Recent content by James R.

I'm servicing the A/C on my Komatsu D320-7 dozer. How much R134a refrigerant and compressor oil should I add? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

If you're patient, you can find some great deals.

My CAT 297D skid steer shut down while working and now it cranks but won't start. It's showing error code E459-2 on the display.

No power on wire 110 definitely sounds like an electrical issue. I'd check the relay, wiring, and any limit switches before digging any deeper.

If it's always blowing on the same cylinders, I'd start looking for a warped head, liner height issues, or a crack in the block or head. Repeated failures in the same spot usually point to an underlying mechanical problem, not just a bad gasket.

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...