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Military refurbing their tractors
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Posted by NC Wayne on October 19, 2006 at 21:31:13 from (64.12.116.74):
Last year a local dealership took in a couple of older Grove rough terrain cranes for the military and completely refurbished them, basically making new machines out of them. From what they told us the couple they took in were just a small part of the total number of machines that were being done by the various Grove dealerships throughout the US. Now this evening I read an article in Diesel Progress saying that Case is taking in more than 200 rough terrain forklifts, in a three year 15.5 million dollar contract, to do the same thing to. I know often what the military does doesn't make alot of sense but in this case they have discovered something that most of us field mechanics have known for years... that the new electronics being used in equipment simply aren't reliable. True their having them redone for a slightly more focused reason, namely that the old mechanical systems aren't effected by an EMP which would fry the electronics in "modern" equipment. In the end it all comes down to the military is doing something smart for a change by actually "repairing" good, used equipment instead of throwing it away and replacing it with a new stuff that won't last half as long as the old one already has. I can't remember exactly but I believe the Groves that were redone were late 70's, early 80'd vintage and the article states the Case lifts are 80's vintage making them all, on average, 25 years old plus. Most new equipment, based on talking to various salesmen, the shop guys, etc, is only being build with an estimated lifespan of 10 years. Ten years for a new machine or another 25 plus for a refurbed older one...to me that's a no brainer. I just can't understand anyone that buys brand new equipment then complains when the electronics go haywire and cost an arm and a leg to repair, then turn right around and buy another new one instead of spending half the cost to refurb an old one that anyone can work on with simeple hand tools. I guess having all the creature comforts and the operator not having to use common sense to run the machine because it runs itself has it's perks but in the end the old stuff is always gonna come out ahead in the reliability department...as long at it's properly maintained.... As much waste and plain out stupid stuff as I saw in my 6 years in the Navy, it's nice to know at least part of the military is doing something smart for a change.
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