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John Deere 544A Wheel Loader

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Eric

Following up on a promise I made a few months back here is video footage of the old John Deere 544A wheel loader pushing snow at a local shopping center. At one point in time there were two 544’s as part of the removal team but one has since disappeared, replaced with a Ford loader of similar vintage. This remaining unit is a loud one and could easily be heard from across the parking light. Unlike other vintage machines that have appeared on this site there is no need to guess at the specifications as the original brochure can still be found hosted at the John Deere website. Click here to access.

Next I’ll set my sights on the ol’ Ford. With another major storm on the horizon I don’t think I’ll have to wait very long.

Posted in Heavy Equipment | Tagged john deere 544a | Leave a comment

Bucket Trucks or Cherry Pickers

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Eric

Take a look at this, it’s a Hino truck that doesn’t cause immediate disgust from naturally ugly looks and a bland white paint job. To be fair the new Hino trucks don’t look all that bad compared to previous generations. Once you slap on a distinctive color scheme, flashing lights and aluminium wheels you have a nice looking work truck. This particular rig belongs to Northland Communications which also runs a single axle Mack Granite MHD. I’m still working on getting a shot of that one.

Just yesterday I came across this Freightliner FC-70 bucket truck and got me thinking about the terminology used to describes these vehicles. Growing up I referred to these trucks as cherry pickers. Like many fruit bearing trees, cherry trees are on the short side of the flora spectrum, often reaching no higher than twenty feet. Maybe if we had towering Sequoia like cherry trees a bucket truck would would make sense but really they seem to be overkill. Checking out the website of Altec, one of the major manufacturers of cherry pickers, neither the name bucket or cherry is to be found. Instead they use the generic term of aerial devices. What name do you use?

This particular Freightliner looks to be a former PPL Truck. It was working with a crew from M.L. Caccamise to button up some of the traffic control signals disrupted by the Connective Corridor work from this past summer. I bet they wish they had finished all their work back during those warm days.

Posted in On the Job | Tagged freightliner FC-70, hino bucket truck, M.L. Caccamise, northland communications | Leave a comment

Still Working – Ford F-Series Roll Back

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Eric

Ford. Acronym for Found On Road Dead? Not yet when it comes to this old roll back still putting in a days work for J.K. Tobbin. I spotted this truck working at a demolition job first mentioned on this site in December. Once the steel supports of the old building were knocked down and cut to size this truck presumably hauled them off to the scrap yard. A nice heavy load for this old truck.

Posted in Still Working | Tagged ford f-series | Leave a comment

Underwater Bulldozer

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Eric

I’m pretty sure if I developed a business plan that called for the construction of a remote controlled underwater bulldozer I would be laughed out of any and every bank that would let me through the doors. Chalk this idea up to one that is crazy enough to work as the Japanese heavy equipment giant Komatsu perfected such a machine decades ago.

The D155W was the worlds first commercially marketed amphibious bulldozer. Large air intact and exhaust stacks allowed the dozer to operate via remote control in water as deep as 23 feet. The original production run saw nearly 36 D155W models constructed and sold to a variety of customers around the globe. Today at least five still exist in their home country of Japan and were in use as late as 2012.

The natural question that comes to mind is why? Surely the cost to build, operate, and maintain such a unique contraption negate the intended benefits. Could not the same job be performed buy a dredge or a land based excavator with a long reach boom? Perhaps the advantage lies in their small and compact size relative to large floating barges. In 2011 the Great East Japan Earthquake washed away sediment used to support bridge foundations spanning the Natori River. A group of D115W’s were used to replace this soil with pinpoint accuracy.

The video below shows you exactly how this bizarre concept looks in the real world. Operators stand on the shore watching the exhaust towers move through the water. Occasionally the machines surface for one reason or another. A team of divers are usually on hand to assist with repairs and guiding of the dozers in this uniquely Japanese application.

Thanks to Mark for sharing!

Continued Reading: Komatsu December 2013 Newsletter

Posted in Heavy Equipment | Leave a comment

Found the Snow

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Eric

Last week I complained about the lack of snow in Central New York. Yesterday the area and much of the country received a nice fluffy layer of the white stuff. Is it possible that I have the ability to control the weather? If you live in the northeast just look out your window for proof of my powers. During my travels yesterday I was able to catch a few semi decent shots of plows at work. I did the driving while my wife held the camera. Safety first.

The best shot of the group turned out to be this International 2574 from the Town of Dewitt. In the background you can see the head lights of a Freightliner 108SD. That photo didn’t turn out to be anything worth sharing.

Earlier I crossed paths with this Freightliner M2 112 of the Onondaga County DOT.

Later I crossed paths with the City of Syracuse truck that I just can’t seem to get a good photo of, number 282. I’m always too earlier or too late. Amazing that a truck of that size can sneak up on me again and again. Also in the gallery is an old John Deere loader clearing parking lots and a 2674 of OCDOT.

