Been off this week, finally have the CAT 225 working on the next pond after I sorted out the dump truck disaster...

I'm digging down to 16 feet from grade. Just wanted to show some pictures on the way I'm doing it, too see if I'm asking for a cave in, etc...

Sometimes I get nervous when I have the machine right up to the edge, perched on 8ft of sandy loam, with 8 ft of clay under that... I try to keep the sandy loam at a slope, but the clay gets pretty much sheared straight when I'm digging to depth...

usera.imagecave.com/etd66ss/Pond_2/

Oh yeah, sorry about the blurry spot in all the pics, there was something on my camera lens...

I think your playing with fire here!---the angle of repose for a sandy soil is around 30 degrees which translates to about a 1 on 1 slope
the clay soil, if it is good and dry can withstand a steeper slope, say 2v on 1 h. anything more can be quite unsafe, especially with a surcharge loading on the surface, in this case your 225!!

You are alright here.The important slope angle is from the front of the track to the toe of slope, not the extra pile out in front of you on the slope. For an extra measure of safety you could make an enitial cut of 3 to 3 feet for the digger and truck to sit in. This would also make cleaning the bottom of the excavation easier as well as increasing the efficiency of the excavator cycle. Good Luck RT

"r wrote:

You are alright here.The important slope angle is from the front of the track to the toe of slope, not the extra pile out in front of you on the slope. For an extra measure of safety you could make an enitial cut of 3 to 3 feet for the digger and truck to sit in. This would also make cleaning the bottom of the excavation easier as well as increasing the efficiency of the excavator cycle. Good Luck RT

Yes, I thought of that. I may try that tomorrow, but it seems like it would take more time...

I guess I'm not worried so much on how clean the excavation is on the bottom. It is a pond afterall... Once it's full of water, I really won't se my messy bottom...

Your work pad is just fine. Yes lowering the work pad will increase production and improve your reach for dressing your grade.

When I mass excavate, I cut grade on almost every pass. When you are returning from emptying your bucket into your new truck, place your bucket flat on the bottom of the cut that is on grade. Carry a flat grade but do not go past a 45 position on the crowd on the dipper. If you do you must lower the boom to keep a flat grade instead of lifting. Of course going down, rather than booming up will kill cycle time. Once a flat grade is cut one bucket wide, simply move over one bucket width. Watch the left tooth keeping it following the first pass. Do not let any dirt spill out the left side of the bucket until it hits the slope of your pad then fill to heap in one motion. If you learn the cut grade and mass produce load, you'll be an ace.

When trying to load a truck fast, do not swing passed a 45 to get your dirt. While the truck is dumping work the radius grapping dirt and stock pile at 30 degrees. If you are the one dumping the truck then this trick is pointless.

Good job, and have fun.

"7upuller" wrote:

Your work pad is just fine. Yes lowering the work pad will increase production and improve your reach for dressing your grade.

When I mass excavate, I cut grade on almost every pass. When you are returning from emptying your bucket into your new truck, place your bucket flat on the bottom of the cut that is on grade. Carry a flat grade but do not go past a 45 position on the crowd on the dipper. If you do you must lower the boom to keep a flat grade instead of lifting. Of course going down, rather than booming up will kill cycle time. Once a flat grade is cut one bucket wide, simply move over one bucket width. Watch the left tooth keeping it following the first pass. Do not let any dirt spill out the left side of the bucket until it hits the slope of your pad then fill to heap in one motion. If you learn the cut grade and mass produce load, you'll be an ace.

When trying to load a truck fast, do not swing passed a 45 to get your dirt. While the truck is dumping work the radius grapping dirt and stock pile at 30 degrees. If you are the one dumping the truck then this trick is pointless.

Good job, and have fun.

Thanks for the tips.

I'm cutting through 3 different materials that I'm trying to keep seperated. 8ft of sandy loam, 5 ft of gray silty clay, and then a few feet of rock mixed with red clay. I do the sandy loam as you suggest, but just gouge the clay out, and then come around for a clean up pass before backing up and taking another swipe at the sandy loam...

I'm sure if a pro watched me, they would laugh...

one thing I might add to what has been said is if possible keep your tracks in line with the direction a failure might occur.If the ground slips you can most likely catch yourself with your boom and simply ride the slough down to the bottom and walk your machine out onto the floor of your excavation. it is much more difficult to do if you have to turn with tracks buried in loose dirt also the risk of rolling is greatly reduced
If a failure does occur get your boom downhill immediately to use as a support.
I tipped a Timbco Fellerbuncher over on a slope after backing over a rotten log hidden under snow. tried to swing uphill to shift center of gravity forward but a tree prevented that A downhill swing would have saved me $24000 in repairs and a deeply wounded pride
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