Found something lost in the woods I might just have to have

Dirt, Grain and Steel Link:
/ @dirtgrainsteel
shop Dirt Perfect
www.dirtperfec...
Facebook
www.facebook.c...
Instagram
www.instagram....
Ariat links
• Save 10% off your first order - ariat.dkkdet.n...
• Dirt Perfect's Favorites - ariat.dkkdet.n...
Checking out some old equipment with Brandon from Dirt, Grain and Steel.
#oldequipment
#history
#insley
#repair
#decisions

[@trumpetman1984]

So it was awesome to be able to meet up with Mike and Brandon that day to show them the equipment. They are both awesome people and more so in person. My grandfather had intentions to work on the WB and keep it running. It was just such a large machine that he always said it was hard to move around. Then he got sick and ended up passing away before getting to what he wanted. But I am hoping that Mike or someone would be able to fix it up and be able to get use out of it. Brandon and I have been able to meet back up and he bought my trench box. He has a video up on Dirt, Grain and Steel and I have one up on C & S Construction. Brandon and I have talked about the possibility of doing some projects together and maybe we could talk Mike into coming along. Or if Mike gets bored during the winter he can come up North and I can put him in my truck with the plow so he can move more than just dirt lol. Anyways they are great guys and looking forward to the possibility of doing more with them. Oh and definitely can not forget to give a big thank you to Matt with Diesel Creek for getting Mike in touch with me. Hope to be able to meet Matt and possibly do a video with him as well.

[@DirtPerfect]

Thanks you for all your time enjoyed the visit

[@phillipdean9879]

Mike you know you want it just for it’s History! You better organise how your getting it home! Look up Scott, The bus grease monkey, he makes them old Detroits sing! He’s near to you too I think! 🇦🇺🍺🍺

[@amsimons29]

I bet you could get the old Detroit running. I bet there's a bunch of people who would help you get it going

[@jackrichards1863]

You know, I offer my empathy for the harsh news of your Grandfather passing! It's a personal thing that most people experience in our own way. Though we all go the same way eventually, there's a great challenge to be as wonderful for ours as the old people were for us. Yeah, sorry for your loss fellas

[@donbavol9672]

When I was in the Navy, we had Detroit Diesel engines all over the place. Gensets, Uboats, personnel boats, search and rescue boats. You could drag one on a chain behind the ship for a year, pull it up, drain it, soak it down with PB blaster and fire the thing up. Single wire starter. If you got one to run without burning oil, it wouldn't run very good. Those things had to burn a little oil to run properly.

[@DieselCreek]

Buy it! Buy it! Buy it! Actually get the lowboy back going and haul it home… get em both….. you know you want to!

[@dirtgrainsteel]

Probably have to drag that lowboy back to my shop first and go through it I don't think she would make it the 5 hours home with out some work lol

[@dwaynepierson5269]

It would be awesome to see the old equipment restored and in working order👍🏻

[@chrishunt5727]

That is way too nice to go to waste. If you can get it with the right price, having the entire history of the machine is priceless. Especially getting it with all the attachments.

[@pinwizz69]

It's being given to him free if he restores it I believe.

[@slowlydimming4320]

It would be interesting to see it brought back to life!

[@glenschumannGlensWorkshop]

Interesting project just for the history. Personally, I would want to see LT Dan stay ahead of this on the priority list.

[@bobbyb322]

And the dozer/loader, it's been so long I don't remember what it was lol

[@Fatamus]

More, more, more ..... You need a dragline to help clean ponds and hold flags high into the air. C&C Clint and TSF (Turbo Sausage Fingers) are bad influences too.

