New guy no clue

[Buffallobull]

Very nice! Thank you for the pics, worth thousands of words.

 

[skyking1]

I noticed a decided lack of progressive thumb equipped machines in your price range in your area. They seem to be more common out west.
Don't let it discourage you. Hold out for the right machine for you.

 

[CM1995]

Yeah progressive link thumbs are not as popular on the east coast as they are the west.

 

[laidback01]

I will say that using a ripper - one that is much longer than a bucket - has made my simple thumb on my excavator very useful. the ripper is the big difference... it has so much curve, it allows you to pick up nearly anything against the thumb. Due to the ripper, my desire for a better thumb has certainly diminished.

 

[Welder Dave]

I'd say that ripper is actually made for a much bigger excavator but that could be a good thing or a bad thing. Good because it lets you pick things up but bad because it could damage the cylinder or even the stick because the extra length puts too much force on the cylinder and stick if it encounters a large boulder or extremely tough root. I'd be pretty careful with it and not rip the full depth it's capable of.

 

[CStracker]

Not granite but I can’t recall what they called it. It’s not shale, it’s very hard durable stuff mostly a reddish color. This wall is made from it.

Probably sandstone or gneiss. Your earlier pictures looks a lot like my place but my trees are very mature. I’ve been putting in roads and trails. Very hilly as well. I’ve been renting a 12k lb ex with hyd thumb. I’ve gotten a lot done with it. I don’t get all this stuff about you needing a 25 ton machine at minimum and all that. A big mini will get a lot of work done too it just takes longer. But really it comes down to how big of a swath are you wanting to make. I’ve went about my work with the desire to make small swaths and do my grading accurately and consisely. I guess if I were opening up huge spaces I would definitely want for a bigger machine. But for small roads, trails, parking areas, retainer walls…I’m fine with a small machine. If I had a 30 ton machine I would have to cut very wide paths anywhere I went because I couldn’t even turn with the size trees I have. My wife would kill me too. She likes it looking more natural. So it’s what you’re looking to achieve in the end. I bought a small mini to tool around on but if I need anything larger I’ll rent. My road won’t support a tractor trailer so it has to be small enough to get it on a roll-back.

 

[laidback01]

I'd say that ripper is actually made for a much bigger excavator but that could be a good thing or a bad thing. Good because it lets you pick things up but bad because it could damage the cylinder or even the stick because the extra length puts too much force on the cylinder and stick if it encounters a large boulder or extremely tough root. I'd be pretty careful with it and not rip the full depth it's capable of.

No, that's a standard Mongo ripper ... they do make a heavy duty one, but this one is just amazing for my use.

 

[Welder Dave]

It may be a Mongo ripper but it is much bigger than a typical ripper for that size of machine.

 

[laidback01]

fair enough, just want to point out that Mongo does specify these rippers are for 3-6T excavators, and the heavy duty up to 7T. My excavator is 5T, so right in the middle of the pack.



This is the same ripper on a JD 35G (from their site). So that's a bit smaller than mine with a 1.5" thick blade vs my 1" thick blade. Other than that difference, they are both 37" long.

that said, you are probably right that it can put high strain on my setup, but I'm still kind of babying my mini, and not really working it to full potential -- I'll be careful. Though... I've sunk it to full depth as a trial, and the excavator rips a wonderful 'starter' trench or whatever you call it and I can then get after a bit easier with my bigger buckets.

 

[skyking1]

Yeah progressive link thumbs are not as popular on the east coast as they are the west.

I was shocked. I searched Pittsburgh PA for the OP based on just that Facebook link.
I put in 20K-60K for weight
And the same numbers for price.
There was diddly. Plenty of machines but not much in the way of thumbs.
I did the same for Portland OR. It was a complete flip flop. There were very few simple thumbs and a ton of progressives.
I would venture that a person could pay for the shipping and come out on top. The selection was that much better.

 

[Welder Dave]

I don't even think a ripper tooth for a 200 size excavator is 37" long.

 

[Buffallobull]

I was shocked. I searched Pittsburgh PA for the OP based on just that Facebook link.
I put in 20K-60K for weight
And the same numbers for price.
There was diddly. Plenty of machines but not much in the way of thumbs.
I did the same for Portland OR. It was a complete flip flop. There were very few simple thumbs and a ton of progressives.
I would venture that a person could pay for the shipping and come out on top. The selection was that much better.

