First Post, A Few Questions

osborneconst

Hello everyone, its my first post. I would like to ask everyone some of the advantages of using an excavator over a track loader to dig stumps, dig basements, clearing land, load trucks. I dont have any experience on an excavator, we use a 2002 Deere 655c track loader to dig basements and stumps as well as for clearing and loading dirt. I would think it would be cheaper to run and maintain a excavator than a track loader, but I dont know. I also think that the excavator would be quicker than a track loader. The only advantage that I see to a track loader is that I dont need a dozer to, because I can do everything that a dozer can do on a loader. I will appreciate any and all responses.
Also, on another site everyone says that track loaders are obsolete. I dont disagree with them, but I am not sure that I agree with that 100%. They say excavators are quicker, but almost everyone around here in North Carolina uses one. I am only 25 with about 8 years experience and I am still learning. Thanks, Mark

Cole

Mark, welcome to the site.

I am sure you will get plenty of responses, this isnt my expertise or I would add my thoughts.

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jmic

Mark,
IMO track loaders are a thing of the past, they're nice to have around in a pinch to leave at a stockpile of materials to load trucks. I sold mine in "94", had about 900 hrs on it and was 8 yrs. old. Once I bought the excavator just never used the track loader much again. Around here with wet lots, it's just so much nicer to dig them out with a excavator, ( not constantly stiring up the mud and making a mess. So much quicker also, no matter what you're doing. Much less wear on bottoms. In general no comparison.

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denick

Mark,

The excavator, for the work you describe will save you money in every cost category. It is more productive in almost every category. And the versatility is a tremendous asset to your company.

Try this.as your sitting at your computer sit straight up, let your right arm hang straight down. Then bend your arm at the elbow 90 degrees so that it makes an L to you upper arm. Keep your hand straight out palm facing up fingers flat and tight together, point your thumb to the ceiling. Keep your palm and thumb in that position. It should be shaped like the bucket on your loader. Keep your upper arm at your side don’t move it at all Lower your hand about three inches keeping your wrist straight, moving only at the elbow don’t go any lower than this. Now raise your fore arm and hand ( bucket) up as far as it will naturally go bending only at the elbow. You can curl your hand away to dump and back to load. This is the action of a loader. Now if your sitting in a chair you must move that chair (undercarriage) forward and back to complete anything you want to do with a loader.

Now sitting in the same position Turn your hand over. Palm facing down fingers tight together bring your thumb in next to your fingers, curl your fingers a little. Now bend your wrist and elbow and go up and down as far as you can and curl your hand in and out as you would a bucket. That's the action of a backhoe. Now you can spin on that chair 360 degrees and work for a long time and not have to move that chair (undercarriage). Now you can bring your thumb out and use it to grasp everything you can reach. With the right attachments you can turn your wrist ( wrist-o-twist) in any direction and you can open up your fingers and use 1 ( ripper) 2 or 3 a grapple or all 5 a rake.

Don’t sell your tracked loader if you don’t have too. Team it up with an excavator and two good operators and you will have a very productive and versitile duo. I’ve been running tracked loaders since 1968 and excavators since 1977. We still have both.

Sorry, its snowing and I’m tired of working on estimates and paper work today.

Nick

rino1494

We have a 955K and a 977L with a m/s ripper. We used to dig foundations with the 955 but stopped that when we got our first excavator back in the late 80's. Excavators are faster and more practical. Especially when you have to dig trenches for the utilities and footer drain. We do have a old Case 450 loader that we use if we have a pile of dirt to move around the house. Now we use the loaders for pipework and building roads and detention basins. Undercarriage repairs get very pricey on track loaders.

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chrisherk

Try digging, water lines, septic or sewer lines, or placing stone in basement floors with a track loader.