I've thought about using a leveling buncher as an excavator base also. Seems like it would work, at least for brushing,decking and pioneering. Heavy or large excavating projects would probably show us any flaws in the design. I might expect over relieving of the tilt circuits, and maybe damage to the tilt cylinders due the leverage from the increased distance from boom foot to track frame. Advantages? -I'm picturing a generic leveling feller buncher (insert your own favorite brand). Instead of a front shovel, lets use an excavator front (boom, reach stick, bucket, link-thumb, and might as well add a hyd. quick coupler to give us versatility
). The ability to tilt would probably allow you another 4-5' reach, (which would get you back to what the increased boom foot height took from digging depth) Although you may have to crowd in closer before you could level up. Rear mounted boom foot reduces need for counterweight and eliminates tail-swing and I would also think would make for a very smooth "ride".
I would be suprised if someone hasn't already tried it, afterall, in 1968, Erv Drott thought up putting a shear on an excavator and look where that took us!
I've ran 2520 Timberjack (eng down) with a 20" shear, and a Cat227 with a shovel front and a 27" roto-saw head. The 2520 was a fun machine to run and I cut some pretty steep sideslope r/w's with it. The roto saw was an improvement to the cutting as long as there were no leaks in the cutting circut. That was a challenge rarely achieved. The worst thing about our 227 was it was painfully weak and slow in the travel department even on a reconstruct. Oh well, you use what you have... Both those machines are long gone now. Once we bought a 920 loader from an auction once, which had a shear on it. Don't remember seeing it ever cutting a tree, but I vaguely remember hearing that the boss tried it out on a reconstruct. It must not have impressed him since it ended up with a bucket on it.
Sorry I never took a camera to work, as I figured the dust or rattling around in the pickup would ruin it. Not so anymore! Smaller digital cameras and better sealed cabs removed that excuse. How's this:
We ordered this 325D FM a year ago, arrived in Sept, finally got it out on a job after the Jan storm. I have 221 hours on it now!
July 1st 2014 is the date Or-OSHA has set for this cab to be the requirement for use in forestry applications as in Division 7 sect H-17. Most of the details involve machines manufactured after 2004, with exemptions preceeding back to 1994. Gets a little confusing as reading material. We got this one while the Tier 3 motor was still available.
