Installing a Counterweight on a Cat 385C L Excavator

Craig and Jason showing you how to install a counterwight on a Caterpillar 385C L. This counterweight is just short of 12 tons.

[@regsparkes6507]

Well, there's something I have not seen done before. SLick !

[@robpeters5204]

Reading some comments here and The point is you have to respect the machine and all of its parts. 50 pounds or 50 tons, it can kill you. Always pays to have a helper and someone that monitors you on a regular schedule to see if you are still alive and well. I would be nervous a bit standing beside that weight any day. I knew a guy had a heart attack while working in the field and nobody knew until,the next morning.

[@JH-nf4xd]

Amazing there's controls and gear just for installing the counterweight.

[@skymooov132]

impressive

[@joinery1888]

I thought that too...

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

I can smell the diesel and the oil! This is cool, no pun intended.

[@vantagetes]

Depends on how big your trailer is. Some companies will remove the counterweight and bucket and unpin the stick cylinder for height clearance. Some companies simply unpin the cylinder and move the machine in one solid piece.

[@JohnKirkwoodProFoodHomemade]

Very interesting, how did the machine not tip over when you picked up that 12 ton off the trailer?. Nice vid, thumbs up.

[@vantagetes]

It actually isn't too big a project. It's just lifting the counterweight, a few bolts and some time. Most places in Canada and the U.S. you'd be pulling the stick as well and thats a hefty little project to undertake.

[@MotoScootMech]

The Dodge Dart in the ad on the bottom of the video lined up perfectly to be crushed by the CAT counterweight. Almost looked like it was supposed to happen haha!

[@espeescotty]

More involved than I thought it would be, but still very interesting to watch.

[@vantagetes]

It's removed for transport as it knocks off 11.5 tons, which makes the difference between being legal weight or not.

[@bowlofarthritus]

I liked the very beginning when the weight was lifted off the truck and the CAT turned around... basically it was saying "Excuse me sir. Could you please help me install my ass?"

[@MitzvosGolem1]

man we do this with large cranes.. Careful weight doesn't flop over on worker We have 100,000 lbs of weight or more some one million pounds on a 500 ton Demag.

[@swazeyyy]

those are some strong bolts!

[@bigredc222]

Very high sheer strength.

[@alexxxxx12341]

to the man who said no hard hats Aaron Biscaro if u had a 12 ton counterweight drop on you not having a hard hat is the very least of ur worries

[@MICKSHRED]

A hard hat wpuld not save your life from a 12 ton weight

[@daleolson3506]

That sure didn't look like 12 ton,but I believe you.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

But it'd eleminate something for OSHA to bitch about!

[@tgpnickandrew3094]

Hardhat is not just for the falling objects that might hit your head. It's also help you to prevent your head from bumping. I'd been wearing hard for almost 10years as a welder and thank god I've never experienced a fall on my hardhat. But it saved my head 2 times from bumping, that may cause a severe head injuries.

[@swazeyyy]

either he installs it correctly or its not his problem anymore...

[@vantagetes]

We do also run Deere excavators. In our line of work, bigger does tend to be better. The 892 runs what...a 3yd bucket? Imagine the production difference going from an 8yd bucket to a 3 loading 40-70 ton trucks.

[@Sittin.]

Its funny. Ive looked at several vids you made cos Ive found em interesting. This one popped up as a "recomended" video (with no direct connection to vantagetes) and I thought it might be cool to learn how to, and at a coffebreak brag amongst my workcolleges how this is really done. I sure didnt know ! But at 6:09 I recognised the guy to the left and ..... heyyy.. this dude somehow looks familiar. The funny part is that Ive, so far, only seen you from behind.... cinda :)

[@vantagetes]

I don't think RedKap offers reflective coveralls.

[@vantagetes]

Because it can lift much more than that with the counterweight on. 33 tons to be exact.

[@vantagetes]

This is a machine your generally only moving 2-3 times in a year....what's the 2 minutes it takes to spin the 4 bolts on and off?

[@hobokilla012]

How often do you have to change out a weight? Is that preventative or is it changed only in a breakage?

[@stacywilliams2564]

Just for transport. They don't go bad. Hope that helps

[@The_blindpizzaguy1300]

There is a huge construction project going on near my house and I saw to cat 325's and one 330 working on putting A new highway in also there was a cat back oh I don't know what size that was and there is a timber King fellerbuncher removing trees on the side of the road so they can expand it unfortunately it's in a spot where I can't get videos of it but if I do manage somehow to get one would you be interested in seeing it?

[@TurboBMRProjectLove]

hell ya

[@Will91289]

i never realised how big the Cat 385 was until i saw a long reach version operating in a harbour near where i life, it's the size of small house

[@derekwhite9932]

I want to say they weight like a 100 tons also.

[@Bowiiihowdy]

@@derekwhite9932 85 tons

[@vantagetes]

75,630lbs over the front with counterweight on, GP stick and boom, 6m from idler.

