Working on More Repairs to the Bantam C35 Dragline Crane - Track Roller Removal and Disassembly

[@brian_2040]

Shout out to Connor for having to be a T-REX and a apprentice at the same time. Lol good job buddy, learn all you can.

[@johnmadden7101]

So nice to see guys like Connor learning a trade. He will never be unemployed. Love the channel.

[@davidlewis7179]

You need an induction heater, and it is brilliant to see Connor has a sense of humour

[@charleswelch249]

That's the best thing ever. You're teaching the next generation so he can figure out what he wants to do. Great job Connor 💯

[@orville697]

Respect to you for teaching Connor and giving him the opportunity to learn a decent trade

[@jrmintz1]

I've come to believe that talent is the willingness to work harder than other people at getting good at your craft, whatever it may be. Connor will be successful at whatever he chooses to do because he works hard and learns. And you are a great mentor. Thanks for these fascinating videos.

[@isoguy.]

Yes so many youngsters don't want to learn anything these days, most in our area are wannabe gangster drug dealers and end up in prison, then on social support for the rest of their lives. So, so sad.

[@onryboy2264]

It's wonderful that you are taking the time to teach Connor the tools of the trade.

[@mark111943]

Great to see you passing on your skills to another generation! Good work Conner 💯

[@mikecrook4085]

Thank you for taking the time to pass along your knowledge to the younger folks, AND to old folks like myself!

[@kimazbell460]

Great job of teaching Connor the many skills of machining and mechanical work. He's a good student.

[@djhscorp]

Great to see Conner having a go. Always something different.

[@royreynolds108]

Hey Conner, I laughed like crazy when you hung on the press handle because I've been there also. When those things are stuck, I don't have enough rocks in my pockets.

[@timothystark5986]

Great to see you teaching the next generation!

[@petegraham1458]

Good to have Conner in the workshop he is fortunate to have the opportunity to learn these skills. I commend you for taking the time and effort to pass one your vocational knowledge. It’s an investment not only in his future but to the capability of our society. Well done!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Couldn't agree more!

[@jackgreen412]

It's something special to watch your videos with morning coffee. Great that you have a young man like connor (sp?) that's so eager to learn. You have to be willing to get down and dirty!

[@phlodel]

"You should have the gloves on." Also shade 5 eyewear. I know a lot of people don't think you need the proper shade of lens for torch cutting. It's not only better for your eyes, but you can also see much better. I'm retired after a career of fabrication and welding. I always wear my shade 5s, and I've only worked with one man that was better with a torch than me. He wears his shade 5s, too.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I will use #5 for driving sometimes. Especially on sunny days in the winter. The sun reflecting off the snow is blinding.

[@Tafs315]

Glad that you have him hands-on. This is the best way for him to build confidence in his abilities Great Job!!!

[@ttargetss]

I absolutely love the content that includes your apprentice Connor! If you don’t have time to teach the next generation you don’t belong in the trades. At least one other machinist on KZbin thinks they don’t have time to deal with the mistakes that an apprentice makes… those are some of the most important lessons. I hope during the cutting of the u bolts Connor had a chance to try cutting just the nut like you did. Even when you are green, if you have the chance to try the more advanced stuff it will help you in the future. Awesome content as always!!!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I couldn't agree more. I am glad I have some personal projects for him to work on to hone his skills. He still does some paying jobs, and has learned a lot. Not much supervision needed anymore. He did try snipping a few nuts, and actually did quite well. You have to learn somewhere.

[@ypaulbrown]

7:00 smiling and laughing my head off watching this.......really made my morning....

[@robertquast9684]

Conner has a lot of work making all those parts

[@bostedtap8399]

Burning and turning, nice work Connor 👌 Strip down and refurbishing equipment requires a multitude of disciplines. Thanks for sharing Josh.

[@techmarine83]

I love seeing work done on that dragline.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Me too. Can't wait to use it.

