Goodbye Kubota, hello EarthForce

[gordon]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Mark glad to see that you got your new toy in one piece./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I see you've got night lighting pretty much under control. With all the lights and brackets you have to work with. I like those chain link mounts that they made as well. Nice shop you found for the custom welding work.

I saw an EF-4 at the rental yard the other day when I was picking up a roll of fabric for a lane that I'm getting ready to start. The yard owner was there and said it's a pretty nice machine after they got the kinks worked out of it. That part sounded pretty good.

He said that tech support is difficult because of the language barrier. That machine is two years old. He stated two problem sources the electrical system and the hydraulic system. Said the fuses were the old VW open style fuses. Also the tractor actually had too much power. Bent the backhoe mount and the loader arms. Now that's some power. They made up a stronger mount at the shop. Earth Force sent them new loader arms at no cost. They do stand behind their product. Now you have to understand this is a rental unit and gets the heck beat out of it. So yours should last for years.

Good luck with your new machine and merry Christmas
So tell us how she runs!!!
Gordon

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Gordon - Hey! Long time no hear! Thanks for checking out the rental unit - I like all the information I can get.

I wonder how many hours that machine has on it. I suspect it's older than two years old (but they may have gotten it two years ago), because I saw one longer ago than that and it had the newer ATC style fuses, which mine also has. One of the guys at the distribution center showed me some older arms that had been replaced, and admitted that they had had to make good on some of the early models.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Here's a full side picture with the loader fully raised.

MarkC

 

[Thomas]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Mark,
Man Ole Man..you got a dream come true there.
If you are deciding on a nick name for her maybe T-Rex might fit,or Untamed Unnamed.
She is beauty!!

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

 

[gordon]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

It's been a busy fall, thats a good thing./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Hope it stays that way into and through winter.

I didn't have to much time to sit there and chit chat with him. So those were the basics that I got from the short time we talked. It's good they upgraded the fuses and you already know about the loader problems of past. It looked like a nice machine except for the tires. I'll look for that upgrade in the future. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Have a merry Christmas
Guess that goes without saying for you cuz u got the new toy. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Gordon

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Thomas - Thanks! I'll have to see if the wife will allow T-Rex as a name - all the names have to be cleared with her, of course. It's not much for her to ask. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I'm quite pleased with it, at least as pleased as I can be before I've had a chance to really put it to the test. As I mentioned before, I was a little concerned about the pulling/pushing force of the machine, but I'm not any longer. Just the little bit of playing with it that I did yesterday convinced me that it's got plenty. I'm not yet sure if it's as much as the L4310HST had, but it sure seems like it's got at least as much. There's so much difference between the tires on the two machines that it's hard to compare. But, it's got enough to easily dig holes with all the tires in dry soil, even with the additional 2,000 pounds or so of weight it had on it. When I start using the Brush Brute, hopefully next week, that should tell the whole story. I'll let you know...

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Gordon - As for tires, they'll have to be upgraded, as you said. I've never seen a machine yet that didn't. I've been playing with possibilities, and the factors that come into play for me here are:

1) I don't think I want to raise the CG of the machine, so I don't think I want to go with 20" rims over the 18" rims that are on it, even though that's what I was initially planning on doing. So that limits my choices quite a bit.

2) I want radials, I want industrial tires, and I want really aggressive tread, so the Michelin XM27 tires I had on the L4310 are the only choice.

Given those two factors, and the fact that Michelin presently only makes one size that will fit the 18" rim, the only thing I can do, for the present, is go with their tire, which is about 1.5" wider than what I've got, and only a little bit taller. With the increasing popularity of this rim size, though, I'm hoping that by the time I wear these tires out, Michelin will have another option or two. We'll see.

BTW, here's a picture of the fuse box, located on the seat pedestal. I really like the fact that there's lots of room for expansion.

MarkC

 

[Rch]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

We love those pictures, Mark- keep 'em coming. RCH

RCH

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

RCH - Well, ok, if you insist... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Here's a picture of the 4-in-1 bucket, opened. Sure looks smaller in the picture, though. Maybe I'll have to find that bottle cap again...

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

And another pic with the loader raised all the way up, and the bucket in full dump position.

