This will be an interesting thread moving forward......

[skyking1]

And as usual , on point, on key, it all goes to talking about money and assets and taxes.
How about looking at the human/health side for a change, can any of you take just ONE
frigging breath without thinking about a dollar bill?

I think exactly that. Nobody's really looking at how changing the dynamic is going to change your day-to-day work experience.
I wouldn't mess with it. You seem to be having fun now and posting some fun pictures and having a laugh and making a buck.
It's great that the management guy is seeing a clue now and may take more advice when it comes to things like selling a worn out piece of iron.
That's an incremental change for the better. I'd stay there at the incremental change level of things.

 

[skyking1]

Furthermore, when a guy goes to hang up his wrenches, he's going to get pennies on the dollar. That's the way it is. Thinking you can manipulate it so you get some sort of a premium buyout is just BS.
Everybody leaves a lot of money on the table when they retire and that's the way it always has been. At some point. Your time is worth far more than any money you're going to make. Time is the only thing you don't control. You're going to get your time and if you choose to spend it chasing the buck, that's on you. You hopefully that makes you happy.

 

[Truck Shop]

Not to run down the this thread or any ones ideas, especially Vetech's. But there is a stigma
within that company and many companies have the same stigma. How many of you have
managed a fleet of equipment making major decisions? I spent the better part of my life doing
just that. All the monetary gains look great at the start, then the years of sedentary decisions
by management come to play. The whole company needs a overhaul from the top down to
the labors. There are years of the thought the owner doesn't care so why should I, that includes
all the drivers, operators--everyone. The worst part for Vetech is getting people to change
their attitudes--of drop it and leave for the next guy.
*
My last employer--I spent so much time trying to change the thinking environment the first five
years. If the owner doesn't back the shop managers decisions at least 90% it's a major uphill
battle to get a grip on cutting expenses, and that is what this whole thing is about. If the shop
manager tells the powers to be a certain employee has to go----then he has to go no ifs, ands
or buts. 50% of gaining headway of a deal such as this requires full attention by the owner/s.
other wise it's a futile exorcise. After doing what I did for the last company, and I started at
age 46--{for my self knowing what it takes, I sure as hell wouldn't want to try it at age 61.
*
Good luck to you Vetech in what ever you decide.

 

[Shimmy1]

Now for the equipment discussion.

I was asked about a undercarriage quote they received from Deere for a 250G excavator........was over 35K. ..........I told him that machine needed to go like I said 2 years ago. Spend 35K+, and then an engine, pump or final drive here soon?

Just saved them 35K when he decided I was right.

I'd like to know exactly how this "saved" the company $35k? Do they not need a 250 anymore? It it an extra that will get 50 hours the next 5 years?

Because how I see it, just peddling this machine to auction isn't really saving $35k. It might bring $85k at auction. Maybe. A new one is $250k? Maybe closer to 3? You could put ITR undercarriage on that machine for about $20k, your labor included. If they're doing oil samples, they would have a pretty good idea if there is a major hydraulic component failing, I would think.

 

[Welder Dave]

When would he have the time to do an undercarriage with all the other carnage he has to deal with? The bigger issue is where, out in the yard hoping the weather stays decent.

I can understand what he's saying. It's probably better for them to sell or trade the machine while it still runs decent instead of dumping $35K on undercarriage and then another 20-$35K in the near future repairing other things like the engine, hyd's., final drives, etc. Would be better to sell it for say $50K now rather than to spend $50K and ultimately sell it it for $25K or less when it's got really high hours on it. A new machine can be written off for several years saving on taxes. Quite a few companies replace machines, after they're paid off for 2 or 3 years, so they can get decent money for them instead of having to put a chunk of money into them to keep them running at top efficiency. It doesn't sound like this company is really struggling to stay afloat yet.

 

[Vetech63]

I'd like to know exactly how this "saved" the company $35k? Do they not need a 250 anymore? It it an extra that will get 50 hours the next 5 years?

Because how I see it, just peddling this machine to auction isn't really saving $35k. It might bring $85k at auction. Maybe. A new one is $250k? Maybe closer to 3? You could put ITR undercarriage on that machine for about $20k, your labor included. If they're doing oil samples, they would have a pretty good idea if there is a major hydraulic component failing, I would think.

