two_bit_score
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One may be able to ‘drive’ but not ‘operate’ it, so to speak.
Friend is getting a D8!
- Thread starter N80
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One may be able to ‘drive’ but not ‘operate’ it, so to speak.
OP
N80
Super Member
Fortunately the small area I need to have cleared is dry and fairly flat. Trees are small and mostly pines which should not take a lot of dirt with the roots ball.
I do not know why he bought such a large dozer other than the fact that he has 40+ acres to clear and that it was available locally and delivery was included in the price. He will likely sell it after a few years. Most repairs would be done by my B-I-L. He has large shop for his farm equipment. He has worked on articulated loaders, smaller dozers and he has rebuilt a WWII halftrack. So there is some experience there but none with anything this large.
None of the three of us has any experience with equipment this large. The fellow who bought it is a young man. He operates heavy lift ocean going ships, but no experience with dozers. He does have plenty of time to learn it and plenty of space to learn it in. As mentioned, my B-I-L has some experience with heavy equipment like the articulated loader (now defunct), bob cat, large ag tractors etc, but again, no large dozer experience.
I will assure you that neither of these two guys are fools or anything close to it. I'm not sure I'd say either of them are rich, but both are quite shrewd with their money. If they let me drive it, well, then maybe that would be bad judgement. But I'm no fool either and if they don't think I should run it and if the collective wisdom here is that I do not run it, then I will decline even if they offer to let me. However, I may ask if they'll let me just putter around for a few minutes out in the open just to play with it like a kid on a toy. ;-)
I do not know why he bought such a large dozer other than the fact that he has 40+ acres to clear and that it was available locally and delivery was included in the price. He will likely sell it after a few years. Most repairs would be done by my B-I-L. He has large shop for his farm equipment. He has worked on articulated loaders, smaller dozers and he has rebuilt a WWII halftrack. So there is some experience there but none with anything this large.
None of the three of us has any experience with equipment this large. The fellow who bought it is a young man. He operates heavy lift ocean going ships, but no experience with dozers. He does have plenty of time to learn it and plenty of space to learn it in. As mentioned, my B-I-L has some experience with heavy equipment like the articulated loader (now defunct), bob cat, large ag tractors etc, but again, no large dozer experience.
I will assure you that neither of these two guys are fools or anything close to it. I'm not sure I'd say either of them are rich, but both are quite shrewd with their money. If they let me drive it, well, then maybe that would be bad judgement. But I'm no fool either and if they don't think I should run it and if the collective wisdom here is that I do not run it, then I will decline even if they offer to let me. However, I may ask if they'll let me just putter around for a few minutes out in the open just to play with it like a kid on a toy. ;-)
hawkeye08
Elite Member
Common sense goes a long way, but if you have never been around this type of equipment, learning things can get expensive and dangerous. Go slow, be careful, pay attention and as my Pa told me on TD14, don't ride the brakes or clutches.
OP
N80
Super Member
Well, one thing is for sure. That thing is going to be parked right across the road from my house and the guy who owns it is usually away from home three months at a time so I'll probably climb up on it every few months and pull the levers and make engine noises for a few minutes. 
two_bit_score
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He can rest assured you are keeping close watch on the D8.
OP
N80
Super Member
Another question, from the videos I've seen it looks like there are two levers for steering but it also looks like there are two brake pedals. Do you use these together? Also, where is the gas pedal? Or is it the longer lever to the right? Finally, it looks like this particular one will have 'direct drive' rather than 'power shift'. Do you have to stop to shift?
Billrog
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Steering clutches used with the breaks . Long lever clutch and you stop to change gears but for clearing land you stay in 1st or at the most 2nd.
Industrial Toys
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I believe on Gold Rush, some hired hand didn't notice the warning light on the dozer and fried the tranny. I think that was an 8 or 9. 10Gs probably wouldn't touch that.
MtnViewRanch
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A couple of things, when mistakes are made, they are BIG mistakes. If you think oh well, I can just fix that with my L4400. A mistake that takes 30 seconds to create on that 8 may take you a FULL day to fix with your tractor.
Good luck.
Good luck.