Modifying BIG Suspension Strut Rod! | CAT 785 Mining Haul Truck
We'll take you through the entire process to tackle this beast of a job - modifying a massive suspension strut rod from a Caterpillar 784 to fit a 785 mining haul truck! We start with drilling and tapping the holes to extend the bolt pattern, and tapping 12 one inch bolts by hand gives Kurtis a serious work out! We then get the strut rod set up in our lathe and dial in the compound to perfectly match the existing taper on the rods end. We'll then machine off 100mm and machine the finishing touches to accommodate a blanking plug, before machining the taper to length. We finish it all off by tapping those hefty 1-inch bolt holes to their final depth. So, if you're curious about how we tackle these larger-than-life engineering challenges, buckle up and get ready to see some serious metal magic in action!
In this video we are using:
- Hafco TM-26120G Centre Lathe
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Do you reckon you would be able to tap all those one inch bolt holes by hand!? 😯Kurtis is a machine! 💪 We can say this job involved blood, sweat and tears (by Karen having to do so many takes) 😭🤣 We really enjoyed videoing this one and would love to know what your favourite part of the job was, leave a comment below! 🚀Just Launched🚀 Our CEE Amazon store - head over and check out some of our favourite finds we use everyday in the workshop: www.amazon.com/shop/cuttingedgeengineeringaustralia 🔔Hit the notification bell so you never miss our new weekly video. 📝Leave a comment below with your questions or thoughts. 🎉Get Early Access & Ad Free videos in our Patreon community: www.patreon.com/cuttingedgeengineering 🛒Check out all our CEE Merch here: www.ceeshop.com.au
You're both doing a great job!
I have done a 3/4 inch tap don't own a 1 inch yet .. looks like too much work .. if I had a mag drill and try to do that a storm would go threw and take out the power then the mag drill would drop and brake my foot ..
I love the way good editing can make a bugger of a job look so smooth and easy - and that includes taking time to get the narration right. You make a great team and I always learn something from your videos.
He definitely is a machine, you got your money's worth with him. The size of the swarf was ridiculous, basically carving 1mm thick shavings by hand is what it looked like. I've tapped holes a couple of times but nothing close to that size and nowhere near that deep... I bet each hole felt like it was a metre deep by the end. I would have been cursing each hole.... Where's the Bloody End?!? Stop Turning you Bastard! Lmao
This video was loaded with gems! The mag drill jig, button cutoff... lots. Thought Kurtis was getting a workout repositioning the mag drill but little did i know, the taps were coming up. My favorite was the ring from the piston, after the pneumatic chamfering!
Unless you have actually Tapped out loads of 25mm threads by hand in a day.... Your comment "That was a helluva workout" is just such a huge understatement!
😅 Karen put a few outtakes in at the end to hopefully give viewers an idea of how much of a workout it actually was lol
I had a few plates years ago with around 40 M16x2 holes through them - and as Kurtis I only had an old beat up tap to use. I was literally beet-red and dripping with sweat despite having the doors open to the shop during the winter. Our apprentice at the shop thought he'd be funny and claim it couldnt be as hard as I made out to be. He's been doing them ever since and he's even more redfaced and tired of it than I was EDIT: I didnt even notice that Kurtis was doing 1 inch treads.. thats like 30% larger in diameter than the ones I was doing
Spot on! Abom 79 would have been cracking out the power tapper for this one.
Oh, man. You’re gonna be feeling that tomorrow… and for another couple of days, I’d imagine. Ooof!
My hands hurt after a single M8 thread. Maybe I should look up this fabled "pre-drilling" ?
My father, born 1930, was a machinist. A very good one. I wish I could have shown him your channel. He would have enjoyed it very much.
A noble profession.
Small world, My father also born 1930 in England, was also a machinist.
I love how I'm never tempted to fast forward through a repetitive operation on this channel. As soon as Kurtis has to do something more than twice Karen's supreme editing skills kick in and save the day!
That is a brilliant comment and so true.
The editing is truly on par with the machining, and that's really saying something. You get all the meat of what's being done, without any salad of repetitive operations. This is surely the best machining channel on youtube; now that I write that, I realize it's surely the best documentation of machining in human history.
Be funny if Karen threw in some benny hill music
I usually don't FF the CEE, however I admit I did a few on this video, like when he drilled the 12 holes. 😢
It's nice to hear the name "Gühring". My father-in-law ran the training workshop in Sigmaringen/Laiz for 30 years. greetings from Germany
Shop Made Tool for the win! The look of pride on Kurtis' face was gold. 😊
The companies that use Kurtis to do their parts fixing are very lucky to have him do their repairs.
