Lorain Cable Shovel Saved from the Scrap Yard! (Worth the trouble?)

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[@RRRIBEYE]

Years ago, when I was an apprentice operator for our local Operating Engineers, I was shown very briefly how to start an old "Cable-8" (D-8) dozer that had the pony motor setup. Once I showed I could get it running, I was let loose on clearing an old growth area on a river bottom that was to be a new soccer complex for kids. That was my 'break in' to operating heavy equipment! After the dozer, I was then put on a Cable-8 with a scraper and taught how to scrape and stock pile the black dirt and then how to follow grade for cuts and fills. It was the beginning of learning the basics before I was put with a company that had nothing but the newest, greatest CAT equipment with AC/heat cabs, tunes, etc. This was all before GPS and all that, but it was an incredible 13 years of my life! I enjoyed not only running all those big, yella toys, but especially NOT having to be the guy repairing them, lol! That said, I was a very good operator and I never thrashed the equipment - treated it as it were my own. The mechanics appreciated that, as there were other operators that (wonder why) their equipment was always breaking down. Love this video! Thanks for sharing. I can't imagine at 6'2" crawling in under there like you did!

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

That sounds like how I would run my rigs, is treating them like my own, as though they're my baby. Treat 'em right, and they won't fight. Then again, I'm the type of schmuck who'd have my own machine that only I do the fiddlin' around on, just so I know if I screw things up........

[@davidsellars646]

The community college where I went for some classes in heavy equipment operation had a D8-2U cable Cat. I learned how to run it building a pond one summer. There was a Wooldridge can in the yard and I figured out how to run it behind the Cat. Later, we acquired a LeTourneau LS which was much better than the Wooldridge. A few years later, the old Cat was auctioned off. Yea, I'm still running it and a different LS, that I found, and a Cat #80 can. I love those old cans. I can load, haul, place, and compact all by myself. I do need a 21.24 20 ply tire for the Cat can. Anybody know of one?

[@Hoaxer51]

@@davidsellars646, Gotta love the old iron, I have 1967 Case backhoe that I’ve been nursing for years. Everybody kids me about how it looks, I just tell them it beats a pick and shovel! I still like working on that thing.

[@beakittelscherz5419]

Man I love those story's.. thx 4 sharing! Greetings from Germany 👍🇩🇪

[@WatchWesWork]

Apparently Lorain is now owned by Terex. You should make a reaction video of you at the local Terex dealership trying to order parts for this rig...

[@MayaPosch]

Makes one wonder in how far people restoring these old machines going keeps up demand for spare parts. With old (vintage) cars there's a significant demand because it's a common hobby, but you don't see too many folk who are going on that Sunday cruise in their ol' steam shovel or such. I'm assuming it's mostly a matter of how 'obsolete' and collection-worthy. Still quite a few people who need parts for e.g. Cat D6 dozers, as those machines are still in regular use, LetsDig18 included :)

[@Rorschach1024]

Ha!

[@Rorschach1024]

getting parts for older vehicles is much much harder these days. with the exception of very popular collectable vehicles that have significant aftermarket support, parts for anything more than 10 years old are almost nonexistent.

[@Rorschach1024]

I own an 04 tundra. finding normal maintenance parts (brake pads, belts, hoses, etc.) for it is very hard. which kind of undermines the longevity of the brand.

[@billtheunjust]

@@Rorschach1024 it's amazing the difference the model makes, I have a 95 ranger and so far haven't had problems finding parts.

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

Love it. I often stop and take a look when I drive by old steel cable shovels/excavators.

[@trevornewton7072]

My second favourite u tuber hope you’re well n safe hi from down under looking forward to your next video hope it’s a exploring one

[@WH32R]

If you're ever in New York, look up the Marion Steam Shovel in Le Roy. It's a beast!

[@aleksandersats9577]

This is a surprise seeing you here

[@73DiamondReo]

@@WH32R i was just working in LeRoy and would have loved to check it out when i was then. maybe next time i guess

[@andljoy]

Did not expect to bump into you on this channel mate. You both rock!

[@reneebeesley9398]

Grew up in Lorain, Thew shovel made this . Lorain was a great industrial city, US steel, American shipbuilding , Ford assembly. Than came the rust belt .. Glad someone cares about the old stuff.

[@robertmihalko6949]

Nostalgia brought to the forefront. I live in Lorain and my Grade School was directly across the street from Thew Lorain. In fact being an old you know what, I was 9 when this was built (1956?) and may have actually seen this unit being tested. At recess, we would often watch the workers run the machines through their paces prior to shipment. Very happy to see you get it going again. Thew was well known throughout the country and the Lorain badge was seen all over the world. Thanks for a great video.

