Recent content by James R.

If the blade moves smoothly but won't lift the machine under load, the most common causes are a relief valve opening too early, internal cylinder seal bypass, or low system pressure from the pump.

Mine starts and runs fine, but it loses power under load and feels like it wants to stall. I’m seeing a lot of people mention fuel filters, clogged fuel lines, lift pumps, or fuel supply issues on these machines.

A winch is also worth having if you haul non-running machines or materials often. I'd also recommend trailer toolboxes for straps, gloves, blocks, and tools because keeping everything organized saves time on the job site.

Need some help with my 2017 Bobcat E35. I'm installing a wood mulcher attachment and trying to figure out how to put the auxiliary hydraulics into continuous flow mode. I've run other hydraulic attachments before, but never a forestry mulcher, so I want to make sure I'm setting it up correctly...

A clean, well-maintained unit will save you way more in the long run.

That's usually a drive motor seal starting to go on those machines. On a CASE 650K Series 2, when the motor leaks into the final drive, it's often the shaft seal or internal seal failing.

I've used VeriTread a couple of times-pretty solid overall.

I’m a small contractor and thinking about picking up a machine from there, but not sure how it really works out in practice. The listings and inspection reports look solid, but I know it’s still a bit of a gamble buying sight unseen.

Back in 2021-2022, things were much easier-payments were lower, approvals came faster, and lenders were more flexible. Now, everything feels a bit tighter across the board.

One thing that worked for me wasn't anything fancy. It was just consistency and small wins. On one road job we did, I started doing quick 5-minute check-ins every morning. Not a full meeting, just "here's the plan, here's the target for today." Then at the end of the day, I'd call out what we...

I've gone through a few setups over the years, and honestly, what works depends on how you actually use your truck day-to-day.

Stuck? Not even close. John Deere pushing through the mud and still getting the job DONE.

Off-highway trucks are on a different level when you're in rough terrain or moving a lot of material. We used ADTs on a muddy site, and they kept going where dump trucks would just spin or slow down. Way more efficient for big jobs. But for normal construction work, I still prefer on-road dump...

A few years back, I financed a machine early thinking I'd save long-term. It worked out eventually, but when work slowed down, those higher monthly payments hit hard. You're locked in whether the machine is earning or not. On the flip side, I've also leased equipment during busy seasons or...

I ran into something similar on a John Deere 544H-boom was slow, but everything else worked fine. It wasn't the cylinders. Since you've checked pilot pressure and resealed cylinders, here's where I'd look next: Main control valve (boom section): likely internal leakage or worn spool Load...