Matt, I started watching you about a week ago, amazed at what you do! I’m a retired Navy Chief Engineman with 26 years there, riding LST’S! I had times we had to salvage parts to fix things and I enjoy watching you. I’m 75 and wish I could still do all the things I see you doing. I worked with a foster parent and worked on cat’s and other machines with him so I understand what you are doing. I’m waiting to see your new shop!!!
A lot of those safety devices are like parachutes. If you don't have it the first time you need it you'll never need it again. Roll cages and concealed carry tools definitely fall into that category.
I always press the Like button before I watch the video, because I know it will be good. also I do not have to forget it at the end of the video. Good video once again Matt
My biggest fear in the trees is the limb that’ll get you from behind. If you have a gravel pit near you stop in and see if they have any used deck screens to use for the back of your ROPS.
MATTHEW good time for an HOUR METER..? About time to see a real full-length video... snow where is your friend-HELPER.? Not knowing, but seems to me. I would sure as heck be right there helping a TRUE FRIEND THAT LOANED ME A 977 CAT.!.! 22:00 I spoke to hastily.... Now how about a pool update as well, in a year from now.? LOL. MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A BETTER next Year.! Thanks so much for your help.!.!
Matt! At least you have a go. When doing quantities of bar like that, all you need is a good coaly wood fire and put all the bars into it and heat them up. A large tongs to remove them and place on the track. 1 at a time! Saves time and gas. To harden them chuck them bars into a tin of sump oil. Heat them up to cherry red then dunk in the oil.
Bravo sir, Bravo. Not only did you build an extremely solid ROP, you also caped the openings at the ends. Therefore not allowing any BEES to build their nest inside. And it look great and even the finish looks great. Thumbs Up...
Wow. That "tip" at the end pushing that tree made me think you were about to test the "robusticity" of the new ROPS. (If it can take an end over end flip, you did really good!)
You never cease to amaze. How can a guy so young possess such talent? Bought a used canope for my open machine for $600.00 and welded it on. Cried like a baby over the steep price. Sure enough, while pushing over a perfectly healthy tree it snapped in half and landed right on the roof...would of killed me...for sure.
Cheaper at 600 than could have built it yourself and 600 bucks may have saved your life did you kiss that canopy when you found out you were ok?? I would have!!
1:10 Location : Scandinavia. Climate:: harsh. Current temperature: 0 degrees Celsius (32 F) Indoor habitat: wood stove 23 degrees Celsius (73 F), all kind of snacks and various beverages. All the best.
Must be up north or inland. We have 8-10 Centigrades in mid, windy(even for a coastal northener) and raining as crazy, but 23 inside, snacks and beverages are the same :)
Matt, the Forest Service and logging Cats have nice heavy expanded type metal on the sides from the controls back and across the back for extra protection from limbs and branches. Would look cool on your rig. Good work on the cage.
Large metal screen panels from a rock or coal prep plant would work for that. Durable as all hell, and panels with a few holes blown in them get thrown out as scrap with quite a bit of area still usable for applications like this...
The cab was not entered to win style wars, but to let the machine operator walk away from every machine use. Big chunky and looking the part, it is what was needed. Always work safe and arrive home after the job. I like the way that every video tells a story and delivers a worthwhile result. Enjoy a Merry Christmas after working safely.
For welding the track pads, the Jackson Brothers RUclips channel used a holder for 7 sticks at around 350 amps. Took them some getting used to, but it sped up the work a lot - they had two Cat D11 to do.
Why bother when you can just get your work done in fast motion like he does? I wish I cold get my work done that fast. I guess time flies when your having fun, or else it's more fun when your work time flies.
I didn't see the video in question but I really like the idea. I sometimes dreamt of having three next to each other for the last wide pass. But 7 sticks with 350A sounds a bit too little to me. That would only mean 50A per stick. I don't know the diameter they used but maybe 500A sounds more reasonable to me. The principle how this can work is as easy as clever. One electrode will arc first but will immediately burn because of the way too high current through the single one. So it gets shorter and thus the next will arc and by this you have a self-regulating system and a more or less steady arc Awesome idea! I guess I have to try this myself... buy three sounds pretty sufficient for my welder ;)
I used to ride on the side pads over the batteries or hydraulic tank when my grandpa was building logging roads, or dragging trees. Because of that, my grandpa built chain link side guards on his roll cage and painted them yellow, we were both safe inside the “cab”
Hey Matt I use the evolution blades to and my welding supplier said you sure do go through a lot of blades and I said I like ‘em sharp he told me to let the blade come to a stop before lifting it back up and not to bounce it like I was because it would knock off the teeth. He told me to make one cut with semi firm pressure downward and wait for it to stop. He was right my blades last twice as long now. I just wanted to share what he taught me to maybe save you some money. Merry Christmas! The 977 is looking sharp.