[@ronbishop2221]

That was my dad, He was what they called a (Tester- fitter) He was the one that picked stuff up-down and Spun them around.

[@lesterhutchins1621]

I feel you friend

[@bigone9678]

That is awesome Robert. I worked at US Steel in Lorain. I loved the history just oozing from that dilapidated 100-yr old brick pipe mill. Back in 2011-ish they still had an overhead crane from the 1890's, and the cart-pulling donkey path through the building was still plainly evident. Wish we hadn't all lost our jobs....

[@lisablack7548]

thank you for sharing your memories with us... in my mind i pictured your little faces peering thru the fence ... : }

[@يوسفنبيل-و6ج]

😊

[@cydery]

Hi Mat, I grew up in a small country town and when I was a kid back in the early 1950's they put a new bypass road through the paddock between our place and the neighbours, and they used the block behind our house as their vehicle park. What I remember most about all this is, every morning all the pony motors starting just after dawn. It was winter and often got down bellow zero so these would run for quite a while, while everything warmed up, then one by one they stated their main engines and trundled off down their new road to work. All those little exhausts pipes blowing into the cold misty air. Magic🙂

[@mikebaldwin4220]

Memory of yours and my younger DAYS,THEY WERE THE BEST YEARS!!!!

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

No sleeping in, that's for G Damn sure. Was surprised just how quiet the main engine is. Heck it's quieter than a lot of old diesel John Deere tractors I've watched cold start....

[@seeker1015]

I remember well a D9 starting up numerous times on highway project I was working maintenance fitter on. The little 4 banger screaming it's poor head off through the straight out exhaust before engaging the dog clutch, CLUNK, and it just about died, chugga chugga as it slowed to a crawl before the big diesel picked up speed then fired. The driver did tell me what the 4 was, and scratching now, I think he said a Morris Mini motor. Straight out exhausts are common for such short use. That's why Lorraine's is so loud.

[@musiquepourmoi11]

Ó

[@cliffordkinnear9705]

All of these Antique Catipillars, Lorains, Shovels are immune to EMP blasts! Amazing that something that looks so ancient can be brought back to life!

[@musicauthority674]

With just a little bit of dinging around. that machine was fully functional. hell yeah.

[@jeanewhiteside1490]

I’m 81 and watch you often. It’s encouraging to see a young man with a work ethic and business sense. I’m looking for to watching you get your new shed up and especially your home in the woods.

[@TuckerMinney]

Mr.Matt I love watching your channel you have a lot of knowledge. I'm 13 years old and I love small engine repair. I like to watch your videos and get your knowledge. I have a 2003 Honda Rancher 350 with a warn 3000 pound winch an led light bar led headlights and itp midnight tires. I mow and weedeat to get money to work on it. I'm saving for an international cub to use for a roughcut mower.keep up the good work,and God bless you.

[@hazyincolour]

the mechanical engineering of all those clutch assemblys, cable windings and output shafts is an absolute thing of beauty. thanks for sharing!

[@genebohannon8820]

My grandfather ran the cable rigs, starting in the 20's as an oiler. Everyone started as an oiler!

[@SalvageWorkshop]

I love that old shovel! Great save! It's got the same motor as the one in "Old Red"! Great motors!

[@TheChaztor]

When he said pony motor I thought of you. 🙂

[@douglasrodrigues8361]

It's not a shovel. It's a backhoe.

[@Simon-dm8zv]

@@douglasrodrigues8361 Or excavator?

[@CliffManis]

Hello 1,27,24, Matt and all. I am 84 years old and in 2 months will be 85, and I watch Diesel Creek everyday. new day 3.3 and 738k subs, it is really nice to see that MATT is doing so well. I do enjoy watching and see all he is showing. be well, be safe.

[@dk2614]

My grandfather started as a machine operator on steam shovels working in a granite pit in VT. He passed away in 2010. Seeing these kinds of machines make me think he's likely used a machine like this sometime during his career. I got to see him cut in a road on a mountain side in 1996. He had that excavator rocking and rolling. It was pretty awesome to see even as an older man he still had what it took.

[@makingithappen5178]

The old Caterpillars used here in northernmost Sweden had a rule. When you have run the pony engine with the diesel engine engaged for 25 minutes and it has not started, then it is too cold to work.

[@OLDBEAR123456]

Good one.

[@makingithappen5178]

@@OLDBEAR123456 Jeupp.

[@mikeabbott2396]

Considering how her diesel started and ran, and how she broke loose, I'd say Sweet Lorain is a good name for her.

