Category: excavation equipment

Harvester

The harvester is a type of heavy machinery that is
employed in cut to length logging operations for
felling, buckling, and cutting up trees. Normally,
a harvester is employed alongside a forward that
will haul the logs and trees to a roadside landing.

Harvesters were developed in Sweden and Finland,
and today they do nearly all of the commercial
felling in these countries. They work best for
less difficult terrain for the clear cutting area
of forest. For steep hills or removing individual
trees, chain saws are normally preferred. In
the nordic countries, small and agile harvesters
are used for thinning operations and manual cutting
is only used during extreme conditions or by self
employed owners of the forest or wooded area.

The leading manufacturers of harvesters include
Timberjack (which is owned by John Deere) and
Valmet, which is owned by Komatsu.

Normally, harvesters are built on a robust all
terrain vehicle, which can either be wheeled or
tracked. Sometimes, the vehicle can be articulated
to provide tight turning around obstacles. A
diesel engine will provide power for both the
vehicle and the harvesting mechanism through a
hydraulic drive.

An articulated, extensible boom that is similiar
to that of an excavator, will reach out from the
vehicle to carry the head of the harvester. There
are even some commercial harvesters that are
adaptations of excavators with a new harvester
head, while the others are purpose built vehicles.

The normal harvester head may consist of:
1. A chain saw to cut the tree at the
base and also to cut it to length. The saw is
hydraulically powered rather than using a 2 stroke
engine of a portable version. It offers a more
robust chain and a higher output power than any
saw carried by man.
2. Two curved de-limbing knives that can
reach around the trunk to remove branches.
3. Two feed rollers to reach out and grasp
the tree. The wheels will pivot apart to allow
the tree to be embraced by the head of the harvester,
and pivot together to hug the tree tight.
4. Two more curved knives for de-limbing.

All of this is controlled by an operator who sits
in the cab of the vehicle. A control computer is
used to simplify mechanical movements and keep the
length and diameter of trees that have been cut.

The length is computed by counting the rotations
of the gripping wheels. The diameter is computed
from the pivot angle of the gripping wheels that
hug the tree.

Harvesters are normally available for cutting trees
up to 900 mm in diameter, built on vehicles that
weight up to 20 t, with a boom that reaches up to
a 10m radius. The larger, more heavier vehicles
do more damage to the forest, although a longer
reach will help by allowing more trees to be
harvested with less movements required by the
vehicle.

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Skid Loader

The skid loader is a rigid frame, engine powered
machine with lift arms that are used to attach a
wide variety of labor saving tools or attachments.
Skid loaders are normally four wheel drive with
left side drive wheels that are independent of
right side drive wheels. With each side being
independent to the other, the wheel speed and
direction of rotation of the wheels will determine
which direction the loader turns.

Skid loaders are capable of turning in their own
tracks, which makes them very maneuverable and
valuable for jobs that require the use of compact,
agile loader.

Unlike conventional front loaders, the lift arms
lay beside the driver with the major pivot points
located behind the shoulders of the operator. Due
to the operator being in close proximity to moving
booms and buckets, earlier models of skid loaders
weren’t as safe as conventional front loaders,
particularly during entering and exiting.

Skid loaders today have fully enclosed cabs and
other safety features that will protect the operator
from injury. Just like other front loaders,
the skid steer can scrape material from one
location to another, carry material in a bucket,
or load material on a truck or a trailer.

Operation
A skid loader can sometimes take the place of a
large excavator by digging a hole out from the
inside. The skid loader will first dig a ramp
that leads to the edge of the hole. Then, the
loader will use the ramp to carry material out
of the hole.

The skid loader will then reshape the ramp by
making it steeper and longer as the excavation
gets deeper. This method is very useful for
digging under an overhead structure where the
overhead clearance doesn’t allow for the boom of
a large excavator, such as those situations where
you are digging a basement under a house.

The bucket of most types of skid loaders can be
replaced with several specialized buckets or
attachments, many of which are powered by the
hydraulic system of the loader.

History
The first 3 wheeled front end loader was invented
by two brothers, Cyril and Louis Keller in their
machinist shop in Minnesota back in 1957. The
Kellers built the loader to help a nearby farmer
clean turkey manure from his two story barn. The
light and compact loader, with the rear caster
wheel, was able to turn around within the length
of itself, while performing the very same tasks as
conventional front end loaders.

Down the road, the Melroe manufacturing company
in Gwinner ND, purchased the rights to the Keller
loader in 1958 and hired the brothers to continue
their loader invention. Resulting from the
partnership, the M-200 self propelled loader was
introduced at the end of 1958.

