use it like a normal shovel. It works really good. Open the clamshell and scrape it on the ground backwards, then close the bucket, you can get about 80% of what you can by pushing it into the dirt the conventional way. Never thought of it, but I guess, its basically just using it like a hoe. Your pulling the material toward you. You can do it back and forth(push load, pull load) and not have it pile up on either end of the hole from trying to get the bucket so full that it spills over on the end of the stroke.
Dozing:
As I mentioned, opening the clamshell up and using the back of the bucket as a dozer works pretty well. But because of the geometry of the boom, if you actually want it smooth and level you have to use the tracks. maybe a really good operator could make it level with the boom.
Finish Grading :falldownlaugh
When i smooth the road out behind me I usually just set the bucket on the ground and swing it side to side as i am tracking backwards, this is the fastest and smoothest way to cover up my skid marks that i have found.
Side Loading:
It doesn't have as much slewing torque as i thought, so if i need to push a pile or rock sideways then i do it just like i see people hit a golf ball. I fill up the bucket if its a big pile, line it up to the right height, (make a short stroke and hit it a little to make sure it will move) then swing it back as far as i can and bam, hit it with the side of the bucket at about 20mph. Like a 60,000 lb hammer. I certainty wouldn't do that with a hoe stick. If i need to do it to a boulder i put a pile of dirt in front of it first for cushion. It sounds like rough, but its probably the smoothest operation you can do, the machine doesn't shake or jerk.
Tree transplanting:
I was hoping i could do 10 and 12" trees but the bucket just isn't big enough. I think 8" is doable depending on the soil. Its kind of a pita to get it dumped out without debarking the tree. I haven't really tried much.
I think it would much more versatile with some forks which would be easy to mount in the bucket or for long term mount off the backplate of the clamshell.