Spot on!
Kurtis is very lucky to have the companies use him also. It is a two way street.
@@MasterBlaster3545It takes a lot of trust to hand over some expesnive material or part to cut 100 millimetres off the length of the part. Make a mistake on your own material and you kick yourself but you can get another one. Make mistake with something customer supplies and they will kick you!
my thoughts exactly!!! and from everything i’ve seen, that part is going to be better than what Caterpillar did
For them, the best part is they can watch and see what goes into it. Gives them a better understanding of what Kurtis can do to salvage worn parts or refabricate them to do something different.
OK, someone owes me for a new keyboard. I spit my coffee out all over it when Karen said "I'll do my magic, you just continue to struggle"! That line was epic! Thanks for all the amazing work Kurtis. My favorite parts are typically how the order of operations lead to the completion of these jobs followed very closely by all the machining work that Kurtis does, shots of Homeless doing his thing, feeding the birds, Karen's editing and on and on. Thanks for sharing!
🤣😊
We need to see more of Karen. She’s 100% fundamental to CEE. Let’s see more of you.
& don't forget the little dog that brings the smile at the end 😊
that was FKing epic hahahahaha
When a "little heavy handed man" says...it was a workout I know for sure that is was BRUTAL! Deep respect for your stamina and flawless machining! Greetings from the Netherlands💪💪💪
I think that was the first time I heard him huff in these vids was after he did that first one.
@@clynesnowtail1257hand threading anything over 1" is no joke. I'd like to see an elite powerlifter attempt to do what Kurtis did in this video
@@LukeA_55 Would you like ketchup on that broken tap?
Hi man , i am an italian boys, sorry for my bad english, but here we study franch, i am an electric engineer but my parent have a farm...my week and are only machining with tractor and truck, and so for me your work is so very good because for me is my normal life. Thanks for lern some things that are some helpfull for my weekand job! Good work
Why do we work all week. But still watch people work at the weekend. 😂😂😂
Really enjoyed this video, Kurtis. The right tool for the job every time, and if you don't have the right tool, Kurtis, you don't create a solution that in any way comprises the end result. Genius!
"Look, it's coming out prettier" 100% the correct engineering term there. The out-takes are the best part 😂
I saw at least two of these spindles everyday for over six months. I was building the front struts for the the 130 and 170 ton capacity trucks. I was scared to death I'd forget to put the anti seize compound on the taper before installing the wheel spindle block. It took twenty-two rounds on the bolts with a 1" air impact, to "draw/hold" the wheel spindle block to the piece you are going to shorten. A pair of 170 struts weighed 10,000# and 130's were a few hundred #'s less strapped to a pallet. That Kurtis is one brave dude@!!! I was plum rigid when he cut thru that shaft. I didn't know where that piece was going to go. It's weird watching the hole pattern when the lathe is running. It looks like the part is turning backwards. Karen, that was a real neat view in the threaded hole.
I feared for his new tool!
Kurtis, your training and skills blow me away. Operating the machines and doing the work is one thing but knowing exactly what to do and how to do it is what makes you a master at your craft. It is so fascinating to watch you. Of Course, how could anyone watch what you are doing without the superb video skills also of Karen. The two of you together make for great entertainment. You are my greatest KZhead Channel to watch, "anywhere". Thank you both for your channel. Please keep up these great Life Experiences. "Good on ya, mates".
The superhuman patience to drill out those holes..... ugh... Always a blast here with Homie & the birds! Karen .... absolutely killing the edits!! =)) TYVM CEE ! "You do your thing, let me do mine!" brutal! And the only proper response is "yes dear, my bad." =))
Kurtis, you are NOT a machinist, you ARE a metal surgeon that makes broken metal whole again. Love your channel.
It’s good to know that if this whole being an amazing machinist and fabricator doesn’t work out, you could use that mag drill for cracking safes. And once again, hats off to Karen for doing amazing photography and video editing, I love how she manages to keep it interesting and informative and speeding up the parts that are repetitive it keeps you watching every second right to the end
According to my employment contract I'm a "machine operator", but I'm a 99% CNC operator, give me a couple of hours and some drawings and I can do beautiful things by just punching numbers, but "manual" lathes/mills is beyond me... I can do some basic stuff, but that's it. People that say that CNC machines are more exact, I don't think they know what they are talking about, but for repeating tasks CNC machines is a god send. Like for next week I have to lathe out some grooves in some rods, 960 to be exact, without the CNC and my trusty ABB robot to do the loading I'd be crying... Keep up the great work!
