Running a dragline is almost a lost art. I used to watch them used in canal work around Wheatland, Wyoming back in the 1960's. The way the operators could throw the bucket. The would swing the boom around like a casting a fishing pole and throw the bucket exactly were they wanted it to go.
@@mikeznel6048 As someone with both skill and art, I'm inclined to say you are flatly wrong. A skill is something that can be taught. If you can do what the instructor says, you can get pretty good at basic operations. The art part goes beyond the basic mechanics of how and why things move, and get into doing things like developing a real feel for how everything interacts.
Hi , Chris my name is English Mick living in Poland, following you every day for the last few years,and I don't believe it, I was working on R B 22s in England in the late 60s early ,,70s, I was looking after a fleet of 8 for a hire company, maintaining them and insurance testing with maximum and minimum waits , these draglines where a bit of a bugger to operate, but good old work horses.its great to see someone who loves these old machines . Absolutely beautiful
Chris…. knowing how good you are with excavators just goes to show how hard these pieces of machinery are to operate and how amazingly talented and skilled the operators were in years gone by. Stay safe
All I remember about being around draglines early in my life was A they don’t dig very well above level of the tracks and B there was always a small dozer/crawler loader around to move the dug dirt/mud out of the way and final C they worked the best taking skim cuts…And yes only the experienced operators could cast a long ways out…With your skill sets I am sure you will be in the Experienced category fairly quickly!
Agreed. I'm in no way an expert, but I thought drag lines were meant for digging down, like skimming coal seams. Seems like a clam shell is better suited to moving one pile to another.
Once you load the bucker , engage your hoist and let your drag slip slowly out. You will find you can take your load alot farther out. Also after WALKING your machine that far, you should Grease all your track rollers. ps fory years crane operating. Ten of which was on a Manitowoc 4600 (7 yd bucket)
My family moved into a house overlooking an active gravel pit when I was young, A twin to this machine was working it with a master at the controls. He could swing the boom and launch that drag scoop about 50-60' out into the lake, bring the bucket out, swing and drop on his pile doing probably a bucket full every 30 seconds or so. That pond is now a nice clear much larger pond with ducks and Canada geese on it all winter. Gravel ops have moved on.
I’m recently retired from sand and gravel pits, I never operated a dragline, but in my 45 years there ive done lots of cable changes and some pretty extensive work on them, mostly northwest and bucyrus. Takes a special type of man to run those older ones
Very good Chris! I've been around these old girls for 65 years and seldom does anyone do as good a job operating so quickly. Practice, practice and you be much smoother as the controls become extensions of your hands and feet. You definitely got a nice machine, it was worth the wait. A little TLC with the clutch and brake adjustments will make operation easier for you, especially walking and turning. Great video content!!!
This is why I subscribed to this channel in the first place. Chris jumps right into the title without a bunch of talking, and the videos doesn't have any unnecessary fluff & data burning intros.
I could see with each drag you were figuring out how to keep tension on which cables in order to scoop more and more dirt. Hats off to the old timers having to work hard to get jobs done. If only they knew what we have today. Nice job Chris!
I'm very impressed you have a passion for old, historical equipment at such a young age. I'm 70 and only after I got older did I start appreciating older, well made things and getting more into history. When I was your age I just wanted the latest and greatest and old stuff was just OLD STUFF! Way to go Chris, you're ahead of your time!
Thank you in my Humble opinion you are great showing us all how a person who doesn't operate a Dragline goes through the basics😊❤ you ROCK for me. The Hand FOOT coordination is a lost art. Its NOT easy. I talked with a clamshell operator on a barge. It was an old Army surplus Crane. He said he was the Maintenance guy who keeps it running. As he drops in the water to take another scoop. He would stop the Ropes. He said to me because she is old. He does that to NOT get the Rope out of line on drum. Its an ART to running them. So,so glad you bought her. Show more videos even if your having trouble. I Love the Coordination that you have to have with FOOT on brakes and Hands on Levers. MAN I ❤ those old Machines😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
holding out for a machine in such good condition was well worth it. I'm sure you'll be a dragline master before many of the "Dragline Rescues" I've seen, over the years, become anywhere close to reaching that level of performance.
Hi Chris, Operation tips, when dragging the bucket towards you leave the hoist slack. The bucket will sit flat on the ground and the downward angle of the teeth will do the cutting, and give a bigger scoop. Also throw the bucket further out, use the swing of the hoist rope. Drag the bucket up to the winch guide pulleys and let it swing away from you, then drop the hoist when furthest away, much longer drag that way. Loving your content :-)
What a great find that machine was, it's condition is very good for being 70 years old, it must have been hard work operating one all day. Great video.
You are a confident man in who you are to let us watch that thrashing. When I'm struggling I look over my right shoulder and my left to make sure no one is watching. Too bad the old boys that could coach are gone. Big fun!
This is one of those rare machines you buy that literally works from day one. You two are going to have a long career together. Def need to adjust that alternator belt 🙂cause it's waving at us.
Really enjoyed this video Chris! I have spent a lot of hours watching a 22B clean out ponds on my old Golf Course. Running one of these machines is truly an art. Glad your keeping machines like this out of the scrap yard!
Thats a nice machine you have there Chris , sounds good too . Back in the 60s we had a dragline in to dig out all our ditches . The driver was very skilled at his job and the finished result was impressive to say the least . I can see that its not going to take you long to get the hang of it .