MarkC

BTW, the bar the roll back/dump cylinders are attached to is the self-leveling mechanism.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by MChalkley on 12/23/01 02:45 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[gordon]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Sharp lookin rig you got there Mark. I like that cab. That is one of the things I miss most on my new tractor. Some days you will love having the cab other days you will hate it.

Looks like that bucket could move some dirt. They custom made that at the shop huh? NICE. Does it have a quick release plate? What about a grille guard? ok thats enough for now good luck with it. Saw the pic you posted of the fuse box, I see they upated it good for you./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

So what do you like about it most so far? and also least so far?

Gordon

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Gordon - Everything that goes on the front end loader uses a standard "Bobcat" quick-attach plate. Also, the 4-in-1 bucket hydraulics do double duty to enable you to power hydraulic implements like rotary cutters, tillers, power rakes, etc. up front. There's a detent in the 4-in-1 valve that enables it to stay in the on position.

There's no grill guard yet. That was one of the things that was on my "maybe" list for D&E, if we had time to get to it. We didn't, unfortunately.

So far, I think I like the responsiveness and control of the loader and backhoe controls most. As for what I like least, it would have to be the learning curve for the difference in the way it operates vs. a "normal tractor". I expect both to change over time, of course...

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

A pic of the EF-5 rarin' to go and ready to dig...

BTW, the woods in the background look like prime Brush Brute country, don't you think? I'm going to Folcomer's in Baltimore Wednesday to pick up the Brush Brute, Ammbusher, pallet forks, Switch Hitch, a couple of "Bobcat" quick-attach plates, a York landscape rake/grader blade combo, augers, etc.

MarkC

 

[gerard]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Mark, 1st I want to nominate you as "King of the hill" as I THINK you have the premier hill making, hill disposing of, machine!! Question on the rear stabilizers - they look like they come straight down as opposed to the kind that spread out as they come down. Was there an option? I can see the advantage in digging up tight where you don't want the outriggers in the way but don't you gain more stability with the outrigger types that spread out?

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Thanks, Gerard! There are some folks here who have lots heavier iron than my EF-5, though. Like bulldozers, for starters. But, for sub-10k equipment, I think the EF-5 is the "King of the hill", as you put it, as far as I can tell. If there's anything tougher, or stronger, out there, I wasn't able to find it.

You're right about the stabilizers. They're called vertical stabilizers, and they're an option with the center-mount backhoe, standard with the side-shift backhoe. Like most things, it's a compromise. They're not as stable in side-to-side digging as the outrigger style, but a lot more stable than nothing, which is what the outrigger style is worth in close-quarters situations. So it boils down to having something that's best in most situations and worthless in some, or something that's pretty good in all situations. It's especially important to have the verticals with a sideshift backhoe, because its design lets you get right up against a building, or whatever. Ideally, you should be able to pin an I-beam to the stabilizers with fold-down extensions that could be pinned into position to increase the spread when you could use it and needed it. If it seems like I need more stability at times, I'm going to look into doing something like that. My local engineer friend says it's not worth even thinking about, and reminded me of how many crane trucks use vertical stabilizers. Past experience tells me I should trust his opinion, but my paranoia makes me think I need to research I-beams... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

MarkC

 

[bgott]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Does anybody make a side shift backhoe for a three point hitch?

 

[Thomas]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Mark,
I saw a attachment on a Bob Cat yesterday in for a tune up you may want to consider.
It was a scissors attachment for cutting down trees..so if you install one,you cut the tree BH the stump out..carry the stump away w/the FEL..fill in the hole w/the FEL..drag the tree to stock pile...oops forgot ..do you still have that chainsaw thats cuts throw butter like a hot knife./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
Only question I have...maybe a miss that one...how come no pictures of you w/your new investment./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

May you and your family have a safe and wonderful holidays.

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

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

bgott - Not that I know of. It would have to be pretty massive because of the frame required.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Thomas - Those scissors attachments look pretty cool, don't they? I've seen them for 3-point hitches, too, but I've never seen one in action.

One of the very first pictures I posted after I got back from picking the EF-5 up was one my friend took of me in the cab looking for the accellerator... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif And another one of me with the D&E implements. Personally, I'm glad you missed them! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

It's just human nature to want to be somewhere you aren't, but I sure would like to be in your part of the country right now. NH, VT, & ME are my favorite places to visit.

MarkC

 

[MossRoad]

Re: More EF-5 info, pictures

Did I miss a picture of the crab steering in action?

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