Hello , My name is Mike Kolesky. I havent been on this site for some time. Came across this request so I thought I would add a post. If my memory serves me correctly it was the winterof 95-96. I had the pleasure of putting the first 2 of these machines ever builtin the dirt. The first Dresser 4000 was the proto type from Peoria. This was the Trial and Test Run were all machine data was gathered for factory. 17 transports it took to get all parts to Jobsite. : GLENROCK COAL : GLENROCK WYOMING The protto type had a Detroit engine. What I recall the most was how intricate and time consuming it was to install all the sensors Haulpak required for the testing and first run in. Transmission preformance specs such as ground speed and shift times were something closely looked at due to this machines massive size. Operating pressures and Trans temperature data was also something we analyzed in everyway it possibly could be tested. 42 yrd coal bucket empty and loaded, all sorts of ground conditions, such as hard packed roads, soft material type roads with many different type of ground material. soft dirt, mud, dry coal, wet coal, soft sand , packed sand, snow ect. long haul short haul, grades of all kinds. Brake preformance specs , steering times, hyd pressures, engine stalls and HP specs. It helped write the manual. I recall brake problems , we did numerous modifications to brakes as tests were being performed. also driveline and pump piping bracket and support mods.
The hyd system to completely fill from empty " all dry components " was unbelievable something like 2600 gallons of ISO 32. Lots of fluids at the qauntities, I have never seen and I was used to working on lots of Big Dozers 455A-1A,s 475A-1 and 475A-2,s. Excavators PC650-3 PC1000--3 PC1500-5 PC1750-5 . miscs Big Haulpaks. This Machine was Fucking BIG. !!!!!
The Biggest problem we had was manyt manyt oil leaks after initial build and frun in. Thed orings used on the Proto type were all flat square type orings. We questioned using them from the start but the engineers said to use them. Ok we said. The hyd oil leaks finally got so bad, that the mine got on our ass about all the oil on the test road edges from run off as the snow melted or the rain came. WE NAMED AND ACCUALLY CHRISTEND IT WITH A BOLTTLE OF CHEAP CHAMPANGE, UNIT#-01 PROTO TYPE OF THE DRESSER 4000 " THE VALDEZ " becuase of all the leaks. well thats the story of the first Dresser 4000. #2 went ok, just some brake problems and updated all orings to what we use today. i will add pictures , I need to dig them up. PEACE OUT