Cruse control set at 1.0 MPH. Worked with one of these back in early 1980's. Used her on barge and ground doing marine and earth moving jobs. Oh you are going to have fun with her...😉
I can only imagine how long it would take you to dig that pond you’ve been working on with your dragline. The old girl is running so much better now. Some adjustments to the machine and time in the seat and you’ll be a pro before you know it.
This gives me a even greater appreciation for the places we get to go understanding this technology was used to make it happen. You’ve got me grinning from ear to ear. Thanks for sharing this with us. Chris, have you ever seen the big draglines down in Aurora at the phosphate mine?
 Man you brought back a memory from many years ago.. When my friend left for College his mom told him. “ Son I know this is supposed to be your fun years at College , but promise me one thing. PLEASE practice safe ...“ So he went of to College and he practiced, practiced, practiced....
I've been watching this channel since the days of the army dumtruck,to watch Chris build his house his garage his farm his life and everything thats come along with it including the machines he's accumulated over the years is just bonkers 🤘 this has to be the most bad ass channel on TH-cam to date. Keep it up Chris!!! 🇺🇲🤘
I have enjoyed watching you try different techniques. There will be a point where you will hit on what works best for you. I do believe the system itself needs to be adjusted. Brakes, holding power and controls. What you are doing is exactly how to learn it. Trying different things, getting the timing down and the speed at which each maneuver performs. Good job brother. The last 4 minutes, the transfer of camera to the outside, you was getting the dragging down pretty good. You could tell you are getting the technique and timing in line. Dumping is the bigger issue, that is definitely a bear to control.
Watching this fetch so many memories of my dad in the 60s used to operate 1 of these for a demolition firm with a big steel ball on there was also on our canals cleaning the bottoms with the exact same bucket you have on
I used to repair 5 cranes like this one 4 P&H from the early 70’s and a 90’s link belt . Changing out the belt bands and riveting in new banding was a pain and usually had asbestos in it.
I used to work for P&H in the early 90s and would machine clutch or brake discs on a lathe that I know for a fact had asbestos in them, we weren't supposed to put coolant on them but we did to keep the dust down.
Oh one of the tips from the old operator: the clutch and the brake of each drum need to "overlap" a bit to change fluently from draging/lifting to holding/releasing the drums😊👍 have fun with it.
Chris, can you imagine how long it would take you to build that pond you’re working on now with that drag line but you would’ve got it done you look like you get the hang of it stay safe buddy
From someone who runs these daily. Smooth is key. Make sure everything is adjusted to the book and I mean everything. Learn the brakes first. Learn where they grab and where they will coat smoothly. After you get that learn the clutches. You shouldn’t even be able to tell when they go in or go out. Smoooth. Good luck. Not many of us left that want to learn these.
I always admired the dragline operators when I was working for Peabody Coal in Arizona in the mid 70s. The Marion 8750 with a 300 foot boom and 85 cu yd bucket was a beast. When it walked it glazed the earth with its tub and the rocks underneath would pop from the weight of the machine. The operator could keep the lines tight with minimal chain slap and it was one fluid movement from the pit to the spoil bank and back. While I am just an observer, the operations where the bucket works the best is when the machine is above the area being dug, not even or below the pile of dirt like you were doing. You need to be digging a pit. The mine also had B&E, I believe it was a 1200 and a tiny one, I think another Marion with a bucket a little bigger than the Karman Gaia.
You had to drive it, I fast forwarded it! lol I love the fact that your giving it a new life. You showed the manufacture date on a previous video. I was built 15 days before I was born. I bet the clamshell will be good for putting debis on top of a burn pile.
we are so blessed today compared to back then. Imagine the early roads, bridges and other construction projects were done with similar equipment. thanks for sharing, Chris. Those must be OSHA approved flip flops! LOL
I do believe you are doing great for what you are dealing with. Look into the cable drum braking systems and proper adjustment. Pretty much that crane cable should be "set it and forget it" mostly. And the jobs I was on as a child was for sewer systems setting clay tile at level depth often fifteen or twenty feet below the tracks. Lowered the bucket in and dragged level a ways and then it would arc up at a steep slant to ground level. Swing to the side and dump then do it all over again. By the time you were at ground level the crane cable was not as out of plumb as you were through most of this. Pretty much you could raise the crane cable with fine adjustments against the brake but to dump you had to release the brake but it would keep some tension so it would not backlash the cable any with free wheeling. Those really loose spools are making it harder on you if I remember correctly. Surely there is an old time operator or greaser who could help a lot with more details. I was just a punk kid watching Dad and his employees.
Man, I thought it took coordination to run a modern loader, but operating one of these things is like flying a helicopter and a loader all at the same time....lol.
Chris, it ooks like you're begining to get pretty good on it. A few more days practice and that beast will come on really handy when you begin dredging that overgrown pond on the new property you bought last year you plan on clearing.
Waiting for you to get the hang of it ! Mechanical vs. hydraulic controls, combined with learning the flow of the machine. In the meanwhile have some fun !
