Old conventionals at work

[Welder Dave]

That's a pretty primo looking machine for a 1957 model year!

 

[dirty4fun]

Drag lines are probably the most difficult machine to learn to use, particularly these mechanical linkage type. Darn nearly bust the boom on a NCK305 when I had the hoist rope going up and the drag rope coming in at the same time. Knocked both the levers out of gear and forgot about the brakes. Took me hours to sort out the mess of 2 tangled winch drums.
I always tip my lid to those good operators.

Draglines are a challenge that is for sure. Years ago I had to unload the clam bucket and get it set up. The owner came by checked to make sure I had it right. He said well there is a few hours start clamming brush off the drainage ditch. Had a lot more confidence in me than I had. He let me finish the half mile of that then had me switch over to the dragline. After a few hours his son came by to see how I was doing. I was standing rubbing my legs when he pulled into the job. He started laughing said he knew how that was from years before when he learned. He showed a few ways to operate, then ran it without using the brakes for a few buckets. It got easier but the first few days were mighty long, ones.

 

[DMiller]

Old guy dredging out a Pond offered for myself to run a Drag or Two and try my luck, went thru the controls, flipped a launch and pulled a load of grunge then swapped me into the seat, Fifteen Minutes later he was laughing so hard almost puked. I excused myself Red Faced as was ABSOLUTELY Crap Worthless on the controls.

 

[Tugger2]

Im still running one of its cousins,also 1957.It goes out at least once a year and does a pond cleanout at a local golf course. Thats the high walker( it has the tension springs you see on the outside of the track frame,shovel pads have no tension spring) versus the shovel pads mine has. The high walker gets around a lot better ,but i think its a little less stable than the shovel undercarraige. In answer to Crane Operators coment on operator fatigue,with the frictions set up right its an easy machine on the operator.The levers lock in and give you a little rest on a long pull.Give DMiller another half day and he will do fine to.I havent taken a current picture of it so its more of the old pics.

 

[John C.]

I never had a problem running the levers on a drag line. It was the drum brakes that left my legs feeling like they would explode at the end of the day. I felt that the clam shell was much more difficult to run and be productive with.

 

[DMiller]

You and me BOTH JohnC, Legs were like Rubber as got out of that Cab! Would take helluva lot longer than a few days to get used to running one, and likely weeks to months to get decent on one!