I love how you use old equipment that you saved from junkyard s and refurbished them and your not afraid to fabricate your own parts that cage looks great!
My grandpa buried his Case Terramatic 1000 bucket loader to the belly pan at the end of our soft field one day. I was young, but I watched him do a bunch of measuring, then we walked away down the field. Several days after it stopped raining he and I drove close to it, he started a generator, strung out extension cords and began drilling holes in the pads, he had built 4” tall cleats, 6 or 8 per side, he bolted them on and drove the dozer backwards out of its hole. He used those cleats several times over the course of his lifetime for all sorts of jobs, but still had his pads easily available when he needed just the pads.
You are a brave man clearing brush with no screens on the sides and the back of the canopy to protect the operator from trees swinging in from the side or the back.
Matt when using 7018 once the arc is started put the rod onto the metal and it will burn along by itself. Just work your wrist so it washes on to both parts being welded. Keep the rod angled in the direction you want the weld.70 series electrodes have iron powder in the flux and were designed for fast production welding before mig welding equipment was available. Al B.
The 7018 does not have iron powder in the flux and you do not lay the rod onto the metal by it's self !! Don't know who told you that bunch of B.S. , but they should go to welding school !! I was a welder for close to 40 years and one heck of a lot of tickets at one time or the other !!
Matt you can still run some hard surfacing rod on the top edges of the grouser bars. Most excavating companies do it to their tracked equipment. Well worth the investment. Al B.
You should add two pipe diagonal braces in the rear to provide side to side strength. In a side rollover the machine will crush the cage. Run them from the base of the rear legs diagonally up to the underside of the cross beams.
37 years ago I started a job driving a bottom dump, the owner gave me a 20 min tutorial on operating the 977k and cut me loose I was scared to death the first 4 hours . That’s an incredible machine ! Best thing you did was instal the ROPS. Really like your videos
38:30. One of the things I like about what all you do. Is that you do it right, to the best of your ability. There is a big difference between making it work for now and doing it right for the long-term. And YOU know that difference. When needed you will go the extra money and time to make SURE that it is done RIGHT.
Looks awesome, I'd consider some expanded metal for additional protection on the sides and rear. Some work lights would be cool as well. Love the content.
Good quick fix. Matt you have the best videos. I bet your channel really grows this coming year. Don’t change a thing. You got the formula. I use to heat my 7018 and hard facing rods before I used them. I use to leave them in the tube and heat them up on the truck engine. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
It’s amazing all the skills that people have. For a person that doesn’t weld, I’d be curious if there were classes that taught basics some where. So many welders, so many different things; and so many projects that one could do.
Check your local community colleges. I studied welding back in 1999 and took classes. Got certified, then ended up back working at an electronics fab to make more money.
Most community colleges have a welding program. If it’s a good program you should get out of there as a certified welder. I know it sounds like overkill but the amount of stuff you should learn about welding isn’t something you can learn in a week
Now take the cage up a couple of levels. You can fabricate front and rear windows and doors. Get a 200 amp 24 volt alternator. These were used on Humvees for use in the Signal Corps. The alternator was a backup power supply for the signal shelters for Nodes and SENs in my Signal Company. That with a converter to change the DC to AC, you should be able to put an RV type A/C on the roof to keep you cool. A small roll cage over it to protect it. Then add some powerful LED headlight, you are good 24/7 rain or shine. Once you have it figured out, make another to fit Lets Dig 18's Betty. Have fun!
Great job building that ROPS! Looks like you could use 1 more cross bar at the rear bottom to take care of the shake while moving over rough terrain. Love watching your videos.
right about level with the rear deck of the machine' add gussets to taste could also use some lights fore and aft would make it useable at night/low light
My dad and I welded on rebar to the pads, on every track machine he had in the fleet every winter, we always used three-quarter inch rebar , it held for the hole year till the following winter till we had to do it again . Nice job on the roll cage 👌 I can remember many of my years running with open top and I don't miss it
I like the split exhaust 50% out of the exhaust pipe and 50% out of the front grille. But this would not be a diesel creek owned vehicle without a MASSIVE exhaust leak, now would it :)
Note the lower chain rollers nibbling into the track pins... not much meat left under those chains/plates... soon for track replacements. Still a strong CAT for what this is! 👍
You do know, when Matt is feeling down he just goes to the nearest junkyard, sits for a half hour and he is good as new! I believe he could get a rock started and get some work out of it. It might buck, skip and fart but Matt would have it working and have a big happy smile on his face!😋
@@leonardcrum6896 No doubt he would get a rock started, with a bit of ether. It would also certainly be bellowing black smoke for a few minutes before the idle would calm down :)
@@DieselCreek thanks for the videos I know that sometimes it's a PITA and a intrusion to some of your friends...but I'm learning a lot I don't have the wallet big enough to do that stuff even though I love that stuff and AUTOCAR GANG I'm loving the info So thanks for bringing a little Creek life to the world
Back seat driving here obviously, but like most internet posting it makes me feel helpful 🙂 Mag drill (which I've seen you already have), annular cutters. 90%+ of structural steel uses 3/4" bolts in 13/16" holes in the USA so tooling is minimal to cover nearly everything that would come up. Having dislocated a thumb hand drilling steel and having the bit grab...as well as busting more than my share of twist drill bits and even step drill bits...it really is worth doing it with the fancier tools.
