The Descriptive Process

[northmanlogging]

a good hammer helps too...
Get the breaker bar in and put some tension on er, then a healthy whack directly down on plug and bar... poor mans impact wrenceh. Should scare the rust free, or upset the locals, both a win.

 

[catbuster]

HyGard is good stuff, John Deere has good reason to be proud of it. The hydraulic oil in bulk we had on hand at the shop was Mobil ISO 46, and it worked very well for us. I think Case HyTran is probably the best oil available, and it’s in the $100/5 gallon price

On the ORB Walsh surprisingly kept very little on site, but what they kept was Cat Hydo, which was about $100/5 gallon pail. Kokosing built their temporary shop facility at CVG with an intermodal tank full of hydraulic oil. I was blown away, but I was blown away by a lot of things on that site.

 

[NorthernMaverick]

The War Dept, has informed me that a flock of Camp Robbers (grey jays) has found the neighborhood... Guess I have to start locking the doors on the crummy and log truck... and keep all my TP, lighters, spare gloves under lock and key...

I kind of missed the joke. Im not from the PNW, is there a way to explain?

 

[rwoods]

I am told those high dollar branded oils are chock full of vitamins and minerals not found in the generic stuff. I read they are better for clutches and brakes among other things. I run Hy-Gard in my tractor. At the end of the day, the dozer isn't mine and they were happy with Mag 1. I guess that some oil is better than no oil.

Ron

 

[northmanlogging]

I kind of missed the joke. Im not from the PNW, is there a way to explain?

ironically they were stealing the semi feral cats food this morning...

the story is that Grey Jays "camp robbers" are the ghosts of dead loggers, they are mischievous, fearless, and will pick up anything that looks even remotely valuable and hide it from you, not necessarily in their nest, just where you will never ever find it, there is almost always a group of 3 or more 2 to create mayhem, 1 for a look out, if there is more then 3 there is almost always a leader (the real trouble maker)

They are not large birds, littel bigger then a standard robin, soft grey with white patches and in winter have an almost fuzzy appearance, they are friendly even in the wildest of wildernesses, which is just a trick to get close to you and steal your gloves. The will work with "blue" jays i.e. Steller's Jays, but probably only as a long game con to get their vote and take over their feeding spots.

 

[catbuster]

I am told those high dollar branded oils are chock full of vitamins and minerals not found in the generic stuff. I read they are better for clutches and brakes among other things. I run Hy-Gard in my tractor. At the end of the day, the dozer isn't mine and they were happy with Mag 1. I guess that some oil is better than no oil.

Ron

HyTran & HyGard are meant specifically to be easy on clutches in powershift transmissions, the neighbor at home smoked the clutch packs in his 4240 and 4450 running cheap oil through the 12/4 transmissions in them. He went back to HyGard afterwards.

Hydo is great if you like extended service intervals and is easy on clutches and brakes in powershift dozers. I believe Cat recommends a different oil for transmissions (TDTO?) but you know how that goes-good 10W sometimes is just good 10W. They have a great guide on what oil to use where and when that’s available as a free PDF.

The Mobil AW46/SAE 10 treated us well, but it was also a fairly expensive oil. It helped that I could get it through the same supplier I got Delvac, Super-Moly and diesel through. I think when, or maybe if, I get going again I’ll probably stick with OEM, but I’ll probably run exclusively Caterpillar & Case, which makes life a lot easier.

 

[NorthernMaverick]

ironically they were stealing the semi feral cats food this morning...

the story is that Grey Jays "camp robbers" are the ghosts of dead loggers, they are mischievous, fearless, and will pick up anything that looks even remotely valuable and hide it from you, not necessarily in their nest, just where you will never ever find it, there is almost always a group of 3 or more 2 to create mayhem, 1 for a look out, if there is more then 3 there is almost always a leader (the real trouble maker)

They are not large birds, littel bigger then a standard robin, soft grey with white patches and in winter have an almost fuzzy appearance, they are friendly even in the wildest of wildernesses, which is just a trick to get close to you and steal your gloves. The will work with "blue" jays i.e. Steller's Jays, but probably only as a long game con to get their vote and take over their feeding spots.

