New member DougB, retired heavy equipment mechanic, crane guy, trucker, & ex-logger, living in the formerly free state of Alaska.

[DougB]

'55 Allis Chalmers Detroit powered HD-5G track loader, '76 Detroit powered C70 Chev t/a dump truck, '69 Miller tilt deck, and a Wisconsin powered '79 model 720 Bobcat.
I recently drug home a Bulgarian-made Balkancar DV60RT rough terrain articulated front end loader. It was sold as a 1993 model, but I can't verify that because I have not been able to find any ID tag on the machine. Previous owner had no paperwork and no knowledge of Balkancar. A Google search found the corporate web-site, which shows that they make forklifts. Google also turned up one machine at auction in Indiana last year, and it had a forklift mast on it, so maybe the front end loader was an option? Doesn't really look it was adapted on by an end-user, too nice of a job.
I have transmission problems and steering problems, so I'm looking for manuals, troubleshooting advice, and a parts source. For starters I need to identify the transmission. Obviously European, likely Eastern Block, but I can't find a name on it anywhere. This is a converter machine with fwd/rev power shuttle only, no speed ranges. The valve body is on the top. Control is by solenoids housed in a small box attached to side of the valve body.
Probably no dealer in US or Canada, so I'm hoping I might find an old timer here that maybe has run across one of these machines somewhere along the line

 

[MarcusZ1967]

That looks like a really cool little loader. Interesting the driver is in front of the steer point.

Welcome to HEF DougB!!!!!

 

[Georgia Iron]

Hey welcome, aboard. Why do you call it the formerly free state?

 

[DougB]

That looks like a really cool little loader. Interesting the driver is in front of the steer point.

Welcome to HEF DougB!!!!!

Yes, and I was quite dissapointed after I drove it a bit, because you can't tell how far you have articulated without turning around and looking behind you. So that makes it challenging to steer. On top of that the steer cylinders are bypassing, and so the steering wheel never comes to full stop. It just keeps turning and turning and turning. Or the orbital valve could be at fault I suppose, but I'm hoping it's the cylinders bypassing 'cause that will be cheaper to fix.

 

[DougB]

Hey welcome, aboard. Why do you call it the formerly free state?

I've been in Alaska since Thanksgiving day, 1960. At that time Alaska was the most conservative state in the nation. Today, Juneau, the capital city, has been Hard Left for a while now. The Assembly in Anchorage (the largest city in AK) is full-blown Communist, and our last mayor, a decent guy who tried his best to keep the Communists in check, and they fought him at every turn, just lost re-election to the former head of the Assembly, who is the most hard-core Communist of them all. This is no surprise. We new it was coming. It's been coming for a long time now. It progressed from southern California north to Portland, then to Seattle, and now Anchorage. It is here now. As a state, yes, we voted for Trump by big margins, but the Communists run the State and they run Anchorage and they run Juneau. Probably Fairbanks too by now, but I haven't been there in a while, so don't really know.
Alaska is owned lock-stock-and barrel by Outside Dark Money.

 

[Georgia Iron]

I've been in Alaska since Thanksgiving day, 1960. At that time Alaska was the most conservative state in the nation. Today, Juneau, the capital city, has been Hard Left for a while now. The Assembly in Anchorage (the largest city in AK) is full-blown Communist, and our last mayor, a decent guy who tried his best to keep the Communists in check, and they fought him at every turn, just lost re-election to the former head of the Assembly, who is the most hard-core Communist of them all. This is no surprise. We new it was coming. It's been coming for a long time now. It progressed from southern California north to Portland, then to Seattle, and now Anchorage. It is here now. As a state, yes, we voted for Trump by big margins, but the Communists run the State and they run Anchorage and they run Juneau. Probably Fairbanks too by now, but I haven't been there in a while, so don't really know.
Alaska is owned lock-stock-and barrel by Outside Dark Money.

Thanks for explaining that. It is amazing how everywhere seems to be changing.

 

[IceHole]

Those Miller trailers must have been sold by the dozen for years. I've come across tons of them. And others that are labeled as something else but are Miller or Miller copies.

I have an early 80s tilt deck. Not sure if its past life but it's in great shape to the point I had to wonder if it was used much, but the lunette was wore almost in half!

 

[IceHole]

I don't waste many brain cells over politics. Worrying over Palin or whoever is the governor now would push out useful info like the firing orders of engines, part numbers for stuff I haven't owned in years, etc

 

[DougB]

Thanks for explaining that. It is amazing how everywhere seems to be changing.