Enjoyed the video! Just a constructive suggestion. That ROPS may protect your from falling tree limbs but I seriously doubt it will protect you in the event of a rollover without some extensive cross bracing. You may want to consider extending the ROPS steel tubing up to the radiator housing to protect not only the hood and engine area but to protect from tree limbs from falling into the operator area as well. Merry Christmas! 👍👍
Next go around put a piece of 3/8 rebar under the roof plate and suck er down with a clamp. Then it'll shed water and maybe not rust. You know, put an arch in it!!
Thats why I call them drag slicks! Hobart is the go-to for electrodes. Lincoln isn't too bad, but Hobart always gets it done. I am glad to finally see a RUclips(r) go over jump starting from a welder, I would like to see someone use a small fire under the belly pan to preheat diesels. I have seen it done down in the mines and on farm equipment on cold equipment that had been way below freezing for long durations.
I bet after all that welding you’re back in practice . The nice thing about the big stuff is that you crank up the heat and burn it in , no worries about blow holes .
I would highly suggest adding some protection to the sides and especially the rear of the cage. I seen a horrific accident years ago where the top of a tree broke off and landed on the top of the cage. The limp broke when it hit the top and sheared at the rear edge. Curled right in and took the operators head off.
@@Android-ng1wn No clue if the story is true or not but i have seen huge trees hit the ground while falling branch end first and they can bounce backwards quite a long ways. I can see a big branch falling down behind a dozer and hitting the ground and kinda springing backwards and going into the back of the cab.
I liked that convertible look from the start, but always had my safety concerns in mind. Now it looks less cool, but definitely more safe, and I bet that's better, Matt! And the roll cage itself turned out nicely.
Have you considered adding an x brace between the two back supports? This way it won't Buckle over easily if something knocks down from the side onto it.
Tip for you for restarts on welding. After you break off from welding, take your gloved hand and break the excess flux off the end of the rod. Thatll expose the electrode its self and allow less tapping 💪
A great job, as usual. When you were measuring the spans at the top I sort of cringed because on a piece of equipment nothing is plumb or level so using the base dimensions rather than the top free ranging dimensions works so much better (bitter experience speaking). I suspect that is what threw you out of square - no biggie, gives it a slightly rakish/avant garde touch!
@@tonywilkes1781 Very possible both factors contributed but it still was an impressive outcome even if it wasn't exactly square or even - Diesel Creek success!
That’s good stuff. The build, the helping out a buddy, all of it. And I’m glad I saw cutting plate with a basic circle saw. I bought a metal cutting blade for mine a couple months ago but I’ve hesitated to use it since I don’t have a saw that clamps the work. Now that I’ve seen it done on a handheld saw that looks like it could be used on wood, I’m more inclined to just do it.
That is awesome roll over protection you built. My hubby has been saved from sticks from behind poking him by having heavy grate or expanded metal welded to the area behind his head. I liked that you sealed the ends of the tubes so they don't fill with water.
Whew WEEEEE!!!! My pucker factor went through the roof! I would add some full size steel diagonals in both planes to shore up that ROPS. I am so impressed with your work effort! Even alone you are not daunted by the least or most challenging tasks. You are a pleasure to watch and you give inspiration. Thanks for sharing.
When I went to welding school, we started with stick. It was very difficult to get a nice looking weld...but they were VERY STRONG. Now on the other hand, when we went to MIG, it was easy to make it look nice, but that didn't mean it was strong!
Forney rods are a hit or miss. A lot of their consumables are that way. Most of the time their 7018 really doesn’t do that bad but there’s other times you can tell a big difference. Not sure if they come out if different factory’s or have been sitting on a shelf soaking up moisture or what. But awesome video man! That things a beast!
Hey Matt, love the channel man, just thought I’d throw a bit of Australia into the mix. Here we have ROPS, FOPS and FUPS. ROPS as you have stated in the video is Roll Over Protection, FOPS is Falling Object Protection and FUPS is Front Underun Protection for the suicide bombers that want to drive into a heavy vehicles front on, obviously with some severe outcomes most of the time. Keep up the vids mate, I enjoy them immensely.
I’ve got one of those metal cutting Milwaukee circular saws as well. Just my experience, but they cut better and contain chips better if you use them with the blade at full depth of cut. Great video love seeing that old iron back out back in service!!!
Great filming Matt ! We used to run a angle steel strip to hide any imperfect jobs , bit like a trim cover , very easy and saves you looking at it every time you walk towards it !!