Got it. Couldn't figure locking the truck from a bird, but now I get the ghost logger reference.

 

[rwoods]

Interesting Day at the Range.

I cut out two more shooting lanes today. For every tree marked to be cut there seem to be at least one unmarked large dead tree that could fall within the lane. I ran several tanks through the 500i.

One day, I will learn that when something doesn't quite make sense you should stop and check things a bit before proceeding. I was trying to fell a 15" beech that had wrapped itself around a large red oak and the two were growing over each other. I cut it at shoulder height and tried to pop it free with wedges. O got it to move but it wouldn't fall. I then cut a slot between the two so I could get a choker around it, thinking I could bump it free with a couple of tugs with the pickup. Nope. I then cut the hinge completely free. Still very little action beyond sliding my truck off the road. As I was backing up to relieve the tension I hear a loud crack. Now why would it be cracking when the tension is being relieved. Don't know, but what the heck I relieve a little more tension. Another loud crack, but no movement in the tree. So I get out to investigate. T'wasn't the tree cracking. It was my rear tail lights against a small tree. Probably $100 thrown away. Swapped the truck for the dozer and took care of things.

Later in the day I have three marked trees to fall and one large dying poplar. The 500i runs out of fuel. Fuel is back at the truck so I get my favorite old McCulloch to finish the job. Next to last tree was one of those you could fairly easily fall any direction. I picked my preferred direction. Anyway, I was too slow on the draw with a wedge during the back cut and a slight puff of wind sending the tree backwards pinching my saw. Don't know why I made such a huge mistake - maybe fatigue or too lackadaisical because it was an easy tree. Given the nature of red oak, I didn't stand around. At a safe distance without any brilliant ideas for a rescue, I contemplated the eminent painful demise of my favorite MAC. In a few minutes the oak started a small chair on the face side. Within 15 minutes, it finished the job falling sideways and spinning in the air while taking by saw for a ride to the ground. Then with a big bounce the tree slammed to the ground again just inches from the power head. Fortunately, the MAC survived. The Stihl bar suffered almost a foot long pinch of the top rail.

I haven't had but one big chair before - also red oak. It was on the back side as is typical. That was over 40 years ago.

Best part of the day was I didn't get hurt.

Ron

 

[Gologit]

Interesting Day at the Range.

I cut out two more shooting lanes today. For every tree marked to be cut there seem to be at least one unmarked large dead tree that could fall within the lane. I ran several tanks through the 500i.

One day, I will learn that when something doesn't quite make sense you should stop and check things a bit before proceeding. I was trying to fell a 15" beech that had wrapped itself around a large red oak and the two were growing over each other. I cut it at shoulder height and tried to pop it free with wedges. O got it to move but it wouldn't fall. I then cut a slot between the two so I could get a choker around it, thinking I could bump it free with a couple of tugs with the pickup. Nope. I then cut the hinge completely free. Still very little action beyond sliding my truck off the road. As I was backing up to relieve the tension I hear a loud crack. Now why would it be cracking when the tension is being relieved. Don't know, but what the heck I relieve a little more tension. Another loud crack, but no movement in the tree. So I get out to investigate. T'wasn't the tree cracking. It was my rear tail lights against a small tree. Probably $100 thrown away. Swapped the truck for the dozer and took care of things.

