Fixing The Largest Construction Equipment On The Planet | Mega Mechanics | Spark

Across Australia, the wheels of industry turn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These machines are tough and the teams of people running them are even tougher. From deep underground, to high in the sky, these heavy metal marvels are essential to our daily lives. But, what happens when these massive machines break down? Teams of mechanics, engineers, fitters, and boilermakers step up to battle against tight deadlines, in some of the harshest working environments on the planet.
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[@carmatic]

"With such a straightforward task, what could possibly go wrong?" the segways between the segments are the most dramatic and ominous narration in any documentary I've ever seen

[@johnrossman6679]

If they find something broken, better send it to Curtis at Cutting Edge Engineering Austrailia. :)

[@mooglemy3813]

Was thinking that earlier on. Great comment.

[@davidcrosthwaite]

Love all the Aussie nicknames for people in serious positions. “Here is the leader of operations, Wazza”

[@soggybiscotti8425]

That's just a normal thing here mate. In one of my jobs when I was a young fella, I was able to lift much heavier loads than the older fella's I worked with, and my name is Ryan, so they call me R Bucket, and ordered me a bucket hat through the company with it emblazoned on it. And thats how I got my name, That's just how it goes here haha. I head a large cyber security firm now, but I'm still called R bucket, and I still wear my hat 😀

[@user-jb5lo7uu3v]

Why, I she your girlfriend?

[@kaimachineschannel]

Episode I: Coal Extractor - Gear Box change: 0:00 Part I 19:52 Part II 31:20 - Part III 42:08 - Part IV - Final Excavator - oil leak issue: 6:32 Part I 23:56 - Part II 32:58 - Part III - Final Mining Roof support legs: 10:39 Part I 25:52 - Part II 35:20 - Part III 40:02 - Part IV - Final Dam 14:46 Part I 28:28 - Part II 37:56 - Part III - Final

[@driesvanmullem4570]

😊😊nin😊😊nnininnininnn😊nn😊nn😊😊n😊😊nn😊😊nin😊😊n😊😊

[@miroslavmajer5155]

What the fuck? why are you stealing my comment?

[@GBlunted]

😊😊

[@dadgarage7966]

A follow-up series showing the insurance adjusters, physiotherapists and orthopedic surgeons treating these fellows as they age would be interesting.

[@brucesorensen3252]

Work is a four letter Word

[@rustythecrown9317]

@@brucesorensen3252 a word the rich can't understand.

[@clown134]

not to mention the radiologists considering all the coal they are constantly around

[@oidbio2565]

Lol! Yeah, the work done here wasn't optional, but with an excellently designed machine, the process could have required a smaller amount of troubleshooting. But the RICH would rather pay these guys than pay for an excellent design. It's cost effective. They keep more of their money.

[@rosslefave5877]

The mental health to

[@roberttriner6242]

The most intimate description of outback lovemaking 25:23 - 25:28 Absolutely epic.

[@roberttriner6242]

Even more nasty..... 25:23-25:51 Nice.

[@goldslinger]

Hats off to all the Men who keep society running smoothly and take pride in Their work. They do it for Their families.

[@grammerpolicedeputy6913]

They make really good money though and the jobs seem very fun.

[@theq4602]

finally a documentary on this topic and a nice fat juicy one too spark always delivers good content

[@beffjezos7701]

2 hours of pure heavy machinery heaven.

[@vardenfell971]

it was always relaxing watching those semi robotic welders

[@craxd1]

"Weren't planned for removal." Yes, they were, which is why they're there. No matter how well-designed, all machinery breaks down on occasion, which is why things like removable gearboxes and motors are used. The owner of the machine might keep spares on hand as well. Then there is PM, and preventative shutdowns, where things are removed and rebuilt, to keep the machine running. Things, such as bearing housings in the large weldments, if they're worn out, are welded up, on site, and bored out by portable boring mills, where new bearings are then installed. Everything is designed to be repairable, especially on these multi-million dollar machines.

[@joekeeling7690]

P of

[@oidbio2565]

Obviously not designed (or poorly designed) to be repairable in the case of the coal scoop! Maybe repairable for non-gravity situations but that's not what we have here. But it was probably advertised as being easy to maintain long term.

[@cybyrd9615]

@oidbio2565 its one thing to spend $1k on a device you can't repair but this isnt toloerated in the $1m+ range wtf

[@oidbio2565]

@@cybyrd9615 Well, that's the thing, isn't it. It IS repairable. The question is, how well designed is it for a reasonably smooth repair process. That's what I'm talking about here.