[@Millsy.g]

Wonder why they make you go through the time to lift the logo to get at those 2 bolts. Seems like a waste of mechanic hours. I know our Komatsu 800 can lift the counterweight off the ground like this (just with a different setup) but I've only ever seen the John Deere's taking the weights right off a low-boy. Do you know if they can lift from ground level as well?

[@Seabass466]

What's it's maximum lifting capacity?

[@daithi1075]

Cool video. Off topic question. Any idea who makes the coveralls your mechanic is wearing? Thank you

[@ypebanbung-michael8865]

that is a very informative video, thank you so much for sharing

[@jdig1984]

Mechanics like what is this KZbin shit stop filming me. Now 51 k subscribers later ah maybe he was right lol 😂

[@BrainchildsLab]

Nice vid. ;) I'd recommend against installing your cotter pins upside down.

[@breedist]

Thank you this video.I did forget to ask your name last time!

[@gus9067]

How on earth does a "small" thing like that weigh 12 tons? What material is it?

[@jimflynn7551]

dot require the counter weight off ,to take it down the road?

[@vantagetes]

Only if you don't have a trailer configuration to carry the weight.

[@25mfd]

Now i want to see letsdig18 show us how he installs the counterweight on his 140 volvo.

[@muckrunner308]

his big volvo probably has the fuel tank as a counterweight, fill it up to lift heavy things, run it empty to transport it

[@catanddeereD11T]

Do they operate the chain lift in the cab, or by that open side panel?

[@bigdan45322]

You guys sure do move fast up there in the great white north.

[@vantagetes]

And unpin/repin the stick cylinder too!

[@zachadams2502]

Crickey thats eal deal cold steel there. And to think I though the belly plates on a BRON 650 tile plow were heavy._. CAT POWER!

[@Sugarkryptonite]

What else needs to be removed off a 385 to transport it legally?

[@СумеречныйхранительНавсегда]

Super Cool Video !

[@bigredc222]

How much do we think those bolts are worth, they have to be at least $150ea., but they could be as much as $500 ea. any guess's?

[@colbygarcia]

any reason there wasn't one on there?

[@andrewwilson8317]

What is the purpose of that lift up panel on the rear with CAT on it? Looked like there was only the counterweight body behind it? Am I missing something?

[@vantagetes]

The bolts to secure the counterweight are hidden behind it.

[@andrewwilson8317]

Thanks. It just seemed a bit of extra stuff that was not really needed as four of the six bolts are not behind it? Why cover only two? Over here it would be to stop scrap metal thieves from nicking the weight! It looked very sturdy as was locked down by a handful of bolts? Is the weight used by other manufacturers? Might explain the changeable brand name? Just a guess. Still an amazing machine

[@scowell]

You pay a lot for those three letters...

[@dhewitt2514]

Do you always have to go underneath to spin the locating lugs or were they just in the wrong position?

[@vantagetes]

D Hewitt they are a rest to locate the counterweight in the proper position to insert the bolts. You flip them vertical to allow the counterweight to slide up and then horizontal and set the weight down until it’s resting on them slightly. You’ll notice I do not walk under the weight while it is suspended but rather under the engine compartment.

[@dhewitt2514]

vantagetes thanks bud - guess you try and stay under the machine so you aren’t under the suspended weight?!

[@vantagetes]

D Hewitt that’s right

[@dhewitt2514]

vantagetes thanks bud - love the videos 👍

[@motocrossspeedbump96]

i think he meant, cat made a good design to make life simple so that if you were to work on your own machine you dont have to be an expert. haha

[@jawadd22]

how cold is it up there now?

[@garrettsmith419]

Videos I didn't know I wanted to watch

[@swampratt36]

Hell just change the decals to 345 n dragger down the road , nobody will know the difference , till they catch ya ;-)

[@eric1138]

Under what circumstances would the counter weight need to be removed?

[@vantagetes]

If your trailer doesn't have the weight distribution to transport the machine with it attached.

[@OMBIC]

just short of 12 tons? daym!!

[@ravirajsingh9707]

Good

[@vantagetes]

@iflyhelis correct

[@brandonmaruszczak5020]

Cool and I like 385CL

[@snotnosetom4417]

Been easier just to have Rosie O'Donnell stand on the back

[@vantagetes]

Sorry, no idea.

[@pullbothbarrels]

Wow that's cool todd kneisel

[@ervlol]

no lead?

[@logostavia]

very nice video i like it alot!!

[@vantagetes]

Concrete and steel.

[@TheMotori13]

With Benny Hill theme loool

[@nissanboy97]

So y didnt he just leave it on the trailer and back up to it there

[@EnergeticWaves]

Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I saw a comment regarding do it every day or something.

[@texwinnop9109]

okay shouldn't say never have to remove them....don't know the rules where you live so that was ignorant........should of said were I live the rules are pretty lax like California.........you have some nice videos

[@vantagetes]

Smaller machines it's rare to take the counterweights off, most people have trailers big enough to haul them in one piece. Even with the big 85 ton 385s it's possible to get a trailer big enough to move them with the counterweight off. The problem is those trailer need a permit just to go down the road empty...

[@nibizsw3]

Because he didnt lift it over the side of the tracks.