I think this machine spirit appreciates you where as Christine is just a spiteful B. I have no doubt if you had not found this cat it would have gone to scrap. Very cool to see it at work.
I get a lot of enjoyment watching you revive and repair your tools. However, I feel a bit guilty not being able to get in there with you and get my hands dirty. Thanks for sharing Matt. Happy Holidays.
Looks fantastic, I am impressed! Minor suggestion: round off the 90's on the front so if you're stomping around on the hood and are as agile as me, you don't get a sharp point in your back, etc. Or just nip off a triangle - about anything is better to hit with your back or arm than a 90 degree point.
The overhang on the front of the ROPS makes a prefect place to mount some nice work lights.
Damn i was thinking that when saw him doing the welding on the front she most definitely looks bad ass in my opinion 💪😡
I thought the same as well, good spot for some lights.
That’s exactly what I comments lmfaooo
As soon as I saw it that’s what I thought
Extend the ROPS out over the hood to protect it and the muffler. The only time you be working at night is when your wife locks the door to the house!
Isn't it just friggin' magical that we can cut a 4x4 tube with a saw in seconds?
"It's not perfect, but perfect for what we're doin'." Wise man, Matt! 👍😎
Matt, I started watching you about a week ago, amazed at what you do! I’m a retired Navy Chief Engineman with 26 years there, riding LST’S! I had times we had to salvage parts to fix things and I enjoy watching you. I’m 75 and wish I could still do all the things I see you doing. I worked with a foster parent and worked on cat’s and other machines with him so I understand what you are doing. I’m waiting to see your new shop!!!
I am watching from the cold white North.Canada.🇨🇦🇺🇸.And it’s cold.-22 Fahrenheit Looks like a real tractor now.Nice job.
A lot of those safety devices are like parachutes. If you don't have it the first time you need it you'll never need it again. Roll cages and concealed carry tools definitely fall into that category.
I always press the Like button before I watch the video, because I know it will be good. also I do not have to forget it at the end of the video. Good video once again Matt
My biggest fear in the trees is the limb that’ll get you from behind. If you have a gravel pit near you stop in and see if they have any used deck screens to use for the back of your ROPS.
True
A guy by me died in an old skid steer from re bar coming through floor ..
Not good.
@@MitzvosGolem1 that’s terrible. How did that happen?
@@alcopower5710 demolition . He was going in reverse came through open floor which older skidsteers had. Re bar #5 bar got him . NYC.
@@MitzvosGolem1 òpppòoi00
MATTHEW good time for an HOUR METER..? About time to see a real full-length video... snow where is your friend-HELPER.? Not knowing, but seems to me. I would sure as heck be right there helping a TRUE FRIEND THAT LOANED ME A 977 CAT.!.! 22:00 I spoke to hastily.... Now how about a pool update as well, in a year from now.? LOL. MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A BETTER next Year.! Thanks so much for your help.!.!
Matt! At least you have a go. When doing quantities of bar like that, all you need is a good coaly wood fire and put all the bars into it and heat them up.
A large tongs to remove them and place on the track. 1 at a time! Saves time and gas. To harden them chuck them bars into a tin of sump oil. Heat them up to cherry red then dunk in the oil.
No better way to start my Saturday then watching some D.C. dozer modifications!!!
977 were great strong loaders! I worked on many. It was unbelievable what they would push! I was a caterpillar mechanic for 42 years.
Bravo sir, Bravo. Not only did you build an extremely solid ROP, you also caped the openings at the ends. Therefore not allowing any BEES to build their nest inside. And it look great and even the finish looks great. Thumbs Up...
Agreed, but if he ever gets bees he needs to call me to remove them.
I love looking at the Pennsylvania countryside, I have 25 acres in northern Vermont, surprisengly similar
I could listen to cat dozer all day...between the turbo spooling up and down and tracks clicking its about as beautiful a sound as one can listen to
Wow. That "tip" at the end pushing that tree made me think you were about to test the "robusticity" of the new ROPS. (If it can take an end over end flip, you did really good!)
Andrew would have rolled it at the end and said that job is done let's do soomthen else..
Yah, but he gotsa seat belt?
Agree thought that too it was a real twitchy bum time there i think some heavy duty adrenalin would have been felt
Ok
@J Hemphill Sorry, but operators get crushed if not STRAPED IN, this is historical data!
You never cease to amaze. How can a guy so young possess such talent? Bought a used canope for my open machine for $600.00 and welded it on. Cried like a baby over the steep price. Sure enough, while pushing over a perfectly healthy tree it snapped in half and landed right on the roof...would of killed me...for sure.
Cheaper at 600 than could have built it yourself and 600 bucks may have saved your life did you kiss that canopy when you found out you were ok?? I would have!!
would "HAVE" killed me - not 'of'
I don’t think he’s as young as you think lol
@@Al_Dente-d1p I like "would of " better. What you like matters not one wit, Karen.