[@grizzlygrizzle]

I hope they brought along a good assortment of o-rings.

[@detonationpyrotechnics4156]

Big Muskie has joined the conversation. I was at the bucket last weekend and it’s absolutely monstrous.

[@epistte]

I wish it could have been saved. It was a beast to see swing and dig.

[@niconutz898]

When you literally just need to smell the oil to be able to tell which oil it is 😁

[@AgricultureTechUS]

Astounding heavy machinery innovations push the boundaries of possibility.

[@someoneelse7629]

I used to work on heavy machinery, there was always something going wrong when working on them, something siezed needing cutting, something needing a sledgehammer or something breaking while demontaging it. It was always under time constraint, and everyone shouting about how much it costed them that I took an hour extra when shit was stuck. I was going to work long into the night on a machine, and the owner of the machine saw me cutting a row of rusty clamps that costed $5 each, and he told me they were reusable, so I packed up, went home in time, and restarted where I left off the next morning, unscrewing the clamps by heating them with a torch, wirewheeling them and repainting them, taking a good hour to save the last 5 clamps, at the end of the day, I had about an hours work left on the machine, I walked by the owner and said "Time to clock out, it should be done within an hour tomorrow morning" He then had to pay me cash in the hand to stay an hour extra and finish his machine, and I wasn't cheap. But it was always the same, and I had enough and quit soon after that incident.

[@user-lt1sb7os7u]

Рэдхг эш😊😅😅😅 Э 😊😅

[@TheOne-xu5oy]

I chuckled at 1:22:20 when he said “as this heavy weight rolls off the scales”. I was like if that A320 is a heavy weight then I’m built like the rock.

[@pkoji1]

I worked as a machinist for LeTourneau. This is super cool.

[@derricktaylor470]

This guy really enjoyed his time being able to say Dam over and over again. 😂

[@michaelurban2815]

I used to do this type of work. I miss it badly, loved working with a good crew and chain falls and ener-pacs to remove and repair broken equipment. But once your health changes your heart breaks 💔

[@larrypostma2866]

Man I felt this in my soul. I was a pipefitter but broke my back. I miss it badly every thing I used to complain about I remember fondly now lol. I don’t know if it was the mental or physical challenges or have a great group of people around constantly but life’s not the same stuck at home.

[@richardharding7767]

Was a millwright for a few years in a press shop. Do miss the guys and the pride of getting some heavy stuff back in working order. Makes me smile every time I hear someone say “we don’t need men” and remember that’s all I saw keeping their BMW’s rolling to the lots lol.

[@ok0_0]

@@booyeah his came first bruh

[@saltysnail7454]

ino

[@saltysnail7454]

nkíjií injííiiiiii jin8iií íií iin

[@jonathanbates3529]

Good Ole Doug, Tha absolute best dam Operator I have ever seen!!!!

[@montra1422]

“The dam wall” “As a dam operator” “Dam safety engineer”

[@frankpotesta8649]

Was a rigger for 10 years and now I'm old and in poor health, but I miss building and moving big iron

[@walter9724]

Wivenhoe dam. My backyard. My dad and two uncles worked on the building the dam and mum and dad bough a big property beside the dam.

[@mickeyfilmer5551]

Enjoyable film, shame it keeps jumping from one project to another then back, I would prefer to see a single project from start to finish. Very interesting all the same.

[@PBMS123]

this is a TV show what do you expect.

[@amoliski]

@@PBMS123 the KZbinr that uploaded it could do us all a favor and save us from a Mitchell and Webb "I'm looking for a gift for my aunt" experience

[@realberla2518]

Shoutout to the mechanics and helpers who repair and maintain the Giant Machinery

[@Saiko_PATH]

I worked with one of these in Denmark. We use em for unloading the coal out of the ships aswell.

[@SlithenTurtle]

To think some of us feel like this while working on your car at home and live in the rust belt lol

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

Longwall mining systems are VERY cool, the miners that run them have balls of titanium, no way I'd ever go under one of them!!!

[@Pencil0fDoom]

That pentle pin bushing bore-out fix was a rare barbed-wire wild-west moment that would probably cause most FAA materials & manufacturing engineers to swallow their tongues.

[@rustythecrown9317]

looks like they over-torqued the spindle router.

