they are great machines once your used to them. My buddy can't keep them on his lot, sells them before then can even make it to his yard. They are starting to take off here in the US. Does pretty good in general, handle to be able to use a fork or skid bucket, but still have the excavator too. And the best part is they are quick moving around the jobsite, not like a regular mini ex.
The problem is such an innovating machine like this with so many different functions absolutely needs an operator to take you through the optimal ways to use it. At first looks to me it is awesome and I would love to see what they can really do!
When used as skidsteer, blade must be lifted all the way up, boom folded completely, and rollers on back of bucket rested against blade. This way mimics skidsteer design and forces on bucket are transferred to blade and frame of machine, rather than through the boom, thus causing harsh wear on boom, cylinders, and hydraulic lines. Or take the 5 minutes to read the manual and learn proper operation techniques for such a unique machine.
@@bradh74 it's for loading the bucket only dude, not for dumping it once its loaded. Of course he is referring to when the bucket is facing forward like a skid steer aka the wide bucket that faces away from the operator. Look at 7:45 the blade needs to rest on the back of the bucket to keep the majority of the force push against the blade and frame not the boom arm itself
Don't let this video give you the wrong idea of how great of a machine the MCR is and what it can do for you! I work for an equipment dealer and sell these machines everyday. I can tell you from 3+ years experience in selling these machines that the learning curve is incredibly easy. With proper training, and a knowledgeable sales rep, a novice operator or seasoned veteran can be comfortable and making the machine dance in less than 4 hours.
I see some comments about this machine doing a lot of jobs but none of them well, that is the same thing I heard about a mini skid steer when they first came out.
@@floflo8018 why not? Didn't you just read the comment you are responding to.? LOL. This thing, in time, could very well replace a loader. When skid steers first came out they were nice but had many draw backs. Also had very little attachments. Now they have all the bells and whistles.
It's what they've always said about a loader/backhoe. It is true, but I had nothing but a loader/backhoe for many years and it sure was a lot better than nothing when I could never have afforded two machines.
@@mattmc121 backhoe loaders are made cheap. Coming from a mechanic who has work on em a bit. Companies like CAT make their own parts, however the backhoes are a mess of different parts from different companies
I said the same thing watching the rookie do it then chris looked like he understood it rest on blade helps support it during push and allows it to roll with it as you curl and dump to keep level
This thing is pretty cool I didn’t expect it to be that good, it needs more weight in the ass end tho would be best for contractors building houses all the time
joshua12345676 i can clearly see that, all I’m saying is if they want to market it to a building contractor it would be much better if there was more weight on the ass end to compete with a skid steer otherwise they won’t be getting rid of their skid steer they have now to go to something that has a hard time with a bucket full of dirt, they more then likely make bigger machines but then you are looking at buying a new trailer to move it which around here is about 20g extra or paying someone 500 bucks to move it 30-60 minutes distance
Good for contractors who do small jobs like culvert pipes for driveways and small clearing and such also. If it was refined I think it would be a pretty good machine.
When it starts tipping they generally have the load well out in front of them. Also taking huge bites with it. A big reason the skid steer does well is because of the load staying very close to the machine.
joshua12345676 oh I know that I’m just saying a bit more weight on the ass end would help out, I showed my contractor I work for this machine and he said it needs more weight on the ass end, there are plenty on things he could do with it that his skid steer can’t
Seems like it would have some trouble loading a truck with the big bucket on it. Also looks like a good tool for working in tight quarters or right up against buildings. I bet a few contractors who do basement waterproofing or pipe work on old houses and buildings would love it.
agree....although I wouldn't put an employee in it next to a foundation/house for a good long while.....I bet new operators would be better than seasoned as muscle memory can really bite you on some of this new equipment.
The Koehring Skooper is considered the first heavy-duty hydraulic front shovel machine in the American market, but where did the idea come from? May 21, 2015 Thomas Berry A Koehring 205 Skooper used cables for hoisting and hydraulics for bucket reach, breakout and dump. A Koehring 205 Skooper used cables for hoisting and hydraulics for bucket reach, breakout and dump. The Skooper line originated in 1957 with the model 205. Rated at two yards capacity, it was substantially larger than other such machines of the time, and its 1957 introduction made it the first American-made hydraulic shovel.
I've never run one, but I think when used as a skid steer the blade should be all the way up and the support/wheels at the rear of the bucket should be against the face of the blade which would allow the bucket to curl up and down to adjust grade just as you would with a skid steer.
Yes, I think he's in skid steer mode with the button but still using it like it's in excavator mode. (I thought the boom was supposed to act like a skid steer when in that mode).? EDIT: You could get by maybe for a very small job. But, I would rather have the excavator and a separate skid steer machine. That machine can barely pick up that skid steer bucket full of dirt without tipping over. No Thanks.
I was thinking the same thing but the utility of it could make it worthwhile. Take it to a job as an excavator but now you have a skidsteer to cleanup when you're done. "It's not the best, but it's HERE".
I think this machine is for the jobs where you have to squeeze between houses to dig in a back yard, small jobs where the hassle is getting any machine to where the digging is needed. There's a lot of work for narrow machines, especially if they're around 60 inches wide.
It's french,for France ,or countries where similar construction methods and areas exist. We have a way of building things in a specific way and scale here. Size and versatility and important on a jobsite where you can't use several machines at the same time by lack of room. Moreover mecalac is specialized in small to medium size machines,wich are used most of the time for several applications,regarding their sizes.