[@TheProudNorth]

Or loose lorain

[@Hoaxer51]

@@TheProudNorth, 😊

[@notajp]

Takes me back to my teen years……only Uriah Heep spelled Lorain differently…..

[@edwarddavis507]

Gives a whole new meaning to pre-inspection. Next time I am complaining about checking and greasing my machine I’m going to think twice about this Lorain. Matt, thank you so much for sharing this video with us. Knowing how near and dear this old machine is to you and seeing you guys working on it so diligently and carefully really made me feel like part of the family.

[@denissharp2471]

There was a company , Ruston & Hornsby based in Lincoln, England, and they went into partnership with Bucyrus-Erie based in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA. The resultant product bearing the name 'Ruston Bucyrus' we kids used to call them Rusty Piecrusts 🤣 . I remember seeing their cable draglines and shovels working in the nearby quarry here in the UK, when I was a small kid back in the late 1950's, early 60's, great to watch your resurrection of this venerable old girl, another great easy to understand video Matt, well done.

[@scottlee9428]

I cannot TELL you how much I am enjoying your channel and the videos!! I am a professional archaeologist with a passion for earthmovers - especially the old, rusted iron - and your channel combines my love of both! I'm also an avid collector of antiques, many of which are old rusted earthmover toys (bulldozers, haul trucks, etc.). I've been completely hooked on your videos since discovering them a week ago, and I cannot thank you enough for your ongoing efforts to save these wonderful, old machines. For me, the best I can do is photograph them in my adventures to find them. But it does my heart good knowing that people like you are bringing them back to life, preserving and restoring such an important part of our history. From the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU!!

[@juliesoane7399]

I cannot be the only one of your subs to have let out a cheer when you finally got the Larain loaded! Just waiting to see more of the same entertainment Matt. Both yourself and @SalvageWorkshop have an amazing gift of restoring these great old machines. Keep it coming😊

[@paulrapp6]

Excellent video Matt. Keeping old and older equipment running is about like opening a restaurant; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and you still need another 12 hours a day to catch up on all the things you didn’t get to because you were taking care of other things that also require your immediate attention 😱. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Keep the aspidistra flying!

[@roberthocking9138]

When you crawled in the machine on top of those clutches, I got cramp in both my legs just watching 😂😂 great video, good to see another one saved

[@stefanbuscaylet]

Lol glad its not just me then that had that thought.

[@brianw8963]

Glad I found Your channel,been a heavy equip. Operator going on 45 years, about 15 on draglines. I just love this old stuff and happy to see people like You saving history. That Lorain is a beauty!

[@letsdig18]

That sure was a exciting day! Glad it finally made it to the show I was getting worried for a minute haha

[@DieselCreek]

I was worried for days 😳

[@larrylenz7723]

Chris you and Matt need to restore one as a team. Here lately I have been watching your channel's thinking that looks like fun except the cold!

[@JS-wc4xs]

This piece of equipment reminds me of the book "Are you my Mother?" By P.D.. Eastman The steam shovel in the book looks kinda similar to this shovel.

[@starrionx1]

@@JS-wc4xs You just named it you realize. Matt: This one is called 'The Snort'.

[@philhunt9297]

Having watched your latest youtube release I'm guessing you'd be borrowing this Lorain just so you can get some normal work done 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Sorry Chris just having a dig......which is more than you can do right now 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Britney Spears - Oops! I did it again 😋

[@chriscampbell2327]

It amazes me how these were designed with only a pencil, paper and a slide ruler! Before the age computers and they performed the jobs required of them.

[@CrimeVid]

Damn ! I remember starting the day filling oil cups and grease caps on a gravel pit shore plant, 52 years ago, how time flies ! Now I think about it, the very first thing was priming the priming pump, with a rope and bucket about 7’ above the water, you had to go fast, you got wet, lovely about 6.30 in he morning !

[@lutsifer5847]

33:41 The good old technique. That was still engine building art. The current engines work themselves no better when new than these old engines. However, they are much more sensitive.

[@Fabulouxbazzwrld]

⬆️📩

[@michaelalexander4331]

I was born in Lorain, Ohio where your Crane was built. Back then the factory was called "Two Shovel". I'm 75 years old.

[@PoteauCowboy]

Getting this machine moving and functioning is a huge accomplishment. I think this old girl needs to keep her battle scars, each one is a story. Fix her joints, tune the moving parts and mechanics as close to factory as possible. Use something to stop the rust. Then let those who enjoy heavy equipment appreciate her history and beauty. She had a life, keep it going. Imagine the operators in the seat. Imagine the job sites. Imagine the work she was built to do. True beauty is more than paint deep. Jon...

