BillyVance 35 #1 July 31, 2009 I got nothing else to do until the baby wakes up crying for her bedtime milk. Last weekend I was mowing the yard on my Craftsman riding mower when the steering went out on it and I started careening down the slope towards the brush before I could slam the brakes on it. Went to the shop and explained the problem. They thought the steering assembly went south and showed me what a new one looks like. They said these generally break after 5 years. Mine lasted 9 years, and I have over 2 acres of mowable grass! Anyway, I ask them to come out to my house and pick up the mower at their earliest convenience. Two days later I went back to them to find out if they were coming to pick it up soon, but the place was closed for the day. Bastards... Then I spied the equipment rental place across the street... They have all the usual dirt moving equipment for rent - front end loaders, back hoes, trenchers, etc... I knew I had been wanting to regrade my front yard and move the dirt elsewhere on my property. Fuck it, I went over there and said I want to rent the IHI CL35 front end loader. They had it delivered to my house in 30 minutes! See what it looks like here: http://www.dealquip.com.au/ihicl/ihicl.htm Having never operated a piece of machinery like this big boy weighing 10,000 pounds (give or take) before, I knew it was going to be an interesting experience. The guy delivering the CL35 explained the controls, basically a double joystick set up, one on each side. The left one controlling the track and movement of the CL35 and the right one controlling the bucket and its hydraulic arms. I climb in, start it up, and get to work. Let me tell you, I had no idea moving dirt could be so much fun. After years working in offices doing CAD design, I was really enjoying getting dirty and running this big ass machine. My front yard has a plateau about 6 feet higher than my house's floor, and it slopes down sharply about 15 feet in front of the house. I wanted to plane out that slope and make it shallower, and transplant the dirt to other areas of my property, namely the sink holes over in the huge side yard left of the house, as well as the small space behind the garage on the right side adjacent to the water oak tree with the tree house platform on it. That area slopes away from the garage. I wanted to flatten that out for a play ground set I want to install there for my girls. 20.5 hours racked up on the CL35 in two days and I'm not even close to being finished, but had to send it back and wait until next month's income check before I can use it again. I started out slowly, using one control at a time. As the hours went by, I figured out tricks on my own on getting the most dirt into the bucket and multi-tasking with both joysticks at the same time. Then I turned up the speed a bit. That's when the shit hit the fan, so to speak. I had filled the bucket and was driving full speed to the drop-off pile. I learned that you don't leave it on full speed and then come to a stop. I had the bucket up high out of my line of sight, and approached the pile on a slightly downhill slope. When I instantly let off the drive joystick, the CL35's bottom track edge went from horizontal to damned near vertical, and I was thrown head first into the roof, with only the roller coaster ride-like safety bar keeping me inside the cage. Ouch. There I was, bracing myself with the damn bucket resting on the ground and myself looking straight ahead right at the ground. How the fuck do I get the damn thing back to horizontal??? Oh yeah, huh... Push down on the hydraulic joystick, forcing the bucket's hydraulic arms to retract down, and then CLANG BANG!!! The CL35 bounced back to horizontal, bouncing me around in the cab. Ow.... THEN I noticed the seat belt assembly on my right side. Fuck.... Fastened it. Checked everything to make sure it was still working, I rubbed my head and went back to work. Oh yeah, I had another "you fucking idiot" moment later on. It was late in the night on the first day and I was still moving dirt around, with the bright lights on the CL35 guiding me around. I had dropped a load of dirt directly behind the garage and without thinking, raised the bucket up above the cab, and proceeded to drive the tracks back and forth to pack the dirt down, and then all of a sudden I hear this LOUD SCRAPING noise, and watched a piece of siding fall down in front of me. Oh dear God, don't let this be what I think it is... Yep... FUCK.... I hit the fucking house with the bucket. It was the back corner of the garage. Knocked the end of the gutter off a bit and the downspout was ripped out of the gutter, as well as parts of the wood on the end of the soffit and the ends of 3 siding pieces damaged, as well as the plywood sheathing behind it. Oh boy was the wife pissed. I told her stop yapping, I'll get it fixed. Well not literally of course, or I wouldn't be here telling this story. I have yet to take any pictures, but when I get a chance to, I'll post them. The front yard is a mud hole now after it rained most of the past two days. I still have a lot more regrading to do, but at least the primary objective is done - leveling out the small yard behind the garage. I just have to get the dirt rake and smoothen the surface out before I lay the base layer down for the playground set. The rest of the yard can wait. Best thing right now is I don't have to mow the front yard until next year! "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thrillstalker 0 #2 July 31, 2009 you might be a redneck if... that kept going through my head as i read."Never grow a wishbone, where your backbone ought to be." