Recent content by alex.bennt

It varies a lot by the size of the machine and the soil you're digging. A standard medium-sized excavator usually moves between 60 and 120 cubic yards an hour.

Induction generators are common in wind turbines and small hydro plants because they are tough. They handle varying speeds well and don't need much maintenance.

It usually takes about 2 to 3 days for Zoo Med Excavator Clay to dry fully. If you used a lot of water or made the layers very thick, it can definitely take 76 hours or even longer. Using a fan or a heat lamp can help speed things up if it's taking too long.

I agree both ways have trade-offs. Bidding early pushes the price up, and that can suck. But it can also make weaker bidders drop out quickly.

I use a slightly larger mini excavator (2 tonnes) and this has had no issues for me so far. I think a 1 tonne excavator would work fine for smaller tree stumps but may struggle with larger ones. How big are your stumps?

Parking an excavator properly is mostly about stability and relieving pressure on the machine. First, always find ground that is flat and firm. You need to lower the boom and bucket until they are resting flat on the ground. Doing this gives the machine extra stability and takes pressure off the...

Pay is high because the work is usually tough. It often means long shifts, working in remote locations, and dealing with FIFO (fly-in/fly-out) rosters.

I would suggest you start checking the pressure every single day before the equipment is used, and make sure it matches the manufacturer's recommended PSI for the load. Also, check for uneven wear patterns, as that can point to alignment problems or issues with how the operators are driving.

Try to stop pressing the controls and take a moment to think. I try to dig out a bit of the mud around the tracks and then lift the boom to give the machine some support. Sometimes I rock it slowly forward and back until it frees up. And if it’s really buried, I call someone with another machine...

If the hydraulics aren’t working, the tracks usually stay locked. You can’t just roll it like a trailer. Some models have a release or a manual valve. Most people use a winch and drag it slowly, but you have to be careful to avoid damage.

This could mean you have air trapped in the hydraulic line for the claw cylinder, or you might have a problem with the check valve or the seals in the cylinder itself. Air is the most common and easiest fix. Try cycling the claw fully open and closed several times to bleed any air out.

The John Deere 35D excavator usually has an operating weight around 7,672 pounds (according to web source). That weight makes it a mini excavator, so it's light enough to manage wooded hillsides better than a big machine. The low weight helps with stability on slopes and reduces the ground...

On most CASE machines the fuse box is under the seat or behind the right-side panel by your leg. Some models also have a small panel behind the cab door that pops off. It’s usually marked but kind of tucked away. If the fuel gauge quit, I’d check those fuses first before chasing wires.

From what I’ve seen, prices aren’t dropping anytime soon. Demand is still high, and supply is limited because of export rules and used equipment shortages. If you’re planning to buy, it might be better to act now rather than wait for a big price drop.

Traditional trade skills are still needed, but they are not enough anymore. The field is changing too fast, and contractors need to learn the new tech just to keep up. Skills like BIM (Building Information Modeling) are essential because they fix problems before you ever break ground. And...