We have just placed sideboards on our Cat 21B’s to increase output. What will this 5-10% improvement in yardage going to cost me in maintenance? Any advice is helpful.
You should weigh a loaded machine with and without the sideboards and see what the increased load is. A local contractor extended the sideboards on their TS-14's and the result was pretty dismal. They actually broke a rear spindle off of one machine. and tires were a big issue.
Side boards on a 621 is called a 631. You may have to put that welder for the cracked hitch on steady . Good luck Bob
Bob: Rats. I was afraid of that. C
I saw Webber Construction do it and was hoping I could following suit.
The 'bidding' as primary dirt contractors like Independent, Sukut in Calif use sideboards. Rental outfits (working for hourly pay) like Rentrak, Peed do not use sideboards. Hitch Cracking: Reconditioning Stop Pads prevents damage to cushion hitch components. When stop pad are worn off the load cylinder bottoms out (steel-to-steel contact) transferring shock loads into the hitch castings. 621B dimension A: from center of horizontal pin to top of hitch stop block = 10.05" // dimension B: from center of H-link pin to bottom of hitch bracket stop block = 3.24" // dimension C: from center of horizontal pin to center of H-link lower bore = 13.30" AND maintain correct ride height adjustment. 621 operator pay versus 631, 651 around here the pay rate is the same.
StanRus thank you for your help. There are few books that teach the tricks of motor scrapers and better technique to improve production. I’ve found this forum invaluable as we continue to hone our craft. C
Looks like you need water wings more than side boards. Get a stop watch and time loading with and without side boards. some times it takes too long to get that top load. If you have good tires ,keep the haul road up and the material isn't too heavy they may work. Keep cushion hitches charged and adjusted and tire pressure correct. Good luck Bob
side boards on a 621 will not be even close to a 631 size you will most likely only gain a around 3 cubic yards I had side boards on my scrapers a 621b is 14 struck and 20 heaped if you are in real wet heavy material and soft ground I would guess you might not haul full loads as its only a single engine all mine were twin engines the drier material the bigger the loads one thing to remember running scrapers get in and out of the cut to the fill in a timely manner, extra time trying to get that extra cubic yard or 2 will be lost production. get back for another descent load asap. just don't struggle for those trophies.
The sideboards have been quite effective and we haven’t experienced any increases in maintenance or damages to hitches...yet. Load times have increased by 5 seconds which is worth the effort. We are increasing our push machines with D8’s to increase velocity. Side boards have been a good decision for us.
The only "hungry board" extension should be on the rear door, especially on elevator scrapers with rear fuel tanks. Twin powers need the "bird cage" mounted to stop the slabs of material falling over the back destroying everything on the rear bonnet