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On the Road Again

big ben

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
352
Location
Vancouver Island
Having looked at the 345GC up close I think that was a mistake. It’s more like a construction machine and not really the machine that a 24/7 operation needs. For example you can’t even get factory-fitted autolube on it. To me it looks like a lightweight POS. 3 tons lighter than the model it replaced and with a C9.3 instead of a C13. WTF..?

100% correct. 345 GC is just that “general construction”. What should have been sold is the 349 next Gen which is a production machine not a “GC” machine - C13, 425 hp and 49,000 kg.
 

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
28,978
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
100% correct. 345 GC is just that “general construction”. What should have been sold is the 349 next Gen which is a production machine not a “GC” machine - C13, 425 hp and 49,000 kg.
Completely agree, but when Ops guys who have absolutely no idea what they are looking at are responsible for the decision-taking you end up with sh1t ........... and Maintenance have to look after it.
What makes it even more unbelievable is that the operation already has two 349Ds that were purchased about 6 years ago.
Not sure about the Next Gen though. I'd have been happy if they got a TIER 3 export model (still available for LRC sales) that would've been perfect for here with far less of the emissions fruit on it.
Because it is cheaper by 50% ?
As far as I know the price difference would not have been a factor. Whatever the price was for whatever model was chosen would've been put into the application for funding to buy the new machines. As far as I'm concerned the justification would have been simply "We already have two of these machines and know that they suit our needs. It makes sense to buy four more especially as we already have components available (engines, pumps, cylinders, undercarriage, etc) for them." The two that are on site already have close to 40,000 hours on them.
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
Hitachi has always been the brand in the large mining hydraulic excavators and shovels. All they do is work day in and day out. I've assembled and worked on several PC1000 Komatsu shovels and excavators. Big iron means lots of ladders to climb, plenty of heavy lifting, pushing and pulling. Working on down machines until they are running and being physically worn out at the end of each shift and crawling at the end of each week. I'd a whole lot rather work on a mini excavator now days than one of those monsters. They are neat to look at but assembling and fixing them requires plenty of young men.
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
The booms don't break, the turn table base doesn't snap off the carbody and the engines are built by an engine company instead of a heavy equipment company only concerned that parts and knowledge only come from them with their price tag attached.
 

Slidey

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2012
Messages
138
Location
The Pilbara
Occupation
HD fitter
I did like the 3600 for the most part.

They do use hard piping a lot which gave us some grief as once the stauff clamps wear they start to crack the pipes.

The swing boxes are a PITA to fill
 

Slidey

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2012
Messages
138
Location
The Pilbara
Occupation
HD fitter
What, even filling them through the service centre.? We switched our 3600s from EP oil to TO-4 in the swing drives, pump drive, & final drives.
Maybe it’s an aus spec but the ones I worked on had these remote mounted sight glasses. By the time the 460 oil got to the glass it had overflowed out the breather haha
 

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
28,978
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
I'd bin the 460 oil and use SAE60 FDAO instead. Works much better and pumps like a dream compared to factory-spec EP oils.
The improvement in oil analysis results by switching from EP to powertrain oil was startling.

As a further comment the ambient temperatures here are close to what you would see in the Pilbara. Maybe not quite as high but certainly in the ball park.
 
Last edited:

aongheas.macask

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
105
Location
Scotland
Occupation
ex service manager
Hitachi has always been the brand in the large mining hydraulic excavators and shovels. All they do is work day in and day out. I've assembled and worked on several PC1000 Komatsu shovels and excavators. Big iron means lots of ladders to climb, plenty of heavy lifting, pushing and pulling. Working on down machines until they are running and being physically worn out at the end of each shift and crawling at the end of each week. I'd a whole lot rather work on a mini excavator now days than one of those monsters. They are neat to look at but assembling and fixing them requires plenty of young men.
Liebherr ?
 
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