Good effort! Seen one at our local steam rally here in Herefordshire U.K and the guy was casting the bucket with the biggest smile on his face. Never seen someone pulling levers and pedals quite like it 😂
That gives one a lot of respect for the old timers who ran that dragline. She has a mind of her own. Just one thought be sure your pickup isn't in range of the bucket. Great video Spend a 60 hour week or two and you will get the hang of it. lol
I never ran one when draglines were around in my area but it makes you appreciate an excavator. It doesn't have air conditioning, neither did excavators until later. 😁😁You got a handle on it Chris and with time, a few adjustments, things will come together.
Doing pretty good with the ole drag line, one can see that there is a rhythm to it and I can see you picking it up, I would imagine each situation would require a did type of operating style, but still the basics involved, just my guess anyway. the day you can load Barney with it is the day you nailed it as an operator of the drag line, and I am NOT saying I would even attempt it, enjoy the toy, you deserve it sir. Thanks for the update on the drag line, enjoying it.
Every kid needs a dirt pile to play in (even big kids). It takes some coordination to run one of those things, kind of like playing drums. It's looking good Chris and she seems to be in really good shape for her age.
I remember when a friend bought a '48 O&K dragline with 12 liter V2 diesel. De old guy who sold it to him stood a week next to him and gave him instructions and tips. Also the maintenance especially the drum clutches and brakes was explained. I was Impressed how this old school technique was working like a sewing machine.
I'd imagine that on level ground the drag line isn't as effective as when it's above the dredge area like on the edge of a pond environment where the bucket is pulling more uphill. Now you just have to work on your slinging technique where you get the bucket far out beyond the boom.
Fond memories of my dad, started off as an oiler on one of these the moved to operator. I have b&w photo of him with a drag bucket, clam bucket, orange peel(real bucket and a breaking ball in a local rock quarry. best shots are of him unloading rock off of a barge in the Missouri River for bank stablization. He would have loved to watch this and "back seat drive".
@@brunomckay1875 The manual for the 38-B that I found online says on the first or second page that part of operating the machine is inspecting the machine for problems, and chipped or scratched paint is a problem that must be rectified, since it leads to rust and corrosion that can damage the machine. Here we go. Page 2, the first page of Chapter I, under the heading "Keep the machine clean", right at the top of the second column: "Another item well worth attention is the matter of painting at least once a year every portion of the machine that is exposed to the weather. A machine that has started to rust where the paint has weathered away presents a very bad appearance and deteriorates rapidly." Of course that is operating instructions for a modern (at the time) production machine, not a historical artifact. Still, Chris did repaint his offroad dump truck when he got it.
Nice .. brings back old memories. The 22b was a workhorse back in the day. Just fyi.. keep one hand on the swing, learn to run hoist and drag with the other. Also stuffing pieces of hemp rope between the shoe liners will stop the squealing and smooth out the brakes and swing. Good luck with the b&e.
I have operated drag line for years. Set your boom at 38 degrees. Slow your engine down to a comfortable harmony, or your crane will rebel by glazing the clutches. If they do, a pinch of floor dry in the clutches will solve the issue. Don't let y our tracks run too loose, or they will jump time, and putting them back in time is an art form. It is possible on those machines to have the levers engage by pulling them in rather than by pushing. It's much easier on the operator that way. Most of all, make sure to grease every four hours of operation. Check the grease line to the vertical drive shaft. Often enough, the pinion chews a hole through the grease line. As far as operation, the bucket never stops moving, flout the bucket out of the cut. That's 45 years of experience operating draglines talking.
Yeah I like to see old-school ironing in action but would be really cool is watching you dig a pond with one and that would be from start to finish like they used to do
Finally, a TH-camr who bought a dragline is using it. Just from the little I watched it looks as if the tilt "dump" cable end needs to be shortened. The bucket is not gaining enough back tilt before the drag chains go taught. I could be wrong though, I never really ran any draglines, just welded some teeth on buckets and got to watch but from what I remember with the bigger draglines the bucket gained more tilt before the chains went tight.
Hi Chris, here a small note from one of your Canadian fans. I think you're on the right path with your dragline. As far as I can remember from how they worked them. I think they used the boom too in the process, As far as I remember the picked up the the dirt with the boom as far out as you do now. But when they dumped the dirt the boom was way more up. Hopefully you can do something with this info. Keep up the good work and the nice to watch video's, Greetings from Canada Jon van Beilen.
Chris, you are like a musician learning a new instrument! Much is the same, but a whole new set of muscle memory and order of operations is required. It’s a perfect Alzheimers prevention hobby!
She’s a good looking machine and that type of of a drag line moved a lot of dirt in the past glad to see you got it i think your grandfather is smiling down at you 👍😎🇺🇸NY
That is a spring wound tagline drum which carries a light line attached to the clamshell bucket, when that equipment is fitted. Its purpose is to stop the clamshell spinning round and tangling the ropes, when lifted with a load.
Shaping your spoils piles I with a bigger rear incline is helpful if you are using the drag to move them.using the lower front lip and elevating the rear with momentum will get you 1/2 a bucket to start with good luck chris!!!
Loved watching the progress you made operating the bucket from start to finish! Used to sell Abrasion Resistance Steel during my years of outside sales in the Steel Industry, Drag Line Operators in the Coal Mines of West Virginia and Kentucky where large accounts.