@@societyschild6055 learn fourth grade English.
1:10 Location : Scandinavia. Climate:: harsh. Current temperature: 0 degrees Celsius (32 F) Indoor habitat: wood stove 23 degrees Celsius (73 F), all kind of snacks and various beverages. All the best.
Must be up north or inland. We have 8-10 Centigrades in mid, windy(even for a coastal northener) and raining as crazy, but 23 inside, snacks and beverages are the same :)
Guess Ill have to paint mine with a roller and get some new deals to keep up with you now LOL
You need to one up him and finger paint yours.
lol, Chris - you know what they say when you put lipstick on a pig, I think Matt just proved it lol
I can’t say how many times i watched the longest cold start on youtube , but with Matt’s words “beautiful”. I have to watch it every now and again.
Matt, the Forest Service and logging Cats have nice heavy expanded type metal on the sides from the controls back and across the back for extra protection from limbs and branches. Would look cool on your rig. Good work on the cage.
Large metal screen panels from a rock or coal prep plant would work for that. Durable as all hell, and panels with a few holes blown in them get thrown out as scrap with quite a bit of area still usable for applications like this...
น
The cab was not entered to win style wars, but to let the machine operator walk away from every machine use. Big chunky and looking the part, it is what was needed. Always work safe and arrive home after the job. I like the way that every video tells a story and delivers a worthwhile result. Enjoy a Merry Christmas after working safely.
For welding the track pads, the Jackson Brothers RUclips channel used a holder for 7 sticks at around 350 amps. Took them some getting used to, but it sped up the work a lot - they had two Cat D11 to do.
Why bother when you can just get your work done in fast motion like he does? I wish I cold get my work done that fast. I guess time flies when your having fun, or else it's more fun when your work time flies.
I didn't see the video in question but I really like the idea. I sometimes dreamt of having three next to each other for the last wide pass.
But 7 sticks with 350A sounds a bit too little to me. That would only mean 50A per stick. I don't know the diameter they used but maybe 500A sounds more reasonable to me.
The principle how this can work is as easy as clever. One electrode will arc first but will immediately burn because of the way too high current through the single one. So it gets shorter and thus the next will arc and by this you have a self-regulating system and a more or less steady arc
Awesome idea! I guess I have to try this myself... buy three sounds pretty sufficient for my welder ;)
Yep I saw that video, full width track Cat track wear spades, a long long job on that D11… cheaper than new pads though..
54:33 Well I thought that was going to be THE test somersault flip-over downhill, but you managed to pull back. Phew.
But the bars and roof look good.
I used to ride on the side pads over the batteries or hydraulic tank when my grandpa was building logging roads, or dragging trees. Because of that, my grandpa built chain link side guards on his roll cage and painted them yellow, we were both safe inside the “cab”
I love the starter fluid across the battery terminals!! Jiggle, jiggle, jiggle, CARBOOM!!! Rock on Matt. Classic metal and fireworks forever man!
Hey Matt I use the evolution blades to and my welding supplier said you sure do go through a lot of blades and I said I like ‘em sharp he told me to let the blade come to a stop before lifting it back up and not to bounce it like I was because it would knock off the teeth. He told me to make one cut with semi firm pressure downward and wait for it to stop. He was right my blades last twice as long now. I just wanted to share what he taught me to maybe save you some money. Merry Christmas! The 977 is looking sharp.
What blade are you. Using to cut harden steel? Size. And how many teeth. I'm looking to upgrade myself.
I love how you use old equipment that you saved from junkyard s and refurbished them and your not afraid to fabricate your own parts that cage looks great!
Thanks!
I'm retired now but i did fabrication like this on submarines for 43 years, this brings memories back, good job thanks for the memories.
As someone who rode around on a submarine for a few years, your hard work is appreciated.
You sure are a hard worker. Those track cleats must have taken a while. We need more men like you Matt!
My grandpa buried his Case Terramatic 1000 bucket loader to the belly pan at the end of our soft field one day. I was young, but I watched him do a bunch of measuring, then we walked away down the field. Several days after it stopped raining he and I drove close to it, he started a generator, strung out extension cords and began drilling holes in the pads, he had built 4” tall cleats, 6 or 8 per side, he bolted them on and drove the dozer backwards out of its hole.
He used those cleats several times over the course of his lifetime for all sorts of jobs, but still had his pads easily available when he needed just the pads.
You are a brave man clearing brush with no screens on the sides and the back of the canopy to protect the operator from trees swinging in from the side or the back.
Matt when using 7018 once the arc is started put the rod onto the metal and it will burn along by itself. Just work your wrist so it washes on to both parts being welded. Keep the rod angled in the direction you want the weld.70 series electrodes have iron powder in the flux and were designed for fast production welding before mig welding equipment was available. Al B.