[@pamike4873]

Never had a doubt!! It's always a good day when you can save a piece of history. Now it's safe and reunited with its family at its forever home. Freaking fantastic! It's not every day you get to rescue something that helped build our country. Excellent job Matt.

[@ronicard]

Matt, it's a testament to the kind of person you are that you have friends like Mike, a guy who would come over to help a buddy multiple times. Great videos. Keep up the good work. It's a great thing you're doing as you're preserving all of this old steel.

[@dannaumann9758]

What a treat to see that old dog even close to functional! My dad had an old D4 with that pony motor, had a rope pull starter on it! Always a thrill to hear that Diesel engine take off!

[@UncaDave]

As a boy I remember seeing these. I’m 75. In HS I worked in a shipyard in CT that had a similar one. An old mechanic kept it running. It was used to cable lift cabin cruisers on cradles. Loved watching it work. Great video. Go for it!

[@essexfarmer9610]

In the UK, we call the small starter engine a "donkey engine" where you in the States call in a "pony engine". We could only afford a donkey to your classy pony! I always like noticing the small local differences in technical names. Nice job in saving the old girl there Matt. A very worthwhile thing. In many years to come, people will loook back at this video to appreciate that it would likely have been lost forever if you had not taken her into the Diesel Creek stable. As you say, she helped build the world.

[@karguy1720]

In US usage a donkey engine is the name for a steam-powered winch which was used for logging, mining and other industrial applications.

[@colddiesel]

I think that originally a Donkey engine had a marine application because it was used as "muscle" to move heavy cargo, so in that sense the meaning is very similar to American usage.

[@geoffmesser5091]

It was called a donkey engine in Australia too.

[@essexfarmer9610]

@@geoffmesser5091 I guess that might be due to a lot of equipment coming from the UK back in the day? Maybe the terminology came with it?

[@HANKTHEDANKEST]

@@karguy1720 Canada, too--always knew it as a steam donkey. Lots of them still in bits, out in the woods near the town I grew up in. Once in a while, you find a big pulley or bits of boiler lurking in the weeds. Other times, you just find devil's club and get bitten by a million mosquitoes. Ah, the woods!

[@SteveTheFordGuy985]

Matt you did a great job loading the shovel, even with no experience with the old girl, what a day you had. Job well done😊👍👍👍

[@RobertFay]

*- Wonderful ! ! !* *- 3366 hours **8:51* *- Congratulations to you, Matt, and to Lorain for finding a happy home to live with ! ! !*

[@bachtomin213]

Amazing job Matt and Mike!. Nice to see someone who can turn an actual wrench. Too many players on KZbin break everything down with a Milwaukee fuel impact, and don't show the ins and outs like getting a 6'2" person over the drag link clutches.

[@tonyburdick2298]

Years ago, I used a cable driven backhoe to dig in a water line at my FIL's salvage yard. It was truck mounted, with the truck having a frozen engine, so we pulled it around with a wrecker. It had a bit of a learning curve as you have figured out, but it was fun to operate. The issue was to coordinate the foot brakes' engagement with the cable drums' disengagement. Get it wrong and the boom will do a lot of slamming. Fortunately, I didn't break it while learning. It won't be nearly as convenient as a hydraulic backhoe, but it's a novel way to get the job done. Enjoy!

[@douglasrodrigues8361]

The old military Garwood cable backhoes were truck mounted.

[@oscarprendergast7295]

Not as strong and efficient as a Modern hydraulic backhoe either tony

[@1977islander]

The coolest thing about this in my opinion is that you now own a piece of equipment with it's own engine room!

[@maverick5006]

When I was a boy, I remember watching these machines dig trenches for sewer lines. They are poetry in motion!! Watched them for hours.

[@alandeakin3533]

Well, after watching for about 5 minutes or so I thought there must be enough video's sorting this out to keep me happy for years, but guess what after an hour she starts on the button lifts up stretches out , runs backwards and forwards, all that's left is a coat of paint and to watch you dig a few trenches. Well sorted as always love everything you do, i'm sure you'll find lots of interesting stuff to keep me and everyone else happy.

[@avalon1995]

I really appreciated your video for a number of reasons and chief among them is the fact I was born in Lorain, OH where this excavator was manufactured by the Thew Shovel Co. Although the company ceased operations many decades ago some of the equipment they built is still around as you've shown us. So whenever I see a "Lorain" it always holds a special place in my heart.

[@markdyer6166]

My uncle has a D6 with a manual start pony, 1956 I think. One of my favorite memories with him is going out to run it and we couldn't find the hand crank. He told me to go get the 1/2" socket set behind the seat of the truck. He put a 12-pt socket on the stub to start the pony, turned it just so, and with 1 good yank the pony fired right off. There is something really neat about coming up to a dozer and being able to start it without a battery anywhere.