Later in the day I have three marked trees to fall and one large dying poplar. The 500i runs out of fuel. Fuel is back at the truck so I get my favorite old McCulloch to finish the job. Next to last tree was one of those you could fairly easily fall any direction. I picked my preferred direction. Anyway, I was too slow on the draw with a wedge during the back cut and a slight puff of wind sending the tree backwards pinching my saw. Don't know why I made such a huge mistake - maybe fatigue or too lackadaisical because it was an easy tree. Given the nature of red oak, I didn't stand around. At a safe distance without any brilliant ideas for a rescue, I contemplated the eminent painful demise of my favorite MAC. In a few minutes the oak started a small chair on the face side. Within 15 minutes, it finished the job falling sideways and spinning in the air while taking by saw for a ride to the ground. Then with a big bounce the tree slammed to the ground again just inches from the power head. Fortunately, the MAC survived. The Stihl bar suffered almost a foot long pinch of the top rail.
View attachment 944480View attachment 944478View attachment 944479
I haven't had but one big chair before - also red oak. It was on the back side as is typical. That was over 40 years ago.

Best part of the day was I didn't get hurt.

Ron

Some times the only thing that goes right is walking back in your own house at night on your own two feet.
Some times that's enough.

 

[rwoods]

Some times the only thing that goes right is walking back in your own house at night on your own two feet.
Some times that's enough.

Probably why circumstances let me into a white collar career. The odds of me lasting long working in the woods whether cutting or operating machinery don't seem too good. Between falling debris and flipping a machine just to name two hazards, I likely would not be around to talk about it. I am given to understand that you spent a long career doing both so you know well that just a moment of inattention with either can kill you.

Every close call gets me to thinking I should just quit while I can, but the lure keeps pulling me back for another round.

Ron

 

[rwoods]

First Impressions ...

Tonight, my wife and I went to a nearby city to purchase a Christmas tree from the Boy Scouts. We made our selection and the adult in charge yelled to a young man, "Get over here! That thing ain't going to trim itself!" After seeing the boy struggle to crank the saw with the switch off, I stood back and pointed from a distance what branches to remove. Then I noticed him doing an undercut on a pinkie size branch before severing it from the top and I found myself thinking the boy has got some real potential.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Ron

 

[BlackCoffin]

HyGard is good stuff, John Deere has good reason to be proud of it. The hydraulic oil in bulk we had on hand at the shop was Mobil ISO 46, and it worked very well for us. I think Case HyTran is probably the best oil available, and it’s in the $100/5 gallon price

On the ORB Walsh surprisingly kept very little on site, but what they kept was Cat Hydo, which was about $100/5 gallon pail. Kokosing built their temporary shop facility at CVG with an intermodal tank full of hydraulic oil. I was blown away, but I was blown away by a lot of things on that site.

I work for the largest raspberry farm in the US, all we run is hygard for our tractor oil. Picking machines all get food grade oils and grease. We rarely have hydraulic issues and we annually service the entire units and based on hours dump and refill the entire hydraulic system. Thankfully the outfit I work for is a strong believer in preventative maintenance. With a fleet of 66 harvesters and over 30 tractors they need to be ready to go. Farmers often work on weather windows and when it’s your time…it’s go until the job is done. Raspberry harvest is 30+ days, 16hr pick days, 7 days a week and things need to be going all the time. I feel for you guys where your management steers away from good preventative maintenance. Thankful to work where I do!

 

[northmanlogging]

welp, looks like my trust long suffering MacT needs retired, unless I can find new suspension washers...

took a big limb to the noggin this morning, sheared the rivet and tore the hell out of the literally brand new suspension...
pics will follow, this phone is hopped and I'm still in the woods

 

[BlackCoffin]

Well at least you’re ok

 

[Jhenderson]

When I took a shot that broke the suspension in my hard hat I took the rest of the day finding replacement parts and repairing the hat. Figured it was better than chopping and maybe taking a nap in the brush alone. But that’s just me talking.

 

[catbuster]

welp, looks like my trust long suffering MacT needs retired, unless I can find new suspension washers...

took a big limb to the noggin this morning, sheared the rivet and tore the hell out of the literally brand new suspension...
pics will follow, this phone is hopped and I'm still in the woods

Just retire it. I know it’s not the “cool” thing to do, but it’s the best shot of keeping your skull in one piece if you do happen to take a hit again.

Maybe try a Skullgard? I highly recommend them. Again, not the “cool” “logger” style, but dayum are they slick, comfortable and very low profile.