Love it!
Have you heard about any of Sigmund Freud's theory's?, there's one I think you may find interesting, can you guess which one?
7018 is great stuff! Ideal for drag welding. Great all around rod for any steel repairs…
The 7018 does not have iron powder in the flux and you do not lay the rod onto the metal by it's self !! Don't know who told you that bunch of B.S. , but they should go to welding school !! I was a welder for close to 40 years and one heck of a lot of tickets at one time or the other !!
@@notajp Wish it didn't have to be kept in a rod oven.
Matt you can still run some hard surfacing rod on the top edges of the grouser bars. Most excavating companies do it to their tracked equipment. Well worth the investment. Al B.
"...run some hard surfacing rod on the top edges of the grouser bars." Bingo.
I knew a guy who would resurface the carbides on his snowmobile.
Howdyyawl from the land down under. Nice job of the ROPS. Looks very good fit for the machine. Excellent
You should add two pipe diagonal braces in the rear to provide side to side strength. In a side rollover the machine will crush the cage. Run them from the base of the rear legs diagonally up to the underside of the cross beams.
I’m a career welder and I think that is a very nice cage/roof.
I grind the spot where I clamp the ground cable, it usually prevents having to strike rods over and over.
Great video!
Also scraping rod tip against the screw on your lead handle works well, so does any piece of wood 👍
I admire the way you save and improve old equipment. A laudable art form indeed., besides being practical.
37 years ago I started a job driving a bottom dump, the owner gave me a 20 min tutorial on operating the 977k and cut me loose I was scared to death the first 4 hours . That’s an incredible machine ! Best thing you did was instal the ROPS. Really like your videos
38:30. One of the things I like about what all you do. Is that you do it right, to the best of your ability. There is a big difference between making it work for now and doing it right for the long-term. And YOU know that difference. When needed you will go the extra money and time to make SURE that it is done RIGHT.
Looks awesome, I'd consider some expanded metal for additional protection on the sides and rear. Some work lights would be cool as well. Love the content.
Good quick fix. Matt you have the best videos. I bet your channel really grows this coming year. Don’t change a thing. You got the formula.
I use to heat my 7018 and hard facing rods before I used them. I use to leave them in the tube and heat them up on the truck engine.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
thats a good idea!!! merry christmas
You got some skill with a dozer if I do say so myself. I thought you were going over the edge there for a second. 😂
I thought so, too. And the ad break made for a nice cliffhanger (pun intended)
I'll bet Matt thought he did too
It’s amazing all the skills that people have. For a person that doesn’t weld, I’d be curious if there were classes that taught basics some where. So many welders, so many different things; and so many projects that one could do.
Check your local community colleges. I studied welding back in 1999 and took classes. Got certified, then ended up back working at an electronics fab to make more money.
Most community colleges have a welding program. If it’s a good program you should get out of there as a certified welder. I know it sounds like overkill but the amount of stuff you should learn about welding isn’t something you can learn in a week
Now take the cage up a couple of levels. You can fabricate front and rear windows and doors. Get a 200 amp 24 volt alternator. These were used on Humvees for use in the Signal Corps. The alternator was a backup power supply for the signal shelters for Nodes and SENs in my Signal Company. That with a converter to change the DC to AC, you should be able to put an RV type A/C on the roof to keep you cool. A small roll cage over it to protect it. Then add some powerful LED headlight, you are good 24/7 rain or shine.
Once you have it figured out, make another to fit Lets Dig 18's Betty. Have fun!
Great job building that ROPS! Looks like you could use 1 more cross bar at the rear bottom to take care of the shake while moving over rough terrain. Love watching your videos.
right about level with the rear deck of the machine' add gussets to taste
could also use some lights fore and aft would make it useable at night/low light
My dad and I welded on rebar to the pads, on every track machine he had in the fleet every winter, we always used three-quarter inch rebar , it held for the hole year till the following winter till we had to do it again .
Nice job on the roll cage 👌
I can remember many of my years running with open top and I don't miss it
That was a glorious cold start!
The ROPS looks factory! Nice job! I’m glad to see it installed for your safety. It’s nice the original mounts and hardware were still there too.
I like the split exhaust 50% out of the exhaust pipe and 50% out of the front grille.
But this would not be a diesel creek owned vehicle without a MASSIVE exhaust leak, now would it :)
Note the lower chain rollers nibbling into the track pins... not much meat left under those chains/plates... soon for track replacements. Still a strong CAT for what this is! 👍
You do know, when Matt is feeling down he just goes to the nearest junkyard, sits for a half hour and he is good as new! I believe he could get a rock started and get some work out of it. It might buck, skip and fart but Matt would have it working and have a big happy smile on his face!😋
@@leonardcrum6896 No doubt he would get a rock started, with a bit of ether.