[@darrylridlon5918]

Love the history lesson never knew they multi purposed the draglines . I would say yes bring it home and have a working monument. Super great video

[@morgansword]

Mike, this is the stuff I grew up on as I was born in the forties so it was just about all we ever ran for the woods and road building. I ran a P&H with a ninety foot stick cleaning up trash in Baker Lake, just outside Concrete washington. What we had was a hydro dam that was raising its depth to make more power for the City of Seattle power and light. That meant taking all the timber that would be drowned, plus stuff that winds up in the water eventually anyway. They used boom boats to heard the trash into rafts, push them where the clam bucket could reach them, then toss that stuff onto a fire. Washington D.C. decided we could not salvage log any of this prime old growth timber and to me was a crime. If I was to tell you how nice and how large these trees were, you would call me a liar for sure so do the google thing to see that those trees were big enough that one tree would build three homes of significant size. I might mention though that those trees were limb free or no knots in them for the first hundred feet and then the tree was about four to six foot in diameter at that footage. A ten foot bar on a chain saw cutting from both sides would not cut through a tree. Yes from me to save those machines. I have my own opinions on what to do to make them efficient again. Hamilton farms, Hank is a good source for undercarriage parts and pieces. I am a worthless cripple now in my seventies and do nothing but set in a chair waiting for the dirt nap. I ain't in no hurry though to take one. Before this gets to be in chapters long a comment ...... I ran this stuff in washington as a kid, I went into the service at seventeen (drafted) and got out in late sixty nine. After realizing my kind of person was not wanted around those fine folk there in washington... I went to alaska and worked in the southeast alaska up to 84. I moved up to central alaska in a few months later as one of my sons had cancer so we went to Anchorage. I know that what I know is better got from your local people who did this stuff too. Oh yeah, why I mentioned the southeast alaska was there was a step back in time for equipment. Not easy to barge machines into those islands where we logged and built roads. So this was still in use for many years after the advance of hydraulic stuff in the state of washington or other continental states. I say this because working with a ladder beam machine is a art forgotten. They would hold enormous weights yet fold like a deck of cards when put into a wrong position. I seen a ninety foot beam (boom) fold up and crush the man running it.

[@randywilson6869]

I just want too know are u ready for when u r called to come home ? I pray u know what is waiting for us

[@debc2596]

Love seeing restorations of old machinery. Just have to factor time and money if it’s worth the investment. Knowing the history of that one and sentimental to the family would be fabulous to see it come to life for them.

[@SuperIanjohnson]

I think that dragline would look fantastic at Derby market; if your Mack will move it, you should get out there asap and bring her to her forever home ! It may be a long journey, but you only have to do it once; maybe someone would sponsor you for diesel ? A great project for over the winter !!

[@joshuamassie3505]

If your looking to buy a piece of older equipment like this, it seems to be in really good shape. Like you said in the video the gears inside look great compared to what I've seen on other videos. But it's a big piece of equipment a long way from home it will definitely be a LOT of work lol. Yes I would like to see it saved, would make some good collaboration videos if everyone could get there schedules to line up for a few days.

[@dennisrickey21]

Tough decision Mike. It will take a great deal of skill, time and effort to get the machine loaded on a trailer since it isn’t running. You are more than capable to bring back to life if you get it home. Clint from C&C might be interested in the dozer!

[@VectorW8015]

Always nice to see old equipment brought back to life.

[@clydeacor1911]

Getting it home wouldn't be too bad. It's going to be the time and effort and with all of your projects and the amount of equipment that you have and with your business expanding you really almost need a full-time guy in your shop, I'm sure that you've thought about it. There's just not enough time in the day to do it all.

[@tony2good726]

Package deal. Truck, trailer , crane & dozer. A must have.

[@jrhendershot1936]

It would be awesome to see the old machines brought back to life and working order make some videos to watch for sure

[@dirtgrainsteel]

This was a fun adventure! I've been back twice since then to look at them and buy a trench box they had I'm still thinking about saving some of it over time

[@adamdye9137]

You could always get the truck and trailer as well. Keep the family together so to speak

[@heatherlane9270]

A commitment to restore to working order - that's the question. Great collection of old machines and would be good to see the dragline at the market.

[@azlobo7]

You don't need the headache and time it takes to get it home or to get it running. Just leave it there and save yourself a lot of work you can do without. Lt Dan is all the pleasure you need for a hobby.

[@dougyurecko6500]

Wow, that would be a project. It would be a great video to see it running and in front of the market. I guess it depends on the amount of time and energy you are willing to put into it. I like seeing the old iron restored, however left the way it is and running is pretty cool too. As mom said " make good choices ".