[@clown134]

I would have thought that they could have Frozen the pen to shrink it or something instead of for the whole

[@mooglemy3813]

​@@clown134if it don't fit don't force it. As to aircraft precision perfect is the rule. Poor maintenance or lack of same has caused many plane crashes. I'd say the landing pintle needed to fit perfectly out of the box. A master Machinist honed out the bush. For me that would work on a motorcyle or car but not certain about an aircraft at all. That procedure would have to be recorded as it modified a part. Also - 40° is not an unusual temperature for an aircraft. That also must be factored into parts by the manufacturer. No mistakes is the rule I'd say.

[@clown134]

@@mooglemy3813 good point

[@bartman8876]

Just dropped a part of the big excavator off in AZ pretty cool seeing the site and the actual size of the equipment

[@sunpeaksturner]

Scaffolding is key..! To all my high flying scaffold brothers..who have families to feed 🤘🏽

[@GaryLaaks1]

Nice one. As a popular rally driver once told me in private (after he crashed and became a spectator) that he would rather race and come last than to stand on the side and watch the boys have all the fun.

[@jameslees7775]

I've built the reclaimer buckets for the wheel

[@aftersexhighfives]

These men are amazing. Ian is worth his weight in dark matter.

[@Angel_Racecraft]

I’m so high rn, I learned more off this than I have in school✌️

[@dbzlinkinpark99]

My dad would’ve loved this he was always watching things like this

[@SerielThriller]

Now I can repair my Tonka trucks, great tutorial.

[@marcomcdowell8861]

As a hydro guy, I feel the digger mechanics' pain. You go through a arduous task only to find it to be a simpler fix later.

[@loliking2763]

Thats every diagnostic profession 😅

[@technodrone313]

i love smoking hydro too!

[@blowndome]

Shout out to Spark TV for keeping me entertained in county!

[@noeleljah9857]

He's a damn engineer... Sounds Epic

[@joanlittle4235]

I just love all the work these men . I think I never stop learning Thanks so mycu for this video...Granny U S A

[@Gibonsli]

As someone said "We learn till we die. Gibbon Amazon Forest

[@robertfitzsimmons2507]

Right on. Smart girl. Never to young to learn gun safety she's definitely a talented shooter for her age. Awesome

[@JuliaWhite-ge4tx]

Awesome job

[@chuckkeeler1112]

weld lifting lugs on the base .much love and respect

[@kingming869]

2:19:08 I wish my company has group warmup activities like this.

[@nbooker7504]

Amazing, keep it up!

[@SuperCarsFromTheHood]

I'm over here trying to figure out why farm sim 19 music is playing in my room and its this video lol

[@glentaylor6825]

Good stuff.

[@davidotto7666]

Hey hey y'all doing Happy New Years anyway anything to do with big mechanical machine you work like this or anything that nature I'm all for big trucks muscle cars anything that nature all for it you guys are awesome I like this kind of stuff thank you again for the content God bless you have a blessed day

[@ChundomanX]

Some skilled mechanics freeze the bolt and heat up the whole piece and is way easier to change the bolts

[@scorn010]

Pays for Premium to remove ads... content creators: "Not on my watch!"

[@elijahplays3133]

Why is there a TV show on KZbin… it’s amazing😂

[@FBISHOJI]

Educational purposes

[@InservioLetum]

You must be confusing youtube with something else, youtube has always been tv shows. It's what 'tube' refers to in the name. Boobtube, for you... youtube.

[@hopester0217]

Wow Very interesting !!! Question. Thousand or so years ago what was the process used to separate the silver/gold. Was Borax and zinc used ? Thank you

[@donaldvincent]

Just like they still separate gold in the Amazon jungle. They use mercury. It sticks to the gold and sinks because it is very heavy. Then it is put in a pan over a fire and the mercury evaporates leaving the gold behind. All the gold melts and runs together to form larger nuggets. Not very safe breathing in mercury fumes.

[@j5jackson878]

He knows the dam damn well and is damn good at his dam job!

[@rustythecrown9317]

dammit.

[@OJHussick]

Dam operator.

[@j5jackson878]

@@rustythecrown9317 definitely should've ended that sentence with a "dammit"!

[@mohdfahmi8841]

..em..

[@ioanbota9397]

Realy I like this video so so much

[@themightymutt5213]

"With such a straight forward task, what could possibly go wrong?" C'mon man! You NEVER say something like that before any kind of project! (Yes, I know it was sarcasm)

[@Wiseguy248]

I like the pronunciation of schedule lol. Sedual

[@bradleytenderholt5135]

Excelente video!

[@effoffutube]

it's always doug and his team showing up

[@agamazing102]

The way you present your content is professional and easy to understand.

