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Recent content by JimBruce42

  1. JimBruce42

    Tractor pull pan

    I was wrong, it was a 450 HD. I don't know what I liked less, the tractor or the ashland bowls....
  2. JimBruce42

    A few projects I have done recently

    Yeah, big money indeed. On the first phase (the $149 mill), we were the fourth bidder at 199 I believe (this was 6 years ago so I could be off a few million in my numbers) Walsh was the winning bid. Myers won the second phase ($190Mill), and in that case I think Walsh was 2 or 3, at almost...
  3. JimBruce42

    A few projects I have done recently

    Sorry for taking two months to reply. No, two different contractors. I think the first phase was 149 million and the second phase was 190 million.
  4. JimBruce42

    Tractor pull pan

    I ran a new Case 480? a few years ago. Within within the first 200 hours it blew a main hydraulic line and had all the mounting bolts from the front axle come loose, and it was all down hill from there. I never liked those tractors, they just didn't feel like they were beefed up enough...
  5. JimBruce42

    Tractor pull pan

    We've been running the JD scraper specials for years, and honestly we rarely keep them past 5,000 hours so I can't say if they will or not. Good preventative maintenance might catch something before it becomes too much of an issue though. the 2412dE bowls are only a few years old, so they...
  6. JimBruce42

    New job Pics

    Well that sounds expensive. We had a guy pretty well ruin a tranny in a brand new 815 once, probably had to do with the 4th gear pushing he was doing. Personally, the worst I've done is knock off some of the tips on rock.
  7. JimBruce42

    New job Pics

    815's are good fun, until you find a rock:Banghead
  8. JimBruce42

    A few projects I have done recently

    The last two sections of the Northeast Extension of the PA turnpike were both won by a margin of $50 million.. It's insane how much money gets left on the table sometimes.
  9. JimBruce42

    A few projects I have done recently

    Been there, seen that. Been on more than one project where someone forgot to connect the dots on the design end. End of the day it's a great tool to have, whether or not you use the "easy button", just being able to see the whole job in the cab, in real time, is great. I'm sure it wont be...
  10. JimBruce42

    A few projects I have done recently

    So glad to see someone say this. So often, people are quick to say GPS takes the talent away from an operator, while it may help a mediocre operator better, it can also show their flaws. I'm assuming you could still run the blade manually if you wanted to correctly?
  11. JimBruce42

    What is the reason?

    Those Holland Belt Loaders can move A LOT of dirt fast. I remember reading that the one Ames had when they did a portion of the Denver Airport loaded 777 belly dumps in a minute and a half.
  12. JimBruce42

    Your CAT 336EL Excavator Reviews: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

    The standard 336e are a pretty sturdy unit. Strong and fast, the few times I've had to run one of the hybrid 336e's was a different story. They are sluggish and do not like to multi function like a normal unit. 336 are a popular size for some popeliner companies and they tend to cycle units...
  13. JimBruce42

    Final decision time.... Cat 349 vs Volvo 480

    Most 349's are either built in the USA or Belguim from what I've seen. $60 grand is a lot, but keep in mind, who has better parts support. If a hoe breaks down and needs a part, and one can get that part in a day or two instead of weeks, you'll make or break that $60K in production pretty fast.
  14. JimBruce42

    Final decision time.... Cat 349 vs Volvo 480

    The creature comforts and room in the cab of the Volvo would make you want to choose that, but if the 349 and 480 compare the way the smaller 336 (NOT the hybrid) and 340 do, I'd take the cat for better balance and power. Have you been able to demo or test run the two? How's the dealer support...
  15. JimBruce42

    Hauling Cat D8T

    Yeah, it's just a cover over the wheels, they don't actually steer like a European unit.
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