Questionable wizard
Well-Known Member
I'm talking about the Cat certified rebuilds and others where they strip a machine down to bare frame and bring it back to new condition. Sometimes not in one complete session or as a whole.
I've heard reference from the local Cat dealer it's only feasible on the large dozers, loaders, scrapers, mining shovels, mining trucks, etc. Rebuild cost was 75% of new. I don't have any $$ number experience when this becomes advantageous.
The are other machines no longer manufactured or supported, that have a specific need, like Goodmans Wabco 252s, Piacentinni elevating scrapers, and others that are truly impressive restorations. Still earning their keep daily. These are refurbished "in house." I'm sure the economic feasibility of keeping machines going boils down to recovery of the repair costs with use.
The mining, airline industries and military are excellent examples of machines with large frame hours. They keep rebuilding and rebuilding. The newest B-52 bomber in the US Airforce is a 1963 model. Yes they don't operate at a profit.
The biggest killer I see is paying retail price plus sales tax on all replacement parts. I've heard comments from the farming side, a harvester sale doesn't make the dealership much money. The repair parts profits ice the cake.
I've heard reference from the local Cat dealer it's only feasible on the large dozers, loaders, scrapers, mining shovels, mining trucks, etc. Rebuild cost was 75% of new. I don't have any $$ number experience when this becomes advantageous.
The are other machines no longer manufactured or supported, that have a specific need, like Goodmans Wabco 252s, Piacentinni elevating scrapers, and others that are truly impressive restorations. Still earning their keep daily. These are refurbished "in house." I'm sure the economic feasibility of keeping machines going boils down to recovery of the repair costs with use.
The mining, airline industries and military are excellent examples of machines with large frame hours. They keep rebuilding and rebuilding. The newest B-52 bomber in the US Airforce is a 1963 model. Yes they don't operate at a profit.
The biggest killer I see is paying retail price plus sales tax on all replacement parts. I've heard comments from the farming side, a harvester sale doesn't make the dealership much money. The repair parts profits ice the cake.