Hi Stan, Jim,
The guys running the job don't even understand the benefits of elevators at all, and they still have me down as carrying 18 cubic metres per load, when I reckon 22-23 is my compacted load (27.5 loose). Also, they place such a low priority on cycle time and haul road smoothing, I think 70% of potential movement is all I am getting at best, 40% at worst. Worst thing is I am paying for the innefficiency. Still, I have learnt a great deal, and ironed some bugs out, and learned to drive it. The other operators have been fun to work with as well, on the wall we had 2 compactors with blades (useless machines, and in the way all the time.. they can't match my point load with 120 tonnes on 4 sq metres), the 2 x 631G's with a D9N, a 627F (I think) joined us late, and now does all the crap cleanup jobs I was doing, 2 x 20 tonne excavators pulling the batters to shape after we were directed to overbuild them by a metre each side (!), 2 water trucks, and a 140H grader which did a great job on ramps and edge rescue.
Re elevator chains Jim, the previous owners converted both machines over to wet D4 track chains, and they work brilliantly. 3 sets to make two elevator chains. They look like lasting extremely well. See pic - they look very loose, but seem to roll around nicely.
Spares - a fair stock came with the two scrapers - the two dead 12v71 TT detroits, a spare bare VCLBT 5965 Tranny, a spare drop box, two spare PTO boxes, two spare plug-in Diffs (Huge..see pic with my Dad) 4 spare planetries complete, 2 spare elevator motor cages rebuilt, 4 dead to be rebuilt, a dead generator, and the going generator from the second machine - it came with a rebuilt unused Generator and 2 brand new complete electric motors, spare new detroit compressor, and the two Cummins engines each have a new compressor, so I have a spare there as the back motor uses no compressor. Several new serrated flat blades and cutting edge plates also were included, and a set of 6 welded excavator tooth adaptors, with 12 new teeth came, but I would love to track down a set of original ripper adaptors - there were supposed to be 5.
I have yet to contact Brendon in Sydney to see what he has left, I know the engines and tranny's are the same as the 333FT, so there may be a few come available there, and I hope to do a run to the US sometime and pick up some dead 353FT parts - I know where a few machines are, not being used.
Running the 101G's for 25 years with no distribution agent means I am used to scrounging!
-Steve
Very frustrating :Banghead