The loader featured two independent front drive
wheels and a rear caster wheel, a 12.9 engine and
a 750 lb lift capacity. Two years later, they
ended up replacing the caster wheel with a rear
axle and introduced the M-400 loader, which was
the first four wheel skid steer loader in the
world.

In 1962, the Bobcat name was added to describe
the key features of the machine – touch, agile, and
quick. The M-440 was powered by a 15.5 HP engine
and offered a 1100 lb rated operating capacity.
In the mid 1960s, the skid steer loader progressed
with the introduction of the M600 loader.

Years later, the Bobcat skid steer loader experienced
quite a few changes, including the development of
a hydrostatic drive system, enforced cab structures,
radius and vertical lift arm configurations,
deluxe instrumentation, and even heating and air
conditioning.

In addition to the rubber tire skid loaders of today,
there are now all-wheel steer loaders and even
compact track loaders. Compact track loads offer
less ground disturbance and feature better traction
and control in soft, muddy, wet, and even sandy
ground conditions.

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Case CX700 And CX330

The company of Case has done it again, by introducing
yet another spectacular excavator, the CX700, which
weighs in at 70 metric tons and represents a new
size for Case, fitting perfectly between the CX460
and CX800 models. Case has also taken advantage of
Tier 3 technologies and upgraded the CX330, increasing
the power and improving fuel economy, all while adding
features that will enhance comfort for the operator
and simplify maintenance.

Power
The CX700 is a powered by a high performance, fuel
efficient Isuzu engine that is completely Tier 3
certified. With an operating weight of 153,400 lbs.
and over 400 HP, the CX700 is capable of digging to
31 feet 11 inches with reaches up to 46 feet 11 inches.

The frame for the CX700 is based on the larger CX800
to ensure optimum durability and reliability,
especially given the powerful performance specs the
machine calls for.

New to the Case CX700 is a switch that will allow
you to give priority to either the boom or the swing
functions. The CX700 also offers retractable side
frames and an optional counterweight removal device,
which makes transporting easier than ever before.

More durable
The Isuzu engine that powers the CX700 is fully
electronic and uses a high pressure rail system that
provides a 5% increase in HP and also gives the
excavator 10% better fuel economy.

Several enhancements have been made to the CX330
upon releasing the CX700, including the overall
reliabilty and durability of the machine, which
includes the strength of the front idlers by beefing
up the thickness and design of the center hub and
improving the track seal design for increased life.

Upgrades
Several of the features that come standard with the
CX700 are upgrades for the CX330 that will also be
applied to other large Case excavator models that
move forward. The key upgrades include ease of
maintenance and servicing. Both the CX330 and CX700
models feature an easy maintenance system, lubricated
bushings throughout the boom and arm, which provides
extended lube periods of up to 1,000 hours. The
engine oil filters are now mounted vertically in
the pump house access area, which allows for easier
access and servicing.

The addition of a modified oil drain plug with a
check valve will make it easier than ever to change
oil. Both the CX330 and CX700 both offer finer
fuel filtration, up to four microns, which provides
increased uptime and improved fuel performance.

The upgraded cooling system features a design that
reduces the stacking of coolers for better cooling
efficiency and also improves access to ease the
removal of debris. In addition to this, the Case
CX700 also features a hydraulically driven,
thermostat controlled reversible fan for improving
the cooling of the engine and easy cleanout of the
materials.

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Case CX330

As you may know, the CX330 is the upgrade to the
9050B model from Case. The CX330 is quite an upgrade,
being much bigger than the 9050B.

In standard form, the CX330 is almost 5,000 pounds
heavier than the 9050B. This added weight comes
from a larger counterweight and from a redesigned
carbody that will now completely enclose the swing
system.

These added pounds will also contribute to the boost
in the CX330s over-front capacity, and in combination
with higher hydraulic pressures the travel circuit,
give the excavator a very impressive 16% boost in
draw bar pull, which means more power for negotiating
poor underfoot conditions and very steep grades.

In addition to the new features, the CX330s digging
linkage has been enhanced in many ways. The boom
and arm, deeper in cross section to accommodate
higher digging forces, now incorporate V-groove
type welds that are placed by robots and 100 percent
ultra sound inspected.

The boom foot and boom to arm pivots use improved
bushings, new plated pins, and new dust seals that
combine to make a more durable and easier to take
care of assembly. The newly hardened chrome pins
will also contribute to the overall digging linkage
durability.

