My thoughts as well...
RDrancher's Photo Thread
- Thread starter RDrancher
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Xfaxman
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2013
- Messages
- 13,295
- Location
- Guthrie, OK
- Tractor
- Toolcat 5610 G - Bobcat V417 - TORO+Loader
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
No callback from the lady with the landplane, so we'll see what happens.
In the meantime, here's a few more pics from another job. I originally placed a culvert pipes and precast ends for this customer quite awhile ago. Their builder included the grading and gravel driveway into the price of the build. During the heavy rains this Spring the homeowner found out quickly that the builder's guys didn't do a very good job at getting the runoff away from the home, let alone getting it to the barditch at the front of the property. They had set it up with 12" of fall in less than 30' toward the garage and then directed the flow across the peagravel driveway. That, and they didn't provide any direction for the runoff from above the property or down the sides of the home. They came back to "fix" it on three separate occasions and it still ended up like this.
I stripped the peagravel off and started hogging out dirt to use for building up the driveway. There was so much loose peagravel that I ended up mixing it in with the soil to get rid of it.
In the middle of grading out the slope behind the garage, the tracks on my Case started popping pretty bad. I didn't want to break a track, and since I had new sprockets scheduled to arrive in the next few days, I took the Case home and picked up the blue wonder machine to finish up the job.
In the meantime, here's a few more pics from another job. I originally placed a culvert pipes and precast ends for this customer quite awhile ago. Their builder included the grading and gravel driveway into the price of the build. During the heavy rains this Spring the homeowner found out quickly that the builder's guys didn't do a very good job at getting the runoff away from the home, let alone getting it to the barditch at the front of the property. They had set it up with 12" of fall in less than 30' toward the garage and then directed the flow across the peagravel driveway. That, and they didn't provide any direction for the runoff from above the property or down the sides of the home. They came back to "fix" it on three separate occasions and it still ended up like this.
I stripped the peagravel off and started hogging out dirt to use for building up the driveway. There was so much loose peagravel that I ended up mixing it in with the soil to get rid of it.
In the middle of grading out the slope behind the garage, the tracks on my Case started popping pretty bad. I didn't want to break a track, and since I had new sprockets scheduled to arrive in the next few days, I took the Case home and picked up the blue wonder machine to finish up the job.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
A few more...
After getting everything fixed up, I spread five semi-loads of roadbase on the driveway. The larger stone and fines will hold up a lot better than peagravel. I only snapped a couple quick "finished" photos. Hard to see in the pics, but (yet another) storm was blowing in fast and it was starting to hail.
After getting everything fixed up, I spread five semi-loads of roadbase on the driveway. The larger stone and fines will hold up a lot better than peagravel. I only snapped a couple quick "finished" photos. Hard to see in the pics, but (yet another) storm was blowing in fast and it was starting to hail.
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EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
How many hours on your tracks? Seems kind of soon to be having to replace your sprockets
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
As of today the OEM Bridgestone tracks are at 1230 hours. The tread is doing ok, even with a few deep cuts, but the insides are getting pretty bad, including the sprocket contact points. There's no rubber left there at all. I'll most likely run them until they die, which could be tomorrow or later this summer. The sprockets went past the point of functioning properly at 1205. I think the sprockets got a bunch of excess wear running in mud and wet sand this Spring. I'd post some photos of the old and new sprockets, but Verizon isn't cooperating. Basically, they were worn to points. Since I actually use reverse instead of spinning around at every opportunity, there was no "hooking" of the sprockets at all.
When I change out the tracks my plan is to get new sprockets and keep the semi-worn ones for later on.
When I change out the tracks my plan is to get new sprockets and keep the semi-worn ones for later on.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
You've been busy, that's a fair amount of hours in tough conditions. I'm not aware of how many hours you are supposed to get on rubber tracks, but that seems pretty fair. I have no experience with rubber tracks, so it's interesting to hear of your experience with them
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
I've heard anywhere from 800-1900 hours on OEM tracks depending on conditions. It's a tough decision whether to replace mine with Bridgestone, Camoplast or one of the aftermarket tracks like Prowler or Midwest Equipment. I've heard of all of them failing at less than 500 hours, but most of that is internet talk. I have a friend in Australia that I communicate with frequently that replaced his OEM tracks with Camoplast XHD's which are a c-lug tread design. His tracks are going strong at 1000 hours and he demos a lot of concrete. The rubber is pretty hard, which adds to the longevity. I've seen photos of Prowler multi-bars (from a reliable source) still going but worn completely out at 1000 hours. Prowler says that their c-lug tread is more durable than their multi-bar but still uses two natural rubbers of different durometers. The XHD's are $500 more than Prowler or MWE, so I just don't know at this point. Any way you look at it, it's $2400-$3500 for a pair.
