Komatsu PC60-7: Yet ANOTHER Hydraulic Line Failure Today

[Georgia Iron]

Funny, that my wife was saying the same thing last year "you read too much of that ZeroHedge, stop reading that, it's giving you a heart problem!"
Actually, I read that more for entertainment, and some foreknowledge of what to stock up on.
My real stress is coming from the tax collector and the building dept in my town. Unbeknown to me, they switched from doing 10 year revaluation cycles, to 5 years and they are using aerial photography to 'inspect' properties I found out. Well, got a call from the building dept about my solar panels. They said they didn't have a permit on file. I told them this is MY property and I don't need their damned permission to do what I need to do to survive. $740 monthly electric bills were heading us to a shut off several years ago. Can't pay that when you're living on $910 social security retirement. So I did the solar, seeing that we were going to be unable to afford electricity soon. Good thing I did. I told the building guy to F off and my wife hung up the phone.
But back taxes have been a stress source for me, as well as the damned roof is leaking again, due to those scammy white roof coatings not lasting anywhere near what they claim. 10 year waranty, but leaks after 2 years.. no luck trying to get most of these suppliers to make good on it.
Most people my age are in or moving into assisted living facilities. I don't have that sort of money. I've been toughing it out here on the mountain for 59 years, since I acquired the land cheaply. Hoping I can keep going. My neighbor died peacefully in his sleep, but was healthy as an ox all his life. Hope that's how it goes for me. I hate hospitals!

Well hang in there man. Hopefully you get the tractor sorted out, get to use it to do your projects and then sell it. Once you get the bugs sorted out with the lines you will be fine. Every used machine has its issues. Just don't rush into selling it because you are afraid to use it. If the motor runs good and the hydraulic power is good use it.

A smart old fella told me something that I always remember when everything seems to be going wrong especially with the government. Don't worry they can't eat you....

 

[Mark A Weiss]

My impression is that nearly ALL of the rubber is rotted, so many lines have to be replaced. That's really the only major issue. Engine runs great. The rest is fine too. Just these hydraulic issues have to be sorted. Only minor issue is the battery disconnect relay gets stuck sometimes. I need to take that apart and see if I can clean the contacts.

The government might not eat you, but they can sure kill you. (Remembering the Branch Davidians and Ruby Ridge atrocities). To think we pay taxes to fund that sort of thing makes my blood boil. I mostly ignore the government and just live my life.

Went to the follow-up with my cardiologist today. They couldn't use contrast on the last echocardiogram, so he's not sure if the clot is still there, but he said it's been a year now and it seems stable. He wants me to take the clopidogrel and metoprolol in addition to aspirin, at least for another year. Said people live longer if they take those after a heart attack. My ejection factor is 45%, normal is 55%, he told me. No wonder I get out of breath faster than I used to.

 

[Mark A Weiss]

The mechanic was over on Saturday. I learned there is a blocked pilot line. He has pressure at joystick but nothing at valve. Will have to lift cab.

As for me, I landed in the ER Friday night with internal bleeding. GIST tumor found in my stomach. Surgery planned Thursday. no lifting for 6 to 8 weeks after.

 

[Acoals]

Somebody along the line with all these repairs wasn't careful with hydraulic hygene . . .

Sorry to hear about the medical issues, hopefully it is benign.

 

[Welder Dave]

Hope you heal up soon and listen to your Dr's. As far as your excavator it sounds like the problem has finally been discovered and once fixed you'll have a good machine to do all your projects.

 

[HarleyHappy]

This drama is getting good, no need to see it end. Maybe we could re-name this thread and give Vtech a run for most posts.
Seeing as the machine shop certainly has less drama than a construction company run by the 3-Stooges.
As the HEF turns, tune in next week for another blown pilot hose or maybe, an actual working excavator.
Good luck with the healing, wish you the best.
If anyone deserves a break it is you.

 

[Welder Dave]

I hope he gets it fixed and can do his projects but this a good example of when maybe renting or highering out the work might have been the better option. It will be rewarding when it's fixed though.