[@thomaschandler8036]

Good to see a pro like yourself training a young man. I wish I could have been trained by someone like you when I was younger.

[@gregmarchegiani6656]

Read the comments and I agree, you’re one of the very few if not the only one with an apprentice

[@larrywalker7759]

Great to see another installment of the dragline crane series. May I suggest that the next time you run your sawmill, maybe cut couple of heavy blocks of wood to position under your presses for the falling bombs to impact against. That will protect your floor against long term damage and also maybe save some of your pushing tools from nicks and dents. Thanks for your videos.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I may actually do that. A platform of wood.

[@RambozoClown]

@@TopperMachineLLC I use a 5 gallon bucket half full of sand under the press. No bouncing.

[@ellieprice363]

Wood with a couple layers of pig mat.

[@bostedtap8399]

​@@RambozoClownExcellent idea

[@ronaldbrown2854]

My new Killdozer coffee mug just arrived in the mail from Topper Machine. Thanks Josh! ☕️🚜

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Awesome. I just wish I could build a real one. LOL

[@3eyedfishy]

Following along with the apprentice was a nice surprise for this video. This type of video could be a nice sub-category for your channel. We can learn along with Conner!

[@sickie1961]

Well done!. I started turning when i was 16. It can be intimidating at the start. Luckily, he has a patient teacher like you

[@isoguy.]

Well done Connor, your so lucky to have a Dad who takes time out to teach you his skills. In years to come you will become the master teaching your Dad all the new techie engineering techniques. Learn as much as you can about everything while you are young and take my word for it you'll never regret it.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

He is not my son. He is a local high school kid who is part of the youth apprenticeship program.

[@haydenc2742]

Good stuff...plenty of grunt work on these...threads always are a do it once...repeat...repeat...repeat Great job at apprenticing the youth of today...many don't want to get down into the nitty gritty of the "hard stuff" he is learning an invaluable skill! Keep em coming!!!!

[@george-b3i-d2d]

reminds me of high school metal shop class..53 years ago.. good teaching skills !!! lucky young man and you!!

[@BrucePierson]

Yes, I did metalwork and woodwork in secondary school. Great to learn skills when you're young.

[@edsmachine93]

Nice work Josh and Conner. Real nice job one remover and installer arbor Conner.👍👍 Great job with the disassembly Conner. Josh you are doing a great job with your apprentice with expert instruction and training. You're very lucky Conner to have a Mentor and boss like Josh. Learn all you can, while you can. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks 👍

[@lwilton]

Good to see Connor working, learning, and having some fun, or at least doing his calisthenics. 🙂 The only thing that had me a little antsy was watching Connor pushing on that wrench with his hands. Good way to create a lot of temporary pain and bleeding. Ask me how I know...

[@ianmoone2359]

Have to commend you Josh for taking the time & effort to teach your skills & knowledge to the next generation, with Connor. It’s a great investment, he seems like a willing worker and keen to learn, so deserves to do well in life. Giving a kid a start says a lot about a man, & I think you should be justifiably proud. Keep up the good work. 👍👍👍🇦🇺

[@jeffreyplum5259]

Conner's mask is actually apt. One can see this rig as either a dinosaur or a monster. The old blue flame wrench works when nothing else will. God bless you fellas. Good Luck!!

[@zekeabercrombie3583]

I'd take off the silly dino mask and put on a full face mask, gloves and long sleeves before you get hurt.

[@U_ever]

Sweet lookin' pile of pretty blue chips you made there Conner! Nice work Gents.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks 👍

[@easttexascowboy257]

Congrats on reaching 100K subscribers! Always enjoy your down to earth, common sense approach to everything you do.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thank you very much

[@steelfabmechanic6545]

A good tip for in the future Josh, when you heat a nut up like you did to help get it to turn, melt a birthday candle on top on the bolt and turn the nut at the same time. The paraffin from the candle will melt and leak down into the threads and act as a lubricant.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thank you for reminding me of this one. That probably would have done it.