Even though the basic 6 cylinder, 8.3 liter engine
in the CX330 has been used in Case products since
1985, continual refinement over the years has
changed nearly 85% of the original engine’s part
numbers. The CX330 features 259 net HP with an
air to air intercooler and a free breathing 24 valve
cylinder head.

The electronic logic that controls the new engine’s
fuel system tracks the machine’s operating parameters
and keeps the system continually armed to respond
instantly and precisely to the fuel requirements of
each individual cylinder. The total electronic
design of the engine will also eliminate cable
and step motor controls from the fuel system, with
a large gain in reliability.

Even though modest changes in the CX330s digging
linkage geometry will contribute to the higher
forces of digging, the big guns here are the
refinement of the trench with it’s open center
hydraulic system. The main pressure in the
implement circuit is up almost 8%, with the hydraulic
cylinder diameter up 7% as well.

Hydraulic power
The increase in hydraulic power combines with the
more efficient linkage geometry to yield almost
20% more bucket digging force and 15% more arm
force. With 19 more HP, the CX330 can drive it’s
main hydraulic pumps with much better force. In
addition, the new pumps will produce about 6% more
flow for increased hydraulic speed at much lower
system pressures.

The new PCS (Pro Control System) will manage the
hydraulic system and interface with the 6TAA-830
engine, and does it with more electronic genious
than the 9050B did. Similar to the 9050B, the
CX330 does have manually selected working modes,
although it departs from previous designs by adding
a new automatic work mode. By working in the
new automatic mode, the CX330 can analyze load
demands and operator input at the joystick, then
adjust the engine and hydraulic pumps to balance
power and speed with efficiency and even with the
economy.

Other PCS features include a high speed assistance
system, which will speed up boom and arm functions,
and an automatic power boost system as well. The
power boost system will increase main pressure by
10% for 8 seconds if the implement system reaches
the standard relief pressure for more than 1 second
in tough digging conditions.

With everything the CX330 from Case offers, it’s
truly the best excavtor in years. Case has outdone
themselves this time, doing their part to make
excavating both fun and exciting. If you’ve been
looking for the perfect upgrade from the 9050B, the
CX330 is all that and a bag of chips.

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Compact Excavator

The compact hydraulic excavator can be a tracked or
wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight
of 13,300 pounds. Normally, it includes a standard
backfill blade and features an independent boom
swing. The compact hydraulic excavator is also
known as a mini excavator.

A compact hydraulic excavator is different from other
types of heavy machinery in the sense that all
movement and functions of the machine are accomplished
through the transfer of hydraulic fluid. The work
group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid
acting upon hydraulic cylinders. The rotation and
travel functions are also activated by hydraulic
fluid powering hydraulic motors.

Most types of compact hydraulic excavators have
three assemblies – house, undercarriage, and the
work group.

House
The house structure contains the compartment for
the operator, engine compartment, hydraulic pump
and also the distribution components. The house
structure is attached to the top of the undercarriage
via swing bearing. Along with the work group, the
house is able to rotate upon the undercarriage
without limit due to a hydraulic distribution valve
that supplies oil to the undercarriage components.

undercarriage
The undercarriage of compact excavators consists of
rubber or steel tracks, drive sprockets, rollers,
idlers, and associated components and structures.
The undercarriage is also home to the house
structure and the work group.

Work group
The work group consists of the boom, dipper or
arm, and attachment. It is connected to the front
of the house structure via a swinging frame that
allows the work group to be hydraulically pivoted
left or right in order to achieve offset digging
for trenching parallel with the tracks.

Independent boom swing
The purpose of the boom swing is for offset
digging around obstacles or along foundations,
walls, and forms. Another use is for cycling in
areas that are too narrow for cab rotation. Another
major advantage of the compact excavator is the
independent boom swing.

Backfill blade
The backfill blade on compact excavators are used
for grading, leveling, backfilling, trenching,
and general dozer work. The blade can also be
used to increase the dumping height and digging
depth depending on it’s position in relation to
the workgroup.

The most common place you’ll find compact excavators
is in residential dwellings. When digging phone
lines or other things, these pieces of equipment
are very common for getting between houses. Due
to their small size, they can fit almost anywhere.

Over the years, the capabilities for compact
excavators have expanded far beyond the tasks of
excavation. With hydraulic powered attachments
such as breakers, clamps, compactors and augers,
the compact excavator is used with many other
applications and serves as an effective attachment
tool as well. Serving many purposes, the compact
excavator is a great addition to any job that
requires the use of machinery.