[@oldhouseredux7733]

Christine: “I’m the coolest piece of equipment in this yard!” Loraine: “Hold my beer.”

[@raywatts6734]

Loraine would be my favorite toy. Christine would be my favorite tool.

[@mhack9881]

LOL, good one

[@Cam_k]

@@raywatts6734 true dat

[@n0b0dy07]

Christine can do lot of moves, also she needs the original ripper to complete her body

[@Bugdriver49]

What happened to that old drag line you bought, Matt?? Thought this vid was about that old drag line at first.......I'm not mad, love seeing old hunks of iron come back to life....your happiness is infectious and spills over to us, your fans. Same effect Muste1has, hearing his cackle of mirth driving around an ATV, golf cart, moped, go cart, or boat he just resurrected from a "free" junk pile. I've never worked on a diesel engine, but after hours watching vids from you and others that also rescue abandoned iron...like Marty T, down in NZ or Northwest Pacific Hillbilly, who is restoring an old CAT D-4...from a manual. Reminds me of me.....if I don't know how to do something...I read how, and I do.......Mostly because I'm poor and can't afford to pay someone...but more like I'd just rather do it myself. I'm encouraged to go out , find some old broken down hunk of junk and breathe life back into it..................................................................HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, RIGHT, IM 72 AND POOR AS A CHURCH MOUSE...Thanks , Matt for allowing all of us to vicariously live your life. (Couldn't do it without you...lol)

[@whotknots]

My mother's dad used to be a 'steam engineer' who at one point in the early 20th century operated a steam shovel preparing earthworks for a new railway junction in a regional center.

[@oacartg2183]

Thank you for sharing my dad is a little younger he was in he worked for rocket time but I love these shovels they're more fun than a a shuttle

[@jjock3239]

Great save. I'm happy to know that it won't be scrapped. Those were the machines I watched for hours as a kid. Yeah, I'm 80, and there is no going back.

[@tetreaulthank4068]

Great Job guy’s ! Really enjoyed how you made this happen from the trade all the way to getting it to the show 👍👍. One thing that sets your channel up from many out their is just that, you make things happen with all of your many talented friends from start to finish in one show without dragging it out over 5 or more shows which is torture 🙄. Love that your saving these wonderful pieces of our America’s history. My grandfather was a diesel and heavy equipment mechanic and operator back in the 50’s -70’s. I remember when he was involved building the newest road from route 7 starting outside Troy NY over the mountains through Bennington VT into route 9 into Keene NH. I was in awe Of just what those men and equipment did blasting their way through those mountains with boulders Bigger than the cape cod I’d grow up in ! Those men were tough and knew how to rig equipment to the steep cliffs and repair machines. Our country was built from those mens abilities and that equipment you love so dearly. Thanks again to all of you who are out their saving those amazing machines from the scrappers, plus Why would you want the metal from those machines going to build cars not even made in the USA !!

[@richardgreenlaw1442]

Love seeing the old school equipment that has sat for years run and operating again. Nice job guys. 👍👍

[@cyumadbrosummit3534]

Be careful, Ive known two equipment operators in my lifetime who were killed by cable snap on similar machines. Operator safety and reliability were the main reasons everything switched to hydraulic.

[@lolatmyage]

I wouldn't run this without a heavy expanded metal windshield and plenty of extra guards...

[@lolatmyage]

@George Jones Don't confuse caution with fear. Being foolhardy and not comprehending the risks involved is a great way to get got by the machine

[@marcomcdowell8861]

Crazy. Thew-Lorain was a company that made these in my hometown of...Lorain, Ohio. Now the city is another casualty of the rust belt.

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

That always seems to be the case for some of the great hometowns of the 20th century that got North America up & at 'em for modernisation (for the time period). Just look at the old plants in good ol' Flint. Now people only know that place as "oh hey, that's the city with horrible crime stats and no clean city water!"

[@opengchris18]

know it well, they just tore down the old original works (most of pc campana factory) down on 28th over the last couple years

[@Hoaxer51]

All right, some fellow Buckeyes, O-H!

[@ronbishop2221]

Yep, and the Ford Co. is gone also

[@ronbishop2221]

@@opengchris18 Yep I saw the Pictures of them tearing down the Thew Shovel Plant

[@TheFullTimer]

Listening to you talk plus the grass, trees, and the dampness of everything I could sense another Pennsylvanian. Take care, and be well

[@geraldschilli8870]

This is fantastic. It’s always good to revive an old piece of history. There’s nothing like an old piece of mechanical equipment with no electronics or computers. Keep up the good work.

