JBC limited NZ

[Supermario]

wow Andy, the new digger is looking good. Is it just me or is the upper structure much longer than a 4200? Ouch! I forgot about the exchange rate and I think you have a much better alternative for the interior.

Wondering how the crusher project is going btw? Haven't seen much on it lately.

[andyathome]

hi Mario,
Side by side the two excavators are almost the same length in the upper structure, did toy with the idea of adding 50mm to the 4200 but it was getting too hard and couldn't be bothered.
It may happen at a later date.
the crusher is still not running, I have the attention span of a house fly and am never happy unless I have too many projects on the go at the same time.

cheers andy

[andyathome]

more brilliant NZ weather , so I spent some time in the shed.

walkways, exhaust , air filter and all hydraulic lines done.
All joints bushed and sleeved.

Also made up a mechanical thumb.
This still needs some clean up work and painting.
when the thumb is down it has a latch that holds it in place, which I want to revisit as its a little rough.











cheers andy

[bigford]

andy are those the 4200 cylinders on the cat? she is looking good!!!
i have 10 months to get the kat digging for a long road trip to canada

[andyathome]

hi bigford , no the KAT is still going to be using the original cylinders, but I will be turning the pump speed way down, and see what happens.
This was supposed to be a budget build using all leftovers but we all know how these things get out of hand....

I had a plan to make the thumb mechanism today , but things changed.
Mario asked a simple question on the length of the KAT compared to the 4200.
Over night I hatched a plan, any way heres the results, still unpainted but structurally completed.

I think it looks way better 50mm longer.














cheers andy

[Supermario]

Looks great! Now I see it and realize what a short tail end the 4200 has.
The reason I asked the question in the first place was the pic you posted showing the pump and valve next to each other on the right and battery laying front to back behind cab. Seemed like more room. Speaking of room, did you gain lots of space to rearrange things inside?

[andyathome]

the KAT has a bit of room in it , but now the 4200 has more.
Im going to leave the original placement set up in the 4200 but will now place battery next to counter weight across the back of the excavator as there is a lot more room at the back, and it will make changing battery easier.

now I have run out of paint , so maybe get started again on doing the KAT thumb.

cheers andy

[andyathome]

more progress, but I have a question .
Ive made some solid lines out of stainless tube to fit to the main boom, just sitting on there temporarily , but before I cut the plastic lines .
How do you guys seal the fittings on.
Ive tapped them at 5mm which is the correct size for my fittings , I will change the bottom fittings for right angle fittings, but do you use any sort of tread lock or sealant.





I have made some access panels to cover the ugly air vents, and will run a fan at the top of the engine cover to take hot air away.



cheers andy

[Cooper]

As far as the fitting for hydro lines , the fittings should have a plastic washer. That makes a seal on the flat of hardline. If you using the stainless turn the ends perfectly square to the pipe. That will give you the flat seat for the plastic washer to compress and seal. I'll try and find a good pic.

[andyathome]

cheers cooper,
I spun them up in the lathe, so nice and square, just worried the plastic washer wont do the job and end up with a big sticky mess.

thanks andy

[andyathome]

had to have a quick play

https://youtu.be/fGXRBMoZsYc

cheers andy

[andyathome]

im a happy camper....
very reluctantly cut the first hydraulic line ...
then another until all cut and fitted in their new home..

turn on pump and close eyes..

only one leak for the bucket curl at the end of the long line outside the excavator..

now I need to find some more bolts so they all match, and make a few clamps for the long line on top of the boom , and shorten a few lines.
then it all can go into the paint booth.

had to test it out properly , one hour of digging , no leaks and really happy with how it looks now.

the seal that leaked was the rubber o ring on the fitting.
I had a few spares but they are copper washers , so replaced all seals with copper ones.





cheers andy

[andyathome]

got a deliver out of the paint shop today.
also made a whole lot of little brackets for the solid lines , rerouted the light cables in hydraulic hose and used an original hose clamp to hold the ends of the hydraulic lines behind the cab.







cheers andy

[andyathome]

just some outside shots , paint finished but still a little soft.

play time tonight as it should be baked nicely in the sun














need to make a few air vents for the top sides of the engine cover, will do that on the printer and just glue on for looks.

now to finish of the KAT and start digging.

cheers andy

[Northern Farmer]

Quite a transformation! Great job

[Supermario]

Originally Posted by Northern Farmer

Quite a transformation! Great job

Absolutely agree. it's hard to spot any old 4200 and has now become a very nice hard rock mining shovel. Nice work Andy, I'm jealous but also motivated to tweak mine a bit, thanks!

[RCP57]

Looking great Andy! By the way, did you find a Hemi yet?

[andyathome]

Yeah .
found a couple that im realy keen on , gota wait for the guy to inspect and make a decision.
wife wants a 69 mustang so will do a double container and ship them both back home.
then we will fight over shed space.

cheers andy

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by andyathome

Yeah .
found a couple that im realy keen on , gota wait for the guy to inspect and make a decision.
wife wants a 69 mustang so will do a double container and ship them both back home.
then we will fight over shed space.

cheers andy

Haha, yes my wife has wanted a new Cadillac for a while now and when it happens there will definitely be a fight over garage space here. Our garage is full already(too small) so I guess something of mine will get the boot. What engine are you looking to have in the Mustang? Big block?

[headers]

Andy you have truly transformed that 4200 into a beautiful machine great job