[@B422TMack]

The Insley is Definitely an interesting restoration project. That ole Acar lowboy reminds me of an Acar lowboy a friend of the family had .

[@Muppet_Interfector]

The more complete the machine the easier the refurbishment. The hunt for parts can be part of the adventure, making parts is also a challenge people like. For me the more complete the better for an initial challenge. Once you become a guru on the machine you can go looking for the unique models and spend your time looking for the missing bits. Good luck whatever you decide.

[@edwardgarea7650]

That you found two Insleys in Indiana is not surprising. Insley Manufacturing was founded in Indianapolis by William Insley somewhere around the turn of the last century. They made a decent excavator, but were bought out in 1975 by a conglomerate. Your problem is not whether or not it can be restored, but how much work, time and money would be required to do so, assuming nothing is seized. It is a crying shame that they’ve been left out in the elements. Given the size of the machine, you have a momentous decision on your hands. Personally, I would like nothing matter than to see it brought back to life. You have the knowledge, but do you have the resources?

[@davidmulloy1334]

I would guess that the Most significant Issue is whether or not Mrs. Dirt Perfect will Let him Spend the Money and Bring it Home!!

[@americanpatriot2.06]

One way or another. They need to be saved and preserved for historical value. If Mike can't do it, I'm sure there are other's out there that can! I think something like this would be a great KZbin collaboration restoration. Imagine 10-30 youtubers getting together and putting time into bringing these relics back to life!

[@edwardgarea7650]

@@americanpatriot2.06 You are 100% right. These machines are a vital part of our heritage and need to be preserved. If Mike can’t do it, I hope he contacts Matt from Diesel Creek. I call Matt the Patron Saint of Old Iron. He has ties to the HCEA, Historical Construction Equipment Association. Frankly, I blame the owners of the farm for the predicament of the Insleys. Who leaves such precious machines out in the woods to rust?

[@edwardgarea7650]

@@davidmulloy1334 Oh, you are SO right! LOL!! Thanks for brightening my day.

[@roblane5699]

@@davidmulloy1334 For some reason, Mike doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who has to get his wife’s permission to do what he decides to do.

[@Insayshabull]

You need two things for that project, deep pockets and lots of time. Stay safe.

[@sparkyplugclean2402]

The major things I'd consider if I were buying and restoring it, 1: do you have the equipment to support it? A truck(s) capable of moving it, time for setting up and tearing down on the job, and how that compares with renting a crane or modern dragline for the job. 2: repair, and other than the engine and probably some clutches and bearings that will be seized this is probably mostly just a matter of heat and nonstick squirts. I'd figure on just transplanting a running engine in there whole given the state of that valve train and the distance from home. Winching everything around is possible, but having the possibility of applying power internally would sure be helpful. 3: the machine has a great history, and it would be amazing to have it working again, even occasionally. 4: it serves a purpose of heavy lift and long reach that does not currently exist in your fleet.

[@MrGoesBoom]

Gotta admit this would be one hell of a restoration project and something I'm sure you could get a lot of content out of if you go for it, nice bit of history. That being said, it's easy for me to say that sitting at home and watching on the screen, since this would be a ton of work and I doubt it'd be cheap to get this sucker back in working order. Either way, loved the vid

[@utubota5522]

I respect your efforts to resurrect old iron. It is not my thing but I have enjoyed watching others, esp some of the older will-it-start videos. Marty T, a youttuber from New Zealand, resurrects old iron, and then puts it to work. I am often amazed, but it is easier to get something started that doesn't rely on 6 different computer chips to run.

[@mikedobson2988]

Cool stuff Mike, I hope we get to see more. It's a huge task but you and your network of friends can get er done! Good luck 👍

[@jameslist7385]

go for it we need to save that kind of history that would be a huge thumbs up

[@ThePhil2801]

Definetly something that deserves to be restored and a Crane is one of those Tools in your arsenal you may or may not need very often but when you do theres no substitute for it. In an ideal world the Truck and Trailer would also get restored but theres only so much one can do.

[@stevenclaeys6252]

There is nothing more noble than preserving history. Stay safe out there. Cheers

[@williamelrod7229]

Don’t do it! One needs to know their limits. With your family, your work, and all your projects, it would be tough.

