Goodbye Kubota, hello EarthForce

[MikePA]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

<font color=blue>By the way, a few weeks back, they had a 4 in 1 bucket at an auction that went for $150... enormous size though... maybe 900-1000 lbs... {hard to judge weight like that}</font color=blue>

Wow, at that weight there'd be enough FEL capacity left on some tractors to haul around a few pillows, but you could sure hold them securely! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Charlie - John gave you the best link for info on Long's 4-in-1 buckets, as you've seen by now, I'm sure.

I had talked to Long and they had agreed to weld a quick-attach plate from PowerTrac on their 4-in-1 bucket. PowerTrac would UPS it to Long, and Long would install it. The hydraulics should be plug and play, though you would likely have to install the right connectors on the ends of the hoses you get from Long.

I'm still in SC tonight, but I'll be back home Thursday night, so I'll get some pictures and details on the EF-5 posted Thursday or Friday.

MarkC

 

[Steve_Carver]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

I had talked to Long and they had agreed to weld a quick-attach plate from PowerTrac on their 4-in-1 bucket.

-->
They folks at WR Long in Tarboro, NC have been very good to work with on these type special request.
They are nice folks.
sc

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Thanks John, Steve and Mark:
I have looked at the pictures on the Carver site. I will call Long when I have a solid plan.
Looking forward to more info and pictures of the EF.

Charlie Iliff

 

[MChalkley]

Re: the EF-5 has landed!

Well, I finally made it home. Attached is a picture of the EF-5 my friend took. Yours truly is sitting in the cab - I think I'm looking for the accelerator or something... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The trip was pretty uneventful, at least in the sense that we accomplished what we wanted to. We left last Sunday morning, got to North Charleston early evening, went over to the EarthForce distribution center Monday morning. They had the EF-5 pretty much ready, so all we had to do was kick the tires, discuss the usual take-delivery stuff, etc. I found that one of the loader lift cylinders had some unusual rust on the rod, so they swapped that out. We went from there over to D&E, and talked about the modifications I wanted to make, then checked out the attachments they made for me: a quick attach system for the backhoe, 18" & 24" backhoe buckets, a quick attach auger for the backhoe, a ripper tooth, a thumb, and a 1.5 cu. yd. loader bucket. I have to say I was extremely impressed with the quality of everything. I'll post some detailed pictures of their attachments and the modifications in the "EF-5 enhancements" thread soon.

Anyway, the modifications took all day Tuesday, then Wednesday we double-checked everything, made some changes to the truck hitch to get the load distributing hitch set up to handle the extra weight, then loaded everything up. We left this morning early and got home early this evening.

MarkC

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Beautiful machine. I can't wait to hear how it works out for you. Now if you just lived a little closer to Western Pennsylvania I would happily provide a playground for you to practice on. Congradulations!!!

Jimmy

PS Isn't it going to be hard to reach that 5 gallon cup from there?
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by JimmyO on 12/20/01 09:16 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Jimmy - Thanks! The last time I was in Western PA, I remember thinking I wouldn't mind living there myself. Wonderful scenery.

Attached is a picture of the EF-5 just before we loaded it up after D&E finished with it. Ignore the unfinished pieces of metal sticking out of it. They're getting painted this weekend, I hope...

MarkC

 

[Harv]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

I can't believe it!!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Not so much that your EF-5 really exists, but that you do! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I'd say the picture is a fake, but by golly I see the official cup there. From the angle of the picture, it looks like it's attached to the FEL. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I'll try to convice myself that's an optical illusion for now.

It's good to see you in the actual driver's seat, Mark -- and before Christmas, too. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Like everyone else on this board, I'm looking forward to the inevitable onslaught of pictures. Bring 'em on!!!

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Jimmy - I didn't see your added PS when I posted my last message. You may remember that Jim @ D&E is the one who wrote the poem about the magnetic cup after I told him that one of the "enhancements" was to be a cupholder. Well, we were laughing and joking about the cup right after I got there - I had to bring it to show them, of course - and, to demonstrate how well it holds, I stuck it to the bucket. Later, when I was moving the EF-5 around, I forgot to take the cup off, which made for more fun for the gang at D&E. Let's just say that my reputation as a nut has been considerably reinforced. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

MarkC

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

I have spent mucho hours operating TLB's but I would have to say that for 97% that EF-5 would have done as well or better. I can honestly say that I was lacking in maneuvarability more often than looking for more power.

