Red_Hamish,

[steamboatmodel]

Hi Jim,
How are you doing?
I understand you had a bit of a roughing up.
Regards,
Gerald

[Red_Hamish]

Hi Gerald, well it was over a week ago when the tracked excavator I was deivering to site tipped (while being driven off the trailer by me! ) forward thus catapulting my face into the windshield and rear view mirror. It was totally unexpected as I've been doing this for quite a while now and you are always aware that it could happen and take precautions agaist this outcome. Seat belt worn, legs braced, tight grip on the travel levers and boom control and it still rocked forward (or should that be reverse) as it was on the point of balance on the ramp edge of the trailer. I still got it off to the customers site and got the truck and trailer off the single track road the combination was blocking before seeking first aid at the site hut. Later once the concussive effects were abating I drove over to the school to pick up my children before going home to my wife and then going to seek proper medical attention at the Accident & Emergency Dept of the Gilbert Bain Hospital away up in Lerwick 25 miles along the road. My neighbour was good enough to take me there and wait as a taxi service before bringing me home. The following morning witha  closed left eye because of the swelling and wonderfully coloured bruising I managed to drive the combination back to the depot before filling in the accident report. That was probably the most embarrasing part of all this. Now afer a week the swelling is almost gone and the colouring has reduced markedly. Some who have heard about the incident but didn't see the immediate effect are wondering what all the fuss was about but believe you me the pain and trauma from such a split secondd incident can have a long term effect. Thankfully I think I'll be alright in a week or two.

cheers

Jim

[Red_Hamish]

Further information for you if you want to see what kind of beastie this excavator is http://www.takeuchi-mfg.co.uk/downloads_pdf/115245%20Takeuchi%20TB016%207.3.pdf

cheers

Jim

[Tug--Kenny]

Sorry to hear about this, Jim. I hope you take it easy and make a full recovery.

I was thinking of hiring one of these to level my garden (myself !!)  but I've now changed my mind. I shall go for a GALMI.  ("get a little man in")

All the best

ken
 

[Red_Hamish]

Go for it Ken !  You'll love the experience. My recommendation is to go as  large as you can get through the gate or if you really have the desire ,  take down a wall 
The 2.8 Tonne machines are a lot more stable but even the 0.8 Tonne Kubotas are worthy tools. The instruction we  give on delivery is about 20  minutes or until you are haappy to use it. Most inexperienced operators  take about half an hour to beome sufficiently proficient  Then the BIG grin comes along and ypu'll not want to give the excavator back. There aren't that many Hirebase branches in Wales or along the border but you could look at the www.buildbase.co.uk to see what is on offer. Let us know that you've not a GALMI and then enjoyed the sheer power and exhilleration of doing the work youself.

cheers

Jim

[steamboatmodel]

Glad to hear you coming along. You are right those little beast's can be fun, I worked at Hydraulics and Pneumatics, and we service some of the earth moving equipment, I was the only one who would test the equipment the others were afraid of them. If I ever win the Lottery after a CNC centre i would get one of the small Bob Cats.
Regards,
Gerald

[derekwarner_decoy]

Goodness PD's.......Red must have looked a site ......1/2 his face turning black .....then purple....then orange  ........

You know we are thinking of you Jim........ .....Derek