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www.stratenergy.ca/block_heater.htm I’m not sure if links work on RUclips comments. But this is the model on my excavator.

Yes, a 2001 CAT 973C LGP.

Don’t be fooled by the snow, it’s been unseasonably warm recently. Could’ve ran open cab last couple days. I guess that’s unseasonably warm for where I’m located. Feels like shorts weather.

Why do you say that? Double grousers packed full of ice so no traction without corks. I’d rather spin then wreck drivetrain parts and my trailer.

@@LLImprovement i didn't think about that we don't need you getting hurt because then you wouldn't be making these good videos

@@coltongarber8087 I’ll post a picture of the condition of the tracks somehow.

@@LLImprovement No worries

@@coltongarber8087 I put a post up with a picture. Not sure how you find it though haha the grousers are probably 2.5” tall still but you can see in the pictures they get packed with ice and dirt and it freezes in

Thanks, this morning was -20 and the diesel heater time is not functioning properly. I set it to 12 hours so it would kick on at 6:30am this morning. I got there at 8am and there was still 57 minutes left on the timer so I got to turn the heater on and wait for an hour and half for the block to get any temperature before I could start. So was short on hours today.

You got that right, should've made it a little more challenging.

Close, but Saskatchewan

I’m all ears when it comes to welding advice. I am by no means a professional welder. So anything to help my cause is welcomed. I appreciate constructive criticism. I’ll be honest though, I HATE grinding. I ended up boxing the frame in the back. I added 1/4” plates on the top and bottom of the reinforcement with a hole left on the bottom so moisture can still drain. And boxed in the front as well. I’ll make another video soon, im just trying to source a 12k or 10k axle with electric brakes on it so I know the spacing I have to have for the brackets to be welded onto the frame.

@@LLImprovement ya grinding is boring but it helps a lot, having a clean ground close to the welding area, grinding around the weld area more than you think because the weld will pull junk into it. If you get some flap wheels with low grit it works pretty darn good and makes quick work of paint and rust. Sometimes if it’s light rust and or light paint you can use a wire wheel. I am not all knowing when it comes to welding but I have welded a few things in my time. Just keep on burnin rod you will learn the machine, the rod, and how to get that sweet spot were it puts itself down.

Underground locates we’re done prior to starting this job. In a previous video you may be able to see the gas line run through the middle of the field. Far away from where I was digging.

Thanks, i try, but im definitely not a welder. I have a feeling for the first bit of use i'm going to be chasing cracked welds and repairing those until i figure out how to weld on heavier stress points.

They definitely aren't popular and you don't see them around. Especially newer units.

Can do pretty much anything a dozer and an excavator can do. There is still things it can't do, but for an owner operator having a multiple functioning piece of equipment is very important.

It's very big thats for sure. Very diverse country. Rainforests, deserts, open prairie, lakes, and tundra just to name a few.

I can agree with you on that, they are very stout. I am trying to find a unit with hydraulic landing gear so i don't have to keep trailering my disc to different job sites. It's a chore to do.

Push left pedal while moving and it slows the left track in either direction of travel. So push the foot pedal with what direction you want to steer towards. Opposite of a track hoe where you press the pedal to drive forward.

I'm going to be investing in better lighting this year for my machine. Don't have much daylight in november/december around here.

When i work my machine hard all day i'm burning a full tank of fuel, probably close to 400 litres in a 11 hour day. and fuel prices here are $1.78 a liter currently. 33% of my hourly rate goes towards fuel pretty much.

If i have a couple logs close by where im parking i'l l have to remember to do that. Usually they're just too ugly to want to drag out of the bush.

I heard rumors that the cat batteries are higher vibration resistant then normal truck batteries. That on heavy equipment is worth the money. Especially tracked machinery.

Thanks, it's after quite a few years of operating.

Sorry at this time I'm not currently looking to hire any employees.

south eastern Saskatchewan Canada.