Thanks for doing that! If anyone runs across one that looks promising please let me know. August will soon be here and we will be leaving the West and headed East to the land. If the far house spot is the only perk spot I’ll be needing to build a really long drive. I’ve gotten a couple estimates on cost to just have it put in….. I could buy a really nice machine.

 

[Buffallobull]

Probably sandstone or gneiss. Your earlier pictures looks a lot like my place but my trees are very mature. I’ve been putting in roads and trails. Very hilly as well. I’ve been renting a 12k lb ex with hyd thumb. I’ve gotten a lot done with it. I don’t get all this stuff about you needing a 25 ton machine at minimum and all that. A big mini will get a lot of work done too it just takes longer. But really it comes down to how big of a swath are you wanting to make. I’ve went about my work with the desire to make small swaths and do my grading accurately and consisely. I guess if I were opening up huge spaces I would definitely want for a bigger machine. But for small roads, trails, parking areas, retainer walls…I’m fine with a small machine. If I had a 30 ton machine I would have to cut very wide paths anywhere I went because I couldn’t even turn with the size trees I have. My wife would kill me too. She likes it looking more natural. So it’s what you’re looking to achieve in the end. I bought a small mini to tool around on but if I need anything larger I’ll rent. My road won’t support a tractor trailer so it has to be small enough to get it on a roll-back.

Eastern Hemlock! This might be the largest tree on the property! Love it.

 

[skyking1]

Thanks for doing that! If anyone runs across one that looks promising please let me know. August will soon be here and we will be leaving the West and headed East to the land. If the far house spot is the only perk spot I’ll be needing to build a really long drive. I’ve gotten a couple estimates on cost to just have it put in….. I could buy a really nice machine.

exactly. I roughed in my 550' driveway with a 25' climb up the bluff with the 120 and dump truck. I hear ya.

I could sure use some of your rock there on the left side lol.

 

[HarleyHappy]

Hemlocks are my favorite tree.

 

[davo727]

My comment was 27K lb minimum, not 27 ton.

 

[Buffallobull]

This isn’t real is it?

2016 Komatsu PC240LC-11 Excavator

2016 Komatsu PC240LC-11 Excavator General Information: Condition: Used Year: 2016 Make: Komatsu Model: PC240LC-11 Hours: 4,664 Serial Number: KMTPC252VFC095097 Fuel Type: Diesel Horsepower: 177 HP (Net) Drive Type: 3-Speed Crawler Track Transmission: Hydrostatic Engine Size: 6.7L (408 cu in)...

gearliftequip.com

56tNrB_UmYHOVsXWgIA

 

[bam1968]

Well I live just across the river from there and I have never heard of them. But if you google the phone number it brings up the company. Just out of curiosity I should go for a little drive. Looks waaay too cheap though!!!

 

[skyking1]

This isn’t real is it?

2016 Komatsu PC240LC-11 Excavator

2016 Komatsu PC240LC-11 Excavator General Information: Condition: Used Year: 2016 Make: Komatsu Model: PC240LC-11 Hours: 4,664 Serial Number: KMTPC252VFC095097 Fuel Type: Diesel Horsepower: 177 HP (Net) Drive Type: 3-Speed Crawler Track Transmission: Hydrostatic Engine Size: 6.7L (408 cu in)...

gearliftequip.com

56tNrB_UmYHOVsXWgIA

NO.

 

[CM1995]

This isn’t real is it?

2016 Komatsu PC240LC-11 Excavator

2016 Komatsu PC240LC-11 Excavator General Information: Condition: Used Year: 2016 Make: Komatsu Model: PC240LC-11 Hours: 4,664 Serial Number: KMTPC252VFC095097 Fuel Type: Diesel Horsepower: 177 HP (Net) Drive Type: 3-Speed Crawler Track Transmission: Hydrostatic Engine Size: 6.7L (408 cu in)...

gearliftequip.com

56tNrB_UmYHOVsXWgIA

Hell NO!

Well I live just across the river from there and I have never heard of them. But if you google the phone number it brings up the company. Just out of curiosity I should go for a little drive. Looks waaay too cheap though!!!

Bam go see if they'll take $8500 and I'll split the cost with ya! If that big JD 6 way looks good I'll wire the money over - I need a bigger dozer at the dirt dump.