[@WaterDR-tw8re]

Only way to fix this.....stop buying cars. BTW, the 4xe comments you made were entirely wrong!!!!! The batter never goes dead. It's always a hybrid and it's by far the fastest jeep sans 392. Fun as hell to drive.

[@bambambundy6]

Wow. I felt good about working on my old John Deer.

[@iLoveBoysandBerries]

You never had a John deer

[@bambambundy6]

Deere that's the one I had. lol

[@skunkhome]

All this heavy repair is like dancing with a clumsy giant.

[@stoopsartsunlimited]

Thanks, Don and team. Next time I want to blow my kid's mind, I'll point out that they're moving at the speed of light.

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

Teamwork makes the dream work

[@robert1589]

Coal makes the life and environment go down... Clean energy makes the global heat go down...

[@Jdalio5]

Don't say that ever again please

[@robert1589]

@@Jdalio5 hahahahahahaha

[@Jdalio5]

@@robert1589 cringy af right?

[@robert1589]

@@Jdalio5 You're right. I should support black-lung.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

0:37 Ooo, down under got baby Baggers!

[@kenc5156]

This show is a prime example of why we have phrases like yada yada, and bla bla bla. This 2 hr and 22 minute program could have been done in about 45 minutes without all the over sensationalizing and over dramatization and yada yada and bla bla bla.

[@RolandElliottFirstG]

They are not Bolts, they are studs. (21:50) come on guys get it right, people watch this and pick up the incorrect information, also we work in metric not Imperial.

[@mooglemy3813]

Roland as long as you don't believe everything posted on KZbin folks will be ok. But usually if you have some knowledge of a subject you will overlook many things. I agree with your comment though 100%!

[@MasterOvPuppetz]

I didn't know there's a wive'nhoe reservoir 🤷‍♂

[@oluwadetanidowu533]

Too many Ads! Really spoils the watching experience.

[@Oneover_137]

Premium chief...

[@D3nn1s]

@@Oneover_137 not everybody wants to pay for literally all their services at this point

[@winmarie1195]

A trick I learned, 1. Start video, 2. Advance to the last 1 or 2 minutes, 3. Let the video play to the end, 4. Press replay symbol. Video will replay with NO ads. Note: If you want to support the creators, let the ads at the beginning play, advance to the end, let the ads at the end play, press the replay symbol.

[@D3nn1s]

@@suhail8704 nah supporting the creators is the way to go. You work for free too i presume?

[@mikerob2134]

@@D3nn1sthen shut up and watch

[@SlithenTurtle]

"The lift point is missing idk what to do!" Idk maybe weld up a new one since your fixing it may as well fix that too

[@amosbackstrom5366]

Do those hydraulic roof supports not have a mechanical locking system in case of a hydraulic failure?

[@darinpringle5611]

I would imagine

[@jcc2c22]

We won't see adoption of this technology in my lifetime. Or, given that I'm 70, most everyone else as well.

[@3089io]

This video is many 7 year old autistic boy's dream. Even the editing. It's adorable. I'm 40, and I do really like all the detail shots on the work. But yeah, I really respect this production. It is like a two hour and twenty minute version of Mr. Rodgers going to the crayon factory. Great stuff.

[@big_mike_nyc]

Damn boilermakers!

[@donjaun540]

Very interesting. It just goes to show that engineers don't know everything. Great video.

[@mooglemy3813]

I worked for a Japanese company and the engineers valued experience. We had to report a problem and basically teach them about it with all pertinent info and root cause if we could define it. They told us we were the experts until they could grasp the problem. Completly different I'd say to North American engineers in their approach and being humble. It took time to gain their full confidence, but one you did you could say I think or believe and they would listen. I would only give solid facts and any question I could think of I answered before sending a report.

[@orangedream267]

With that telescoping lifter, jack up the front of it, pop the pivots out of the hydraulic cylinders (the bracers), and swing them out of the way. Roll the sucker out. Hydraulic pressure should be dead, if lines have been cut. If they haven't bleed the lines. Hell, that might solve the bracing issue as well.

[@69uremum]

I know right!

[@amosbackstrom5366]

Exactly what I was thinking and they eventually did pop the pivots out but only after craning it out. I would have bled the lines immediately.

[@exploreworldbirds]

Is Tedious watching Constant switching videos from 1 project to another, increases length by 1/3 as each is reintroduced, just for more $.

[@louisarmstrong8863]

BIG DEAL !

