Got to work this morning to be greeted by my dirt subcontractor having a bad day. They were blue topping my parking lot getting ready for paving and while running thru the lot next door to turn around he tackled a 24" diameter concrete light pole base. It is a normally very good operator and passed his mandatory drug tests taken right after the accident. Appears that the black attachment on the front of the machine hid the concrete light base from his view in the rising sunshine. Luckily he had a seat belt fastened and did not smack the windshield.
More pics Here a couple more photos. Damaged = 1 broken light pole base, 1 winter plug in assembly, 1 asphalt patch in a new parking lot. $2,500.00. 1 Cat Grader, $22,400 in parts so far with no labor counting only damage that is visible.
Ouch!!!
Gawd that sucks all around....
Dang. Glad operator didnt hit glass
that sure left a mark!!! how fast was he traveling? glad he wasn't hurt.
You guys don't think that'll buff out? I'm sorry guys, but, I had to say it. This is the internet, you know....
What compound would you use on that Mitch? I could use some of it.
Not sure of his speed. He was two grader lengths from where he raised his blade coming out of the driving lane cutout in a curbed island and headed to go into the next driving lane less that 100 ft in front of him.
The tire is buffed in spots.
This happened this last July. Believe it or not, it did not buff out.:beatsme
Well there goes about $10K, glad the guy is OK, bet they cut that push block down now.
The solid front axle that is folded back was alone quoted at $18,000 and change plus the bar that ties the lean together, and the tie rod. They also think the front axle swivel is elongated. They won't know for sure until they get it apart. Here's the light pole base that got smoked. It is cracked over half way through at the asphalt level and has to be replaced. They are 8' deep to stay below frost level and are pretty solid.
Wow! Was there anything marking the light pole bases? Might be an idea in the future to put some type of flag or traffic delineator post on top? Glad he didn't get hurt..
One inexpensive way to mark things like that that have bolts on top is to put a small diameter PVC pipe with some high vis paint, standing up over one of the bolts.
I have never had a issue with something sticking up 3'-3" getting hit before. It is plenty high to see it over a car hood or trunk. That being said normally the light poles are installed right away, but in this case because we are in the flight path of a very close lifeflight heliport, we have to get a MN DOT aviation inspection every time we set a pole. All the poles, outfitted with avaition obstruction lighting will be set at one time, when the inspector is available and he has flying weather. Actually the grader had no business in that part of the lot as it was turned over and under facility control for public use and was off limits to construction, but he had enough problems without me busting his chops. Lots of student nurses walking nearby at that time of day. Hmmmmm.
Ahh I see! It all makes sense now hahaha!
Great idea!:cool2
If that wasn/t bad enough, he also forgot to use a grease gun on the front end steer components, dosent really matter now though.
Must be of the mind that they don't need grease the first two years. A few months ago a public utility came in with a tractor backhoe to dig the new electrical service in. The hoe just screamed and chattered every time they moved the jib. Finally at lunch time my crane operator went over and greased it. They seemed amazed at how much better it worked. Said it was on loan from another station and they knew nothing about it. Sad but true.
Sounds like a lot of operators where I work! They think the old saying: "The squeaky wheel get the grease." is a maintenance instruction! Can't believe how many times I've had guy come in to grease a loader saying "I've got a pin making noise all morning" Same guys who have no problem standing around BSing for 20 minutes at the end of day. They have a nice dry shop with air operated grease pump to use so it's not like they have to crawl around out in the middle of a muddy field.:Banghead:Banghead
Those things are like magnets! Clobbered a week old one yesterday with the front frame horn of dumpy loaded. Pushed the base over 6" in the blacktop. I never even saw it. Must have been in the windshield post while turning in. Sometimes smart people do stupid things
I have to wonder about the length of the "pushblock"? Putting something like that in the field of vision is asking for trouble. Anyone who has run s G series Deere will know what I'm talking about. Should be used parts available as there have been thousands of those made. Like to know the story of the 23 on the Tahoe
I'm thinkin' that big push block is hard to see over, maybe.
They carried the front of the grader today with a 966 and loaded it on to a lowboy to take to their main shop for repair. One of the guys said they found everything they needed for $14,000. They got a new rental here finishing up the blue topping. Looks to be a 140 size but has so many rental stickers on it that it was hard to see a cat emblem. This one has an old timer operator in it with no GPS and he seems to be doing a great job. Fun to watch him.
Ill bet anyone on this Forum $100, that OLD=TIMER does not go within 6 metres of that Concrete Pole base. And the rental suffers no likeable damage, Any Takers ?
Score ; Cat 1 GM 0
You hit that one on the head. Paving today and that rental is parked well out of the way looking brand new yet.
The Tahoe came around a corner to fast and couldn't see the scraper is what I was told. A friend of mines brother was on the site, and he gave me the close up.
My guess: Same boss that was always screaming about production parked his sissy boy Tahoe blocking the haul road, operator gave him some feedback. :notworthy