Remember when we was kids my friends dad owned a utility company putting in the strom drainage underground water, and all that back in the 60's before he passed away in 68. But where we all lived out in the country, he was digging a big pond on their place. Had old insley, and he'd swing it out far as he could in one big motion, so as it went out and just fell bucket as close to straight down as he could. Then he would haul it in until he had bucket heaping full, and then he'd swing around in a circle. Soon as he was away from where pond was he'd just keep going and dump it as he come around Then next round he'd go opposite direction, do that for few days, and then take his old dozer spread it out how he wanted.
You were starting to get the hang of it. I was remembering when I was a kid (in the early 70s) watching the local drainage district get their old drag line out to clean the sand out of the drainage ditches. They did that about yearly. The drag line they used looked like a junk pile, but it always worked and cleaned miles of ditches. Next video you can use the 977 to push the pile back up, that way you can tear it apart with the drag line again lol. I love watchign the 977.
so good to see you get some time to your self to run the old girl and she is ruining sweet as now with some use on it you are getting the hang of things very well and will be digging holes all over the place have some fun with it and i look towards you showing us some more on it soon thanks for showing us the ropes Cheers
Chris it is amazing to see this machine up and running. By George I think you got it. You are doing well. When I was a kid in east Texas we went to the gravel pit on Saturday to watch these giant machines work. All the gravel was underwater. Up it would come water pouring out the sides then dump the beautiful shinny river rocks. Still amazing today. When will the A/C be installed? Thanks for that memory.
Keep practicing and one day you will be able to use it to load the haul truck !! When I was a kid I saw an operator digging out a gravel roadbed and loading it in single axle dump trucks. It never dawned on me how difficult that must be. Keep the great videos coming. 👍👍
It’s amazing to think the same concept of the drag line dug the Suez Canal, you imagine working 12 plus hours a day moving dirt in that heat and noise. You definitely have to respect these men’s hard work all over the world
In the late 80's they were cleaning dreg ditches out with one and we had them come across the field to take crust off of our football field sized manure lagoon. Kinda cool watching one work up close.
Out to see, the Machine is in and out Perfect clean. And with what Enthusiasmus You learn this Machine to serve and Perfect to rule!, how all Machine what You have. I think the Fascination is, not a Computer help by the Drive, all must You make self. To last You the Master over the Dragline. Congratulation. 👌
Running a dragline is almost a lost art. I used to watch them used in canal work around Wheatland, Wyoming back in the 1960's. The way the operators could throw the bucket. The would swing the boom around like a casting a fishing pole and throw the bucket exactly were they wanted it to go.
No it’s a skill. Art is useless.
@@mikeznel6048 As someone with both skill and art, I'm inclined to say you are flatly wrong. A skill is something that can be taught. If you can do what the instructor says, you can get pretty good at basic operations. The art part goes beyond the basic mechanics of how and why things move, and get into doing things like developing a real feel for how everything interacts.
@@mikeznel6048I disagree. I’ve worked with Art for 11 years, and he is a good productive worker.
Hi , Chris my name is English Mick living in Poland, following you every day for the last few years,and I don't believe it, I was working on R B 22s in England in the late 60s early ,,70s, I was looking after a fleet of 8 for a hire company, maintaining them and insurance testing with maximum and minimum waits , these draglines where a bit of a bugger to operate, but good old work horses.its great to see someone who loves these old machines . Absolutely beautiful
Chris…. knowing how good you are with excavators just goes to show how hard these pieces of machinery are to operate and how amazingly talented and skilled the operators were in years gone by.
Stay safe
All I remember about being around draglines early in my life was A they don’t dig very well above level of the tracks and B there was always a small dozer/crawler loader around to move the dug dirt/mud out of the way and final C they worked the best taking skim cuts…And yes only the experienced operators could cast a long ways out…With your skill sets I am sure you will be in the Experienced category fairly quickly!
You’ll soon be gigging the muuud out of those ponds Chris 😉thanks mate 👌👍🍺😊
A is spot on. That is why you seldom saw them working above their track height except to get started.
Agreed. I'm in no way an expert, but I thought drag lines were meant for digging down, like skimming coal seams. Seems like a clam shell is better suited to moving one pile to another.
@@tmwinkler Chris will have to change his and try it out.
Some of us never move past digging dirt in the back yard with our toys. :)
Hey, there’s Tonka toys for big boys too
Get the turning fix and the clutches adjusted and your ready to start dredging some ponds 👍👍👍👍👍and a little paint and it’ll be looking fresh
Once you load the bucker , engage your hoist and let your drag slip slowly out. You will find you can take your load alot farther out. Also after WALKING your machine that far, you should Grease all your track rollers. ps fory years crane operating. Ten of which was on a Manitowoc 4600 (7 yd bucket)
I used to move 4600s and 2400s back in the 70s in Westren Pa., West Virginia and Maryland area.
Great job, I know you’ll get the hang of it. Watched guys like your dad running those things for hours back in the day. Thanks for saving her
My family moved into a house overlooking an active gravel pit when I was young, A twin to this machine was working it with a master at the controls. He could swing the boom and launch that drag scoop about 50-60' out into the lake, bring the bucket out, swing and drop on his pile doing probably a bucket full every 30 seconds or so. That pond is now a nice clear much larger pond with ducks and Canada geese on it all winter. Gravel ops have moved on.
I loved watching my grandpa operate his Unit dragline.