[@RaulGillett]

can i make a suggestiong for this vid...benny hill music as soon as the ladder comes out :)

[@EnvoyExpress]

That was cool

[@vantagetes]

What on earth are you talking about?

[@Moo01100]

I aint never seen that before

[@EnergeticWaves]

I would take that cat sign off and be done with it. What a waste of time removing all those screws. Leave it in a garage. You can put it back when you sell it. You could also cut access hole in it.

[@andrewtoyotarees1379]

don't think that counter weight is 12 tons, ???

[@vantagetes]

Andrewtoyota Rees you're right it's only 25,600lbs which is 11.6 tons if you wanna get technical

[@Rab93]

wouldn't fancy trying to carry it on your back 😂😂

[@topherwayne4398]

Is it me or is that way over complicated?

[@stuartcraigon2003]

Why the fuck would you take the counter weight off in the first place!

[@vantagetes]

Transport.

[@САМСУНГБЕЛАЗОН]

ПОДОБНОЕ МУТИЛ И ПОМОГАЛ ДРУГУ С БУЛЬДОЗЕРОМ ТРУБОУКЛАДЧИКОМ НУ НА АВТОКРАН ВСЁРАВНО 1 Х СЛОЖНЕЕ , ОСОБО САМЫЙ БОЛЬШОЙ

[@The_blindpizzaguy1300]

In North Carolina they're not even allowed to use these giant excavators because the wait laws prevent them from carrying them on the trailers

[@vantagetes]

You are incorrect. You don't see them in NC because there isn't work to justify moving them. As far as moving them you just need the right permit and trailer configuration.

[@The_blindpizzaguy1300]

I live there construction worker jobs are running short in Greensboro.

[@_sinisterglance_3386]

In Virginia my family's underground utility company have all JOHN DEERE excavators and loaders fairly new except a couple old ones. Our rock breaker is a Hitachi Ex450 that is very rarely broke down to transport. I worked with a friend of mine on the Charlotte Motor Speedway tunnel rebuild for the larger haulers and we had a Hitachi Ex1200 and she was a big girl. Now you have 193 big construction projects going as of today. So yea there's a lot of jobs with big excavators in North Carolina contrary to what others may think.

[@texwinnop9109]

@ Jim flynn I don't know were you got your info but it is wrong.......you don't have to remove it every time you lowboy.....just coming from an operator who lowboys his own equipment

[@vantagetes]

I'm guessing you don't lowboy an 85 ton excavator, the counterweight comes off for every trip.

[@watchthe1369]

Has to, DOT regulations, plus staying with in the design limits of the road.

[@larrymiller-rutherford9207]

That doesnt look anywhere near 12 tons....Maybe 12,000 lbs....

[@The_blindpizzaguy1300]

Have you ever heard of someone giving you wrong information? Because that was what I got so I posted that thinking that oh yeah that was 100% true because it came from a Nother equipment operator that lived in my area but obviously it wasn't

[@iamthehotty69]

How long does that take from unloading the counterweight from trailer to being operational

[@Gavin84w]

Why wouldn,t you do that? anyone who doesn,t know to do that should not even be there, simple common sense.

[@MolotovWithLux]

#counterweight

[@clintdench6550]

Ear muffs ladds

[@vantagetes]

Disposable ear plugs.

[@BobL84]

i dont see 12 ton there

[@justinthoennes4538]

I noticed you guys scratch the shit out of your equipment, lot of different operators or just don't care?

[@mcgbackyardersmaxwell1822]

It just happens sometimes. You try not to but even hitting brush and shit does that over time

[@correiasantoss4208]

🖒🖒🖒

[@wwalsi]

Tut tut tut, where is the health and safety officer, you might be brilliant at operating machinery but you haven't got a clue how to use a step ladder lol

[@racc1k163]

One i will have alot of land and have tons of construction machines for no reason

[@reggiebrown6104]

how much does the counterweight weigh

[@vantagetes]

25,600lbs for the standard counterweight.

[@ciociesiobhan680]

daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn

[@wailnshred]

I guess a 385 can pick 12 ton, even without the counterweight.

[@cesteres]

Where are the feminists?

[@vantagetes]

Half hour to an hour depending on how well pinning the stick cylinder back in goes. My personal record for a stick pin is 12 minutes in a 375.

[@OpenSesame001]

Wow... Very Nice.. thanks for the close up of the attaching of counterweights.. I never would seen that up that close... Nice. thanks :D

[@thunderbear0]

12 tons its soooo heavy!

[@cesteres]

She said

[@vantagetes]

It is removed while transporting as it reduces overall machine weight by 12 tons.

[@DH-rt3fk]

I've heard of installing a cat back but goddamn lol

[@69rd96]

Way cool, now watch all the little keyboard operators do that with their scaled down toys on their dioramas.

[@vantagetes]

Yes that is correct, one truck for machine, one for counterweight.

[@Gavin84w]

You are kidding right? The health and safety officer is probably where he should be, no where near anything he knows nothing about

[@JohnKirkwoodProFoodHomemade]

Ah! thanks for that.

[@vantagetes]

@dieseldog69xx You take that back! We are Canadian.