Kurtis is a bleeping machine.. My arms fell off just watching him tap those holes :) Excellent work as always.
I’ve been stressed out with work, and your outtakes really made me laugh. First time in a while. Thank you Karen and Kurtis for bringing edutainment and joy to the world!!!!! ❤❤
The tapping looked so easy in the edited version, the outtakes showed how much effort it took! Thanks for another great video, you guys have it down to the fine points.
When I saw how big that tap wrench was I knew he was going to get some good torque on the tap.
Karen almost cost Kurtis his job threading those holes. But she held back just enough to give him the confidence to persevere. Now that's a grade a mate to have at your side!
I am always amazed at the finesse, professionalism and sensitivity with which YOUR wife puts together/cuts the videos. 😂😂👍👍 Greetings from🥖🇫🇷👋
Can we all appreciate the fact he makes it look BETTER than the manufacturer?
Better than factory, as @NorthridgeFix often says.
Hey at least I can say I’ve used my mag drill to drill much smaller holes for nothing important!! Well extra steel for my safety lanyard attach point that I bent the original by almost falling and my safety lanyard caught me. So I’m saying that you 2 are hereby declared a Machinist’s Treasure for the layman. You have taught me so much by just telling us the basics and then as time has passed you’ve gently explained more. The explanation of zeroing out the tool to the material and working to the measurement is I’m sure intuitive to all machinists but not obvious to us watching. You are an awesome teacher. I’m sure Karen’s editing is the reason why. 😊 Always look for the new videos to drop on early Friday Morning for me on the US west coast. Cheers and till the next video , I’ll keep watching the back catalog.
''And I just happened to have a fixture plate made up.'' Love it!!
Those outtakes always leave me with a wide, silly grin on my face. Love you guys!
A lot of us up here in the northern hemisphere probably forget it’s the end of summer down there. I bet all that tapping was hard work in that heat.
Yup, I was thinking same. I realized he had a fan running near him and figured it’s probably 90 degrees or more. I would be a ball of sweat doing those taps.
He's up north in the state of Queensland. It's worse there than in Sydney where we have been sweating the past few weeks.
Good for Karen stepping in and actually turning the tap. That was a real work out. I was relieved when the tap survived also! Homeless got some attention and when he was following his commands he never took his eyes off the prize. I've been feeling a little down lately and you guys always cheer me up!
Thank you to the whole CEE team for this beautiful video of reconditioning a part for a customer instead of him ordering it new for 60,000 Australian dollars I think it's great👍Congratulations to Karen for her debut in muscular tapping 💪 😂this is excellent. Sans-abri is truly an adorable and well-behaved dog, well done to all three, see you soon, a long-time fan of France🇫🇷
My Dad would have loved your channel. He was a turner in what was at the time Rosyth Royal Dockyard in Fife Scotland. 🏴 We used to pop in and see him sometimes when we were kids, and there was always some massive rod or prop shaft he was working on.
Has the Vatican set a date for voting on the camera person’s sainthood?
Karen, your editing are brilliant.
That CBN insert really delivers the goods! Getting that beautiful rainbow finish and a continuous wire chip tells the tale. The right tool for the job!
I could feel the arms burning while tapping those 100mm💪 The size of equipment repairs you do considering you're just one man is just bewildering
Like how you explain what and why you're doing someting, understanding makes it more enjoyable. Equipment has certainly changed a lot since I was an apprentice we had to lift our mag base drill horizontally in place with a chain block and we left the block on because no one trusted the mag base.
Wow, that was quite a job and I can’t begin to imagine how physically taxing it was working in that heat and humidity. Favourite part? Hmmm, 🤔 for me it was the finish you got with the CBN insert. Mind blown! Thanks so much for another great video and thanks Karen for your perseverance and awesome editing!
Apart from the Krana crane series this one I appreciated the most, simply because there were more " why's how's and wherefores" I always appreciate watching a talented and skilful worker, but when you get a bit of explanation it takes to a whole new level, bravo CEE and keep the videos coming, (please), Martin in the UK 🇬🇧
No need for a gym session after that.....tapping those holes out was a proper workout...😱 Gotta love Homeless....that is one happy pup!...😊👍
I am still (and always) amazed at the methodology Kurtis uses to get to the end result. It is often pure genius and keeps me watching video after video to see how it all works and the end result. I also agree that Karen’s videoing and editing is very very good
The giggler knows your strong... but that moment she trys to move the tap... that was classic..
