I had a sweet job with the state for about 7 yrs prior to last spring. 3 yrs ago there was a changing of the guard in the admin above my position. A new middle manager was hired that made it up in her head that having a research support machine shop for a large university was a waste of money and building space.
Several attempts to eliminate my position were made, but halted due to large pushback by the research faculty. Then came COVID. The whole place was shutdown in early March. By May, I had a gut feeling I'd never go back to work there. In June my feeling was confirmed by a bullschit phone meeting (as happened to millions of others across the US and world).
I was pissed, but not surprised. I circled my wagons and laid low for awhile. Odd jobs trickled my way, but nothing serious over about 6 mos. I wasn't hurting, so I just screwed off a bunch mostly. By Christmas, I was beyond bored.
I have a good friend in the heavy equipment repair business. Around February he was was asked to do some extensive repair work on at least 4 623 Cat scrapers. I hounded him to help, and he finally caved. I was initially supposed to just come over and do a little welding on them, but the scale of the project has turned into much more. It's almost more than two guys can do working full time.
So after a few weeks, it was starting to look like Sanford and Son in the barn where the magic happens. I really needed a toolbox, preferably with a crane attached. Working out of the bed of an F250 was getting old. Through the power of CL, I located a beater old 91 topkick about 50 miles away. The price was right and a deal was struck on Friday. It needs a bit of work, but should be serviceable for my needs for a while.
Class 6, so non-CDL. 3116 Cat. 6 speed. Air brakes. 8000 lb 20 ft crane. 3/5 of a gazillion miles. Hardly will do 55 downhill with a tail wind. Earl Scheib overhauled so it looks OK from 50 ft away, but rusty up close. Best of all, no payment book!
Anyways, here's a few projects....
Floor link rebuild and stiffening. Couldn't get the banana boat bend out, but it clears underneath so it'll run.
Prepping for new floor scraper wear edges on the ejector
D5 TSK track skidder track frames for complete undercarriage. Miles of cracks and worn trough spots
The pivot housing had previously been welded, but they just went over the crack. Took a bit of gouging to get the trash out and find the bottom.
15lbs of .052 dual shield later
Impressed with the milwaukee 1/2 hi torque. Got that roller tighter than a 4 ft breaker bar could. 1-1/2" fine thread.
1st scraper split for a cushion hitch rebuild, another one in the wings.
Roading one of them out to the shop right through the middle of town.
Broken roller bolts on the D5. Pic represents 4 hrs, but both threaded holes were saved.