[@joser3184]

From 1960 to 1978, I was raised across the street from the Thew Shovel factory, in Lorain Ohio. I watched them roll by as they were shipped out world wide. Thanks to 1980-82 and imports, that all came to an end. Nice to see some of them being given life again.

[@hydro2wheel]

Watching this brought back memories of my childhood when I volunteered at a railroad museum. I will never forget the day when they finally got the diesel locomotive to start. It used a pony motor as well.

[@greypoet2]

I've been watching your, Mike's and Chris's videos on this and Christine's build up to the show. Fascinating! So much time, work and love(hate?) has gone into them. So happy to see them showing off. Well done.

[@themachinerydoctor9117]

Sad to hear the Clark wheel loader is gone that was one of if not the first videos of yours that I watched. Glad you were able to save it though and now save this too. Keep up the good work 👍

[@GeneMusall]

I can’t get over the effort you and your buds go through for preserving the old equipment.

[@kzbuster]

In 1974 I worked as a shovel oiler in an open pit iron mine in northern Minnesota. The operator taught me how to run them. We were stripping the Earth off of the iron ore with old electric Bucyrus-Erie and Marion shovels. You shovel video reminded me of those days when I was learning to operate them. Greatest worry was knotting or twisting the cables on the reels. Your shovel is difficult with all the levers, I just had two swing foot pedals, left and right and two levers, one for hoist and one for crowd, with buttons one them for horn and dump. Was fun.

[@Randy411]

Brings back memories of sitting in my dads lap while he operated a machine like this. Thanks!

[@Ugnaught82]

We want to see a full restoration on this one, like you did for Christine!

[@DieselCreek]

Probably over the course of the next year or two. Have to get the auto cars into good condition first

[@MrJeast]

Yes autocar first

[@professorright]

Oh this would be so cool to see all new and shiny yellow. :)

[@dumptruckintruthduke]

I know better than to expect him to actually finish any job. I tend to have the same problem of quitting at 98% also

[@serioustrouble63]

Playground for big boys! 😁

[@CS_Blitzen]

I am so glad that there are people out there that still care about these old machines like yourself Matt. You put blood sweat (maybe even a tear or two off camera) into every machine and video, it's clear as day that you're passionate about what you do and it makes it all the more enjoyable to watch along, Diesel Creek cap on my head. Keep it up man.

[@candyrenno5389]

Love your site! I'm a 80-year woman, my husband had a TD6 and a D4 Cat , I did a lot of work on the repairs and help run them too. i would laugh when someone asked were the steering wheel was on the D4.

[@Ian-yf7cj]

You have yourself a museum folk would pay to come and see the old machines working both young and old to reminisce. Very good you certainly now your stuff

[@SammyFender]

When I was a kid, 10 or 12 years old, my step father had a cable shovel, an old cable crane, and a really old D9 with cable pulley for the blade and a crank started pony motor. He taught me how to operate all three, but I wasn’t allowed to run the dozer til I could start the pony Moyer by myself. I’d be honored to lend a hand!

[@scott-ww8mw]

I also like your ability see beyond the rust. The restoration of the Pony was really interesting!

[@scott-ww8mw]

Were there actually Steam Shovels at the show? A coat of Rust Oleum yellow implement paint would surely both protect and beautify this fine piece of equipment until you restore it. You are a great showman presenting your stuff and getting the old iron running again! Thanks Matt!

[@rayscrafield2106]

Outstanding video. Very interesting for this old 80 year old. I've never been exposed to heavy equipment in my lifetime. Especially these old gals. Thanks for the ride. I'd love to see some footage of the show.

[@richardmendham5278]

Well done Matt, I would never have thought you were 6'.2! That's one tight spot! I'm 5'.11 and my brother's 6'4 &1/2! He is a mechanic too and owns vintage machines! If I wasn't disabled, I think I would have been also!

[@jasonkuehl639]

I love those old Cat diesels, hands down the best sounding engine around! The pony motors are a bit harsh on the eardrums, but I wouldn't mind having one to play with, might be fun to fit one in an old Cub Cadet garden tractor like the Original or 100 series.

[@MikeT-TheRetiredColonel]

All I can say is such a COOL piece of equipment that you were able to save, Matt! And I LOVE how you, Mike (Dirt Perfect) and Chris (letsdig18) all come together to help one another out. You three are, by far, my favorites when it comes to this sort of content. Keep on, keeping on and THANKS a lot, as always! One of these days I'll bring my daughter down to one of the shows and finally get to meet y'all.