[@wallbawden5511]

nice to see some getting done on the old girl and teaching along the way Cheers

[@randyulen6360]

Glad to see Connor's working out so well he seems like a really hard worker. I noticed when he was filing that bearing pusher😮 he was filing with his left hand and not reaching over the check that's a good practice for everybody

[@tsmartin]

But using his finger on a rotating part to see if the burr is all removed ... bad practice.

[@mikep1085]

LOL!! Conner.... love the mask dude!

[@Kdavis795]

Gives new meaning to Don't force it get a bigger hammer

[@johnreese3943]

Back in the 60s I read an article about rebuilding Cst track rollers. At the time the OEM rollers were bronze bushed. The article discussed using Nylon instead of bronze. The Nylon outlasted bronze.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

That is the plan

[@jamesbonnema1041]

Connor is a star!

[@Highstranger951]

A breaker bar with a shallow socket would have been a lifesaver

[@dlstanf2]

Conner is a good sport. Have to get around YT on so many things.

[@1978garfield]

I had no idea Connor was so young. Much respect for him. Sadly many kids his age can't run a register at a fast food joint anymore. Not to mention be given a task and left on their own to finish it. I have even more respect of you Josh as a boss/ mentor after watching this video. The way you handled problems and mistakes was so refreshing to see. When I was coming up in a different industry just a little older than Connor my boss would scream bloody murder if there was any sort of problem. No matter if it was beyond anyone's control, it was my fault somehow if a part was out of stock or a delivery was late due to bad weather. The tirade of insults would begin. "I can't believe you messed that up. It isn't rocket science. Do I need to get my daughter to come in here and do your job? She is in kindergarten but I'm sure she could do a better job." Needless to say I left that job.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Man, that was a toxic environment. I'm glad you got out of there.

[@sallybrokaw6124]

In addition to learning to operate machine tools you are teaching Connor how to use hand tools. I learned a lot of that from watching my Dad but not every Dad knows mechanical or woodworking stuff. As Yoda would say"Great mentor you is hmmm."AL B.

[@windzer]

Nice job from connorsaurus rex

[@scpvrr]

Feet off the ground! Thanks for the great laugh. Clearly you guys have a great relationship.

[@edswider9309]

Conner josh is a excellent guy

[@danielgriffith7694]

Congratulations on teaching your son a valuable life skill. Your patience shows in the way you coach him. And also a future legacy in the making, Continuing what you started 👍👍👍

[@TopperMachineLLC]

He is not my son. Actually he is a local high school kid in the WI Youth Apprenticeship Program.

[@stephensmith8756]

@@TopperMachineLLC You deserve a great deal of credit for being so very helpful, and Connor is so fortunate to be able to use and learn on your tools and machines. Hats off to both of you. I would have loved to be taught to turn on a Monarch. Best regards from Albion Park, NSW, Australia.

[@donteeple6124]

Josh, Absolutely LOVED this. As goofy as he may be, LOL, Connor's learning alot and applying the lessons in real time with you. The wife was looking over my shoulder as i was laughing out loud at Connor in his outfit..Her reaction? No sweetie you can NOT have one, is hard enuf keeping you fed much less adding a hungry teenager that wears a dinosaur head...GEEZ..... LOL....Hope to see more of these....10 thumbs up Don

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Lol. My last teenager is almost out of the house and I'm looking forward to saving a ton on groceries.

[@JamesDedmon]

I like the way you have taught Connor how to use a file. I’ve never been a fan of reaching over the chuck to file.

[@MyLilMule]

Nice job, Connor. Thanks, Josh, for passing on your skills to the next generation.

[@haroldchoate7497]

Conner is a good sport to wear that mask. It had to be hot and uncomfortable. I was happy to see some of the techniques I used to repair valve ie washing off material with a torch, pressing bushings with a job specific mandrel. I look forward to the coming episodes of the Dragline repair.

