Now here's an idea for Caterpillar....

[scsmith42]

(poor Jake - he got the version of this via text messaging this morning, but with a lot of colorful metaphors...)

Caterpillar ought to require every engineer that is starting their career to work in the field as a mechanic for a year, before allowing them to start designing things.

Maybe then they will focus on making things easier to repair, and be less subject to a lot of cussing out from their customers / mechanics.

It took over 3 hours this morning for us to R&R four short hoses that we could easily put our hands on - because the access was so poorly designed and wrench access was so limited. They didn't even stagger the ends of the tubing fittings to make it easier to put a wrench on the rear lines!

Good grief!

[doc henderson]

It feels like if they make it hard enough, you will pay the outrageous rates at the shop.  of course, who am I to talk.    

[Resonator]

Guessing a backhoe? When I replaced my hydraulic lines on my old John Deere, I got rid of the hard lines (steel), and just ran long hoses from the cylinders to the valve body. Though with the cost of new hoses now a days, that may get pricey.
If it's like a lot of machines built today, it's designed to go down the assembly line fast and be sold. Not designed to be repaired later.

[Hilltop366]

At least you can see them.....bit of a complainer I think.   

Had to change one a few years ago on our old Case between the transmission and the floor.

[sprucebunny]

I like that idea. CAT and every other manufacturer.

[Magicman]

I heard yesterday that the reason Design Engineers make it so tough on Mechanics was that one caught his wife in bed with a Mechanic.   

[doc henderson]

I think they are too smart to have common sense.  

[Larry]

That repair should have taken no more than 15 minutes if you had only used the Caterpillar proper tool!

"Caterpillar Proper Tool" $9,374.29 plus shipping, tax, customer satisfaction tip, and restocking fee.

[scsmith42]

It feels like if they make it hard enough, you will pay the outrageous rates at the shop.  of course, who am I to talk.   

On the other hand, with designs like this that is probably one of the reasons why their shop rates are so outrageous...  

[scsmith42]

It feels like if they make it hard enough, you will pay the outrageous rates at the shop.  of course, who am I to talk.   

On the other hand, with designs like this that is probably one of the reasons why their shop rates are so outrageous...  

[scsmith42]

At least you can see them.....bit of a complainer I think.   

Had to change one a few years ago on our old Case between the transmission and the floor.

[scsmith42]

Guessing a backhoe? When I replaced my hydraulic lines on my old John Deere, I got rid of the hard lines (steel), and just ran long hoses from the cylinders to the valve body. Though with the cost of new hoses now a days, that may get pricey.
If it's like a lot of machines built today, it's designed to go down the assembly line fast and be sold. Not designed to be repaired later.

Yup, backhoe.  I can't complain (too much...), the OEM lines lasted 23 years.  But still....

[GAB]

Caterpillar ought to require every engineer that is starting their career to work in the field as a mechanic for a year, before allowing them to start designing things.

Maybe then they will focus on making things easier to repair, and be less subject to a lot of cussing out from their customers / mechanics.

Scott:
I think your "for a year" needs to be changed to at least 5 years. Some of them would need at least a year to learn the proper names of the tools in the shop and how to use some of them.
Having worked in the machine tool, power generation, industrial controls, avionics, and automotive industries I have met up with numerous newly minted engineers with that piece of paper called a diploma.  Going to classes and reading books and retaining enough to put it on a test paper and get a passing grade although good for school it does not do much to add hands on practical knowledge.
My small advantage was growing up on a small Vermont dairy farm.  As to learning from experience, for example, that day I did not clutch for that large pack of hay when baling and wiping out all 4 shear bolts on a JD 14T baler at once.  Education like that leave a lasting impression on one.  I did that in the summer of 1958.
GAB

[Dave Shepard]

When I demonstrated blacksmithing I met many engineers from Germany. The first thing they were given was a rough steel cube and a file and told to make it a perfect cube. I agree, a CAT engineer should be required to do an internship at a CAT dealer. 

[arojay]

Guessing a backhoe? When I replaced my hydraulic lines on my old John Deere, I got rid of the hard lines (steel), and just ran long hoses from the cylinders to the valve body. Though with the cost of new hoses now a days, that may get pricey.
If it's like a lot of machines built today, it's designed to go down the assembly line fast and be sold. Not designed to be repaired later.

Just an aside, but those steel lines are part of the cooling system.

[Machinebuilder]

They look easier than the ones I replaced on my Bobcat..........................

[Cedarman]

Remember, in school 70 per cent is passing.  90 per cent can be an A.  In our business anything but 100 per cent is a failing grade.  What ever you do, don't cross thread that hose connection.

[YellowHammer]

I have a CAT forklift, I had to remove 3 hoses to get to the 4rth, I couldn't get to them without removing others, just a very frustrating experience. Same thing on my New Holland.  I finally bought a special "hydraulic tubing wrench set" and "flare nut wrench set" and a "ratcheting flare nut wrench" or two, to get between the fittings because a normal wrench couldn't slide in to reach the flats of the fittings like in your photo.  I use these all the time, now.  They are wrenches that slide over and down the hose or hydraulic line and to get to the fitting flats.   

I assume, and I may be wrong, that when these are assembled at the factory, they use offset or rotary socket tools that put these together without any trouble at all and properly torque them.  So it's a non event for them.

I'm glad you got them together.  I hate fixing stuff like that that. 


   

[Dave Shepard]

I needed a 1 1/16" wrench to get on a hydraulic nut recently. $14 at TSC and 60 seconds with an angle grinder and I was in business. 

[GAB]

I needed a 1 1/16" wrench to get on a hydraulic nut recently. $14 at TSC and 60 seconds with an angle grinder and I was in business.

Dave:
I'd like to see a picture of your modified wrench.
GAB

[doc henderson]

CAT sells one for $899.00

[GAB]

Remember, in school 70 per cent is passing.  90 per cent can be an A.  In our business anything but 100 per cent is a failing grade.  What ever you do, don't cross thread that hose connection.

Cross threading when assembling by feel just adds to the frustration level.
GAB

[Dave Shepard]

[Dave Shepard]