Questionable wizard
Well-Known Member
I'm not a scraper operator, just a mechanic. Have only been in this industry for 5 years. Spent 32 years in grain farm machinery operation and repair. I've been impressed with the efficiency how scrapers move yards/meters per man hour or fuel rate. I know with changing weather patterns, scraper use has fallen out of practice in areas, thus fewer and fewer experienced operators to coach the beginners. No arguing an excavator and haul trucks have taken the place of scrapers.
I've gathered some tips from past operators where I work, running tires on a pile near the edge to pack so later trips don't result in a machine sliding over on a soft spot, maintaining haul roads, not spinning tires when being push loaded. Hustle-hustle-hustle for that 100 load-a-day count. Grading fill and packing properly. Splitting passes and wheel tracks. Where to set your seat suspension so you don't take a beating.
Another 30 year experienced operator said you should never let a open bowl scraper struggle to get full for best production, thus push load or push/pull(what's the rule of thumb of increased daily yards when push loading versus solitary operation).
The guy I work closest ran 627s for Kokosing Construction one winter stripping in one of their pits. That crew only ran scrapers. They were good, and if you got out of line or weren't doing something right, they were on your a$$ in a heartbeat. The average newbie there starting out in a scraper trying to work up to a dozer operator position didn't last long.
What are the tips for working wetter material? Rocky areas? Pull scraper operation with tractors? Elevating scraper operation? Open bowl tips?
What I'm trying to do here is put together training program for our operation for the new people. Short coaching sessions when I see something not right. Would love for training videos, not sure where to find. Many of our job foreman don't coach the new guys and bad habits aren't corrected. Every once in a while I like to run one.
Put the tips out here so the wisdom doesn't disappear when the experienced help leave.
I've gathered some tips from past operators where I work, running tires on a pile near the edge to pack so later trips don't result in a machine sliding over on a soft spot, maintaining haul roads, not spinning tires when being push loaded. Hustle-hustle-hustle for that 100 load-a-day count. Grading fill and packing properly. Splitting passes and wheel tracks. Where to set your seat suspension so you don't take a beating.
Another 30 year experienced operator said you should never let a open bowl scraper struggle to get full for best production, thus push load or push/pull(what's the rule of thumb of increased daily yards when push loading versus solitary operation).
The guy I work closest ran 627s for Kokosing Construction one winter stripping in one of their pits. That crew only ran scrapers. They were good, and if you got out of line or weren't doing something right, they were on your a$$ in a heartbeat. The average newbie there starting out in a scraper trying to work up to a dozer operator position didn't last long.
What are the tips for working wetter material? Rocky areas? Pull scraper operation with tractors? Elevating scraper operation? Open bowl tips?
What I'm trying to do here is put together training program for our operation for the new people. Short coaching sessions when I see something not right. Would love for training videos, not sure where to find. Many of our job foreman don't coach the new guys and bad habits aren't corrected. Every once in a while I like to run one.
Put the tips out here so the wisdom doesn't disappear when the experienced help leave.
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