Building a custom excavator

[Coastal]

What a neat setup.

Great thread, prerty awesome machine you've created

Thank you!

 

[the billdozer]

That is really cool, where abouts are you in BC?

 

[Batkom]

Coastal, I was looking over your thread again and realized you had removed the stock single top roller and put two on top- and used bottom style track rollers.
What are the advantages of the double roller setup on this size machine?
Certainly is a much more robust looking set up!

 

[Coastal]

That is really cool, where abouts are you in BC?

Hey I'm around Kamloops.

 

[Coastal]

Coastal, I was looking over your thread again and realized you had removed the stock single top roller and put two on top- and used bottom style track rollers.
What are the advantages of the double roller setup on this size machine?
Certainly is a much more robust looking set up!

Well, it looks cooler, and it supposedly makes it easier for sticks and debris to fall out rather than getting packed between the track frame and the track by making a bigger void.

 

[Coastal]

Trying out some bolt on rakes for my power grapple. They work pretty good but are a bit too wide, I've since chopped off the outer tines.

 

[Batkom]

Well, it looks cooler, and it supposedly makes it easier for sticks and debris to fall out rather than getting packed between the track frame and the track by making a bigger void.

It does look good, but I also like how it gets the track up. Seems it would be easier to clean out under it.
Currently on mine with the single roller, it’s a bit of a pain getting the shovel in there when it’s really full of mud.
May have to do this when I get it back in the shop this winter.

 

[Batkom]

I really want that power grapple as well!! Have a bunch of down timber cleanup to do in the woods on my property- that power grapple would sure make it go smoother!

 

[Coastal]

I really want that power grapple as well!! Have a bunch of down timber cleanup to do in the woods on my property- that power grapple would sure make it go smoother!

It's a wonderful tool, I honestly don't think I'll ever put my thumb back on, it seems so archaic in comparison.

 

[Coastal]

Here's a bit of cleanup I did with it the other day:

 

[Batkom]

That 1st pic is exactly what my property looks like.
After every winter there is more to clean up.
Bucket n thumb work, but it’s awkward to maneuver thru the stuff you don’t want to damage.

 

[Coastal]

That 1st pic is exactly what my property looks like.
After every winter there is more to clean up.
Bucket n thumb work, but it’s awkward to maneuver thru the stuff you don’t want to damage.

Ya the bucket and thumb gets frustrating after a while!

 

[farmerlund]

You really have demonstrated how a properly equipped small excavator can be the swiss army knife of tools. well done.

 

[Coastal]

You really have demonstrated how a properly equipped small excavator can be the swiss army knife of tools. well done.

Well thank you!

 

[Coastal]

Today I took the rotator off my original tilt rotator that I didn't like and mounted it to my wood splitter... The original wood splitter worked but was kind of clumsy. This is going to work out well once I get the hang of it and proper length hoses.

 

[hvy 1ton]

Just saw that on youtube. That has to make picking rounds up easier than a fixed head.

 

[Coastal]

Just saw that on youtube. That has to make picking rounds up easier than a fixed head.

Yes much easier, the original one I'd spend more time trying to get a round aligned than actually splitting.

 

[fast_st]

My neighbor had a NT 3 point splitter where the wedge moved back and forth with a foot on each end so it'd split both directions, seems like that might work well on an excavator

 

[Coastal]

My neighbor had a NT 3 point splitter where the wedge moved back and forth with a foot on each end so it'd split both directions, seems like that might work well on an excavator

Ya that'd be a good style of splitter for sure saves a bit on cycle times

 

[Tugger2]

Im waiting for you to step it up a bit and add a saw . Looks good !