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This will be an interesting thread moving forward......

Vetech63

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
6,362
Location
Oklahoma
I've been doing other customers work lately but I have a paving roller I am breaking down today for the asphalt side.

Yesterday I went out on a customer's Cat 320D excavator. I was informed that they had installed a new a/c compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and receiver on the machine but never could get the vent temp under 68 degrees. After a few questions I realized they really didn't know much about a/c and how it works so off I went to the machine. When I get there, I hooked up my gauges and asked the operator to fire the a/c up. Almost immediately I heard the belt squall, and it would every time the compressor cycled. I asked the operator when that started, and he replied since they had done the replacement parts. The gauge readings were crap. I remove a panel under the engine to attempt to tighten the loose belt.........no go.
adjust screw.jpg
The adjust screw was bent and locked up in the pulley shaft. Replaced that, got the tension correct, then drained and re vacced. Got perfect pressures and a vent temp of 47 degrees. They probably replaced all those parts for nothing.
 

hosspuller

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2014
Messages
1,869
Location
North Carolina
I want to know how did the screw get bent ? Cranking without loosening the pivot bolts ? Another sign of incompetents with wrenches? (I wanted to say idiots but have to allow for ignorance)

But, they had to use it IF they replaced the compressor.
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
I suspect the offer will be less than what a dealer would charge per hour and more than a dealer would pay their mechanics. Figure 2080 hours per year and out here a field wrench gets around $50 per hour. That comes to $104,000. Loaded costs are around 15% more which puts total compensation at around $119,600. Then add in another $30,000 for your truck and tools on top for a minimum of $149,600 for the bottom of the low side of the bid.

Field charge out rates here for a dealer service are at $165 per hour. 2080 hours times $165 come to $343,200. Add in the misc hardware and environmental charges of around 8% and you come up $370,656.

So if they want you full time to fix and run the maintenance and they are going to want you more than 40 hours a week plus you get all that stress with the responsibility, maybe two weeks a year vacation, and all the aggravation plus use your own truck and tools. Then I would suggest $300,000 would not be out of line. Use you own numbers for your area and see how you come out.
 
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