(quoted from post at 15:15:33 01/14/20)
(quoted from post at 14:15:28 01/14/20) I'm surprised you even questioned the capability of the Oliver 77, aside from maybe how it was running at the time you needed the work to get done, certainly is big enough a machine to work up the sections of broken concrete. You must have broke the slab down with the electric jackhammer 1st. Or did it break once you got the bucket teeth under with leverage ? Sure beats hand labor.
The 24" bucket, did you luck on where the pins connect, was it from the same model hoe or did you have to modify to get it to fit ?
One thing I do like about my hoe is a mechanical thumb, makes it useful and they look fairly easy to build by anyone who can fabricate with steel.
I too would be real cautious on the skid steer. I do know of someone killed when operating one, but it was when he got out with the bucket raised, got caught on the controls or something, I used to deliver to their shop. Was not of the era of yours, but without some of the common safety features we have now. Be great if you could add protection, but if not, just have to use lots of care as alternatives to that could be final
I just replaced all the concrete around my pool over the summer, since I was working in close proximity to the pool I wanted something that wouldn't damage it, thus the electric jack hammer. It worked really well too. Mixed about 300 bags of new concrete with my harbor freight mixer. So I was a bit used to breaking it by hand.
The end where I started hte concrete was an inch thick. The end where I ended it was 12" thick. it went down hill a bit and I guess they just filled it with more concrete. I started breaking it with the jack hammer then moving it with the backhoe, by the end i was just lifting the slabs with the hoe. I'd forgotten how much of a beast that thing is, and it's running better than it has in a long time. 3-4 years ago I did some stuff for my father over at his house and it just sat out back until a guy wanted to buy it. I got it started and running well, then he offered me $1500 and I told him to pound sand.
The bucket is off a case 580, I did have to modify it a bit. The ears on the lower part of the bucket were to narrow so I had to shave about 1/4", that was a bit of a nightmare. But the distance between top and bottom ears is 12-13" on both buckets so the geometry is about the same. I can't curl the bucket all the way though because it gets in the way of itself, so unless i cut a chunk of the bucket out I won't be able to pin stuff between the bucket and the boom. When I was moving that concrete I wished I had a thumb, would have made life a lot easier.
My Rule #1 is never, ever go under anything that is supported by hydraulics, especially when the hoses are 50 years old. Bobcat, backhoe, FEL, anything hydraulic. Set it down first, then get off. Just like jacking a car up, it's hydraulic, don't go under it. I've heard plenty of stories on how people have been killed or seriously injured by it and I'm not interested in becoming one of those people. I would never stick my arms out when the bobcat arms are up. Just thinking about it makes my hairs stand up. Few years back I was moving dirt with my ferguson TO30 FEL and the bucket got up to about 5' and wouldn't raise any more. I shut it down and got off to go look at the pump on hte front, and I didn't go under because of the paranoia. Just then a hose blew and the bucket dropped to the ground and I thought if i'd have been dumb enough to get a closer look at the pump, i might be dead. Hydraulics are something I don't mess around with.
