I'm a Dealer Rep!

[Arborkeith]

And the 520 has a counterweight "option" because it is pre rigged with hydraulics and all for a back hoe attachment, some people rig them out that way from new. So the counterweight may not always be necessary.

 

[lumberjack]

That reminded me about the pictures, still working currently, I'll respond in a bit.

 

[lumberjack]

That reminded me about the pictures, still working currently, I'll respond in a bit.

 

[rangerdanger]

A wider stance is always nice when dealing with more weight, but the narrower width is nice for getting into tight places. Being able to get all that power into a tight area is great for certain jobs. I've fit my 340 into places your 520 wouldn't fit, and the 540 isn't much larger (3" wider, 14" longer, and 2000lbs more I think) so being able to fit a machine of that size into those tighter places is a huge plus for us. But then again, since I worker with you Keith, you don't have many tight areas to get too, so the smaller stance isn't as big a deal for you.

 

[Arborkeith]

Plus I'm awesome ...so yaknow. Just kidding Adrian. There are right spots, but they don't pay enough...

 

[lumberjack]

I get the counterweight being an option, but the quick attach requiring it and the quick attach being an option is what confuses me.

The 520 is 25% wider than the 540 (13"). There are plenty of times where the extra width would have prevented me from accessing a job (entirely or efficiently. One example was a pool fill in job I did last year with the 340. $4k in profit for a day and a half on site.

The backhoe option is I intriguing, but it lists for $17k which takes the pondering right out of the equation.

Did those pictures work in my above, double post?

 

[Arborkeith]

Yeah. No offense but the swivel looks extremely weak. I'll try an post some of mine tomorrow. And I've had the swing on both of ours rebuilt at 2000 hours. Lots of heavy wood though. Lots.

 

[lumberjack]

Yeah, I'm pretty easy on equipment...

 

[Arborkeith]

I take care of it, but it's gotta earn it's keep. Adrian has seen us work, we are by no means abusive. We just do a lot of big removals .

 

[Burnham]

Yeah, I'm pretty easy on equipment...

If Carl hasn't broken the swivel yet, it's sturdy enough I reckon.

 

[woodworkingboy]

...and what exactly does he mean by equipment?

 

[SoonerFan]

Carl's developed a unique sense of humor.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

If Carl hasn't broken the swivel yet, it's sturdy enough I reckon.

And there ya go!

 

[Arborkeith]

kubota R520S articulation point

 

[Arborkeith]

It articulates and swivels, so the tired can touch almost always, the gehl only articulates From what I can tell from that picture you posted

 

[Arborkeith]

Tires...stupid iPhone and my bad typing

 

[lumberjack]

Haha no, Gehls oscillate and articulate. It would also appear that Gehls would be easier to replace the bearings, whenever the time comes.

Strength wise, from the pictures, I don't see an advantage either way. However your oscillation bearing looks to be a "interesting" design. I'm guessing it's a booger to change out?

 

[lumberjack]

Happened to take this picture a couple days ago.

 

[Arborkeith]

It's no easy change, but it's built heavy like an industrial wheel loader. We have a caterpillar 930 that we use at the yard to load mulch that has a similar pivot, the bigger John Deere also have it like this, as do the yanmar wheel loaders.

 

[rangerdanger]

Yeah, I'm pretty easy on equipment...

 

[lumberjack]

When I think "industrial", I think of an oscillating rear axle with a rigid articulation joint.


Nearly positive that's what your 930 has.

 

[rangerdanger]

The Gehl joints are pretty beefy from my experience. And as has been said, Carl isn't the easiest on things haha. If it could break he would have broken it I'd say.

 

[rangerdanger]

When I think "industrial", I think of an oscillating rear axle with a rigid articulation joint.


Nearly positive that's what your 930 has.

That's what I've seen at the dump on their big Cat.

 

[Arborkeith]

Adrian, T actually chuckled when I showed him the articulation point in the gehl. You know how dad is

 

[rangerdanger]

Indeed haha.