[@decler-gt7nu]

All machinery is meant to be disassembled for maintenance, tight bolts are meant to be tigntend and loosened in a particular order especially when under exstreamly high torque, usually heating up the bolt or nut with OXY aceterlin torch helps,and making sure they are properly greased, and you need one or two qualified mechanics overseeing the job so that everything is done right ,Its only hard if you make it hard ,a job is a job ,

[@markwentz8332]

“If you can’t fix it with a hammer . . . . you have an electrical problem” 💪😜👍🏻

[@GuiltyOne]

If you have an electrical issue, call me I'm a Master Electrician 😜

[@markwentz8332]

@@GuiltyOne red seal pipefitter 🙋🏼‍♂️

[@GuiltyOne]

@@markwentz8332 I have wanted to be a pipefitter for awhile now but working outside in -30°c weather made me decide to be an electrician instead..... you probably make 3 or 4x what I make I bet

[@biznessdial3754]

AAAH😎....!!, YEAH.......!!, YO.................!!, ℹ️ THINK💭......!!, YOU NEED A MACHINIST & FABRICATOR & WELDERS ON MAJOR JOB SIGHT LOCATIONS, BECAUSE MECHANICAL ⚙️ MACHINES BREAKDOWN ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE OF STRESSES OF THE CONTINUES WORK PAY💰LOAD WHICH IS ALWAYS STRETCHER-IOUS & DAUNTING PEOPLE😎🇺🇸

[@TradieTrev]

Electrical faults are fun though! Hat's off to the fitters, mechanics & boiler makers that do the hard yards!

[@ScottGostick]

At 24:50 worker has a lapse in judgement that could cost him a hand. Can tell his hand is a bit to the side, but absolutely no reason to put it there since it is his brain tricking him to think he is doing something relevant. This type of work only takes seconds of poor judgement to have devastating consequences!

[@Megellin]

45 min in day shift says "it's raining so we are going to go home and leave it to night shift" yep get use to that boys, plus do be surprised when day shift gets the only celebration party if you do anything right...

[@phatphap_taitam]

It was always under time constraint, and everyone shouting about how much it costed them that I took an hour extra when shit was stuck.

[@nibs5821]

It’s odd seeing no one wearing hard hats in the mechanic shop.

[@billytarver1740]

Rattle gun I always have called it impact

[@Bsssssssssssss]

I like technology and science

[@reddwudd6700]

Why didn't you guys use heat or even heat and wax to get the large bolts out? Also, why didn't yall loosen the hydraulic hose retention clamps when you stretched the hoses apart? Couldn't what you did cause stresses and possibly premature failure? Just wondering.

[@mickhunt66]

it, hard to tell just from the videos, in my experience when ever I come along to see what everyones struggling with and ask the obvious questions like that there's always a reason why on that specific job its not possible... so who knows is guess. but I'm curious to know as well.

[@Idahomie]

Even the most conscientious repairman take shortcuts. You hope they really don't short -cut the safety...and their unions can hopefully protect them from the toe -tappeing- clock- watchers profit motivated bean counters.

[@amosbackstrom5366]

I don't think the bolts were seized, it was just the side load and pressure I believe. Wax might help but heat would only expand them and make it worse IMO

[@sillybusta]

Nope heat would cause everything to grow. A heavy wall sleeve over the bolts and hollow ram then the nut for ram to push against and grease the other end as jacking against the other end would even cause bolt to mushroom before entering the bore. Fitted bolts are a gentle exercise and metal no matter how high tensile can deform.

[@sillybusta]

As well as something to support the weight of gearbox.

[@ThiloNorris]

The only reason I clicked on this was because of Lisa Simpson in the thumbnail

[@carcas3d]

1:00:00 The plane hangar looks like a dude being pampered by his servants while the other machineries looks like theyre begging for repairs kekw

[@dingdongmagee]

Love the “one bolt one shift” bullshit.

[@shubamnautiyal5711]

Very lucrative business development

[@JoshHopkinsYT]

Jumpscared me with the blasting loud intro lol

[@lennyforester8743]

LOL at "Engineers repair and maintain". I've never seen an engineer get his hands dirty

[@RichParrott]

Nice

[@hammerdragon4321]

dang look at all those over sized Tonka toys lol 🤣

[@Nunya_Bidnez]

The video does not do due justice to how HUGE these machines are. The Bucket on that Hitachi EX5500 is massive. It makes the operator look tiny.

[@98karlh]

Cool to have a look behind the scenes of the country and the companies that lead the fight against the fight against climate change :D

[@bpbrainiak]

He is the Dam operator, And he knows the gates Dam well

[@JohnDoe-iu5xi]

definitely don't want to end up with an extra bolt working on these things.