Jigs, fixtures and a mag drill will solve lots of time consuming and are kind of a necessary part of the shop. What luck to have that new, good looking tool arrive. Once again big thanks to Karen for the great footage and editing.Oh my, that ceramic insert wasn't available when I could have really needed it. A couple 20 litre pails of destroyed graphite inserts would still be in use eh, LOL. Pretty sweet post my friends, See you next post.
Kurtis when I saw you were going to cut those threads by hand I said fugin ell he's gonna do it. It's a long bar but there's lots of them holes. We'll done mate. Impressive.
The job was so hard to do as i have worked with machinest for many years . Kurt, you are a beast hand tapping 12 holes one inch in diameter amazing. Karen, you video filming and editing make the job looks so much easier, but the reality is different. Great video for sure. Filming and editing the top od the line. Take care. Thanks 😊
The joy is priceless when a worker get's to use previously made jigs and tools in the ongoing projects.
In High School, back in 1968 I took a machine shop class. For decades after I sold parts fabricated in machine shops. I always find this work so interesting to watch even though I haven't run a lathe or mill since 1968 before everyone reading this was even born.
Speak for yourself! There are a LOT of us old gubbers around here!
How about 1954, in Junior High
Not everyone. 90 here and machining and tool making since Korea.
Kurtis is a beast on that tap! Rock On! Karen great job, as always.
Great job when doing this kind of work you have to know all the right stuf great skill kurt Love the show !
Wow! Awesome job, the both of you need a 🍺 🍻 after that one. Karen, the editing was awesome! I got a kick out of hearing the fan running during the second hole tapping sequence.....i figured that must have been a work out.... glad your showed the actual work out in the outtakes.... Kurtis deserves some recognition for that kind of work! Cheers 🍻
That’s a nice savings for the owner , that’s a good value add for keeping the equipment running! Good on you for thinking and planning forward to make it efficient and economical and Karen for wonderful videography to take us along .
Three things... First: I am convinced, that Kurtis would prefere tapping this 12 big fat holes every time over a singe 3,5mm one 🥰 Second: You know its kind of difficult machining if Kurtis uses coolant 🙂 Third: Wouldnt it be a possibillity to use a small ipact driver for tapping sch massif threads? Something in the 100-200NM range? I guess it wouldnt break the tap if it gets stuck. Disclaimer: I have no idea as far as machning goes. So exuse me if this question was extraordinary stupid :-) Thx for shring. You two have an amazing channel here!
watching the love that Homeless has for you guys and you for him is totally heart warming. He's such a good boy.
Love all your videos,… they are very calming. Quiet, hypnotic relaxing. Your editing is some of the best I’ve seen, extremely well done. Concise, to the point, & equally note worthy. Very nice you guys. Can’t wait for the next episode. Peace n love
Fabulous process - use the mag drill, mag drill fixture, drill and tap first to keep the hole position ….. I learn so much watching your videos!!! Great use and time of the new extended 12mm button insert tool. As you we opening up the work, I was thinking you needed that new tooling!!! MAGNIFICENT! Keep going!
Dealing with accomodations for that blanking plug impressed me. That 3 part metal ring caught me off guard - I was expecting a big neoprene ring.
As usual, great job. Precision, although, as you can see, hard work. Not everything can be done with machines. Even the fantastic ones you have in your workshop. And, as always, these freebies prepared by Karen are hilarious. Besides, her work is also super professional and what's more, she has a nice laugh. I really like... watching you in action.
Thank you and your wife for letting me watch your show and for going on KZhead I've enjoyed watching your channing for yrs I've welded for 42 plus yrs I'm always learning I don't do the machining aspect of its greatly appreciated thanks the both of you
I love the Homey intermissions!
I want to thank you two for bringing Homie into our lives. Every time he's on screen, all I can do is smile.
I love this cost versus possible solutions attitude with some simple workarounds
My favorite part of this video was seeing a quick peek of the old Zayer mill. The exact same one I used for years in Melbourne. I know that because I made the replacement wheel on the front. And the bed was extended while I was doing my apprenticeship. With the extended swarf trays on either end. Was a very handy machine with the 4mtr bed. 👍
I know you get too many comments to reply to all. The work you do and the best thing the love and care you have for your tools and equipment.... It's boarder line OCD.......but I know why, you look after your equipment, it looks after you and earns you money. Use and abuse, it costs you twice or more. Top notch vid there chap.
All that tapping, my hands, arms and shoulders hurt just from watching. The surface finish on that taper was so much better than the factory original.
Karen sure can make Kurtis move fast!! 😎
Curtis, I love this stuff. I am an older lady, but I wish I could have done this work as my career, it is so interesting and it really shows the skill and dimensional intellect required.
