EQUIPMENT ORERATOR (Page 4): I know what you mean Lee. Too much liability for one thing. I truly enjoyed farming n construction. I see the huge Farm equipment n the size of the...

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

FishermanLeeSonoma wrote:

I miss it too! but glad I don't have to do it!!! It's hard finding anyone to let you run multi-million dollar equipment for fun. There is a group that was originally founded by "old man" Ghilotti (he has passed on) in the Bay Area that still wrenches on and runs heavy equipment as a hobby group. Just a fyi.

I know what you mean Lee. Too much liability for one thing. I truly enjoyed farming n construction. I see the huge Farm equipment n the size of the backhoes n other equipment. It's still in my blood. I luv the big track hoes the most. Maybe it's just me but when I was in it every day it was like I could feel it's heartbeat. I could feel the slightest hiccup in her hydraulics. You become one with the machine. That's how I feel. Not sure about anymore else. 👍

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Grizzly 17 wrote:

I know what you mean Lee. Too much liability for one thing. I truly enjoyed farming n construction. I see the huge Farm equipment n the size of the backhoes n other equipment. It's still in my blood. I luv the big track hoes the most. Maybe it's just me but when I was in it every day it was like I could feel it's heartbeat. I could feel the slightest hiccup in her hydraulics. You become one with the machine. That's how I feel. Not sure about anymore else. 👍

I ran the same Cat D9 dozer when I worked at the quarry for 8 years and put 20,000 hours on it before they got me a new one. You definitely build a relationship and become one with the machine. You could hear or feel anything out of the ordinary…

🐟on

FishermanLeeSonoma

Grizzly 17 wrote:

I know what you mean Lee. Too much liability for one thing. I truly enjoyed farming n construction. I see the huge Farm equipment n the size of the backhoes n other equipment. It's still in my blood. I luv the big track hoes the most. Maybe it's just me but when I was in it every day it was like I could feel it's heartbeat. I could feel the slightest hiccup in her hydraulics. You become one with the machine. That's how I feel. Not sure about anymore else. 👍

It's funny I ran several pieces of equipment and the biggest thing was getting your butt and edges aligned. You could feel a lot of grade in your seat and that edge and size of berm would tell you how deep you were going. Unless you were running scrapers and it was load and run...lol!

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

DozerDave wrote:

I ran the same Cat D9 dozer when I worked at the quarry for 8 years and put 20,000 hours on it before they got me a new one. You definitely build a relationship and become one with the machine. You could hear or feel anything out of the ordinary…

🐟on

You sure can Dave. I figured anyone that was n operator felt the same thing. County had guys that ran equipment. Only a few operators. Big difference brother

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

FishermanLeeSonoma wrote:

It's funny I ran several pieces of equipment and the biggest thing was getting your butt and edges aligned. You could feel a lot of grade in your seat and that edge and size of berm would tell you how deep you were going. Unless you were running scrapers and it was load and run...lol!

Lee some of us are born to run equipment. Some guys couldn’t go from one piece to another. Control different n they couldn’t adjust. Can't do crap with a computer but I can with a CAT puter. First track hoe I operated was a Warner Swasey Hopto 550. That old girl Had more pedals n levers than some of the crew could count 🤣🤣

FishermanLeeSonoma

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Lee some of us are born to run equipment. Some guys couldn’t go from one piece to another. Control different n they couldn’t adjust. Can't do crap with a computer but I can with a CAT puter. First track hoe I operated was a Warner Swasey Hopto 550. That old girl Had more pedals n levers than some of the crew could count 🤣🤣

Most of the equipment I ran was mostly CAT with 1960 to 70's controls. I remember backhoes, CAT, Case and John Deere being a bit different but no computers or GPS, weirdest Blade was CMI with wheels to control blade and wire line for long stretches or switches to steer "water truck" (like a scraper pulling a water tank)... I much preferred the hydraulics over the gear drive on the old blades.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

FishermanLeeSonoma wrote:

Most of the equipment I ran was mostly CAT with 1960 to 70's controls. I remember backhoes, CAT, Case and John Deere being a bit different but no computers or GPS, weirdest Blade was CMI with wheels to control blade and wire line for long stretches or switches to steer "water truck" (like a scraper pulling a water tank)... I much preferred the hydraulics over the gear drive on the old blades.

No computers back then. No air ride seats no ac. First loader was a old Michigan late 50' early 60's. Most of what I was in was CAT in construction. JD's with county water&sewer for 8yrs then 16 with highway department. Some Case.