[@simonthomas2181]

A long term project but would be a delight to see over a period of time. Squatch has an amazing series on an old CAT he hauled in and rebuilt. One thing is for sure as you are a very busy guy it won't be done in in any one winter season. Perhaps a new barn build would be required just to house it without taking away from the other required servicing requirements in you r other shop.

[@randynbham]

Great big holes to throw money in!!!!!

[@monteconnally7223]

i agree with the other viewers, it would be awesome to see a old machine like those up and running once again.

[@andrewmiller2868]

I say go for it! It won't be a one day or one week fix but as you said Mike it's good to have some future projects waiting in line and someone's got to keep this old iron going for future generations.

[@bobsmith6484]

nice to see old machines not go to scrap

[@williammatthews2948]

Think of the stories to be told if those old machines could talk. I'd love to see the truck and trailer back on the road, and Jerry operating one of those draglines.

[@brackoncorbridge1966]

Getting that cat doser up and going would be sweet plus also a good display for your station as well.

[@larryshillings6672]

I would not even begin to put a value on the amount of man hours that would be involved, not to mention the actual money spent. I believe you should not get involved at any level. You did ask for our opinions. So I say h*** no. Lol.

[@paulmccormick5042]

A definite yes to this project. You've got episode 1 covered; now 2 is tree felling and brush hogging; 3 is the trip home. You know how this works, go for it!

[@johnmyers8488]

Personally I understand your thoughts on the draglines not going to scrap but is it practical? But a guys gotta have stuff that isn’t always practical. The D6 on the other hand would be a take home machine for sure. Either way. Great video DP! Really enjoy your channel thanks.

[@michaelbaumgardner9493]

Good afternoon Mike. The drag with the buckets and brush hook. History, books, but man she needs a full body off restoration. That's a heck of a lot of work. The dozer as well. We'll see how it plays out. Be safe everybody

[@squirtdaddy3428]

If this is the first one you've looked at I'd look at a few more. 11hrs. round trip is pretty far to drive unless you can take a week off and go there to stay until its on a truck for transport. No Nonsense Know How is a good mechanic and likes to take trips to fix things, and he is in the area. Might make a good collaboration and think you two would get along well. Just an idea. All I can say is,Whatever you decide, I'll watch it, I know it will be interesting.

[@ralphmiller6331]

Go for it. The next one may be closer but could be more work in the long run.

[@TimothyKepner]

I bet if you got the old girl back home you could find a bunch of volunteers that would love to bring it back to life. I'm going to have to go back and watch it again but I'm sure I saw the dozer trying to smile at you. It's like a lost puppy that would love to follow you home as well. For example, look at Bubba Dump you gave it some love & attention and look at the work it has done for you. You might want to give it a bath. Forget about the check book for once and think about the history you will be saving.

[@flick22601]

Unfortunately, when you run a business, you've got to constantly look at the check book.

[@TimothyKepner]

@@flick22601 Your so right about that and after I sold my business that I had for 41 years I look back on it and I'm glad I didn't listen to all those bean counters. If you constantly have to look at that check book you had better do something else because you're not making any money doing what you're doing.

[@jchainsaw51]

Buy the drag line. You have a lowbroy trailer and permits are available. You could disassemble the boom and haul it on a flat bed. Help the grandson fix the dozer and get it into operating condition. I think that would make the grandson extremely proud. So git'er done.

[@mikeramsay7682]

If you had nothing to do but make a career out of making that machine operable, I would say go for it. I believe you know, as well as most of us here, that this project that's tugging at your heartstrings to revive her are not really feasible. More power to you if you decide to take that project on! I'm a long time subscriber, enjoy your wit, and your channel. Whatever decision you make, I'm sure it'll be thoroughly thought through. Good luck!

[@ozarkarky]

Go for it !! No guts, no glory. 🙌

[@TL64329]

Absolutely need to save this machine. Lots of work and money but would be great publicity for your shop and store. Also would be great to see you with this on a job moving dirt. Draglines (all sizes) are one of my favorite machines to watch and I will be following this. Hope you can pull this off-good luck.