[@theessexhunter1305]

Josh, bet he slept well. !!

[@johnrice6793]

I believe there’s nothing you can’t do. 👍👍

[@johnrice6793]

And thank you for helping us all by teaching and helping the young.

[@1978garfield]

How does the quote go " We have done so much for so long with so little that we now can do anything with nothing."

[@johnrice6793]

@@1978garfield Right on.

[@peterhuber8731]

Congats on 100k milestone! When are you gonna get Randy up on video to blame him?

[@BrucePierson]

Well, that's Connor's workout for the day!!

[@justtim9767]

Great to see a young guy working rather than playing video games in mom's basement.

[@ypaulbrown]

Good Day Josh.....always great to see you in Action....have a wonderful weekend and up coming week...PB in Orlando

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks! You too!

[@GardenTractorBoy]

This is a very cool project and it was great to watch, thanks. I was surprised that the shafts also have a lot of wear although with new shaafts and bushings it will be as good, if not better than new

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I am hoping for better than new. I don't want to have to do it again.

[@BrucePierson]

That's a real time consuming process, having to work nuts backwards and forwards in order to save a bolt (in this case U bolts) that are not off the shelf types and may be very difficult to obtain. I often encounter very difficult to remove nuts or bolts, but if they are just regular bolts that I have enough of, I just turn it until the bolt snaps to save time. But with something like these U bolts, I take the time to do exactly what you were doing to save the parts.

[@randydobson1863]

Hi Josh & Connor & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Josh & Connor & Friends Randy

[@BrucePierson]

The dragline restoration sure is a big job. Something like CEEAUS's Franna crane restoration. Neither will happen overnight.

[@Citizen63-j8k]

It's great that you got this young man to do and learn. Be proud of him.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I sure am. He is a great kid and has learned a lot.

[@jhaggerty1822]

Smart boy👍

[@frankerceg4349]

Thank you Josh!

[@freemanjackmsiradio]

Incredible job taking on the youngster...... Especially one from an extinct species!! 😀

[@kd5byb]

I was hoping to see Connor do his dance again like he did in the weld shop with his welding helmet on! :)

[@TopperMachineLLC]

LOL, I was surprised he didn't.

[@kd5byb]

@@TopperMachineLLC Maybe next time. Glad to see Connor is doing well and continuing to learn.

[@ellieprice363]

I was just hoping to see Conner jumping up and down and hopping around on one foot pretending one of those iron shafts dropped on his foot.

[@kd5byb]

@@ellieprice363 It looks like he's wearing a nice pair of steel toe boots! :)

[@TopperMachineLLC]

He sure is. I bought them for him.

[@garymucher4082]

Great to see you passing skills and techniques onto the next generation. However, I have to wonder what his mother looks like seeing his face... lol

[@TopperMachineLLC]

😂

[@seamusbolton215]

Another interesting video, thank you for all the effort it must take to produce these videos

[@kimmoj2570]

Congratulations for 100k subs!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thank you so much 😀

[@kimmoj2570]

@@TopperMachineLLC There is soon package with silver plaque coming your way from KZbin. 😀

[@ypaulbrown]

7:00, this was worth $2 bucks, and it goes to Connor.....some of the best footage I have seen on your channel....best wishes my Friends.....Paul

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thank you.

[@brandonwalker272]

The pure joy at being able to cut the rest off Conner showed.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I felt the same way.

[@rupert5390]

Its fantastic you've got an apprentice - im very miffed as to why the poor kid has to wear a mask on the video as there are plenty of younger utubers but you and he provide some of the best down to earth content on tube - the variety and authenticity of the real work is what does it .thank you

[@TopperMachineLLC]

We made the decision to do the mask to protect his privacy mostly. There are things that YT frowns on also, but privacy was our number one concern.

