Takes too long, and too much money to fix them right. As noted a 320C cut up due to a head leak. Could have put an entire engine in and still had a great machine.
Why didn't they just retrofit an aftermarket cab and HVAC unit? :beatsme
That was my first thought too!
Today I could have used a cab. I was playing in the woods at 11F pushing in a new loging road. No, I was warm enough with my D4D's open ROPS but when that piece of willow brush slapped me hard on the cold cheek I just about cried.
You're very lucky. A good friend lost an eye from the same thing 5 years ago.
I always wear my safety glasses on my old machines and much of the time I work on them. Every once in a while one hears or feels a spot of dirt or crap hitting them, especially when dealing with half frozen, stick covered ground. Wearing safety glasses is a good habit left over from years of having to wear them on the job. The eyes and upper face actually stay warmer in the cold breese when covered with the type that wrap around to the sides. It was bright enough yesterday that I was wearing the medium dark ones.
My name is Kevin and I am a spoiled operator Local #841 . Confession time ? If I had wanted to labor , pipefit , ironwork , I would have . A cab with appropriate climate control is a must . I am 60 yrs old and the fun of bashing away on an open machine is gone . I grew up on the farm and planted corn , disced , whatever it took on open tractors . Dust, dirt, rain ,cold with those crummy old canvas heathousers . I sat on an open mini for a contractor last year in feb . 1 day and good by .