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Posted in Snow Plows | Leave a comment

Autocar Mondays – Saying Goodbye

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Eric

As I mentioned last week there was an auction at Tracey Road Equipment that contained a variety of interesting lots. One of them was this 1978 Autocar Construcktor that has been featured on this site before. After seeing it lurking around the used truck lot for a few years I was finally able to get up close and personal with this great piece of classic American steel.

I never seem to pay close enough attention to the auction listings so I was pleasantly surprised to see this truck idling away in the line up. Playing it cool, I didn’t run directly over to the truck but instead acted liked I could care less which seemed to be the general attitude shared by many regarding this beast. Powered but a Cummins NTC 290 that produced a very satisfying turbo whistle the Autocar was struggling to build air in the 2o(F) degree weather. After some throttle persuasion the pressure climb and the low air buzzer finally turned off. The interior of this truck was slightly mangled with the dash receiving some abuse from the addition/subtraction of switches and radios over the years. All major gauges were intact including a tachometer that bounced around like a sugar fueld child at Chuck-E-Cheese. A very nice and crack free pearl white Autocar emblazoned steering wheel was the nicest part of the rust free cab.

I stopped by Tracey Road just the other day and found most of the auction items already cleared out with the exception of this truck and a few others. It’s possible it didn’t sell or its future owners have yet to claim it. Back in 2012 the asking price was near 30,000 dollars. No idea what it did or didn’t go for the day of the sale. Regardless, I’m glad I was able to see it one final (maybe) and grab some documentation about it. Best of luck to you Autocar Construcktor!

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Posted in Autocar Trucks | Tagged autocar construcktor | Leave a comment

White 4000 Wrecker

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Eric

Today we have a few more great photos from David and his time spent around heavy duty wreckers. In his own words let’s hear about this classic.

The Big White 4000 was not my regular truck either, but to this day, easily the most comfortable truck I ever drove. It had the big Autocar Driver’s cab, and despite a PT270, no dog house at all. It had a 9 speed, so shifting was easy, and a White Velvet Ride Torsion Rubber tandem. Rode like a dream, easy to see out of, handled well, just a nice truck overall. It sported a 25 ton weld buily with heavy winches.

But not all Whites were built alike and handed as nicely as the 4000.

The other White was also a rolling repaint; a neat truck. 6-200 gas, 5&2, 35,000 gvw. Wheelbase cut way down, it sported a 20 ton Ortiz, drove nice, but rode hard. Very maneuverable.

Another shot of the 4000 and friend.

The International below was spotted for sale many years ago in Vermont. I know some of you got excited the moment you saw the for sale sign but your time has come and gone. David points out that the wrecker body is a Holmes 750. The large air filter and Luberfiner suggest this truck is a F210D.

Thanks for sharing yet another round of great photos David!

Posted in Vintage | Leave a comment

Slim Pickins

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Eric

I was passing through the Town of Scriba, NY two weeks ago when I decided to stop by the Oswego County Highway Department garage. I didn’t have much time to spare so I was hoping there would be some low hanging fruit I could grab. Sadly every truck was either on the road or in the barn. The only thing that was accessible was this well worn Cat dozer. I liked the way it looked in the bright winter sun with the cooling tower of Nine Mile Point in the background.

Strange how nearly every Cat marking has been removed from this dozer. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Posted in Heavy Equipment | Tagged cat dozer | Leave a comment

Lost and Found – Mack R-Model Dump Truck

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Eric

Let’s go to Fulton, NY! Said no one ever. I’m just kidding. Fulton has been good to this site in the past with photos of giant snow throwers, decaying Oshkosh trucks, and even Scanias. The highlight of any trip to Fulton always takes place just moments after entering the city limits when passing by Fulton Spring Services. A variety of interesting and usually older trucks are always on hand. This time it happened to be an older R-Model Mack that was most likely a Midland Asphalt truck.

Also to been but not photographed was the Autocar Construcktor dump truck so often seen around town during sidewalk replacement season. At this time it was without a dump body. Potential repair or upgrade? I’ll guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Posted in Lost and Found | Leave a comment

Michigan 180 Wheel Dozer

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Eric

This past weekend I came across a interesting piece of unique iron, a Michigan 180 series III wheel dozer. Unlike most loaders this 180 does’t articulate in the middle of the chassis but instead relies on rear articulating wheels. Rubber tires provide greater high end speed as opposed to tracked machines which makes them valuable in large open pit mining environments. Obviously we are not open pit mining in East Syracuse but rather pushing snow around. I have to imagine that any curb you hit with this Michigan is going to be ripped right out of the ground. Don’t scrap the asphalt.

Below is a short walk around video that will help you soak in all the details.

On the topic of wheel dozers check out this insane looking contraption. It’s a Melroe Multi- Wheel Dozer. Eight wheels, twin diesel engines, 26 by 7 foot blade, 100 tons of steel. Steering is similar if not exact to what you would find in a skid steer loader. The blade is up front is able to rotate to a near 45 degree angle while pushing material. This machine is a very interesting concept that never caught on. Either it’s not as good as it appears or the influence of Big Dozer squashed the little guy. After watching this video I want one and so will you.

Posted in Heavy Equipment | Tagged clark equipment, michigan 180 wheel dozer | Leave a comment