It would also certainly be bellowing black smoke for a few minutes before the idle would calm down :)
Noticed you've got a nice big relief area under the roof on the front of that cage. Great place for a big LED light bar.
That was the first thing I thought of when I saw that initial overhang on the first piece... 👍
Big fan, throughly enjoy the ‘ride along’ jobs, fixes, repairs, overhauls and restorations.
I’m amazed at how often you post new videos.
Thank you very much!
@@DieselCreek thanks for the videos
I know that sometimes it's a PITA and a intrusion to some of your friends...but I'm learning a lot
I don't have the wallet big enough to do that stuff even though I love that stuff and AUTOCAR GANG I'm loving the info
So thanks for bringing a little Creek life to the world
what a great was to start a saturday morning, thanks for continuingly uploading fantastic content!
Glad you enjoy it!
@@DieselCreek certainly do, greetings from swizerland
added safety put a positive ground clamp on the starter and weld on the frame
Back seat driving here obviously, but like most internet posting it makes me feel helpful 🙂 Mag drill (which I've seen you already have), annular cutters. 90%+ of structural steel uses 3/4" bolts in 13/16" holes in the USA so tooling is minimal to cover nearly everything that would come up. Having dislocated a thumb hand drilling steel and having the bit grab...as well as busting more than my share of twist drill bits and even step drill bits...it really is worth doing it with the fancier tools.
Enjoyed the video! Just a constructive suggestion. That ROPS may protect your from falling tree limbs but I seriously doubt it will protect you in the event of a rollover without some extensive cross bracing. You may want to consider extending the ROPS steel tubing up to the radiator housing to protect not only the hood and engine area but to protect from tree limbs from falling into the operator area as well. Merry Christmas! 👍👍
Put lights on the end caps of the cage, right where you have some overhang off the roof, that would look sick!!
Next go around put a piece of 3/8 rebar under the roof plate and suck er down with a clamp. Then it'll shed water and maybe not rust. You know, put an arch in it!!
I agree with those who suggest adding mesh on the rear and front. I might suggest the sides as well.
Build doors for the sides and a seat belt.
Man I was just itching to pressure wash those tracks and rollers off for you before you added those cleats.
Thats why I call them drag slicks! Hobart is the go-to for electrodes. Lincoln isn't too bad, but Hobart always gets it done. I am glad to finally see a RUclips(r) go over jump starting from a welder, I would like to see someone use a small fire under the belly pan to preheat diesels. I have seen it done down in the mines and on farm equipment on cold equipment that had been way below freezing for long durations.
I bet after all that welding you’re back in practice . The nice thing about the big stuff is that you crank up the heat and burn it in , no worries about blow holes .
I would highly suggest adding some protection to the sides and especially the rear of the cage. I seen a horrific accident years ago where the top of a tree broke off and landed on the top of the cage. The limp broke when it hit the top and sheared at the rear edge. Curled right in and took the operators head off.
Whats the odds of that happening tho
@@koda4398 it only takes once.
@@koda4398 100% chance to the headless guy on that job i think,,,LOL
@@Android-ng1wn No clue if the story is true or not but i have seen huge trees hit the ground while falling branch end first and they can bounce backwards quite a long ways. I can see a big branch falling down behind a dozer and hitting the ground and kinda springing backwards and going into the back of the cab.
Maybe something like security wire? or Perspex?
I liked that convertible look from the start, but always had my safety concerns in mind.
Now it looks less cool, but definitely more safe, and I bet that's better, Matt!
And the roll cage itself turned out nicely.
Of all your menagerie of the old and the odd, your old Cat 977 and the orange [red?] Autocar are my favorites. That old cat is beyond cool!
Always good to watch a GOOD man work!
Have you considered adding an x brace between the two back supports? This way it won't Buckle over easily if something knocks down from the side onto it.
same thought here....really wanting some cross bracing on them tall back bars, looks good though....
It'd be better to weld heavy steel screen back there. It will act as lateral support and protection from tree branches etc.
Hands down one of the best track loaders ever made.
I almost got a low hour 977 late model with 4n1 bucket and ripper!
In Vermont $12k.. 5000hours clean.
Should have.. uggh
For big loaders I agree, but don't forget the small but mighty Deere 440 ICD. Had one for about 20 years, the ole Detroit 2-53 never let me down.
@@mattywho8485 Deere with a Detroit
Never knew that .
Great job. Really enjoy the longer videos.
Glad you like them!
Happy Christmas to you, your family and to all my co follower's! Best wishes from Norway 🇧🇻 🇧🇻
Tip for you for restarts on welding. After you break off from welding, take your gloved hand and break the excess flux off the end of the rod. Thatll expose the electrode its self and allow less tapping 💪
A great job, as usual. When you were measuring the spans at the top I sort of cringed because on a piece of equipment nothing is plumb or level so using the base dimensions rather than the top free ranging dimensions works so much better (bitter experience speaking). I suspect that is what threw you out of square - no biggie, gives it a slightly rakish/avant garde touch!