[@arlodewald5378]

Back in my day there was a lot of places that would cook the tops and bottoms off , run the core and tanks throw acid bath . Fix almost any radiator , unless a person ran the fan or meteor though it . Look amazingly like new . Painted and leak free , for less than a third of the cost of new one ! Oh the old days ! Looks like a very comfortable seat to spend eight to ten hour days in , plus air conditioning ! Machines that were way ahead of its time .

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

>or meteor through it That makes me think of the engine I want several of (in working condition, with as much prime power left as possible for the age they have): Rolls-Royce's "grounded" version of the Merlin after salvaging shot down the engines from aircraft like Supermarine Spitfires: The Rolls-Royce Meteor. The beauty that powered my favourite armoured vehicle of all time.........The venerable Centurion Main Battle Tank.

[@EttoreBazucci]

You guys just Rock. Unbelievable, you managed to turn it on and make it work and role and so on. What a powerful knowledge you have got. Simply Bravo!

[@andrewschmitt5792]

It's amazing to see these still capable of running. Whenever I see worn out and forgotten equipment or cars I really think that they can be brought back only it depends on the perspective of their owners or someone from the outside that has passion to bring it back. Really is fascinating to see a cable driven machine, most people probably wouldn't ever consider using one

[@PoconoJoe13]

My uncle was an oiler on drag lines and cables shovels. He was 64 and 265 lbs. he use to have hand crank pony motors. He taught me how to engage the clutch’s to start the main motor. That was in the mid 60’s. And some coal mines were still open then

[@derekstocker6661]

So very well done guys, keeping this elderly lady in good fettle and letting us see what went into the task of bringing her back to life. Thanks for this, look forward to more of same, hopefully a full restoration maybe.

[@dorightal4965]

When I was a child, I wanted a toy version of a "Steam Shovel"!! That would take you back to a different age of power, but still in the cable control and power transmission. Are there any steam powered equipment units still running, besides the tractors and stationary engines? Steam Rollers would be neat to see as well! It amazes me how much utility still lives in these abandoned tools!

[@robertlang7717]

The Panama Canal still has a few, super lifting "steam driven" monsters, but they have shut down the boilers and use diesel driven compressed air, for safety. Old boilers are time bombs.

[@alexanderw6309]

I can remember them using steam powered rollers in India when I was growing up. Since they never throw things away there I suspect there are still some there that run.

[@mattjohnson7316]

Hello sir, i just found your channel and you basically brought back my childhood with my dad and grandpa because they had AMERICAN draglines and i used to work on and drive them when i was about 11 man i miss being on a dragline.... thank you

[@terrymiler2164]

Chris,and Mike two of the best when it comes to moving dirt.

[@matterantimatter1]

wow there's a lot of sentimental value in this episode, a lot of first time getting to know this thing ,its a job for the ages, great job matt !

[@MadonnaJune]

Matt, I agree the Autocar should come first. 🙂 But just to throw in my two cents about restoring this ol’ shovel - I think mechanically do a full restoration. But the patina suits her, and a shiny new paint job would look odd.

[@Rorschach1024]

Matt, be very careful and replace those cables before too long. if one of those cables breaks, it could quite literally rip you in two. there was a reason why they were replaced by hydraulics.

[@pkmachinegun]

Man it’s nice to see another PA diesel mechanic that gets all the Sling Blade and O Brother quotes too! Keep up the good work!

[@anthonyhill503]

I learned to drive trucks on an old Autocar and a Brockway 16 ton tri axle.. i love this channel

[@jimmytjomsland6132]

Matt: When you hoard something and everyone calls it junk, and then the day comes when it fits something, that is when you feel "wise", not just cheap.

[@seeker1015]

I've told a few close friends who've called my stuff 'junk' that it's 'assets.' And you're right, keeping for 20-30 years and bingo, just the thing.

[@unclesteevo2606]

When I was a young boy, my parents used to take us out to this old hippy family’s farm to hang out sometimes. Their place looked as hillbilly as you can imagine, what with him dragging all kinds of ‘junk’ home from the auctions. I remember when he sold a gyroscope from an old crashed helicopter cab he bought back to bell for about 60 grand. Or when their old farmhouse burned down and they collected 400 grand cause they had 3 of everything

[@punktalley]

@@unclesteevo2606 high chance your parents were there buying things that wasn't sold in stores....most our parents were there at a very similar place

[@bitsnpieces11]

When they were building the Alaskan Highway a lot of the Dozers had Pony motors. If needed you could run the Pony motor and spin the diesel engine for an hour or more to get the oil and engine warmed up until it would start. I worked on an old flat head six cylinder gas engine once and the oil on the dipstick looked absolutely fresh from a can, had not been run for years. I was suspicious and checked the oil pan. Condensation on the inside of the engine had run down the inside and pulled all of the chunks, carbon, metal, etc out of the oil and to the bottom of the oil pan. If I had cranked it I would have pumped pure water plus chunks (no oil filter) plus gummed carbon and gum into the bearings. I drained ALL of the oil, with a lot of water, trash and dirt out and put in new oil. Since then I have always checked the bottom of any reservoir in something that has sat for more than about six months.