I’m recently retired from sand and gravel pits, I never operated a dragline, but in my 45 years there ive done lots of cable changes and some pretty extensive work on them, mostly northwest and bucyrus. Takes a special type of man to run those older ones
Hi Chris everyone from northwest Missouri your grandpa is watching done from heaven and smiling watching you running the dragline bud
Also love that the idle smoothed out and does not have that surge anymore. Those old engines liked to work hard and not sit around.
Great to see old machines going back to work. So happy Chris gives the respect to the past equipment of his profession.
Very good Chris! I've been around these old girls for 65 years and seldom does anyone do as good a job operating so quickly. Practice, practice and you be much smoother as the controls become extensions of your hands and feet. You definitely got a nice machine, it was worth the wait. A little TLC with the clutch and brake adjustments will make operation easier for you, especially walking and turning. Great video content!!!
yep and a little baby powder in the right places
Just like you it has been 50 years since I last run any cable operated machinery, you know that you put in a full days work in 8 hours.
This is why I subscribed to this channel in the first place. Chris jumps right into the title without a bunch of talking, and the videos doesn't have any unnecessary fluff & data burning intros.
I could see with each drag you were figuring out how to keep tension on which cables in order to scoop more and more dirt. Hats off to the old timers having to work hard to get jobs done. If only they knew what we have today. Nice job Chris!
Makes you wonder what it was like prior to the invention of pneumatics and hydraulics!salute to the oldies that’s made life better for you
Chris thanks for sharing a grown man playing in his sand box. Definitely an art to operate that machine. Truly thanks for being us along.
I'm very impressed you have a passion for old, historical equipment at such a young age. I'm 70 and only after I got older did I start appreciating older, well made things and getting more into history. When I was your age I just wanted the latest and greatest and old stuff was just OLD STUFF! Way to go Chris, you're ahead of your time!
Thank you in my Humble opinion you are great showing us all how a person who doesn't operate a Dragline goes through the basics😊❤ you ROCK for me. The Hand FOOT coordination is a lost art. Its NOT easy. I talked with a clamshell operator on a barge. It was an old Army surplus Crane. He said he was the Maintenance guy who keeps it running. As he drops in the water to take another scoop. He would stop the Ropes. He said to me because she is old. He does that to NOT get the Rope out of line on drum. Its an ART to running them. So,so glad you bought her. Show more videos even if your having trouble. I Love the Coordination that you have to have with FOOT on brakes and Hands on Levers. MAN I ❤ those old Machines😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
holding out for a machine in such good condition was well worth it. I'm sure you'll be a dragline master before many of the "Dragline Rescues" I've seen, over the years, become anywhere close to reaching that level of performance.
My guess, years. :)
Almost like another IQ test
Came home sick from work this morning and found this therapeutic treat waiting for me!
Thanks Chris! 🤧😊
Hi Chris,
Operation tips, when dragging the bucket towards you leave the hoist slack. The bucket will sit flat on the ground and the downward angle of the teeth will do the cutting, and give a bigger scoop.
Also throw the bucket further out, use the swing of the hoist rope. Drag the bucket up to the winch guide pulleys and let it swing away from you, then drop the hoist when furthest away, much longer drag that way.
Loving your content :-)
Love watching these old machines still being loved and used. Reminds me of my grandfather.
Patience was listed as a prerequisite for the job of operating such equipment 😂
The swing cable goes through. The pulley on the boom I think
I lifts the front of the bucket up and down
What a great find that machine was, it's condition is very good for being 70 years old, it must have been hard work operating one all day. Great video.
Great video,I have always like watching old equipment work.👍
It's very sad that out of 57k views, 92.7% of viewers don't take one second to LIKE the video. Thank you Chris for filming, editing, and posting them!
You are a confident man in who you are to let us watch that thrashing. When I'm struggling I look over my right shoulder and my left to make sure no one is watching. Too bad the old boys that could coach are gone. Big fun!
This is one of those rare machines you buy that literally works from day one. You two are going to have a long career together. Def need to adjust that alternator belt 🙂cause it's waving at us.
I keep hearing the underdog theme! Love the Bucyrus. Chris Mulligan and his stem shovel! LOL!
This is the video we have all been waiting for!! That dragline is pretty cool!! Going to be a fun unit to play with!!
Really enjoyed this video Chris! I have spent a lot of hours watching a 22B clean out ponds on my old Golf Course. Running one of these machines is truly an art. Glad your keeping machines like this out of the scrap yard!
No it’s a skill. Art is useless.
Do not believe I have ever seen that many handles and pedals in motion at the same time. What and amazing coordination effort.
Yes I think of watching my mom playing the church organ for 50 years 2 key boards foot pedals and 20 sum instrument bottons
You’re definitely a old sole Chris! I believe in a very short time you’ll have this thing mastered just like the machines of today. Well done sir!
Thats a nice machine you have there Chris , sounds good too . Back in the 60s we had a dragline in to dig out all our ditches . The driver was very skilled at his job and the finished result was impressive to say the least . I can see that its not going to take you long to get the hang of it .
Cruse control set at 1.0 MPH. Worked with one of these back in early 1980's. Used her on barge and ground doing marine and earth moving jobs. Oh you are going to have fun with her...😉
I can only imagine how long it would take you to dig that pond you’ve been working on with your dragline. The old girl is running so much better now. Some adjustments to the machine and time in the seat and you’ll be a pro before you know it.