In the netherlands we use it with a graderblade with lazer and a larger Bucket to prepare the ground to use the grader blade and much more but not really as a skidsteer sometimes we put a tiltrotator on it to make it more usefull
Hey, im 16 Years old and im working in a company that wotks together with Mecalac so we sell them too. I know everything of all Machines and love that you tried them. I think its the 8 mcr you are in right? My personnaly favorite is the new 9 MWR you need to try it when you have the chance! They are not to complicated if you worked a bit with them, they are really flexible and compact but strong i just love it that you tried them
the wheeled ones are nifty as heck. pull a trailer with all the attachments you need for the job. and of have oil quick or something like that you dont need to get out of the cab when changing them. rototilt also of course you have on them.
It’s about time someone put the pivot out there where you can effectively trench along side of an obstacle. This machine would be great for a small landscaping company, especially in tight areas
Look at Takeuchi FR models... the boom swing is pretty nifty on those! Moves the base of the boom left and right. Not like a slide set up on a back hoe loader though
Highstranger951 Yeah I don’t think they’re very common as I’ve on seen one about 2 years ago. I had a chance to operate it for a couple hours. It definitely was pretty handy, I had to excavate a shallow trench up against a wall
That swivel boom could reach around back side of trees or a trench against a foundation , etc. I need a mini-ex with a dozer on both ends. Better on steep roads.
This would be a good plumbing company set up for emergency school's and temporary buildings because of the ability to do multiple things when you're working around several other contractors
So it can dig a ditch, grade with the blade, load a truck, and get around fast... seems pretty cool and useful might not be better than an actually skid steer or mini but this has hella potential
Yes its better than a 299d2 as a skidsteer. I've used both, the 299 extensively, and once familiar with a mecalacs mode of operation it is hugely productive.
letsdig18, thanks for all the vids, was looking at one of these and seeing you guys run them I bought an 8 MCR and love it thanks for helping me get off the fence good health and good help to you and yours!!
Dug around my old house some years ago to install new drain pipes. I'm sure it would get done without a rotortilt on the machine hehe, but man, so much faster, easier and cleaner.
That is a crazy little machine! I like the skid steer drive idea but not sure I could handle the rest. Would take some getting use too. Thanks for sharing
I couldn’t imagine that thing having much break out force using a skid steer bucket to dig. I’d be interesting to see somebody who’s schooled on one and really adept run it though.
Mark Dibiasio can you tell us what mulching head you're using because i have contemplated the same thing but have no notion at this stage which would be the best choice.
An adapter to make your bucket rotate on regular mini, looks like it would do everything this machine does. In order to do what a skid loader could do, I would expect it to have a standard bucket connector, a faster travel speed
It's TSCHÖÖÖRMEN, so that's why it's complicated and you get a headache free of charge. But it's also awsome once you figure it out and you'll wonder why anyone makes it any other way. Also, it will last you decades and decades and if scientists find it's fossilizations 5000 years from now, you'll probably still be able to get spare parts for this :D
Looks like a 35d on steroids. Fast track obviously and looks like it could use some more counter weight. Hard one to wrap my head around but once mastered, has a ton of potential. Thanks for the video Chris.
I did that 40 years ago with a John Deere 310 backhoe. Dumping rock into the drain field runs was difficult in small yards. I had to dig up some orange trees once to finish a job. the land owner was not happy. This machine would make it a breeze. The advantage over a mini excavator is it travels fast.
The dealer should have went over the machine with you. When using in loader mode the rear arm needs to be all the way back. It is your counter weight. When used properly this machine is awesome. It does take a little time to operate correctly.
I have seen the one you was trying out being used before , but the other i have not seen that congregation at all that is the 1st time i have seen anything like that
Chris, because I have Rocks between my ears, I would have HAD TO try picking that big stone up in the Skid Steer bucket and running over into the nearest woods edge to get in out of sight. Being a life long New Englander, I Hate Rocks but I love New Toys. sdh in CT
Heck yes!! Now that was a multipurpose machine!! I bet they won't be heating a building with this damn thing after it digs its last foundation ! "Mike Mulligan took good care of the old girl!
Looks like there miss the turning knuckle. Would sure make it more useful. So that way you could flip the bucket and fill and level by pulling towards the machine.
Our 14 year old daughter operates ours like an old pro, figured it out in just 4 hours of "training" in our pit. We have 2 and they are great for working in residential areas where our full size excavators cannot operate.
Not sure if I'm missing something here, but it struck me that if the machine was used with the blade at the back when in "skidsteer mode", the blade wouldn't be in the way for one thing, and it would to a degree act as a counterweight too..?
The changeover controls at the flick of a switch should be on all machines so you can flick between cat and deere mapping depending on what the operator is used to.I reckon they will tip with the grading bucket tryung to fill a truck, nice idea though.
Seems to me that those rollers on the back side of the wide bucket are supposed to go on the inside of the blade when pushing. It also seems like it can't handle much weight. When you had the bucket full it kept tipping forward. All in all I still like it. Thanx for the video.
It appears to be handling that heavy wet clay like a champ. A machine this size is supposed to be light enough to haul on a smaller rig. That’s a lot of bucket hung out there.
Seems really unstable with the big bucket on it. You were running on your idlers a lot when you had any dirt in it. Looks like it has potential for a smaller operation though.
Saw that too. Would be better to have steel stops off the machine frame on the opposite end of grader blade, for the bukcet to rest on. Let the bucket tuck in several inches closer to machine. Possibly swap grader to opposite end. If the design change is adopted I claim design patent lol
