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How would you get it up there?

G

Galute

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Messages
72
Location
Bald Knob AR
Hey guys. Need some suggestions. They are moving me to a new job Monday that has steep hill about 1000 feet long. Friday some of the guys tried to get up it with a D61 winch tractor and a 220 Komatsu hoe. No luck with either. Monday I will be there with my D51 and I'm gonna make a run at it. I'm thinking of trying to zig zag up it by trying to keep it balanced between too sidling and too strait up. Problem is it's kinda wet and we only have a 60 foot right of way. I'm no stranger to steep hills but I haven't seen this one yet. The D51 is heavy on the rear by design and that thing will climb till it rolls over backwards(or at least it makes me think it will LOL). So what do you guys think? Bad idea? How would you do it?
 
Vantage_TeS

Vantage_TeS

Senior Member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
495
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Occupation
HE Operator. Surprise?
I think going up zig zagging is a very bad idea. The last thing you want to do it start sliding sideways on that slope. Try going up backwards if your machine seems rear heavy. This will also come in handy if start to slide as you can use your blade and also see where you are going!

Only other way I can think of (if you reeeeeeally need to get up there) is to start at the bottom and cut benches as you go. As you will be dozing uphill and have to cut a pad wide enough to turn around every time you switchback it's going to take a while. Also I suggest keeping your blade to the down side while you are turning around in case the soft dirt you just winged out gives way. I don't know about you but I'd rather fall off an edge blade first rather then go over backwards.
 
N

nzpatch

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Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Messages
116
Location
new zealand
I think the zigzag idea is no good too , as soon as you turn it will spin a track and that will be the end. Maybe just give it a go ,both ways if you like, just because sumone else can't doesn't mean you can't!
 
Dwan Hall

Dwan Hall

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Joined
Nov 10, 2004
Messages
1,029
Location
Juneau, Alaska
Occupation
Self Employed
Locate a local heavy tow co. have them help winch you up using a snatch block anchored at the top. Winch up backwards.


Stay safe.

Dwan
 
John H

John H

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Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
170
Location
Mass
Occupation
Arborist, Equipment operator
Do you have any pics of the site?
 
special tool

special tool

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
878
Location
Bethel, Ct.
ben46a said:
Put a different operator on the hoe..........
Click to expand...

Have to agree with this....
You should be able to just about climb a tree with a modern excavator.

Is this hill made out of dirt, or concrete?:tong
If it is beyond the oil pickup angle of the sump, then just bench and climb....
It might take more than 5 minutes, but anyone with any experience should have no problem at all.

Any type of dozer will be a lot more difficult, and require more skill.
 
spitzair

spitzair

Senior Member
Joined
May 4, 2007
Messages
1,010
Location
Squamish BC (Home), Slave Lake, AB (Work)
special tool said:
Have to agree with this....
You should be able to just about climb a tree with a modern excavator.

Is this hill made out of dirt, or concrete?:tong
If it is beyond the oil pickup angle of the sump, then just bench and climb....
It might take more than 5 minutes, but anyone with any experience should have no problem at all.

Any type of dozer will be a lot more difficult, and require more skill.
Click to expand...

I've taken excavators to some pretty extreme places... The pucker factor sometimes kicks in and you end up tasting foam but not many places they won't go! I usually chicken out well before the machine can't go somewhere...
 
stock

stock

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Eire
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We have moved on and now were lost....
What is the elevation your are going to climb?
 
ronnie

ronnie

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Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
77
Location
hayesville,nc
if its a new komatsu 51 they are a pleasureto operate and they will climb but some pics would help
 
G

Galute

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Messages
72
Location
Bald Knob AR
Hey guys. Well it rained all day today so didnt get a chance to try it, it's not looking good weather wise tomorrow either. I did get to see the hill today tho. Not as bad as I was led to believe it was, don't look that tough to me. If it was dry I'm pretty sure I could climb it. I know a hoe will climb it. The hard part is gonna be dealing with the mud and several small rock ledges but all in all it won't be too bad. We've done a lot worse. Oh well, I was looking forward to a little fun. LOL
 
G

Galute

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Messages
72
Location
Bald Knob AR
Vantage_TeS said:
I think going up zig zagging is a very bad idea. The last thing you want to do it start sliding sideways on that slope. Try going up backwards if your machine seems rear heavy. This will also come in handy if start to slide as you can use your blade and also see where you are going!

Only other way I can think of (if you reeeeeeally need to get up there) is to start at the bottom and cut benches as you go. As you will be dozing uphill and have to cut a pad wide enough to turn around every time you switchback it's going to take a while. Also I suggest keeping your blade to the down side while you are turning around in case the soft dirt you just winged out gives way. I don't know about you but I'd rather fall off an edge blade first rather then go over backwards.
Click to expand...

True on the sliding sideways part. Only reason I was considering ziz zaggin is I have angled up hills that were too steep to climb straight up before but there is not enough room on this job to angle all the way up without changing directions.

Cuttin benches is not possible. There is only a few inches of dirt or clay on most of it with rock underneath. It's gonna have to drilled and blasted.

Another good point! I had definitely rather be blade down if it gets away from me. LOL
 
ronnie

ronnie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
77
Location
hayesville,nc
well its good you got to take a look it and realized it was rock teh zig-zag i'm guessin is like at a 45*angle t oone side then try to work it back the other way that would work on dirt but nothin for rock and is it a new d51 or no
 
T

Timo

New Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
2
Location
Estonia
Would like to see pictures too. Don't know much, but I would recommend going up backwards, as mentioned before.
 
kthompson

kthompson

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Joined
Sep 1, 2009
Messages
127
Location
South Carolina
I sure don't want to hear of anyone getting hurt or even a machine, but if there is strong chance of rolling the machine I suggest video. It might be worth that grand prize on TV.

I do like the idea of different operator in the excavator. That is only construction type equipment I have really run and thought they could climb any grade with use of tracks and bucket. Then I only play on piles of dirt 5 to 15 feet high. :eek: Seriously be safe.

This is as good a place to say this as any where, as an equipment admirer and the operators who have pride in their work it is very interesting to read much of what is posted here. You guys make a real difference. Do be safe. :notworthy
 
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