 

[northmanlogging]

Just retire it. I know it’s not the “cool” thing to do, but it’s the best shot of keeping your skull in one piece if you do happen to take a hit again.

Maybe try a Skullgard? I highly recommend them. Again, not the “cool” “logger” style, but dayum are they slick, comfortable and very low profile.

meh... I may of already fixed it lol.
no dents to speak of, just sheared the rivet right off, fairly normal to trash the suspension after a good hit, so that has been replaced, not the first set of suspension I've replaced with this hat.

 

[catbuster]

I’ve been wearing my white cap style one for the better part of the last two weeks. MSA’s “sweatband” has always just rubbed my forehead/temples and irritated the hell out of it. I highly suggest getting a hold of some terry cloth front headbands. They do move around a little, but when I’m not wearing something like a do rag or beanie underneath it’s a livesaver. Bullard has the best suspension going and it’s not even close.

Of course, the reason I’ve been wearing it sucks. I’ve been in & out of Marshall & Graves counties in Kentucky since the 13th. I’ve never seen the damage of a violent (EF4/5) tornado in person… It challenges the damage in I saw in Paradise in 2018 in my mind as “worst.” No, I didn’t take pictures. One-it’s disrespectful to the people who were affected, and two… My job is USAR and later hazard identification.

 

[rwoods]

Posting this for @catbuster. I had the Deere 750B out for a little stroll on a ridge today to pull out two red oak stems I came across. A cake walk for the 750B.


A 48 foot and a 32 foot safely on the road.


The county thinks I need more HP. This little toy was recently dropped off - a Cat D7H.

It makes my truck look little. And my little tractor, a midget. Anyways, I have so far turned down the opportunity to run it, but I am softening to the idea. I am a little worried that I'll break some glass or get lost figuring how to operate it. I have kept my distance and haven't even looked in the cab. Do you think I should take it for a spin on flat ground?

Ron

 

[catbuster]

Posting this for @catbuster. I had the Deere 750B out for a little stroll on a ridge today to pull out two red oak stems I came across. A cake walk for the 750B.
View attachment 978365

A 48 foot and a 32 foot safely on the road.
View attachment 978366

The county thinks I need more HP. This little toy was recently dropped off - a Cat D7H.
View attachment 978367
It makes my truck look little. And my little tractor, a midget. Anyways, I have so far turned down the opportunity to run it, but I am softening to the idea. I am a little worried that I'll break some glass or get lost figuring how to operate it. I have kept my distance and haven't even looked in the cab. Do you think I should take it for a spin on flat ground?

Ron

Yes. Take it out. Enjoy it. Those are some of the best tractors Cat ever made. I’d rather have an R model, but the D7 with a high drive may be the most versatile tractor Cat ever made. Just a little bit bigger than a 6 but with a lot more grunt and almost as much track on the ground as an 8.

It’s easier to run than the Deere, and much more capable. The direct drive means you won’t have to fight with hydraulic oil levels in the trans. It’s just a 3 speed powershift unit that Cat has had perfected since the 1950s. Diff steer, you won’t ever want to go back just based on how it runs.

As far as controls go, blade controls should be the same as the 750.

The transmission control will be on the left side of the seat. It’s a reverse U pattern. Three gears forward ascend as you pull towards you on the right side. Three gears ascend as you pull towards you on the left. The “neutral” position will be anywhere in the front, they usually sort of wander just to the right of center on the front.

Steering will be the two long levers in front of the transmission controls. Steering is done by the differential. This means that you’ll have less pulling or pushing power as you steer. The upside is that it’s a ~225 horse dozer. You probably won’t run out of power.

Arguably the most important control of all is the decelerator pedal. It’s on the floor on the right, it slows down the engine and consequently the dozer. Beyond a certain point it will also be a service brake. You need to use it to take off and change direction. Otherwise, you can pretty much use it as you want, but it’s best to let the dozer run full throttle under load.
Go and enjoy yourself. Cab glass is easy to replace.