They can do some amazing work BUT are not as much of a "universal" machine as an excavator.
Very cool keeping the old iron alive and moving so we don’t forget where we came from. 👍👍
This gives me a even greater appreciation for the places we get to go understanding this technology was used to make it happen. You’ve got me grinning from ear to ear. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Chris, have you ever seen the big draglines down in Aurora at the phosphate mine?
Love to see the Volvo next to the dragline to compare old with new
Very cool video Chris, I'm wondering if it would be possible to load the off-road dump truck with the dragline?
@@redeyetrucker520 He will practice practice practice
@@redeyetrucker520oh yes that'll load the truck no problemo
 Man you brought back a memory from many years ago.. When my friend left for College his mom told him. “ Son I know this is supposed to be your fun years at College , but promise me one thing. PLEASE practice safe ...“ So he went of to College and he practiced, practiced, practiced....
I've been watching this channel since the days of the army dumtruck,to watch Chris build his house his garage his farm his life and everything thats come along with it including the machines he's accumulated over the years is just bonkers 🤘 this has to be the most bad ass channel on TH-cam to date. Keep it up Chris!!! 🇺🇲🤘
I have enjoyed watching you try different techniques. There will be a point where you will hit on what works best for you. I do believe the system itself needs to be adjusted. Brakes, holding power and controls.
What you are doing is exactly how to learn it. Trying different things, getting the timing down and the speed at which each maneuver performs.
Good job brother.
The last 4 minutes, the transfer of camera to the outside, you was getting the dragging down pretty good. You could tell you are getting the technique and timing in line. Dumping is the bigger issue, that is definitely a bear to control.
Bedrock technology ! Go! go! go! Fred Flintstone ! Love it !!!
We all been waiting for you to run that machine
Watching this fetch so many memories of my dad in the 60s used to operate 1 of these for a demolition firm with a big steel ball on there was also on our canals cleaning the bottoms with the exact same bucket you have on
I used to repair 5 cranes like this one 4 P&H from the early 70’s and a 90’s link belt . Changing out the belt bands and riveting in new banding was a pain and usually had asbestos in it.
Yep. Same thing on Cleveland Model 110 trenchers. The steering was all done by brake bands on the final drive differential.
I used to work for P&H in the early 90s and would machine clutch or brake discs on a lathe that I know for a fact had asbestos in them, we weren't supposed to put coolant on them but we did to keep the dust down.
Oh one of the tips from the old operator: the clutch and the brake of each drum need to "overlap" a bit to change fluently from draging/lifting to holding/releasing the drums😊👍 have fun with it.
Chris, can you imagine how long it would take you to build that pond you’re working on now with that drag line but you would’ve got it done you look like you get the hang of it stay safe buddy
From someone who runs these daily. Smooth is key. Make sure everything is adjusted to the book and I mean everything. Learn the brakes first. Learn where they grab and where they will coat smoothly. After you get that learn the clutches. You shouldn’t even be able to tell when they go in or go out. Smoooth. Good luck. Not many of us left that want to learn these.
I ran an 88 back in the late 80's , don't pull your bucket so close to your boom it tripples the strain on the cables
I always admired the dragline operators when I was working for Peabody Coal in Arizona in the mid 70s. The Marion 8750 with a 300 foot boom and 85 cu yd bucket was a beast. When it walked it glazed the earth with its tub and the rocks underneath would pop from the weight of the machine. The operator could keep the lines tight with minimal chain slap and it was one fluid movement from the pit to the spoil bank and back. While I am just an observer, the operations where the bucket works the best is when the machine is above the area being dug, not even or below the pile of dirt like you were doing. You need to be digging a pit. The mine also had B&E, I believe it was a 1200 and a tiny one, I think another Marion with a bucket a little bigger than the Karman Gaia.
You had to drive it, I fast forwarded it! lol I love the fact that your giving it a new life. You showed the manufacture date on a previous video. I was built 15 days before I was born. I bet the clamshell will be good for putting debis on top of a burn pile.
He stacks pretty high with the 220, this thing will have the ISS changing orbit to miss the heat plume!😮
Be SMOOOOOOOOTH. No sudden movements. You'll get the hang of it. Thanks for the video. Jon
we are so blessed today compared to back then. Imagine the early roads, bridges and other construction projects were done with similar equipment. thanks for sharing, Chris. Those must be OSHA approved flip flops! LOL
These are still used in some mining operations. But this one is a dinky toy compared to those.
Goodness that looks hard work. Patience is a virtue you seem to have bucket loads. Well done.
I do believe you are doing great for what you are dealing with. Look into the cable drum braking systems and proper adjustment. Pretty much that crane cable should be "set it and forget it" mostly. And the jobs I was on as a child was for sewer systems setting clay tile at level depth often fifteen or twenty feet below the tracks. Lowered the bucket in and dragged level a ways and then it would arc up at a steep slant to ground level. Swing to the side and dump then do it all over again. By the time you were at ground level the crane cable was not as out of plumb as you were through most of this. Pretty much you could raise the crane cable with fine adjustments against the brake but to dump you had to release the brake but it would keep some tension so it would not backlash the cable any with free wheeling. Those really loose spools are making it harder on you if I remember correctly. Surely there is an old time operator or greaser who could help a lot with more details. I was just a punk kid watching Dad and his employees.
