Old conventionals at work

[Pops52]

Got close to this ol girl today. Guessing 15 ton capacity ? Any thoughts on how old? Looked like a 3 or 4 cyl Detroit. So covered with oil it was hard to tell. @Birken Vogt might be familiar with it.

 

[Birken Vogt]

I think he has more than one of those, has been using them cleaning ponds around here for decades. I have seen it around everywhere from time to time.

 

[skyking1]

15B?

 

[DMiller]

Not many out there can still manage an old Friction Rig. Worked on many, not enough time in them to build skill.

 

[crane operator]

Does it have some homemade "street" pads on it? Looks like welded up flat bar?

 

[DDoug]

Does it have some homemade "street" pads on it? Looks like welded up flat bar?

Interesting.
Looks like converted over to standard dozer chain & pad.

 

[JaredV]

I'm thinking 22B. The tractor undercarriage is factory. That was an option favored by pipeliners and machines doing lots of walking into tougher places but I think the grousers have been modified into street pads.

 

[Pops52]

Couple more pics. The guy who’s pond they cleaned out is going to let me know when the come to move it out, what should have been 2 weeks ago!

 

[crane operator]

I know this - I would be wore out after the first 12 hour day cleaning out a pond

 

[Pops52]

I know this - I would be wore out after the first 12 hour day cleaning out a pond

First thing I noticed was how “shiny” the lever handles were!

 

[DMiller]

That is a BUSY Day staring back atcha!

3/71 DD. Old Enough to have GENERAL MOTORS on Radiator so a True Jimmy.

 

[Pops52]

Back in the late 70-80s in my drilling rig moving days, the good crane operators all seemed to learn on a dragline. We, as truck drivers really looked up to them.

 

[Birken Vogt]

I'm thinking 22B. The tractor undercarriage is factory. That was an option favored by pipeliners and machines doing lots of walking into tougher places but I think the grousers have been modified into street pads.

Street pads surely because the fancy people that hire him do have paved driveways but not lowboy friendly so the machine probably has to walk across pavement a lot.

Couple more pics. The guy who’s pond they cleaned out is going to let me know when the come to move it out, what should have been 2 weeks ago!

I have seen that machine sit on site a very long time after the work was done. Waiting for the next job or the job to be ready I assume. I don't think anybody is going to steal it.

 

[Tones]

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.

 

[Pops52]

They moved it out today. It is in fact a 22. Talked with the owner for a few minutes.

 

[Welder Dave]

Curious what year it is? I'd guess a relatively late one. They keep it in great shape!

 

[Pops52]

He said it’s a 57 model. He has several of these, a few different yr models.

 

[crane operator]

Old girl has earned her 30 year service pin twice over.

Could be on her fourth or even 5th generation of operators.

 

[crane operator]

Of course that's right in there with the B-52's.

We're probably going to be flying them long after we build a moon base.

 

[HATCHEQUIP]

Moon sshh were strapping rockets to Buff and going to Mars and the C5 can bring the 22B