[@bcslack09]

It needs to be restored & YOU can do it. What a great series of vids.

[@jimdetchon3613]

Yes! That’s in okay shape. I resurrected a LittleGiant. About a 35 ton. We had a lot of fun on are recovery day’s. It took us a few trips but it was a good time! I made a mistake it’s a 20 ton C48. It has a 60 ft boom. That makes it a 20 ton.

[@anthonyfry5927]

Oooohhhh yes!! Even if you can't get it running, sitting outside the store would be great. Save the old iron!!!

[@TheJimmybud]

Watch both you guys' channel and love them both! Brandon lives 15 min. from me also.

[@darrenblattner2508]

We used one years ago for lifting pulp trailers to change broken springs. Sure was a lot better than laying under the trailer on the ground in winter. It would be nice to have it running instead of going for scrap, same goes for the old Autocar. Easy for us to say fix it but you have the cheque book. Keep smilin Mike.

[@colestroud8300]

You showed it to us, and said it's not in that bad of shape. Of course we at least want to see it run again. I'd love to have that old lowboy to bring back to life.

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Love watching both your guys channels great stuff thanks for sharing

[@philipmoores5202]

Go for it DP, it can be your winter project, after you have serviced all your other plant & equipment, plus MBTS will need something to weld as well.

[@dennis2376]

Team work project with fellow KZbinrs. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

[@lindsaylittle6535]

Go for it, Mike. I think you are up to it with shoehorning it in with other projects. Family would be proud it went to a great home.

[@joejohnson7097]

It would be great to see these old equipment back up and running

[@jeremyjohnson2360]

Just do it!!! Would be awesome to see it running and operating again!!!

[@bobdavis430]

Mike man I know it’s a lot of riding time back n forth but just think of the smile on your face and your chest busting with pride every time you go to your equipment yard n see that beauty sit out front with our country’s stars n stripes flying from the boomAND know she’ll fire up n you can actually do a job with her and I’d love to see you and Matt from Diesel Creek working on this project together

[@cassandrawoods2271]

You should get it, i enjoy watching you all get these old pieces of equipment running again. But also enjoy seeing the challenge of getting them out of the woods.

[@hollandduck79]

Hello from the Netherlands . I so hope you can get the crane in good working condition. thanks for the video DP . Sincerely, Hollandduck

[@williambrooker4580]

Get them all. Can't wait to see you bring them back to life!

[@durwinwilkins6098]

I would love to watch you and the guys get it back to work

[@Drew6709]

My dad operated an Insley hydraulic excavator for yrs. Loud Detroit but dad operated that excavator to load Euclid off road haul trucks. About 5-8 (maybe more or less) passes to load those Euclids. Those were the days to remember and cherish.

[@ramblingthings]

Really cool. Would love to see it saved. But a lot of work. Something you could be really be proud of though if you got it and functionally restored it.

[@spencerrobinson2794]

I enjoyed the visit to poke around that old equipment…that is a huge project though,

[@larrywalker7759]

The extrication from its captivity and prep for loading could make for a great collaboration for yours and Dirt, Grain and Steel's channels. Acquiring and transporting it and all the bits would make some awesome videos.

[@brettb1996]

Need to go for it , love to see that old girl be brought back to life,

[@keithmatthews1673]

The drag line crane would be a huge amount of work. No one can tell you whether you should commit to it! That old truck and tailer did look spectacular though.....

[@leighswogger4272]

Might as well get another project in the works. It would be awesome to see that machine working again. So I vote go for it.

[@toddmarshall7573]

Watch the video of Matt getting his started, pulling it out of the woods and trucking it home. Quite a bit of chain saw work. Amazing what they were able to do in a pretty short time.

[@thebear5454]

That WB would be an awesome fill in project for you and the DP team. I say go for it Mike.