Never thought I would say this Chris, looks like you got yourself a nice Drag Queen there! 😉😉😉
Man, I thought it took coordination to run a modern loader, but operating one of these things is like flying a helicopter and a loader all at the same time....lol.
I have a lot of time on one of these, its not a skill, it's an art.
THATS entertainment! Thanks Chris.😂
HIs problem was he didn't have his 22B dancing boots on, A guy I worked with that's what he called western style work boots
Starting to get some full scoops at the end of the video. Way to go Chris.
Chris, it ooks like you're begining to get pretty good on it.
A few more days practice and that beast will come on really handy when you begin dredging that overgrown pond on the new property you bought last year you plan on clearing.
Waiting for you to get the hang of it ! Mechanical vs. hydraulic controls, combined with learning the flow of the machine. In the meanwhile have some fun !
Good effort! Seen one at our local steam rally here in Herefordshire U.K and the guy was casting the bucket with the biggest smile on his face. Never seen someone pulling levers and pedals quite like it 😂
That gives one a lot of respect for the old timers who ran that dragline. She has a mind of her own. Just one thought be sure your pickup isn't in range of the bucket. Great video Spend a 60 hour week or two and you will get the hang of it. lol
Sitting here after watching that and my shoulders, arms and legs are worn out!! Another great job!!
I never ran one when draglines were around in my area but it makes you appreciate an excavator. It doesn't have air conditioning, neither did excavators until later. 😁😁You got a handle on it Chris and with time, a few adjustments, things will come together.
Takes alot of confidence to let us watch you learn this complicated piece!! It worked right away!!??!!
That's going to be a pretty big learning curve going from hydraulics to cables .....practice,practice,practice.
I just love the old drag-line , I think u will use it for pond work, great machine, keep practicing, you'll be very good at it
Doing pretty good with the ole drag line, one can see that there is a rhythm to it and I can see you picking it up, I would imagine each situation would require a did type of operating style, but still the basics involved, just my guess anyway. the day you can load Barney with it is the day you nailed it as an operator of the drag line, and I am NOT saying I would even attempt it, enjoy the toy, you deserve it sir. Thanks for the update on the drag line, enjoying it.
WOW!! That is truly exceptional work!
Every kid needs a dirt pile to play in (even big kids). It takes some coordination to run one of those things, kind of like playing drums. It's looking good Chris and she seems to be in really good shape for her age.
I remember when a friend bought a '48 O&K dragline with 12 liter V2 diesel. De old guy who sold it to him stood a week next to him and gave him instructions and tips. Also the maintenance especially the drum clutches and brakes was explained. I was Impressed how this old school technique was working like a sewing machine.
I'd imagine that on level ground the drag line isn't as effective as when it's above the dredge area like on the edge of a pond environment where the bucket is pulling more uphill. Now you just have to work on your slinging technique where you get the bucket far out beyond the boom.
Fond memories of my dad, started off as an oiler on one of these the moved to operator. I have b&w photo of him with a drag bucket, clam bucket, orange peel(real bucket and a breaking ball in a local rock quarry. best shots are of him unloading rock off of a barge in the Missouri River for bank stablization. He would have loved to watch this and "back seat drive".
I've got a old dragline my dad had. My best advice is concentrate once you stop you'll have a birds nest on the drum. Been there done that.
Let us just take a moment to thank those who invented the excavator.
Here Here
And also a thank you to Joseph Bramah, inventor of hydraulics and the scientist who discovered the non-compressible properties of liquids.
And the self pushing scrapers.
😆😆😆😆 Chris is doing a heck of a lot better than I would! Keep at it Chris!
Yeah no kidding. Now I’m looking for a hybrid snowcat/mud cat that can be used to push stuff around up at my Idaho property
You are a quick study. Good job! Your Grandpa is up there grinning from ear.
I have a feeling that it will be painted soon, the scratches are going to drive him crazy.
It will match his new truck and fuel trailer
Will painting it kill its originality? Perhaps spray it with a clear resin to protect it but retain its condition and all the old stickers etc.
@@brunomckay1875 The manual for the 38-B that I found online says on the first or second page that part of operating the machine is inspecting the machine for problems, and chipped or scratched paint is a problem that must be rectified, since it leads to rust and corrosion that can damage the machine.
Here we go. Page 2, the first page of Chapter I, under the heading "Keep the machine clean", right at the top of the second column:
"Another item well worth attention is the matter of painting at least once a year every portion of the machine that is exposed to the weather. A machine that has started to rust where the paint has weathered away presents a very bad appearance and deteriorates rapidly."
Of course that is operating instructions for a modern (at the time) production machine, not a historical artifact. Still, Chris did repaint his offroad dump truck when he got it.
God No !! Can't Ruin That Patina !!
@@edwardglamuzina3421 Sweet thats your opinion mine differs. Relax mate and dont upset your hernia.
Nice .. brings back old memories. The 22b was a workhorse back in the day. Just fyi.. keep one hand on the swing, learn to run hoist and drag with the other. Also stuffing pieces of hemp rope between the shoe liners will stop the squealing and smooth out the brakes and swing. Good luck with the b&e.
I'd love to see a clamshell on there!