Back-in-the-day it was not uncommon to see overloaded station wagons pulling overloaded trailers headed up the Alcan with the inscription scrawled on the side "Alaska or Bust". No more.
Now some of us Old-Timers are looking around and wondering "Now where can we go?"

 

[DougB]

Those Miller trailers must have been sold by the dozen for years. I've come across tons of them. And others that are labeled as something else but are Miller or Miller copies.

I have an early 80s tilt deck. Not sure if its past life but it's in great shape to the point I had to wonder if it was used much, but the lunette was wore almost in half!

If the walking beam trunions are not completely worn out it's still a good trailer. My '69 is a 24K air brake model that has been converted from the original 7.50 x 16 split rims on spokes to 17.5 tubeless on disc wheels, so that makes it worth keeping. Lunette ?? Is that a French word? Referring to the tongue eye?

 

[MarcusZ1967]

Yep, the ring that fits the pintle.

Lunette ring.

 

[Coaldust]

Hey welcome, aboard. Why do you call it the formerly free state?

Some really bad things happened. Rank Choice voting, corrupt voter roles. Like so corrupt, a village with 12 registered voters will produce 200 votes. The Lt. Gov stepped down instead of dealing with it.

It’s the least expensive state to purchase a senate seat in and hundreds of millions of dollars of dark money are being pumped into the state to change the culture and shift the political tide.

 

[Coaldust]

Welcome aboard DougB. Good to have you.
Fellow Alaskan, part-time alcoholic, full time rabbit farmer, single-wide dweller and all around, good feller.

 

[funwithfuel]

Welcome to the forums from the people's republic of Illinois. You are not alone.

 

[DDoug]

Back-in-the-day it was not uncommon to see overloaded station wagons pulling overloaded trailers headed up the Alcan with the inscription scrawled on the side "Alaska or Bust". No more.
Now some of us Old-Timers are looking around and wondering "Now where can we go?"

Patagonia.

 

[CM1995]

Welcome to the Forums DougB.

Now I'll take a minute to explain HEF's rules on politics here -

Heavy Equipment Forums Rules and Posting Guidelines

Heavy Equipment Forums Membership Rules and Guidelines Site Objective It is the intent of this site’s administration to offer professionals of the heavy equipment industry a forum and a comfortable enjoyable environment in which to exchange ideas, questions, answers and comments regarding...

www.heavyequipmentforums.com

Specifically this part -

No discussion of politics unrelated to the heavy equipment industry should be made. Slanderous references to political beliefs or parties should not be made within these posts, such as flaming lefty, right wing zealot or other similar type label.

The rule is there to keep HEF free of all the noise of other forums and social media outlets. There are plenty of avenues on the world wide web to discuss politics, just not here on HEF.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Coaldust]

Back-in-the-day it was not uncommon to see overloaded station wagons pulling overloaded trailers headed up the Alcan with the inscription scrawled on the side "Alaska or Bust". No more.
Now some of us Old-Timers are looking around and wondering "Now where can we go?"

It’s going to happen again. It’s happening now. Next five years is going to be insane, for anyone paying attention. Politics aside.

Not only huge federal projects like the $2.2 billion Port of Anchorage project, or the new $558 million Nome Harbor project.

On the natural resource side, the Kinross Manh Choh gold project in Tok. The new Graphite- One mine in Nome.

The CP Willow Project is bigger than the original Prudhoe Bay development.

When I’m not drunk rabbit farming behind my trailer , I operate a small, premier, specialized trucking and cargo tank outfit and I’m seeing business boom.

I say, to an ambitious young feller, load up that station wagon and head north for the chedda. Knowwhatimsayin?

 

[IceHole]

If the walking beam trunions are not completely worn out it's still a good trailer. My '69 is a 24K air brake model that has been converted from the original 7.50 x 16 split rims on spokes to 17.5 tubeless on disc wheels, so that makes it worth keeping. Lunette ?? Is that a French word? Referring to the tongue eye?

Pintle and Lunette ring.

Mine has Daytons and old style 7x16s or around that, might be 16.5s They are new looking, though no idea how old.

I need to pull it apart and go through the brakes, needs rewired and some deck boards replaced.

The jack was completely worn out, so replaced that so I could even use it without needing a bottle jack.or forklift.

Have a 12 or 15k winch to put on as well, even my skid steer struggles to climb up if it's cold. That wood may as well be iced up steel!
May weld up some cleats, like some rebar for traction, haven't decided for sure.

 

[DDoug]

https://www.youtube.com/@PatagoniaBushPilots