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Backhoe Loader

Also referred to as a loader backhoe, the backhoe
loader is an engineering and excavation vehicle that
consists of a tractor, front shovel and bucket and
a small backhoe in the rear end. Due to the small
size and versatility, backhoe loaders are common
with small construction projects and excavation type
work.

Originally invented in Burlington Iowa back in 1857,
the backhoe loader is the most common variation of
the classic farm tractor. As the name implies, it
has a loader assembly on the front and a backhoe
attachment on the back.

Anytime the loader and backhoe are attached it is
never referred to as a tractor, as it is not normally
used for towing and doesn’t normally have a PTO.
When the backhoe is permanently attached, the
machine will normally have a seat that can swivel
to the rear to face the backhoe controls. Any type
of removable backhoe attachments will normally have
a seperate seat on the attachment itself.

Backhoe loaders are common and can be used for many
tasks, which include construction, light transportation
of materials, powering building equipment, digging
holes and excavating, breaking asphalt, and even
paving roads.

You can often replace the backhoe bucket with
other tools such as a breaker for breaking and
smashing concrete and rock. There are some loader
buckets that offer a retractable bottom, which
enable it to empty the load more quickly and
efficiently.

The retractable bottom loader buckets are often
times used for grading and scratching off sand.
The front assembly on a backhoe may be either
removable or permanently attached. Often times,
the bucket can be replaced with other tools or
devices. In order to mount different attachments
to the loader, it must be equipped with a tool
coupler. The coupler consists of two hydraulic
cylinders on the end of the arm assembly, which
can expand and retract to allow different tools to
be attached to the unit.

There are several types of backhoe loader brands,
including New Holland, John Deere, and Case. Some
will offer you cabs, while others won’t. The
newer types of backhoe loaders even offer you air
conditioning, radios, and other accessories that
make you feel like you are working with luxury.

Common with excavating jobs, the backhoe can serve
many purposes. It can haul equipment and supplies
in the loader bucket. Another great use is to cover
up dirt when filling in trench lines or covering
up pipe that was just put in the ground. The
backhoe attachment at the rear is ideal for digging
water pipes and sewer pipes.

The best thing about the backhoe loader is the
fact that they are easy to operate. You don’t
need to be a rocket scientist to fully operate this
nifty piece of equipment.

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Drag Line Excavator

Drag line excavator systems are heavy machinery that
is used in civil engineering, surface mining, and
excavation. With civil engineering, the smaller
types are used for road and port construction. The
larger types of drag line excavators are used in
strip mining operations to extract coal. These are
among the largest types of mobile equipment and
weigh upwards of 10,000 tons!

The drag line excavator bucket system consists of
a large bucket that is suspended from a boom. The
bucket is moved by a number of chains and ropes. The
hoisting rope, which is powered by either a large
diesel or electric motor, will support the bucket
and hoist coupler assembly from the boom. The
drag rope on the assembly is used to draw the bucket
assembly horizontally. Through skillful maneuvering
of the hoist and drag rope, the bucket can be
controlled for many different types of operations.

Operation
With a typical excavation cycle, the bucket is
positioned high above the material that is being
excavated. The bucket is then lowered down and the
drag rope is drawn so that the bucket is dragged
along the materials surface. Using the hoist rope,
the bucket is then lifted. A swing operation is
then performed in order to move the bucket to the
place where the material is going to be dropped.
The drag rope is then released which will cause the
bucket to tilt, making the material in the bucket
fall down, which is commonly known as a dump operation.

With smaller drag line excavators, the bucket is
thrown by winding up the jib then releasing a
clutch on the drag cable, which swings the bucket
like a pendulum. Skillful operators can make the
bucket land about 1/2 the length of the jib further
away than if it had just been spun or dropped.

Limitations
The limitations of drag line excavators are the
height and length of their boom, as this limits
where the drag line can dump waste material. Being
inherent with their construction, the drag line
is most effective when excavating material
below the level of their tracks. Drag lines
aren’t suitable for loading piled up material.

Despite their limitations and high capital cost,
drag line excavators remain very popular with
several mines, due to their very low waste removal
cost, performance, and reliability.

They also have different cutting sequences. The
first is the side casting method which uses
offest benches. This method involves throwing
the overburden sideways onto blasted material to
make a bench.

The second method is a key pass. This pass will
cut a key at the toe of the new highwall and will
also shift the bench further towards the low
wall. This can also require a chopping pass if the
wall is blocky. A chopping pass will involve
the bucket being dropped down onto an angled
highwall to scale the surface.

