Hey guys,need some input,on the field as a pro·té·gé,a dozer is my 1st machine of choice,so am in a site and am learning from two seniors,one is operating a D6 and the other a D8,been on the D6 more and got the hang of it,its easy to put the blade on the ground since I can see the cutting edge clearly,this dozer is a 6way so the blade's boom or the attaching mechanism goes under the belly,recently got on the D8,big machine,the blade doesn't angle as the D6,my dilema is tht,unlike the D6,I can't see the cutting edge,the two corners of the blade since the attaching mechanism is bolted at the edges so its more of a feel instead of sight,I ask the senior and he tells me to look beneath the blade,on the left side that is,so yesterday was my 1st day on the D8 and my other senior told me to get used to it because they are many in our market,any thought on the same will be highly appreciated.
All you need to do is spend some more time on the D8. You can look under the blade on the side along the engine, but once you figure out where the cutting edge is it will be as easy as the 6 way blade to run.
Exactly right. Under most circumstances I can cut just as smooth or smoother with my big straight blade than my 6-way. Get some time on the D8. You will be able to feel what's happening before you can see what's happening. Good luck
Thanks for your input,tomorrow am back on it,will put that to practice.
Thanks,looking forward to getting to that level,just to be one with the machine and operate so smooothly and instinctively.
When first learning on the dozer, it helps when yu get ready to start a pass to stop, then let the blade down until you feel it touch, then lift a small amount to get the slack out and then move forward. This way you do not dig a small hole to drive into and set yourself up to make washboards. After some practice, it will come natural, and you will not need to stop, but in the beginning, slow and smooth is best.
@JDOFMEMI Did this today,worked like a charm,many thanks to you.
Yair . . . john amaru. Another little trick . . . . A blade with a little bit of load is always easier to control so, if you can, work the job so there is always a little bit of "extra" dirt around when you start out on a final pass and just tail it out at the end. Cheers.
Learn to feel and not just through your hand feel through your ass and body and she'll let u know what's going on as scrub says a full blade is easier to control than an empty one but not to full ballence is the key as u get better u will b Abel to run in second most of the time but concentrate on getting it right first
I run a D8T for a living. Put some time in. Easy peas.
5years later and finally I have access to the site,all who gave advice am grateful, the dozer still remains my favorite machine,went ahead to be the best in the companies I've worked for as a finish/production dozer operator,learning process continues next is learning about gps system, this are yet to be adapted down here