I'll probably go with Prowler c-lugs unless MWE can give me a reason why there's is better. From what I can find, most of the aftermarket tracks are manufactured in China and of similar design with different logos. I believe Camoplast tracks are made in South Korea.
Confusing, eh?
I'll probably go with Prowler c-lugs unless MWE can give me a reason why there's is better. From what I can find, most of the aftermarket tracks are manufactured in China and of similar design with different logos. I believe Camoplast tracks are made in South Korea.
Confusing, eh?
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
It sure is. Makes you realize why it costs so much to hire equipment, the upkeep is as much as the cost of buying it!!!!
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Yep, not cheap to run equipment, that's for sure.
I've been busy and haven't posted any updates lately. Here's a few from the current job I'm on, filing in a pond and doing a bit of land sculpting. The pond was built to collect runoff from the subdivision, but the soil is too sandy and it became more of an eyesore and debris collector than a pond. The excavated dirt has been there for over twenty years and was covered with trees. The homeowners tree guys came in and cut off most of the trees at ground level, making them a pain to remove.
The hole behind the Case is over ten feet deep. I sure don't want to accidentally back into that one!
I've been busy and haven't posted any updates lately. Here's a few from the current job I'm on, filing in a pond and doing a bit of land sculpting. The pond was built to collect runoff from the subdivision, but the soil is too sandy and it became more of an eyesore and debris collector than a pond. The excavated dirt has been there for over twenty years and was covered with trees. The homeowners tree guys came in and cut off most of the trees at ground level, making them a pain to remove.
The hole behind the Case is over ten feet deep. I sure don't want to accidentally back into that one!
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
I had to pull off the pond job since one of the tracks was just begging to break. There are now two split steel lugs pulling through the rubber. I'll have new tracks and rear sprockets by Wednesday. Looking forward to a better ride and more traction.
Speaking of tracks...Here's the family at our local drag strip. It's pretty nice to be able to backup to the track, hang out in the shade and roast some wienies while the racers roast their tires.
Speaking of tracks...Here's the family at our local drag strip. It's pretty nice to be able to backup to the track, hang out in the shade and roast some wienies while the racers roast their tires.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
I finished this job early today, so I figured I'd update the thread. I put in this driveway a few years back. It still looked fine, but the new owners just had a barn built and wanted to get some additional work done.
Two triaxle loads of clay based sand in the barn, stalls and turnouts. The customer didn't want to move the bales of hay. Says he'll always have pallets there anyway.
Graded the new trailer parking area and compacted the water and electrical ditches.
Two triaxle loads of clay based sand in the barn, stalls and turnouts. The customer didn't want to move the bales of hay. Says he'll always have pallets there anyway.
Graded the new trailer parking area and compacted the water and electrical ditches.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Placed and wheel-roll compacted 48 tons of roadbase and topped it with 24 tons of 3/4" minus crushed limestone. The turnaround area also had trenches through it, so I fixed them and spread the leftover stone.
You'll notice the customer's tractor sitting next to the shed in the first photos. I needed it moved, but he said it wouldn't start. I traced it down to the neutral safety switch. A little tweaking of the mount and it fired right up.
You'll notice the customer's tractor sitting next to the shed in the first photos. I needed it moved, but he said it wouldn't start. I traced it down to the neutral safety switch. A little tweaking of the mount and it fired right up.
Pixguy
Super Star Member
Nice job as usual. I'd love to see you spread and grade the finish grade via video so I could pick up a tip or two. :thumbsup:
murphy1244
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2011
- Messages
- 19,518
- Location
- Ohio
- Tractor
- Kubota 1120 RTV Kioti DK-40, MF-135, Ventrac 4500Y
Looks as flat as a pool table. Sign me up for video lessons too! Good idea Pix.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
C'mon guys, you have to give me a little time. I've only been threatening to make videos for a few years.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Here are the pics from the pond fill in I had to pull off of to put on new tracks.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Cutting the new drainage path.
With less than 20 yards of dirt left to spread, the Case blew a quick attach hydraulic hose. The little blue wonder comes to the rescue again!
There was a lot of separating soil types on this one. Clay was saved for the drainage area, and sandy soil was mixed with topsoil and spread over the top of the filled pond.
With less than 20 yards of dirt left to spread, the Case blew a quick attach hydraulic hose. The little blue wonder comes to the rescue again!
There was a lot of separating soil types on this one. Clay was saved for the drainage area, and sandy soil was mixed with topsoil and spread over the top of the filled pond.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Beautiful work. You make dirt look like art!!!!
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Thanks Eddie. I was down your way today dropping off a horse at my wife's cousin's place in Henderson. Just rolled back in as a matter of fact. I'd never seen the area, so we took the scenic route through Tyler on the trip there just to have a look. I saw that ASCO has a new Case dealership going up. Looks like they want to get a piece of all the work going on around there.