The next method is the slowest, known as the
blocks pass. This method will however, move the
most material. The blocks pass involves using
the key to access the bottom of the material to
lift it up to spoil or to an elevated bench
level. If required, the final cut is a pull
back, which pulls the material back further to
the low wall side.

For construction, mining, or excavation, drag line
excavators are great to have. They can move even
the biggest of material, which is great for deep
holes in the ground. If you’ve been looking for a
great way to maximize mining or excavation productivity,
the drag line excavator is just what you need.

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Dump Truck

Dump trucks or production trucks are those that are
used for transporting loose material such as sand,
dirt, and gravel for construction. The typical dump
truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open
box bed hinged at the rear, with the front being
able to be lifted up to allow the contents to fall
out on the ground at the site of delivery.

Dump trucks come in many different configurations
with each one specified to accomplish a specific
task in the construction chain.

Standard dump truck
The standard dump truck is a full truck chassis with
the dump body mounted onto the frame. The dump body
is raised by a hydraulic ram lift that is mounted
forward of the front bulkhead, normally between the
truck cab and the dump body.

The standard dump truck also has one front axle,
and one or more rear axles which normally has dual
wheels on each side. The common configurations for
standard dump trucks include the six wheeler and
ten wheeler.

Transfer dump truck
For the amount of noise made when transferring, the
transfer dump truck is easy to recognize. It’s a
standard dump truck that pulls a separate trailer
which can be loaded with sand, asphalt, gravel,
dirt, etc.

The B box or aggregate container on the trailer is
powered by an electric motor and rides on wheels
and rolls off of the trailer and into the main dump
box. The biggest advantage with this configuration
is to maximize payload capacity without having to
sacrifice the maneuverability of the short and
nimble dump truck standards.

Semi trailer end dump truck
The semi end dump truck is a tractor trailer
combination where the trailer itself contains the
hydraulic hoist. The average semi end dump truck
has a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle semi
trailer. The advantage to having a semi end
dump truck is rapid unloading.

Semi trailer bottom dump truck
A bottom dump truck is a 3 axle tractor that pulls
a 2 axle trailer with a clam shell type dump
gate in the belly of the trailer. The biggest
advantage of a semi bottom dump truck is the
ability to lay material in a wind row. This
type of truck is also maneuverable in reverse as
well, unlike the double and triple trailer
configurations.

Double and triple trailer
The double and triple bottom dump trucks consist
of a 2 axle tractor pulling a semi axle semi
trailer and an additional trailer. These types of
dump trucks allow the driver to lay material in
wind rows without having to leave the cab or stop
the truck. The biggest disadvantage is the
difficulty in going in reverse.

Side dump trucks
Side dump trucks consist of a 3 axle trailer pulling
a 2 axle semi trailer. It offers hydraulic rams
that tilt the dump body onto the side, which spills
the material to the left or right side of the
trailer. The biggest advantages with these types
of dump trucks are that they allow rapid unloading
and carry more weight than other dump trucks.

In addition to this, side dump trucks are almost
impossible to tip over while dumping, unlike the
semi end dump trucks which are very prone to being
upset or tipped over. The length of these trucks
impede maneuverability and limit versatility.

Off road dump trucks
Off road trucks resemble heavy construction equipment
more than they do highway dump trucks. They are
used strictly for off road mining and heavy dirt
hauling jobs, such as excavation work. They are
very big in size, and perfect for those time when
you need to dig out roads and need something to
haul the massive amounts of dirt to another
location.

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Different Types Of Backhoe Loaders

Caterpillar
Caterpillar hit a dial of power and performance with
its top of the line 446 backhoe loader when it first
introduced the D series version of the machine. The
102 HP machine also features a new operator station
and offers optional joystick controls. The dig
forces on the bucket have increased 10% on the
backhoe.

Bobcat
Bobcat gave its compact backhoe loaders a power
boost when the company introduced the second generation
B series to the lineup. The 31.5 HP B100 received
a 45% increase in backhoe bucket breakout force
and a 27% jump in the breakout force of the dipper.

The 46 HP B300 received a 44% increase in dipper
breakout force and a 21% boost in the breakout
force of the bucket. The three model line also
includes the B250, which is a 31.5 HP sideshift
unit. Similar to the larger B300, the B250 also
features all wheel steering and four wheel drive.

