Not my favorite days, that’s for sure. Fun for about an hour or two at best 😂

😂

Just as important as proper piston return spring tension. Had to adjust the powerbands the other day, took 2 out and it’s way smoother now 😂

“Thank you, they are new.” -Nacho Libré

Groundwork was being done..? Uhhh, we were reworking a slope…. Uhhh, the cities not done yet, but it’s in the process…. Just kinda thought it’d be cool to look back on in 10 years… 🤷🏼‍♂️ not much to say 😂

They sure are some capable machines, but there’s no denying the rough ride. Scrapers are even worse, but dang they’re cool!

I think he has a place in all of us in one way or another 😂

Dang it, I flew my rhetorical sarcasm plane too high again, so I guess we’ll dive into this, lol. This wasn’t manufactured by a dude slangin a couple sprockets a month out of his garage where that would make fiscal sense, this is one of the leading companies at the top tier of the sport. At that level, you’d think they would, idk, spend the handful of pennies so their products don’t look like they were packaged by new hires at Frito Lay..? Over time the money saved in material would outweigh the cost of initializing a scaled down version. The R&D stage in manufacturing is the most involved, so that’s where the price always hits hardest. It would definitely help the environment not having to dispose of a package that’s 3 times the size it needed to be.. but I digress, the packaging was silly and misleading, that’s all I was trying to get at, lol. 🤘🏼

Tomato, Potato.

That sounds like it’d be absolutely hectic to operate! I’d like to mess around with one off the clock for the experience though.

No doubt! 🤣🤣 Didn’t have a vest, boots, or a hard hat on, but there was no sending him home, he was bustin hump.

😂😂 He was on a straight up mission and didn’t have time for questions.

Man, for a second I thought you were giving your 2 cents based on just watching the video, but no one would do that and expect to be taken seriously, right? You were out there. 😂 Seriously though, I don’t disagree with your theory, unfortunately that only works on conditions that aren’t saturated clay before the bottom line falls out. Believe me, we tried, and after one round it would just blow up again. With big dirt, the developers are paying based on yardage, and scraPers are the ones actually moving that yardage, the rest is just support to increase load counts. So if scraPers waste ALL day dragging out roads and not pulling loads, they don’t make the money, and the bosses are pissed. That’s usually when they bring in a blade; long or messy hauls. It’s cheaper to pay one blade than slow down 6+ scraPers to smooth their own road continuously. I wouldn’t let my back go to waste in the name their money, but when you could easily be replaced by the next guy, you shut up and just get it done. So there actually were reasons oddly enough.

😂 31 years of moving dirt and I’ve never had my scrapers bouncing around like that. You have 6 scrapers there. They can smooth the haul road faster than the grader! Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little to go faster. It will all work out in the end. And as a boss I would never have my workers thinking about not doing something they think is good or be replaced. Dude you need to leave. I used to work for Kiewit. You should go there where you can grow. I see you know what you’re doing. I think you’re at the wrong company.

Lol, Idk about “young fella” as this is the oldest I have ever been, but I guess we’re all young to somebody, eh old timer? I actually did start changing feet over time, but don’t need to anymore. Moved on to checking grade, so now I’m setting up the cuts and fills and tellin em what to do instead! 😂 All the same, the tip is appreciated, and who knows, maybe someone else will read it and it may save their life.

Anything is possible! I would recommend trying to apply at a local quarry. They may be union, so you’d have to find your way in that way, which isn’t a bad thing.

When you know, you know, and you certainly know!

It’s a pretty rough gig on the body, but there’s certainly worse ways than “playing” in the dirt all day to make a living, I tell you what!

😂😂, I can only imagine the PTSD your back was going through, my condolences. I haaaaaaaaate scrapers. Can’t speak for anything past 35 yet, but even this is too old, haha. When I’m telling my friends and family about scrapers, I tell them how the only cool part of operating them, is bragging about it to your friends and family. They move a fascinating amount of dirt, but to me they’re fun for like 5 rounds at most. Fortunately I’ve been getting to hop around different equipment instead, but I have to fully agree, not once would I have rather been in a scraper. Luckily it’s been less and less, and it’s just a few days here and there now, with the occasional gravy job like disking fields. Im with you on the finish work and don’t mind the paddle wheels either. Couple weeks ago got a couple days in a 627k with only 14 hours on it, and that was a pretty killer. Didn’t last though, they had me back in a 637D this week, which was older than I am, lol. What a dog! Plus it 2 mile haul, and I’d say 90% of our road was pumping hard! My back and I are super glad that job is getting an inch of rain today 😂.

@7b7decker7 I ran a 637 for 2 years consistent, then moved up. Had alot more here and there days, fill in and what not. It's a good place to start. If you aren't out of the seat in 2-4 years you will be there until you can't walk. The dozer is a nice place to be. If you get a shot, move on to grade checker if you can read plans. Then it's foreman. After that I quit, got my own license and now do my own thing. Never looked back. I don't regret any of it but I don't ever want to go back. Good luck with your future and keep moving that dirt. There is alot of money to be made in the dirt

This dork when I first started out 🤣. Used to have a really bad habit of jumping out of equipment without it, which is an EXTRA big no-no at the quarries in California, so I’d always just keep it on my head. Outgrew that luckily, our necks take enough beating without the extra weight..

Some companies require it. ALL DAY

True, some require straps too, it’s crazy. All day would definitely kill me. Got loaned out to a different company once, and NOBODY wore them anywhere on that job. I couldn’t do that either, lol.

@@7b7decker7 thats the life, cowboy shit no fucks given run gear

I appreciate that, thank you! 🤘🏼

I hope all goes well for you! Scrapers get pretty gnarly sometimes, but they can be pretty fun too. Crazy machines. If it gets stressful and seems like a lot at first, just stick with it, it’ll get easier with time. You’ll find what works for you, especially if you get good partners that are willing to share some tips🤘🏼🤘🏼.

@@7b7decker7 I was fortunate enough to practice at a training site Friday & today (Tuesday) running a 657K, but just solo loads, no push/pull I’m not a pro yet, but I’m confident about running one on a job now. Definitely harder on the body than most other machines I’ve been on

Gotta teach em young! 🤙🏼

No kiddin, even the good days feel like a car wreck! Can’t speak past 35 yet, but it sure feels too old to me 😂.

I hope you get to also. They can be a lot of fun!

Yea, I actually kinda prefer open cab equipment. The windows just make it harder to see. Cabs are sweet if you actually get a rig with working AC, otherwise it’s like another 10 the outside temperature, it sucks.