[@johnmcanulty7341]

Conner appears to have a thick skin so.. I think he is well suited to KZbin.

[@davidmeynen8120]

great to see a young lad learning a skilled trade hats of to him👏👏👏👏

[@1978garfield]

It is also great to see an experienced tradesman passing on his knowledge. Apprenticeship programs are largely a thing of the past in the USA.

[@RonnieRose-f5x]

I'd just cut them and made my own u bolts.... But that's me.... Loving the safety helmet on Conner 🤣🤣🤣

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Not cost effective. For $2.60 each, buying them prehardened was way better.

[@RonnieRose-f5x]

But Conner needs to learn how to use that torch, it's a restoration, there supposed to cost both arms and legs🤣🤣🤣

[@wmweekendwarrior1166]

Neat project

[@kooldoozer]

Jonathan W has a crane, you have a crane, now I kinda want one. Thinking a hydraulic old Pettibone Crane is more my style. ----Doozer

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I may have one of those too. Lol

[@kooldoozer]

@@TopperMachineLLC Really? Too cool. You need to show it sometime. --D

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@kooldoozer i need to retrieve it. It will be a few weeks yet.

[@1978garfield]

Diesel Creek has a dragline and an old Bantam crane. Who knows, maybe some day both Bantams will wind up at the same show. Matt of DC is in Pennsylvania so it is a little bit of a haul but not impossible.

[@weird1600]

old steel will surprise you

[@candicebeebe6688]

I love chips - That's why I watch

[@bonzai2380]

Nice job on the pusher shaft Connor!

[@VetvsWorld]

Perhaps, you should consider instructional type videos, i.e. proper use of an oxy/acetylene rig. I ask for purely selfish reasons-I am getting such a set-up soon. In any event, great content as usual.

[@glennmoreland6457]

Good

[@Michael-he7xn]

Great looking Tonka! Are the threads 55 deg BSF (British Standard Fine)? Would a nut splinter be a solution to saving the hardware?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

1/2"-20. Nut splitter would help if I had one. Never had much luck with them.

[@JasonAWilliams-IS]

GG Connor!

[@ron827]

Can you reuse the roller pins by just turning them 180º?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

no, they are machined to fit the rail with that flat on each end. They are junk.

[@ypaulbrown]

hey Josh, have you ever tried Acetone and ATF 50/50 mix to use as a penetrating oil ? I have been using for about 15 years and it seems to work pretty good, and smells good too.... cheers...PB

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Use it a lot. I was just out at the time.

[@thefixerofbrokenstuff]

That would have been the perfect spot to use a good nut splitter. Also the idler has a cracked spoke.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I spotted the cracks before we pulled the tracks. It's actually all of the spokes.

[@thefixerofbrokenstuff]

@@TopperMachineLLC ol Conner is gonna get some brazing experience.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@thefixerofbrokenstuff it's cast steel, so it will weld fine.

[@jeff3238]

Open the door: check Get on the floor: check Everybody dance the dinosaur: in progress

[@roberttuttle5405]

Wait a minute, you're a machine shop, you should be able to make new U bolts easily.

[@raysorensen8868]

heat those bushing with torch they fall out when cool

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks for the tip. Have to try that next time I have something like this.

[@classiccycleconnection9334]

Buy that kid lunch all week!

[@araofmadisoncasey4247]

I have an inductive heater for stubborn bolts and fasteners for sale in Madison

[@markneedham752]

@ 6:38 C'mon Josh, where's that 6'27 inch hunkapipe. Yes, an apprenticeship. Every boy should start at about age 14.

[@scottjones7279]

Is Conner planning on being a machinist? If yes i will contribute to a toolbox fund

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I will update everyone within the next couple weeks of his plans.

[@stevechambers9166]

Nice video josh I would of paid almost any amount not to have to make that many u bolts lol

[@TopperMachineLLC]

$200 for the 32 I needed was money well spent. That was to a small business in the US to make them.