I felt your pain - the point where your arms have turned to jelly. As a kid (many years ago), I spent the whole Sydney summer working, in the open, threading steel pipe by hand. All I had was a large stock and die set (with the concession that it could release from the pipe when done). Man I was fit by the end of that summer. (And after I went back to school, Dad bought himself an electric threading machine...)
I really like the more active role Karen has taken in the videos. Please, never edit out your spontaneous reactions to unexpected events and close calls. Thanks to both of you!
Yes that was a great one ! I have tapped 3 1" holes by hand 11\2" deep that was not fun ! You are awsome ! Keep the great content up !😊😊😊👍👍
This man is a bonafide master of his craft! Truly impressive to watch!
With all the safety lectures I used to get on metal shaving dangers, you seem to enjoy the long razor sharp tendrils all around you! Its like Brer rabbit in the briar patch "I was raised crawling around metal shavings..." lol
The "Holemaker": Gotta love a tool that is so straight-forward about its purpose.
Love the digressions to the shop dog.... Karen you have a real talent for this
Amazing, quality work. Clearly there's a reason Kurtis stays trim and fit with the manual labor side of the job. I love, love, love the content of your channel. Cheers!
Man that's a hard job there! Just popping those new holes was a task. That's some hard metal!!!
Watching you work is extremely meditative
I hope that you are being paid for what you are REALLY WORTH. Keep up the amazing work you do. Cheers Steve Melbourne
Loved watching how the taper was worked out. Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.
AHHH man!!! At the beginning I thought we would finally see the radial arm drill being used.
That colorful swarth would have made a great desk sculpture with a nice classy wood base.
15:05 I thought "I'd like to see a slo-mo of this moment", and guess when happens 3 seconds later? As usual great respect to Karen!
I love the fast forwarding of Kurtis doing the taps. Next time consider this: a fast forward clip of Kurtis doing the taps and then him huffing and puffing in between each one... Thats a hard working man. Good job sir.
Knew her editing was making that look easy. Lol love the content. Thank you both.
I love Homeless... you can tell he's trying REALLY hard, but there's just SO MUCH COOL STUFF!
The outtakes are still some of the best content that and “homeless “the safety dog !!! I was blown away when you changed that insert to that special one you have but I was dumbfounded that that one insert is $70 well worth the money
Kurtis is a BEAST for tapping those holes by hand. Great job onn the machining and also explaining the whys and hows of what you did. Thank you for sharing with us.
The shoulder abuse in this video is extreme !!! Taping those holes would have been brutal to say the least ....but your right how else could you do it !! Very nice work guys top shelf always all the way !! 👍👍
That Drill w/the magnetic base is a real workhorse. Very powerful piece of equipment. It was real cute when Karen decided to try to cut some threads. She could barely get the handle moving.
It always starts with watching a new video and then I have your voice and machining sounds in the background for hours. The algorithm knows exactly I want Kurtis in my autoplay.
Kurtis has the coolest tools. Mag drill, never heard of that before.
Curtis, you are an absolute UNIT man. Love the videos.
Favorite part? Hmmm...., well there's Homie. He's always a riot. Then, Karen trying the tap. But seriously, ALL of it is fascinating. I think determining the angle of the taper is most intelligent and putting in the hard work to produce a perfect end result is quite gratifying. I missed my calling, I should have been a machinist. Instead, I was a heavy equipment operator and a soils and materials field and laboratory technician/manager for 35 years. No regrets.
Homeless is a smile machine, what a good boy!
38:40 Superman gave up,but superwomen can twist that tap thread😂😂😂 More power both of you guys. Watching from Taiwan
I don't know why I enjoy this so much. I was around big machines all the time in Ft. McMurray but never even thought of the work that was done in keeping them going. The photography is great on these as well. I am just amazed at all the stuff that is done in this shop. Great stuff constantly opening my eyes.
Great job. Turning one part into another. Hope you get time to take some time off to relax with the misses and homeless. Work is important but time for ourselves pays dividends. Cheers.
You two are a team that can't be beat. So well done. Both the work and the video. I especially liked how Kurtis achieved the taper. Karen, mixing the work and Homie in your way is another way that sets you guys apart from all the rest. Keep 'em comin'. Thanks
Kurtis is one of the smartest and intelligent trades man I see, I don’t think I’ve said that about anyone, I would love to see a video of the business and how it runs unless it out there, such a big shop with amazing machinery inside and I never seen any other workers but the 2 of them.
Karen… your video taking and editing are awesome…I’ve really enjoyed watching you get really creative and good!!! Love the channel!!!
I know you have a workshop full of great equipment, but that strapping gun is my favourite!