 

[Mark A Weiss]

I looked into renting but a thousand a day and many spread out needs was no go.
I needed an inflation proof investment, too.


Tomorrow is surgery. Thanks for all the well wishes.

 

[BC Placer gold]

Best of luck tomorrow!

 

[Mark A Weiss]

I am scheduled for noon today. I will be on a ventilator, which indicates the depth of anesthesia I will be under. I was informed that surgery begins around noon today and will take 2 hours.

 

[Welder Dave]

Hoping everything goes well.

 

[mike holcomb]

Wow, from a blown hose to life stories outa the hills of Connecticut! Dam they are listening and watching what we do. Im in Ct also and this was the first post I saw! Its like they read my mind ‍♂️

 

[Mark A Weiss]

well the operation went good. and I do have some pain in the belly region. the biggest pain though was when I urinate because they stuck a catheter up there during the operation. boy did that hurt. but otherwise I'm recovering they moved me to a private room and I'm just using my tablet to remote desktop into my computer at home. I think everyone for all the good wishes and I'm looking forward to getting back home and getting back my strength.

 

[Welder Dave]

I had a horror story after they took a catheter out in the hospital and tried to put one back in. Felt like razor blades and finally got a specialist from urology to put it in but only after I screamed how painful it was. Used a lot of Lidocane to freeze everything. I've had to self catheter for the last 2 1/2+ years and it's no big deal after doing it thousands of times. Sure beats having a bag attached to my leg and having catheter 24/7.

 

[Mark A Weiss]

that sounds like a horror story I wouldn't want to wish you on anyone. what a terrible experience especially if you have something like that long-term. as for me I'm feeling a bit better each day and I'm finally able to pee without a lot of pain. I don't want to go through that ever again! they have an ultrasound machine now that can measure how much urine is in the bladder it's quite High tech. anyway hopefully I'll be out of here soon. thanks for the good wishes.

 

[Welder Dave]

The most urine I had in my bladder that I couldn't empty was 810 ml's. Normally your brain tells you you have to pee with about 300 ml's. The agony of that plus the pain of the idiot trying to get a catheter in was more like being in an extreme torture chamber.

 

[Mark A Weiss]

Yeah, I probably wake some nights with that much when I have to get up to pee.
Good news: hospital discharged me today! Feeling MUCH better, though my abdomen feels like it took too many punches from George Foreman. They did cut through muscle to get to the stomach. They removed about 10-15% of the stomach wall, which had the cancer. Wasn't caused by acid reflux, as I has thought. They said environmental and genetic causes. 6-8 weeks no heavy lifting! I'm on forced retirement for a while.

 

[Welder Dave]

Just take it easy and when you do get feeling better take it slow. Maybe the mechanic will be able finish fixing your excavator in the mean time. You're almost there.

 

[Mark A Weiss]

Well I'm feeling much better (have another couple of weeks before doc says I can lift heavier stuff), but the mechanic has not answered my last three e-mails. I've been e-mailing about twice a month, asking for a day when he can finish the job.

Currently, I have swing to the left, but no right swing capability.
The boom down is very sticky, resulting in a violent jerking off the whole machine when it does finally let go. I'm concerned about damaging the swing gear if I use it.

It's almost too late to plant now. I'd hoped to have my farming plot ready by April, but now we're in June and the guy's not responding to e-mails. Last time, he said something about being sick and just getting back to work. So I don't know what's going on.

The only other diesel mechanics are 60 miles away and charge by the the distance to travel out here to do repairs, which would get real expensive.

I just got the bill for last month's hospital stay.. $122K. I have to sell the machine this year to cover some of this and last year's hospital bills, but I need it working properly so I can get my investment back out of it.

 

[Pepe]

I had a hitachi that just swung around in a circle & tried various fixes but gave up at the end & sold it. Like to know what your mechanic does to stop the swing?? Sorry to hear cost for medical as the way inflation is running today it’s gonna get even worse. Cost for a leg of lamb in NZ is now $51?? was $32 & we are short of Doctors as they can make triple in Australia & call out fees for mechanics eg CAT can be up to $500??just to come & look???