I have operated drag line for years. Set your boom at 38 degrees. Slow your engine down to a comfortable harmony, or your crane will rebel by glazing the clutches. If they do, a pinch of floor dry in the clutches will solve the issue. Don't let y our tracks run too loose, or they will jump time, and putting them back in time is an art form. It is possible on those machines to have the levers engage by pulling them in rather than by pushing. It's much easier on the operator that way. Most of all, make sure to grease every four hours of operation. Check the grease line to the vertical drive shaft. Often enough, the pinion chews a hole through the grease line. As far as operation, the bucket never stops moving, flout the bucket out of the cut. That's 45 years of experience operating draglines talking.
Yeah I like to see old-school ironing in action but would be really cool is watching you dig a pond with one and that would be from start to finish like they used to do
Finally, a TH-camr who bought a dragline is using it. Just from the little I watched it looks as if the tilt "dump" cable end needs to be shortened. The bucket is not gaining enough back tilt before the drag chains go taught. I could be wrong though, I never really ran any draglines, just welded some teeth on buckets and got to watch but from what I remember with the bigger draglines the bucket gained more tilt before the chains went tight.
@0:24 is that FULL SPEED???!!! 😅 It's not easy to operate an old dragline. You've much much to learn.
Yes it is.
Hi Chris, here a small note from one of your Canadian fans. I think you're on the right path with your dragline. As far as I can remember from how they worked them. I think they used the boom too in the process, As far as I remember the picked up the the dirt with the boom as far out as you do now. But when they dumped the dirt the boom was way more up. Hopefully you can do something with this info. Keep up the good work and the nice to watch video's, Greetings from Canada Jon van Beilen.
Chris, you are like a musician learning a new instrument! Much is the same, but a whole new set of muscle memory and order of operations is required. It’s a perfect Alzheimers prevention hobby!
She’s a good looking machine and that type of of a drag line moved a lot of dirt in the past glad to see you got it i think your grandfather is smiling down at you 👍😎🇺🇸NY
Chris. Shouldn’t the drag line run over the pulley that is 12 feet up the boom? I have seen other videos with there.
I too wonder what that pulley for. As in digging above the tracks
That is a spring wound tagline drum which carries a light line attached to the clamshell bucket, when that equipment is fitted. Its purpose is to stop the clamshell spinning round and tangling the ropes, when lifted with a load.
@@steveallarton98
Thanks for solving the mystery.
Shaping your spoils piles I with a bigger rear incline is helpful if you are using the drag to move them.using the lower front lip and elevating the rear with momentum will get you 1/2 a bucket to start with good luck chris!!!
You did great for first timer. It’s all about getting into a rhythm. It takes time. Once you start digging below ground level it will get easier.
Loved watching the progress you made operating the bucket from start to finish! Used to sell Abrasion Resistance Steel during my years of outside sales in the Steel Industry, Drag Line Operators in the Coal Mines of West Virginia and Kentucky where large accounts.
Remember when we was kids my friends dad owned a utility company putting in the strom drainage underground water, and all that back in the 60's before he passed away in 68.
But where we all lived out in the country, he was digging a big pond on their place.
Had old insley, and he'd swing it out far as he could in one big motion, so as it went out and just fell bucket as close to straight down as he could.
Then he would haul it in until he had bucket heaping full, and then he'd swing around in a circle.
Soon as he was away from where pond was he'd just keep going and dump it as he come around
Then next round he'd go opposite direction, do that for few days, and then take his old dozer spread it out how he wanted.
You were starting to get the hang of it. I was remembering when I was a kid (in the early 70s) watching the local drainage district get their old drag line out to clean the sand out of the drainage ditches. They did that about yearly. The drag line they used looked like a junk pile, but it always worked and cleaned miles of ditches. Next video you can use the 977 to push the pile back up, that way you can tear it apart with the drag line again lol. I love watchign the 977.
WOW. Looks like a lot of hard work and a lot of fun at the same time.
so good to see you get some time to your self to run the old girl and she is ruining sweet as now with some use on it you are getting the hang of things very well and will be digging holes all over the place have some fun with it and i look towards you showing us some more on it soon thanks for showing us the ropes Cheers
Chris it is amazing to see this machine up and running. By George I think you got it. You are doing well. When I was a kid in east Texas we went to the gravel pit on Saturday to watch these giant machines work. All the gravel was underwater. Up it would come water pouring out the sides then dump the beautiful shinny river rocks. Still amazing today. When will the A/C be installed? Thanks for that memory.
Keep practicing and one day you will be able to use it to load the haul truck !! When I was a kid I saw an operator digging out a gravel roadbed and loading it in single axle dump trucks. It never dawned on me how difficult that must be. Keep the great videos coming. 👍👍
It’s amazing to think the same concept of the drag line dug the Suez Canal, you imagine working 12 plus hours a day moving dirt in that heat and noise. You definitely have to respect these men’s hard work all over the world
In the late 80's they were cleaning dreg ditches out with one and we had them come across the field to take crust off of our football field sized manure lagoon. Kinda cool watching one work up close.
That ole girl is just as happy as you Chris . Good stuff
Out to see, the Machine is in and out Perfect clean. And with what Enthusiasmus You learn this Machine to serve and Perfect to rule!, how all Machine what You have. I think the Fascination is, not a Computer help by the Drive, all must You make self. To last You the Master over the Dragline. Congratulation. 👌