[@brianwitosky757]

It would be awesome to see it back in working order. Haul it back to to the store lot so it’s close home

[@dansbrown1313]

Hello Mike, Thanks for the video and since you asked, there's 4 reasons you should put this project on the back burner. #1- Winter is here and it's time for Lt. Dan the truck. #2- Cost, Beyond all else, every cable on the crane would have to be replaced because if that cranes cables are similar to the 1" ones used on the Link Belt speeder crane I operated at the shipyard, they had to have the cables replaced every 5 years because they rust from the inside out and your project crane has been sitting a lot longer than that. (I live beside the Pacific ocean and that may be why) and #3- Time, you don't have that much to spare and #4- I really doubt you could hide that project from your lovely wife Jenna. Perhaps if you could get Aaron and Matt and the entire "Dirt Perfect" team on board, maybe. Good luck Mike.

[@AncalagonB]

100% you should rescue that old girl! I’d say a perfect candidate for restoration.

[@ProudPapaw88]

That would be a great winter project for you and man behind the scenes. Great video. Thanks for sharing, DP.

[@Marty54GMC]

A Clint project, C&C Equipment is always ready for another project. Could be a very nice piece of equipment.

[@sonnofa7877]

I'd love to see it brought back to life!

[@NathanCEnyart]

I absolutely love seeing old equipment like this. They don't make em like this anymore. Keep up the good work. Take some money to get this going. But that's my opinion.

[@gabekopp9986]

You HAVE to pick it up. I love working on old equipment but don't have the property here in ohio. Would love to aleast watch someone rebuild it and bring it back to life. Do it Mike!

[@gardeningfishingjimw9364]

Buy it Mike and try to get the truck and trailer so then you have a great old set-up just to get Matt from Diesel Creek going on his Autocar and trailer combo!!

[@davidsellars646]

OH, HELL YES. DP has been bitten by the bug. Don't fight it, you won't win. That's the area where I grew up. I've put some hours on a 6B. Great tractor. The crane, tractor, truck, and trailer all would be great projects. I'd love to see the crane totally restored and painted. Go with it. Doesn't have to all happen in a day. Set up a tip jar for this project.

[@thomasrennison9461]

I love those old machines and even though it is a big project, I’d love to see what you can accomplish on reviving them.

[@adamballew2654]

Yes. We need this on the channel

[@JCrook1028]

That's worth bringing home, even if it never gets touched other than a display piece. Save it!

[@robobloxgamer524]

I knew when I saw the video of you visiting Diesel Creek and the old machinery show that the old machinery bug might be nipping at your heals. (Actually I didn't, but it makes a great line.) Seriously, I just wish I lived closer because I'd definitely volunteer some time to help restore it. Good luck with your decision, I hope you get the machine. I'll bet Camarata would have it up and running in a week, maybe a little more. LOL.

[@DreamState71822]

I grew up in michigan in the 70s and 80s and remember going to old steam shows every year with him. Live in Arkansas with spitting distance from texas now. Love it here though as I hated the snow with a passion.

[@brianboyleston2782]

I would absolutely buy it. You may not have time for it right this minute however, it will come. Would be an awesome video series.

[@scottaylward3670]

Love keeping history alive restoring would be awesome

[@kenmccall8051]

Pretty sweet Dp to much work for me got enough on my plate.i say keep your eyes open for another one maybe closer and better shape🤷‍♂️have a great day 👍👌😎✌️🇺🇲

[@billsmith7586]

Dirt perfect do it man pull the trigger on them and be so cool to see those things working again thank you for your time god bless you god bless America

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Mikey… just what you need… another huge project! LOL I’ll be watchin’ to see what you do.

[@DirtPerfect]

Lol I know right

[@FeralPreacher]

Procedure for starting work on those machines: 1) Brush cutter and chain saw and much labor. 2) Acquire knowledge and tools for dismantling. 3) Start work on the recovery. 4) Move it all home and asses your plight. 5) RUN AWAY lol Would look great in the front yard with a flag held high. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@chrissheathewoodguy]

wow what a great project that old machine would make. It would be a looker for sure sitting at the store. I'd say go pic it up and work on it at the shop vs starting it on sight. that dosser would be a good one for diesil creek. maybe c&c would be willing to help out with a machine to load it with and maybe take the dosser for them selves.... could be a group effort as will.

[@scotthultin7769]

5.1K+👍's up DP thank you for sharing

[@DirtPerfect]

Thanks for watching