What put it out of square was down to using the brackets already on the machine
@@tonywilkes1781 Very possible both factors contributed but it still was an impressive outcome even if it wasn't exactly square or even - Diesel Creek success!
That JLG you showed in the outro would have been perfect as a welding aid. Looking forward to seeing that come to life in a future episode.
Me too. I guess that was a world famous Matt teaser lol
We know one of the things he bought at the auction!
@@terryfromsouthcarolina4601 Yep...what's the "over" on what he paid for it? $150???
@@MrChassmith knowing Matt it won't be much.........LOL!
Great looking roll cage. The gussets really capped it off nice and changed the entire look of it. Well done !!
That’s good stuff. The build, the helping out a buddy, all of it. And I’m glad I saw cutting plate with a basic circle saw. I bought a metal cutting blade for mine a couple months ago but I’ve hesitated to use it since I don’t have a saw that clamps the work. Now that I’ve seen it done on a handheld saw that looks like it could be used on wood, I’m more inclined to just do it.
Best cold start of any on youtube so far. Cheers,...........
Matt, pieces of the tube you used to build the frame, cut on a 45° work really well as gussets welded into the corners. Less HAZ area also
Nice job.
That is awesome roll over protection you built. My hubby has been saved from sticks from behind poking him by having heavy grate or expanded metal welded to the area behind his head. I liked that you sealed the ends of the tubes so they don't fill with water.
Loving the CAT 977, always look forward to seeing you working this beast! 😎👍
Tipped those belts!!
You should be proud of yourself. That’s one heck of a good job. Don’t point out the bad, just be proud of it. Looks good
Whew WEEEEE!!!! My pucker factor went through the roof! I would add some full size steel diagonals in both planes to shore up that ROPS. I am so impressed with your work effort! Even alone you are not daunted by the least or most challenging tasks. You are a pleasure to watch and you give inspiration. Thanks for sharing.
Another great video. Thanks, Matt and bigger thanks for packing heat!
All day every day
When I went to welding school, we started with stick. It was very difficult to get a nice looking weld...but they were VERY STRONG. Now on the other hand, when we went to MIG, it was easy to make it look nice, but that didn't mean it was strong!
Cool project! When I watched you push that tree down, I thought you were going down the hill with it!
Well done Matt on the ROPS protection and the tracks. OH you are such a tease, showing one peace of equipment that you got from the auction.
Forney rods are a hit or miss. A lot of their consumables are that way. Most of the time their 7018 really doesn’t do that bad but there’s other times you can tell a big difference. Not sure if they come out if different factory’s or have been sitting on a shelf soaking up moisture or what. But awesome video man! That things a beast!
I very much like your logo. It's really well designed!
Hey Matt, love the channel man, just thought I’d throw a bit of Australia into the mix. Here we have ROPS, FOPS and FUPS. ROPS as you have stated in the video is Roll Over Protection, FOPS is Falling Object Protection and FUPS is Front Underun Protection for the suicide bombers that want to drive into a heavy vehicles front on, obviously with some severe outcomes most of the time. Keep up the vids mate, I enjoy them immensely.
Aussie god to see
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Same to you and yours!
I think the roof turned out great....and you made my heart fall when it looked like you were going over along with the tree you pushed over
I’ve got one of those metal cutting Milwaukee circular saws as well. Just my experience, but they cut better and contain chips better if you use them with the blade at full depth of cut. Great video love seeing that old iron back out back in service!!!
I have a different model of the Evolution saw, they supply blades for wood , metal, wood & metal combined and even for stone / concrete.
@@unclegreybeard3969 Made in china, better not to buy it.
Andrew, how much are those metal cutting circle saws?
Russel I paid around $350
54:35 from this angle I thought you was about to test that roll cage out. Lol
Great filming Matt ! We used to run a angle steel strip to hide any imperfect jobs , bit like a trim cover , very easy and saves you looking at it every time you walk towards it !!
I think this machine spirit appreciates you where as Christine is just a spiteful B. I have no doubt if you had not found this cat it would have gone to scrap. Very cool to see it at work.
Amazing cold start, could watch that over and over
Ah perfect! Saturday morning starts here What a beast indeed! Thanks for this Matt!
I always thought you could use a welder to jump start a vehicle but never saw it done - nice work!
I get a lot of enjoyment watching you revive and repair your tools. However, I feel a bit guilty not being able to get in there with you and get my hands dirty. Thanks for sharing Matt. Happy Holidays.
Looks fantastic, I am impressed! Minor suggestion: round off the 90's on the front so if you're stomping around on the hood and are as agile as me, you don't get a sharp point in your back, etc. Or just nip off a triangle - about anything is better to hit with your back or arm than a 90 degree point.
If you file the end of the rod, your restarts will be much easier. I can never get the apprentices to do it.. but it works.