Now a couple of questions, that I am sure you have already answered and I have already read. Is the backhoe removable? I can see times when using the front rotary cutter that you might not want the extra weight and when hogging in some nasty areas having it stick out the back would be an inconvenience. I understand that if it doesn't, that it is a trade off that you were willing to make. Kinda like when I am running the 7' brush hog i have to leave the FEL on my tractor. Many would not accept the intrusiveness while brush hogging that the FEL provides, but to me I was willing to make the trade off to get the extra 12" of cut.

Second question is what are the extra unpainted metal brackets for? They look like the could house extra lights, but I can't imagine needing that many lights unless you were planning on lighting up a ball game with it.

Western Pennsylvania is great. Only trade off is that land in the best school districts(education wise) is very expensive. Other than that and the potholes in our highways I am completely happy here.

Jimmy

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Jimmy - There's more detail, and pictures, on the enhancements in the "EF-5 enhancements" thread - that's also where most of the pictures will go.

The brackets are for LED marker and turn/hazard lights. Around here, in eastern VA, you can't get a driver's license unless you can demonstrate that you don't mind running over a vehicle moving less than 25 mph. I plan on being seen!.

The backhoe is not removeable. Well, it is, but not easily. You can shift it completely to one side, the lock the boom to the other side, greatly reducing the rear clearance required, but you still have the weight. It's a trade-off I'm willing to accept.

BTW, attached is a pic of the whole rig ready to set sail for VA. My '93 Dodge 4WD truck is still dead waiting on clutch hydraulics, so my friend volunteered his '92 Dodge 2WD for the trip. Did a fine job - no trouble pulling it or stopping it. We checked the weight at a truck stop - 23,760 lbs. GCW.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Another pic of the EF-5 loaded up and ready for the ride home.

MarkC

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

WOW!!! You could fit my PT425 in that cab/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif!! I'm heading over to the enhancements post. Nice job.

<font color=green> MossRoad </font color=green>

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

They have the same requirements for a drivers licencse here in PA. Can't tell you how many times when I was roading a Backhoe, with marker and dome lights all flashing, that I was honked at and flipped off while being passed on a bend. The best were the ones that would swerve in front of you thinking that they were going to scare you. The morons never grasped that I was in 16,000 pounds of steel and they were in 3,000 pounds of tin.

I found the other pics, the thing looks really sharp. I was also able to figure out what the brackets were for. Can't wait to hear your performance evaluations.

Jimmy

 

[Thomas]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

What a beauty /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Just what can't you do w/that./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[HR_Mutt]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

<font color=blue>Let's just say that my reputation as a nut has been considerably reinforced.</font color=blue>
Who'da figured?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Keep the pics and "enhancements" coming!
regards
Mutt

 

[Bird]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Very impressive machine, Mark! Of course, it'd be useless in Texas since you've left off the most important "enhancement" of all - air-conditioning!/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Is there room under the hood to add the a/c compressor and associated components later?

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Bird - As a matter of fact, I think there is room for AC stuff under the hood. I can't see myself adding that, though. Visualization of that won't come until August...

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Thomas - I'm very anxious to find out what she'll do. I was telling Al, of Twinkle Toes fame, that about the only indication I have of the power of the thing is the process of loading for the trip. When I lifted the 1500 pound hi-cap bucket with the 900+ pound 4-in-1 in it, with the 150-pound auger head and quick-attach bracket and 75-pound ripper tooth in that, with the engine at idle speed, it acted like it didn't know they were even there. That's already more than the total lift capacity of my L4310, even with jacked-up hydraulics and 1/2" larger cylinders. So, I think it'll do something, I'm just not sure what yet.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Chalkley 4-in-one buckets

Steve - I agree with you 100%. I've dealt directly with Long several times and they've always been very good to work with. "Willing to help in any way they can" is about the best testimonial I can give them.

MarkC