Back in the day I used to inspect heavy equipment coming off of leases for leasing companies. I created my own standard back then and carry the same today. Equipment has a shelf life of sorts where the object of the game was to get the best use out of the machine during the lease period (usually 4-5 years on average) before major component rebuilds started happening. The parameters were hours on the machine, the application & environment they worked in, and the repair and maintenance of said machine during the course of the lease.

Any machine over 10K hours was an automatic candidate for a major component rebuild if there was little to no service/pm records (this 250G applies here). Equipment between 7K-10K hours would get oil samples, pin and bushing inspections, operational safety inspections, hydraulic and powertrain pressures checked to spec, overall visual condition, and engine stall speeds checked. This would determine whether the machine was in good enough condition to be sold at lease end without money being spent....or very little.

Equipment with 4K-7K hours were considered prime used.........meaning they had enough value to recoop the most investment for the lease company. These machines are marketed and sold near retail value (lease companies call it Fair Market Value).

Right or wrong, I apply the same to ownership of equipment. Yes, some equipment can be exceptional and be outside of those parameters if well taken care of or trashed, which is why it has to be considered on a piece-by-piece basis.

This design does not consider what the leasing companies call secondary ownership.........meaning anyone outside of large, highly profitable organizations. Basically, they don't care what the little guy does with it.

 

[cfherrman]

I think the important thing with the unit in question is yes you could fix it up but then you can only do that machine, while selling it as a working machine and buying a new one you will still be able to put out fires.

 

[nicky 68a]

I’ve no idea what assets you own that come to $250k,but is that your valuation or theirs?
If they’ve offered you that amount,I’d seriously consider selling it,because I generally find most specialist tools etc are sold for dissapointingly less when you put them on the open market.

 

[nicky 68a]

Out of curiosity,is there any danger of anyone from your customers company ever reading any of these posts and getting p##sed with you?

 

[Vetech63]

I’ve no idea what assets you own that come to $250k,but is that your valuation or theirs?
If they’ve offered you that amount,I’d seriously consider selling it,because I generally find most specialist tools etc are sold for dissapointingly less when you put them on the open market.

Thats useable tooling, equipment, and truck. If I went by replacement costs at today's rate it would be considerably more.

Out of curiosity,is there any danger of anyone from your customers company ever reading any of these posts and getting p##sed with you?

Maybe, but I speak the truth about the tribulation and what is here is not an unknown to them.

 

[Welder Dave]

Someone working there would have to know about the forum, Vetech's user name , this thread and have been following it. I think it would be unlikely since even the thread title doesn't point to a specific company or topic. An employee might agree with everything too if they did read it.

 

[Truck Shop]

As long as it's the truth who gives a sh!t, too many spineless people out there.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Funny u should bring that up..
When I was getting ready to tell’m to shove it (retire) and was ranting and raving about the idiot shop “foreskin”..& management in general..
Either someone alerted him about it or more than likely, he stumbled across it..
I text him and asked him for a part that was no longer available & I knew there was some in the salvage/old pumps area..
He said SURE, no problem..
The next day I got a text from him that said, THIS is the last time I’m helping you.. don’t call, email or text me.. LOSE MY NUMBER.!!
There’s nothing I can say after that.. I just text him,
THANK YOU..and haven’t contacted him in years..lol

 

[Welder Dave]

As long as it's the truth who gives a sh!t, too many spineless people out there.

Not slander if it's the truth either. If someone who worked there saw this thread might be a wake up call as to how badly everything is run. For management could be really embarrassing.

 

[Truck Shop]

Yeah, and Vetech was looking for some jobs when this one came along too.

 

[Welder Dave]

I don't think they could afford to lose him right now. One of those cases where, "You want to know how much I do"? Let me go and you'll find out.

 

[Acoals]

If Vtech was worried about he he wouldn't have started this thread . . .

 

[Vetech63]

Eaton drive motor for a Wirtgen conveyor pulled from a scrap trailer at the OKC location.

It's a proprietary motor so no seal kit. Replacement only at $9500. One dirty rotten seal is all I could find wrong with it...........besides the rust created by it sitting out in the weather with no plugs on the hydraulic ports.

 

[AllDodge]

Have come across those kinds of things and know someone makes the seal but just how to find

 

[Vetech63]

Have come across those kinds of things and know someone makes the seal but just how to find

Bribery