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

Well, at least you knew where all the gummin' gunk was hiding itself! Hope some of the oil was able to be salvaged, if it was in that good a condition.

[@bitsnpieces11]

@@airplanemaniacgaming7877 Well it was CLEAR and looked god but had no additives and had been sitting for 20 or so years. It would have been useful for lubing pins/cables etc. Point being don't trust the oil sitting on top for so many years.

[@robwilson2875]

Make sure you turn the fuel off to the pony motor to kill it. Otherwise fuel will leak down and contaminate the oil.

[@tmscheum]

If you know Squatch253 you are preaching to the choir!!!

[@michamikekit]

I watched this episode 3 times. Love these old cable machine. I remember when I was a young kid seeing these machines in old cartoons.

[@sparksalot4950]

Great job Matt, good friends are always good to have around !! I ran a 1952 Loraine crane that started the cat engine with a gas pony motor, what a major headache to get each one going. The cranes tracks didn't work and the boom cable was hooked to a giant steel door that was used to smash cars for recycling. We had the only auto junkyard in the Lake Tahoe basin in the 1970s. If I was successful in getting the crane going, I could smash up enough cars to load our 45 ft flatbed and get a trip in the Kenworth Cabover down the mountain to Sacramento the next day. Those were the days my friend !!

[@iwouldrathernot4274]

Theres an old cable shovel like this waaaay out on a trail near a local Ochre mining company. Its definitely much older though, I would guess 40's. Still perched up on top of the dirt on the side of the trail that it was digging in when it was left to sleep. It'd be cool to see that one come back to life but it's just as cool to see where it lay. Youre still absolutely right though, these drag cranes and cable shovels are what built this country. We have amenities now and hydraulics can do so much more than the cables, but this country was built with twisted steel and black smoke.

[@npsit1]

57:08 I think one of the nicer features of this old machine, mostly for the sanity of the operator, is the lack of beeping...

[@norwegiangadgetman]

Sweet looking machine, and you can see the beginnings of todays modern hydraulic diggers. I just love the look of those little spring-loaded oil cups so when I came across some on a Chinese site, while ordering some stuff(I always check what else a reseller has, that I can add to pad an order out with) I just had to order a few.

[@Bread996]

They’re still made by Gits Manufacturing in the US.

[@tellyfaulkner3466]

@@Bread996 Now you tell him lol

[@charlesfoster141]

Man, you guys are fantastic! When that pony motor revved up to full rpm I smiled ear to ear. I thought my face was going to break. And then it just got better and better. That diesel engine purrs like a kitten. How fantastic is that. And when that boom first moved I liked to wet my pants lol. Then all of a sudden it is knuckling and everything. Then the darn thing piroets 90 degrees! Looked like a swan doing the ballet. This is one of the most entertaining videos I have seen on KZbin. I watch everything from Opera to airshows to bulldozers at work and now this old excavator from my childhood. I actually sat in one of these in 1958 when I was four years old. It was parked next to our home on Grove Avenue in Harahan Louisiana there to help develop a new subdivision right behind our house. Hard to believe that was 64 years ago.

[@baconmcbacon62]

That is one of the sweetest pieces of gear I’ve seen! You can tell that pony motor is loud. Even from back where you were filming, it was clipping the mic to hell.

[@rolioYT]

That was awesome! Lorain is a beauty, well done on saving her and adding another piece of history to the Diesel Creek Museum!

[@nickpersenaire4443]

Very cool Matt, really neat to see the old iron being brought back to life. Definitely looking forward to the next episode with Loraine.

[@BlueDually4x4]

If the hardest part of getting her up and running was getting her on the trailer, its been going pretty smoothly. Might be a good idea to put a heavy coat of bedliner on your trailer so those track pads have a little something to hold onto. Or maybe some guides like Mike had on his old trailer to keep it from sliding off the side. Keep up the good work on keeping the old stuff running.

[@luissantiago9564]

It's so cool to see these old machines turn back on. It would be nice to clean it up real nice and re paint them.

[@superbmediacontentcreator]

This is fantastic and I just love seeing older industrial hardware and vehicles saved and working again. When I grew up this was the sort of "shovel" in all the books and even cartoons. It would be great to blast and paint her up all nice and yellow again for later generations. You are also super lucky to have a friend who borh knows and is willing to get his hands dirty. I wish I had people like that in my life!