Yes, the chain cases are light on this machine. 3/16" at most, and hard. When you drag it through mud right up to it's belly pan, daily, for months on end, the chains cases will wear. So does the belly pan. This one wore through in an area where there was no chain contact. I don't think the problem would be any different with a Thomas, Cat, Gehl, Case, Bobcat etc if they were doing the same job... IF they could do the job. Likewise, the mud does the wheel bearings in if I don't grease them often enough... which generally doesn't happen because I've got to pull the wheels to grease them. So it doesn't always happen on time. The motor shafts were changed because the bolts that retain the 'pinion shaft' to the motor shaft had their retainer/clamp bolts back out. I don't know why they backed out. Mabey they were never torqued right. I know I've got far more hours on it since with no trouble than I got before the rebuilds. It's just that the bolt fell out and the tapered spline got torn up before I took much notice of it. So... when I got rooting around in the chain case to repair that I put new chains in anyway. The only other problems I've had were hoses. I'm after changing most of them, but that's hardly the machines fault...
I still don't see why you need to 'see' the cutting edge. I've done plenty of work in ditches and road work with this machine where I was setting grades. You just get used to not seeing the edge and develop a feel for where it is.
I've spent time in a Thomas about the same size as this one... I think a 173. You can't see a thing behind you. You can't see much beside you... and you never know what way the damn thing will tip when you have the loader in the air. You just know it's going to tip... I had that one rented for a couple days before I bought this machine. I've used a Gehl... 6635 or something like that. It's a fair bit larger machine than mine. It seemed good but I don't like the pilot controls very much and it's still got poor visibility. I've played with a Case 75XT. That's a solid powerfull machine.... much larger than the LS170 and no more able to lift anything because it can't keep it's wheels on the ground. It'd need a huge counterweight to be usefull... and then need to be loaded all the time or it's pop wheelies. Last but not least... there is Cat. The biggest waste of space the skid steer market has ever seen. I didn't run one but I had to rescue one that a neighbour rented last summer. I went into the bog that he got stuck in and dragged him out with my 170... NH superboom loaders work better because they're better balanced and lighter. The low center of gravity keeps them stable while lifting and keeps their wheels planted while driving up hills. With very few exceptions, if they're going to tip, it will be forward, and it will be at maximum lift without counterweight. tipping ahead is not a big deal if you're quick enough to drop the loader. Tipping backwards can be fatal... Mabey that's why all the others need heavy armour on their backsides. Gives em something to roll onto...
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Today's Featured Article - Show Coverage: Journey to Ankeny - by Cindy Ladage. We left Illinois on the first day of July and headed north and west for Ankeny, Iowa. Minus two kids, we traveled light with only the youngest in tow. As long as a pool was at the end of our destination she was easy to please unlike the other two who have a multitude of requirements to travel with mom and dad. Amana Colonies served as a respite where we ate a family style lunch that sustained us with more food than could reasonably fit into our ample physiques. The show at Ankeny
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