How did you kill your compact excavator.

Plasticsurgeon · Jul 18, 2018

Hi guys. Total newb. About to buy a 8 tonne machine for my own use on an isolated island. I’m interested in any advice you guys can give me about how not to kill my machine or myself.

This is because I’ve just punctured the fuel tank on my Terex PT80, loading a trailer, and it was a dumb dumb mistake made simply because I did not know anything about what I am doing. I grease my machine daily and check the fluid levels, clean the radiator etc and do what the manual says.
I drive slowly and work slowly, never across the slope, but other than that, I’m sure there’s a bunch of stuff my dad should have told me, but he never ran an excavator!

thepumpguysc · Jul 18, 2018

The PT 70's & 80's are nice machines BUT the fuel system get neglected something awful.. I had 6 in my shop in 1 week from a rental co.. I came to hate'm..
FIND the fuel filters & change them regularly.. more often than "the book" calls for..
They're prone to overheat.!!! so keep that rad CLEAN & check the fluid..
Being on an isol. island, is it going to sit "unattended" where anyone could come & start it & tear it up??
IF SO, you should consider some sort of "kill switch".. that could be flipped on-off when the machine is not needed. {battery disconnect, starter interrupt}..

DIYDAVE · Jul 18, 2018

Welcome to the site... Never killed one, myself, but curious as to how you punched a hole in the PT80, any further details?

Plasticsurgeon · Jul 18, 2018

Did it just like that! Nudged the corner of the trailer approaching it on an angle to load.

Forgive the photo...I put the red bar hydraulic cylinder blocker thingy in straight afterwards!

I’m worried about doing something dumb like this to a much more expensive excavator.

Thx for useful advice pumpguy!

hosspuller · Jul 18, 2018

A friend overturned his mini ex with a thumb into a hole. Picked up a heavy piece close and when extended to drop into hole, over she went. I believe working to the side of the tracks contributed to the roll over too.

kshansen · Jul 18, 2018

Plasticsurgeon said:
Forgive the photo...I put the red bar hydraulic cylinder blocker thingy in straight afterwards!

I'll admit I've done the same foolish thing myself!

Problem is on many machines if working by oneself it can be a problem putting the safety support in while sitting in the seat! The most dangerous ones are the machines with foot control for boom and bucket. One wrong placement of a foot can be your last!

About the best advice to avoid killing your excavator or skid steer would be to "Engage brain before starting engine!" Might be worth making a sticker to put next to the key that says just that!

007 · Jul 18, 2018

What part of Aus do you live?
If you know someone who is good a couple of days tuition on site will get you started in the right direction.

td25c · Jul 18, 2018

Take your time when working your way into the bush . Get an area cleared in the middle & try to keep from throwing to many trees into standing timber .

Keep the cleared area free of debris best as possible . Watch out for the small trees & limbs . They break & shear off into punji sticks that will damage Man and machine .

Slow & easy at first Mate .

DIYDAVE · Jul 18, 2018

WOW! is about all I can say... Course on my lil ASV RC-30, the tank in under the seat, not hanging out, like that. I'd be welding some armor, front and sides, of tanks like that! All you really can do, is live and learn, and most screwups happen at about 3:30, on a Friday...

td25c · Jul 19, 2018

DIYDAVE said:
most screwups happen at about 3:30, on a Friday...

Aint that the truth Dave !

We used to call it " No dig Friday afternoon " when installing equipment foundations for a communications company . The locates weren't always accurate .

Buckethead · Jul 21, 2018

I don't know, I try NOT to kill any machine.

Check the fluids before operating, think about what you're doing before you do it, don't let any fittings go too long without grease. Studying the operator's manual doesn't hurt, either.

td25c · Jul 21, 2018

Well said Buckethead .

Like your avatar !

f311fr1 · Jul 21, 2018

td25c · Jul 21, 2018

That was a bad day for some feller !

Don't bite off more then ya can chew .

f311fr1 · Jul 21, 2018

Tore off the front porch. Walked out on the porch slab. Put blade down. Reached up to sweep the chimney to the right, wall on the left side under the porch slab gave way. Slab broke up. Nothing under the slab for the first 5 feet. No one hurt. Got it righted that afternoon thanks to Frank from Belcher Excavation who was working down the street. Let it sit till the next day, started it up and finished taking down the house. I need 4 pcs of glass and a rear left door panel. Moral of the story, the tracks need to be on dirt or natural stone not concrete slab. The slabs at the other 3 houses had dirt and gravel under them.

td25c · Jul 21, 2018

Good part was no injuries & sounds like minor damage to the machine .

We run in to that on demo jobs where the building has a basement .

Make darn sure ya bust the main floor out first before crawling up on top of it .

f311fr1 · Jul 21, 2018

Yep. You have to know what is under you.

Clguest · Jul 21, 2018

f311fr1 said:
Tore off the front porch. Walked out on the porch slab. Put blade down. Reached up to sweep the chimney to the right, wall on the left side under the porch slab gave way. Slab broke up. Nothing under the slab for the first 5 feet. No one hurt. Got it righted that afternoon thanks to Frank from Belcher Excavation who was working down the street. Let it sit till the next day, started it up and finished taking down the house. I need 4 pcs of glass and a rear left door panel. Moral of the story, the tracks need to be on dirt or natural stone not concrete slab. The slabs at the other 3 houses had dirt and gravel under them.

Brave post. Thanks for the reminder!

td25c · Jul 21, 2018

f311fr1 said:
Yep. You have to know what is under you.

On concrete that's questionable where ya have to set on …… Drag a chain across it first and the sound will tell ya if she's hollow under the slab .

Run in to that when we set up the crane at times in what looks like a solid parking lot . Outrigger over a holler spot under the concrete or asphalt aint a good combination . Nope !

td25c · Jul 21, 2018

Feller has to be careful on dirt to . You can tell buy that feeling in yer gut when it's startin to get a little funky ….

Rig is rocking a little to much …….

Hop out of the cab an notice crack forming in the ground under the starboard side of the excavator .

Time to " Haul Anchor "& set sail to a better spot to fish in . " Full speed ahead captain " .

Full power ahead fellers ! LOL

Where's Jimmy Buffet when we need him ?

How did you kill your compact excavator.

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