New Holland
Each one of the four models of backhoe loaders in
the New Holland lineup use the new 4.5 liter
turbocharged Tier 2 engine. This new engine and
a number of other upgrades were the basis for the
B series machines, which offer low effort pilot
controls which will give you a choice between
excavator or loader style patterns.

Case
Case added quite a bit to its M series backhoe
loaders, by switching to family 3 engines to meet
Tier 2 emission standards. The new machines
of the M series have quieter, larger displacement
engines for better lugging capacity. They also
have increased torque rise for faster cycles
of loader and backhoe operations.

With 500 hour intervals of oil changes and easy
to access transmission mounted hydraulic pumps,
the M series is surely a force to be reckoned
with in the world of backhoes.

Ingersoll-Rand
The newest compact backhoe loader from this
company can reach digging depths of up to 12
feet with its backhoe. Working as a loader, the
BL-580 has an operating capacity of 3,406 pounds
with a breakout force of 9,370 pounds.

Both the loader and backhoe are equipped with
standard auxiliary hydraulics with a two way
flow to accommodate a variety of attachments,
which includes booms, breakers, augers, and
even compactors. Other nifty features include
hydrostatic four wheel drive for power and traction,
and all wheel steering for a tight radius.

Komatsu
Komatsu announced that the optional excavator
style joystick controls would be offered on its
five model lineup of backhoes. The lineup has
also been upgraded with increased hydraulic speed,
stronger components, and Tier 2 engines. The
entire Komatsu line consists of the 87 HP WB140
series, and teh 94 HP WB150 series.

The standard model found with each series features
a four speed mechanical transmission complete with
a torque converter. The fifth model from Komatsu
is the WB150, with offers an all star wheel design
with a powershift transmission and anti theft
prevention system.

John Deere
The 410H is the hallmark of John Deere, offering
92 HP. The 410H also offers the total machine
control system, which integrates control for the
engine, transmission, hydraulics, and brakes so
that the system can respond in an efficient way
to the many different job demands.

Terex
Since acquiring the Fermec line, Terex has marketed
a full and impressive line of backhoes. The
models include the 92 HP TX760B and the 100 HP
TX860B. At 100 HP as well are the 860SX, 860 Elite,
and the 970 Elite. Both the 760 and 860 models
feature four speed shuttle gearboxes and travel
speeds of up to 25.8 miles per hour.

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Comparing Trenchers To Compact Excavators

Both of these machines are affordable, popular,
highly productive, and they both have helped lay a
lot of cable and pipe in the ground. While they
both can do the work, there are differences as
to how they perform when stacked up against each
other in residential utility installations.

Size and price
The average dig depth for utility installations in
residential applications is between 40 and 48
inches. The basic trencher that digs to the above
depth will boast a 20 – 30 horsepower engine and
cost around 40,000 dollars.

The most popular type of compact excavator is the
2.5 metric ton size class, and it uses a 30 HP
engine and costs around the same price. The
biggest difference in the two surfaces when you
need the trencher to dig deeper. The 2.5 metric
ton excavator has no trouble at all digging to 8
feet or more, although a trencher that can dig
that deep will require an engine with around 100
horsepower and cost upwards of 90,000 dollars!

Life costs
Not counting the bucket teeth and the replacement
of the rubber tracks at 2,000 hours, fuel and
routine maintenance are your only daily costs
with a compact excavator. The digging chain, teeth,
and sprockets on the trenchers are considered
wear items and need to be replaced often. Even
with the high consumable costs of trenchers, the
differences will tend to even out when productivity
is taken into effect.

Productivity
For straight line trenching at an average depth,
trenchers will flat out lead compact excavators.
Under reasonable conditions, a trencher can work
three to four times faster than that of a compact
excavator. Another area where trenchers really
excel is wooded areas, where tree roots and logs
can make for slow and sloppy digging when using a
bucket.

Versatility
When it comes down to it, compact excavators can
do a lot of things that trenchers can’t, especially
when they have attachments on hand. If you are
digging with a compact excavator, you can’t go
anywhere near as fast as you can with a good quality
trencher.

Keep in mind that a trencher isn’t a single minded
machine either. Most styles of trenchers can be
outfitted with a backhoe attachment that attaches
to the front end. Whenever concrete, rocks, or
asphalt stands in the way, the boom and chain can
be replaced with rock teeth and a wheel. In soft
soils, you can set up a trencher with a plow
attachment and plow in cables faster than using
any other available method.

When it comes down to choosing, keep in mind that
it all depends on your needs. There are some
cases where the compact excavator is best to
choose, while there will also be jobs in which
the trencher is going to do the best work.

PPPPP

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