I'm actually located in Saskatchewan Canada

The small left over willows drive me nuts. They're an inch or so in diameter but there is tens of thousands of them. I wish i could see it once its all hit with a disc. He's not going to have fun picking the rocks the first year. There's hundreds of them just below the surface a couple inches. Frost will push them up now no trees to hold them down. They're not small either, 2-4 foot rocks.

What kills the battery is leaving it out in the cold four an hour while I record. Seems it goes out with 80% and comes back in at 15% lol. I try to keep 5% of battery incase something crazy happens.

Also, what would make it more relaxing is if it was a D model instead of the C. Many ergonomic improvements made in the new models.

Someone else mentioned it. I think when the fan is on full blast it definitely makes it harder to hear. I’m usually just rambling. So you aren’t missing much. My gopro 5 can’t put a microphone on it. And I’m too lazy to get separate audio recorder. I make these videos every night when I’m done working. Thank you for the compliment on my work ethic.

It really depends on moisture content in the soil, and if the ground is frozen. If the soil is dry as a fart it can often be more difficult then when it is moist. But then being frozen on the top it can almost let the tree pop right out, depending how much frost is in the ground. But along with being frozen, tracks don’t get much traction on frost unless you have corks. Corks are steel cleats about 2-4” long that are welded to the grouser bars. Like cleats on your shoes. They really dig into the frost and you get way more traction then you’ve ever seen. But it’s hard on equipment, having lots of traction and frozen ground and freezing cold equipment is inviting break downs. But sometimes you need corks.

By the way, the only time that we can clear is fall/winter. Spring it’s so wet and soft, when the frost is coming out of the ground. And summer all the crops are in the field so you can’t justify crop loss.

The thing that made it tough was the temperature being so warm still. The snow melts on the windows and the dirt, since its so dry under the organic, gets blown onto the wet windows. Once it gets colder i dont have that issue as much. Thanks for watching.

Thank you

Thanks, the 973C continues to perform.

It just kept going, if I didn’t break the stump up it would’ve been the size of a car. Felt kind of bad to break that one up. I hate the small trees, they can burn.

Just using a gopro. I honestly didn’t think anyone listened to me ramble.

@@LLImprovement always listen 🤷🏽‍♂️

@@jonnyteeee What kind of microphone are you talking about? Is there one that works with a gopro?

@@LLImprovement don’t know what model GoPro you have but for the newer ones there is an attachment called ‘ the media mod’

@@jonnyteeee hero 5 black, I looked on internet and it only looks like the hero 8 available with media mod.

I use to run a 963d and a 755k at my old job. Can definitely tell weight was the biggest difference. Those two models have a greater power to weight ratio then my old 973c. But they spin out a lot easier where my 973c would power through it. My old girl had almost 20,000 hours on it so I’m very happy with it overall.

These old rome discs were designed to be pulled behind a cable cat. Which only had an operating speed of around 3-5mph. So the bearings aren't designed to be spun faster. Plus it gets so rough with how aggressively it cuts the soil. You don't really want to go much faster.

​@@LLImprovement how much do you charge per week to rent out the Rome Disc plow ?

@@user-dn9kd9ew4d It was $50 an hour. But after getting a bill back for $5,000 to rebuild one of the 4 gangs... It only got one bearing sleeve machined and then bearings i'm thinking i will be raising my price. Each disc is $375, and with it having 24, it's expensive to maintain.

@@LLImprovement Thanks for the response . I just saw a couple of companies online that listed a Rome Disc for rent $650.oo a day at one and another company charging $275.oo a day , $800.oo a week and 2500. oo a month just for disc rental = no tractor you have to rent it separately . I've got a Rome Bush and Bog V-shaped disc plow ( 36" blades x 10' wide cut ) I'm thinking about renting out along with a IH-165 Roll over / Flip Plow and I'm trying to come up with a fair price to charge people without going broke . Got to take into consideration hauling it to & from the job plus possible break down of the disc and plow . I've got a log skidder that I pull it with but that's NOT going to be for rent , lol 😅 . People tend to get reckless with someone else's large 4x4 tractors .

Thanks, was a long summer, didn't even get to enjoy it with a bad back.

Yes sir that is my main channel.