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  1. K

    Dozer rake questions.

    Use It; Don't Abuse It I've had some experience using rakes; mostly built by Rome Manufacturing. The best advice I can give is resist the temptation to put it to a use it isn't designed for. Don't try to push down trees with it; you'll eventually get one wedged between the tines and bend or...
  2. K

    i found the 160M AWD the Holt CA has...

    Forget Fixin it Yourself What I see when I look at the controls on the 160M CAT Grader is another attempt by OEM engineers to bring as much repair work to dealer repair shops as possible. Controls are neither instinctive nor automatic to the operator's hands anymore so I foresee a lot more...
  3. K

    "old operators"

    If you're looking for old operators, I qualify! The first machine I ran was a Allis Chalmers grader in 1951. It had a two cyl. motor and only four wheels; two in the front and two in the rear. There were no hydraulics, the blade was raised with two verticle steel wheels and two chains. The...
  4. K

    Rear View Mirrors

    Seems like this Forum has a wide variety of folks who post to it. I have a question for you. What is your opinion concerning rear view mirrors? Do you prefer flat ones or convex ones, inside or outside the cab? All the newer machines are coming to market with Convex mirrors almost...
  5. K

    how old are you?

    Age ain't everything!!! I don't know if I am the eldest on this forum, but I can't be too far behind. I'm 65 years old and today I am 7 days away from hanging it up. I started in this field when I was 12 years old and I ran an old Allis-Chalmers grader. The only thing powered on that machine...
  6. K

    Laser Grading

    I have personally used Topcon's Automatic grading system on Cat 14's and Cat 16's. Nothing beats a grader for turning out flat work in a hurry. That said, I watched many other systems in use; some are good, some not. If all you are planning on doing is floors, you can get away without buying...
  7. K

    Hammers

    The company I work for owns at least four hammers, all hydraulic. They are rough on machines but no harder than pounding rocks with the bucket and they make a lot more progress. I think the key to containing damage is twofold, lubrication and common sense. The boom parts should all be...
  8. K

    Call Before You Dig....

    Good stuff, fellas! If you havn't figured it out by now, this is it. CALL OR TAKE A CHANCE ON LOSING YOUR BUSINESS! The company I work for calls in at least three business days before breaking ground. They also have a policy of having one of the office personnel re-call the job every two...
  9. K

    About to start apprenticeship!

    Apprenticeship I think everyone here is giving you good advice; but here is one additional thing. If at all possible, watch the fellows rigging the loads when you are lifting anything. I don't care if its manhole sections, rebar, lumber, pipe, structurals, or anything else watch the rigger if...
  10. K

    What don't you like?

    I,ve got two worst machines. Number one is a vermeer saw; just too darn much dust. Number two is one of the old Galion three wheeled rollers. Some steered with a lever, some with a wheel, and all of them screamed at you with those Detroit diesels. Most of them had leaky exhausts which blew back...
  11. K

    What do you like to run?

    I thought I'd put my 2 cents worth in since I have run a lot of different kinds of equipment over a lifetime. I have run big ones and small ones in most categories. I prefer to run graders since they suit my personality, methodical, accurate, fussy about quality work. But I ran a dozer this past...
  12. K

    Mirrors

    I've been running equipment over 50 yrs., 22 of them for myself, the rest for other contractors. I absolutely detest those darn curved mirrors the manufacturers install at the factory. They strain my eyes and interfere with my depth perception to the rear. I have been known to tear the primary...
  13. K

    standing or seting down?

    Standing/sitting I,ve been running graders for over 50 yrs. I used to run standing but that ruined my legs and now I only run sitting down. I refuse to run junk equipment and I find that modern equipment is designed to be run from the seat. I can do just as good a job sitting as standing and I...
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