Smith Excavator at Llanberis · AditNow Community

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hymac580c
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

I am going to llanberis this Monday morning 23rd to start the excavator with the staff and try and give it a bit of a workout. Show them how to start and work it. But this time I will take my own grease gun and lubricants. There are a few issues which can be a problem. It has two gears,high and low. It is siezed in one, if in high it will not move. I will attempt to free the gears if in high. The wire ropes have rusted just a bit where exposed to the weather so I will not put too much strain in them. And one brake band has some scale rust in between the lining and band. The pulley on the bucket has siezed solid, but the problem can be overcome. But needs sorting. It will take a good half hour to give it a good greasing and oiling. I am aiming to get there for 10 so that everyone there has had their tea/coffe break.

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

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Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

Excellent!

By a wondrous co-incidence I have Monday off, so I shall pop along and say hello 🙂

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

As I. See you there. :thumbsup:

hymac580c
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Great, see you tommorow. Hope the weather will be better than today.

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

17 years ago

The weather appears to be lovely today. And I'm stuck at a computer :curse:

Good luck with the excavator hymac :thumbsup:

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

And jolly good it was too!
The engine started at 10:35am and was soon followed by various motions!! Hymac can fill us in on the fine detail!
A resounding success! Well done Hymac! :thumbsup:
I've put a few pictures into my personal album.

hymac580c
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Indeed a very succesfull day, with ideal weather. Gave the old machine a good greasing and oiling of motions and linkages first of all.
Then a few swings on the handle, pulled the decompressor and she was away. Most of the mechanism is now working as it did before it went to llanberis in 1986, although we had a bit of trouble with slipping reversing clutches and one track had sunk about 3 inches. So we dug in front of the track with a pick and she was away. Then we had a bit of a playabout with it.
Two of the staff at the museum were shown how to start and work the machine, so they should be able to start it every now and again.
My daughter came along with her video camera. She had never seen her grandfather's old machine actually work, only seen photos of it.
On the whole not a bad machine considering it is now 72 years old. But it does need a lot of t.l.c.
🙂

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

stevem
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

Looks great...looking forward to seeing it in the flesh next time the kids want to look around the museum. :thumbsup:

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who
screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

17 years ago

Excellent, nice job Hymac :thumbsup:

I see Carnkie has created an entry for Llanberis Slate Museum :flowers: Thanks!

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Mr.C
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#10

Just seen the photos - would love to have seen it for real! Any chance of a rematch? 😉

We inhabit an island made of coal, surrounded by a sea full of fish. How can we go wrong.......