re: Operating a bulldozer

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I ordered Cat D6 a few years ago with Trimble mc. It was so bad the dealer didn't even have guys that knew how to fix it or operate it. I had to call the local Trimble dealer. They mixed old and new sensors and it didn't match with the control box. I was so mad I took junk off. That system was close to $40k back then.

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When you buy a piece of equipment you are basically buying a long term contract with the service department. Make sure they are worth a damn before you do anything.

Yeah like I said we run it with gps as well as a robotic total station and the only complaint I have is about the Trimble Business Center software but I just bypass that shite. The software works it's just an extra step and I don't use it

Cat has recently integrated the grade control systems in their D6 and D8's. The only thing you add to them now is the radio receiver and have the base station set up. The receivers are low profile and no wires, towers, or sensors exposed.

The tech world in construction changes and improves so fast. I expect one day companies will be hiring techies to operate machinery remotely in front of a computer.

Here's the bottom line. The biggest issue of early failure and breakdowns is do to operator error and poor maintenance habits. If operators are not doing a walk around, greasing, topping off fluids, ignoring codes, not changing oil and filters in timely matter. Your machine will not perform like it should no matter who makes it. operators spinning tracks and tires, Not using proper operating methods, etc. All of that costing you in parts, labor, productivity.

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The tech world in construction changes and improves so fast. I expect one day companies will be hiring techies to operate machinery remotely in front of a computer.

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You'd be amazed just how computerized everything is today. The way things are now when a field tech goes out to troubleshoot a machine, the first thing he reaches for is a laptop instead of any wrenches.

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Here's the bottom line. The biggest issue of early failure and breakdowns is do to operator error and poor maintenance habits. If operators are not doing a walk around, greasing, topping off fluids, ignoring codes, not changing oil and filters in timely matter. Your machine will not perform like it should no matter who makes it. operators spinning tracks and tires, Not using proper operating methods, etc. All of that costing you in parts, labor, productivity.

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B I N G frickING O

I spend probably over half my time devoted to trying to stress this point to owners so they'll do their maintenance and get the most life out of their machine for the lowest owning & operating cost. Which, and this is something a lot of folks don't seem to be aware of, most Cat macinhes are designed to have literally two lives. Cat has a program called "Certified Rebuild" where a machine at the end of it's life is taken to a dealer, stripped down to the bare frame, and completely rebuilt. It even get's a new serial number and new machine warranty. It's literally a new machine and looks showroom new. All for about half the price you'd pay for a new machine.

As for doing maintenance, I'll give you one easy example. Taking oil samples. Oil samples cost less than $15 each, are taken every 250 hours, and can save you literally thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. They can mean the difference between doing a scheduled $3,000 re-bearing & reseal on a final drive or doing a unscheduled (and thus extra downtime and extra lost revenue) $15,000 rebuild on one that's failed because you had no idea the duo-cone seals were leaking and allowing dirt & water to contaminate the final drive.

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I work for a CAT Dealer

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Tell the boys at Whayne I said hi. Do they still have that old log cabin in the middle of their Louisville location that serves as a conference room?

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As for doing maintenance, I'll give you one easy example. Taking oil samples. Oil samples cost less than $15 each, are taken every 250 hours, and can save you literally thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. They can mean the difference between doing a scheduled $3,000 re-bearing & reseal on a final drive or doing a unscheduled (and thus extra downtime and extra lost revenue) $15,000 rebuild on one that's failed because you had no idea the duo-cone seals were leaking and allowing dirt & water to contaminate the final drive.

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or run a regen when the machine calls for one. I cannot tell you how many service bills you will save just buy doing that.

This thread reminds me...I used to run this old Champion motor grader a couple of times a week. That thing had like 75 levers on it

Get a CAT in only has two joysticks now

You can sit back and get a blowie from your girl while working the soil.

Only reason I'm on the blade is because it doesn't matter what this looks like I'm no blade hand. I get bored just sitting in the truck so I get out and do some of the little stuff that needs doing so the guys can keep rolling on the big stuff.

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Has anyone ever operated one? Considering renting one to do some cleaning up around my property. Is there any special knowledge required and what brand is best?

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My family's farm owns a Cat. They aren't hard to figure out if you can drive anything bigger than a prius. Just get the guy at the rental place to show you how to drive it. If you are renting it why do you care about the brand? Just get the cheapest one to get the job done and turn it back in.















Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm and learned how to drive heavy equipment before I could legally drive so I might be underestimating the difficulty.