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #3 July 31, 2009 Boys Toys - y'can't beat them (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdvr 210 #4 July 31, 2009 Had to move my driveway to the other side of my house awhile back. Those things are a blast. I was disappointed when I finished the drive because there was no more stuff to dig up.Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #5 July 31, 2009 Too bad you survived. That was almost a great Darwin Award story. :) Thanks for sharing.I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #6 July 31, 2009 Quote and then all of a sudden I hear this LOUD SCRAPING noise, I call bullshit!! Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #7 July 31, 2009 BillyVance !!!!! your ability to ENTERTAIN, through the written word , is Fantastic.....!!! " at least the primary objective is done" .... and just WHAT might that 'objective' have been???? Playing "trucks" , like a litlle kid,, in the sandbox.... only with REAL machines???? hahahaha... no doubt man. Deisel engines, HIGh torque trannies and drive systems, and HYDraulics!!!! all add up to some real POWER>>>> as soon as i looked at the clicky,,, to see it was,,,,, what is sometimes referred to, as a BOBCAT,,,,,i could just sense,,, that you were gonna talk about tipping that bad boy,,on it's nose!!! ( before i even read it...) sorta like a cessna pilot who crunches the brakes on a taildragger and bends a prop.... Glad you didn't get pitched right outta that cab....THAT could have been the Worlds Lowest H & P .!!!!! ( only it would have been more like a "HOP & HOPE"....)Those units can certainly allow you to make some changes around the Ole' Homestead and renting one can be some FUN... ( sure beats BUYING one) sidebar... isn't it amazing that those places will send out one of those things to ANYone.... regardless of their stated abilities ( "oh yeah SURE!!! i can work one of those ,,, NO problem) or more likely INabilities??? hahaha all they worry about is if the check clears, or the charge card goes through...get some pics,, to share with us, for next time... and geeze.. couldn't you have set the kids Up.???.. inside in a window , so that they could watch their DADDY,,, Playing.... i mean Working!!!Hey !!! did you buy the "damage insurance"??? if so sue those bastards!!! for the damge to your garage, the trauma suffered during Your 'near -death experience' ,, not to mention punitive damges for "loss of conjugal entitlements" ... since i bet the Missus is still ticked off!!!!! hahahahaha BV... carry ON!!! jimmyboy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #8 July 31, 2009 Quote Quote and then all of a sudden I hear this LOUD SCRAPING noise, I call bullshit!! I definitely felt it though. Now I can't remember whether I had my hearing aid turned on at that moment. The loud shrill back-up warning beeping noise was too much for me at first so I turned the aid off most of the time. Oh yeah, speaking of driveways... I had to cross my concrete driveway many times transferring dirt over. After the first few trips over, I'd already broken several chunks off the edges on both sides. Fuck... so the next few dirt loads went to making a dirt ramp over the driveway crossing. No further broken pieces. Of course, cleaning that shit off the driveway after I was finished with the CL35, was a royal pain in the ass. Luckily my neighbor across the street offered the use of his power washer, and that still took me 4 hours to clean all the mud off. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #9 July 31, 2009 Thanks man... I did tell the guy I had never run one of those machines before, and he said it was real simple to operate, and really tough, meaning you could heap on the abuse and it'd keep on going. He was right. I forgot to mention that as I dug, I uncovered two large boulders that I decided had to go so I could have a smooth surface in the end. Those were hard ones for me to figure out how to remove, but eventually, I decided that brute force at maximum speed, with the tines on the bucket aimed down at an angle. I set up the bobcat in that configuration, backed up, then charged forward, BANG!! Sparks flew and smoke wafted out. Again, BANG! BANG! BANG! Each time jolting me out of my seat. Several more times later I finally broke a huge chunk of the boulder off. Looked to be about 6 feet long by 3 feet wide and 2 feet thick, give or take. I got the rest of the pieces out and dumped them in the sink hole first, before I added the dirt over there. Beats the hell out of sledgehamming them yourself. I was just smiling and thinking to myself that I was pounding the fuck out of Skyride. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #10 July 31, 2009 BANG BANG BANG !!!!!! hahaha see like i said.. it's ALWAYS better to rent than to buy!!! Geeze Billy,,,, you probably failed to think about How Hard someone Else worked to BURY those two boulders!!!! job sites often have all sorts of shit,,, buried on them, when a house is built,, left over concrete, scrap drywall cutoffs, burned wood scraps, roofing materials and yes..... Rocks!!!!! hahaha i can just see you backing off and then Pounding those boulders!!!! with that machine... "beat it like a was a stubborn Mule!!! ( just kiddin', i would never beat a mule or any animal... though i am losing my patience with a couple of woodchucks, who have been raiding my veggies... THEIR time is coming... jt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Niki1 2 #11 July 31, 2009 Billy I knew I had been wanting to regrade my front yard and move the dirt elsewhere on my property. Fuck it, I went over there and said I want to rent the IHI CL35 front end loader. They had it delivered to my house in 30 minutes! See what it looks like here: http://www.dealquip.com.au/ihicl/ihicl.htm _____________________________________________ Niki I got the wheeled version once. I think the tracks would've made a bigger mess than I had to clean up to start with. __________________________________________ Billy Having never operated a piece of machinery like this big boy weighing 10,000 pounds (give or take) before, I knew it was going to be an interesting experience. _________________________________________ Niki He probably said it was easy. Like we tell a whuffo that packing a parachute is easy. (Of course it is if you know how) ____________________________________________ Billy I climb in, start it up, and get to work. Let me tell you, I had no idea moving dirt could be so much fun. After years working in offices doing CAD design, I was really enjoying getting dirty and running this big ass machine. ________________________________________ Niki A LOT more fun than a shovel and wheelbarow ________________________________________ Billy I started out slowly, using one control at a time. As the hours went by, I figured out tricks on my own on getting the most dirt into the bucket and multi-tasking with both joysticks at the same time. Then I turned up the speed a bit. That's when the shit hit the fan, so to speak. I had filled the bucket and was driving full speed to the drop-off pile. I learned that you don't leave it on full speed and then come to a stop. I had the bucket up high out of my line of sight, and approached the pile on a slightly downhill slope. When I instantly let off the drive joystick, the CL35's bottom track edge went from horizontal to damned near vertical, and I was thrown head first into the roof, with only the roller coaster ride-like safety bar keeping me inside the cage. Ouch. _______________________________________________ Niki I kept doing the opposite fuck up. While running full bore back the dirt pile, I kept the bucket low so I could see over it and the control that tilted the bucket (one of the foot pedals I think) was easyly confused (by me anyway) with some other control and put the bucket iip into the ground. This will stop the machine where it is abruptly. Fortunately, I saw the seat belt right off guessed they might have pup it there for a reason.__________________________________________ Billy I have yet to take any pictures, but when I get a chance to, I'll post them. ____________________________________ Niki I'm bad about forgeting to take the "before" pictures until I'm halfway done. I always think, "Next time I'll remember." Yeah, right. _________________________________________ Billy I just have to get the dirt rake and smoothen the surface out before I lay the base layer down for the playground set. The rest of the yard can wait. ________________________________________- Niki Instead of a rake, find a piece of fence, put a pipe on one end and some concrete blocks on it and drag it around with the lawn mower. If it's back from the shop yet. ________________________________________ Billy Best thing right now is I don't have to mow the front yard until next year! Niki Remember, if you want to know the easiest way to do something, ask the laziest man you can find. I'm generally availableMost of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done. Louis D Brandeis Where are we going and why are we in this basket? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millertime24 8 #12 July 31, 2009 BV, your antics are priceless. Muff #5048 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnDeere 0 #13 July 31, 2009 I own a couple of these, except mine are better (JohnDeere). Its not advised to to travel with the boom upwhile loaded. If you are going to dump it then you should wait untill the last 10 ft you are going to travel with that load, and start to slow down forward movement/ raise boom/ and tilt bucket forward at the same time. Untill you get to were you are dumping it and stop forward movement. This is the most effecent way to move dirt with one of these. Btw i wouldnt waise alot of time packing the dirt in. Oh yea watch out for the house! Nothing opens like a Deere! You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #14 August 1, 2009 QuoteBANG BANG BANG !!!!!! hahaha see like i said.. it's ALWAYS better to rent than to buy!!! Geeze Billy,,,, you probably failed to think about How Hard someone Else worked to BURY those two boulders!!!! job sites often have all sorts of shit,,, buried on them, when a house is built,, left over concrete, scrap drywall cutoffs, burned wood scraps, roofing materials and yes..... Rocks!!!!! hahaha i can just see you backing off and then Pounding those boulders!!!! with that machine... "beat it like a was a stubborn Mule!!! ( just kiddin', i would never beat a mule or any animal... though i am losing my patience with a couple of woodchucks, who have been raiding my veggies... THEIR time is coming... jt As a matter of fact, I did find several items buried in the yard. One was an old 12 oz glass coke bottle that looked like it came out of the early 80's. Another was what looked like a trio of thick wires (maybe the kind you'd see on the power poles?). I uncovered one end and kept digging, eventually uncovering about 15 feet worth of it. Also uncovered what looked like an old axial cable for TV, which I knew wasn't hooked to anything since our cable comes to the house overhead from the top of the power pole now. I did, however, rip up the phone cable that ran underground from the phone pole across the street to the panel on my house's wall. Not to worry, though. We don't even use the land line anymore and plan to be staying here for years to come. Maybe by the time we sell, the old 4-wire land lines will be a thing of the past and everybody will have fiber optics wired to their houses. I also uncovered an irrigation piping system that I knew about but had not been used since before I bought the house. I knew it was there and kept wondering when I'd finally hit it. It was fun pulling one end up with the bucket then pushing forward, making the 2" pvc pipe bend so far back and then CRACK! Pipe goes flying! As for the pictures, bear with me, it'll be Sunday at the earliest before I have a chance to get them. And yes, I forgot to take the "before" pictures. I'll have to root around in the picture files on the computer for any old photos of the yard to use."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #15 August 17, 2009 Well, I finally got around to getting the pictures up. #43: RAAAWWWRRRR!!!! #46: BBBBRRRRUMMMM!!! #50: The aftermath #51: Another look #57: Where a lot of the dirt went "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #16 August 17, 2009 More.... #58: Another look at the dirt transplant site. Leveling it out for a future play ground set. #60: The area right next to the garage wall. This is where I fucked up. #61: Goddamn it, you fucking idiot! #62: All better now! Not done with the dirt moving... Will be renting that big bad boy again next month for more. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #17 August 17, 2009 Hmph -- that soffit board picture looks like you just photoshopped it, and didn't fix it . Just wait until your wife finds out Wendy P. There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #18 August 17, 2009 Oh, I had to get it fixed. The new siding is only primed, not painted to match. A new fascia board and soffitt piece went in and the exterior board was just nailed back in place."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #19 August 18, 2009 I guess you learned both important lessons already, but they still bear repeating: 1- Always keep your load as low as possible during transport. Weight up high will come back to bite you! 2- Always keep your bucket in sight. As soon as you forget it's there, bad things will happen! BTW, if you think that's a fun machine, you haven't played on a back-hoe! When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #20 August 18, 2009 Yep, I learned that transporting fully loaded buckets down low is the way to go. Also keeps me from nose-tipping the damn thing should I ever forget to slow down before coming to a stop from full speed. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeJD 0 #21 August 18, 2009 Wow. Your 'front yard' is the size of my whole street. Looks like a lot of fun. The side view put me in mind of the loader from Aliens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #22 August 18, 2009 Quote Wow. Your 'front yard' is the size of my whole street. Looks like a lot of fun. The side view put me in mind of the loader from Aliens. I'd imagine it doesn't feel all that different from that. I like the double joy stick set up. There's no aliens to beat up here, but I can beat up some big rocks just under the surface. It's fun! "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
