Work trip to Cedarville, Michigan UP

[Reb]

I left Monday about 11:30 CT from John Deere Dubuque Works with a fellow co-worker. JD built about 10 prototype feller bunchers/ harvesters that have been given to costumers for preliminary operations. These units are the new series that are currently coming down the assembly line and will be available to the public in 2015.

We had a harvester working for a smaller logging operation in the UP, typically doing tree thinning on personal owned property, majority of maple and ash cutting. I won't show pictures of the unit itself until after the 1st of the year, but I got some shots of other equipment and operation in the snowy north.

IT FELT DAMN GOOD TO FINALLY GET OUT OFFICE!!! 

This is the Waratah harvesting head being used on the unit. We had some new hoses and linkage to implement on it to ensure fit up before going to production with. Dealers are responsible for installing harvester heads on units, so we only get the chance to do fit ups out in the field on these units.
















They were using a JD 643K wheeled feller buncher for dropping trees. These are preferred in the area for better maneuverability vs tracked bunchers. These are built in Davenport along with skidders
 



Teaser photo showing just the cab of the new unit,


Found this video with a 700 series harvester with the same waratah head.

JOHN DEERE HARVESTER with a "WARATAH" PROCESSING HEAD	powered by Aeva

And the teaser production launch video of the new series feller buncher and harvester

A New Deere Species	powered by Aeva

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Cool post Reb 

[Gavin_Sons]

You have a cool job man

[bassman]

Find any good places to eat??

[Reb]

We stopped in Green Bay on the way home at at Titletown Brewery,


portion control was not followed properly 

[Skinhead]

Cold enough for you up there Reb?

[Reb]

Cold enough for you up there Reb?

Around 20 for the high, I was shaking like a wet dog most of the day. Just not use to being out in it all day. Office life has turned me into a Panzee  

[Skinhead]

Cold enough for you up there Reb?

Around 20 for the high, I was shaking liking a wet dog most of the day. Just not use to being out in it all day. Office life has turned me into a Panzee 

That'll happen.

[..]

Thank you.

For those of us who like machine/design etc we salute you.

[BF]

Are you doing operation testing, weather testing, or both all rolled up into one?

I happen to know of a huge facility that you can do extreme weather testing in.     We've had Caterpillar here a couple times. 

[Reb]

Are you doing operation testing, weather testing, or both all rolled up into one?

I happen to know of a huge facility that you can do extreme weather testing in.    We've had Caterpillar here a couple times.  

Deere has a cold testing room at our facility, goes to 40 below. A lot of our customers are based in Northern Canada, most units are equipped with diesel fired coolant heaters, hydraulic tank heaters, and grease heaters if an automatic greasing system is equipped. They tend to like the cold 

The 10 prototype unit were built about a year ago and distributed among costumers in the US, Canada, South America, and Russia for field testing. Basically we gave them to customers and said run the sh!t out of them. A lot of these machines are ran 24 hours a day when two crews are working on site. Nearly 3,000-5,000 hours a year. We use it as a early warning detection for leaks, failures, and customer feed back. Gives Deere the opportunity to make changes before assembly takes place for production.

[GiG]

I happen to know of a huge facility that you can do extreme weather testing in.

Hey, BF:

What facility is that?
I may send some work your way (always looking for additional test labs).
OK to PM me.


CHEERS,
~GiG~

[old2soon]

Preston-the pictures of the forest bring back fond memories of hunting trips with friends in Northern Il. and Southern Wi.-when I was a LOT younger!  Stay warm my young friend and keep yer meat hooks outa runnin machinery!  RIDE SAFE.

[6Banger]

Can you hook a brother up  with Gator parts/accessories!!!???

[Reb]

Can you hook a brother up  with Gator parts/accessories!!!???

Wish I could my friend. We have security at entrance gates to enforce taking parts out of the factory. Otherwise I'd be taking all kinds of sh!t home wth me 

[..]

Johnny Cash One Piece At A Time	powered by Aeva

[cookiedough]

I'm guessing he meant getting a discount, say 10-40% off, retail pricing in case needing john deere parts?  I get 45% discount on NF crap we sell at work, but 95% of it is made in china not worth bringing home.  My wife gets a lot of stuff free as well at work discontinued or overstock items as well or at employer cost is all.  I see tons of people though sort of abusing the employee discount though and buying for family and friends so know it is not just us.  

Glad you enjoy your job Reb and able to get out of the office from time to time and smell the roses, even if it is in MI in the cold winter.  

[GiG]

Thanks, BF 
I have a couple special tests that are potentially destructive and typically only available in the Mil Labs. Scheduling there is always a challenge, so it's great to have another contact. I wouldn't mind getting paid to go the Panhandle mid winter & blow some crap up while Reb freezes his nuts off.
Thanks again.

[Gavin_Sons]

Thanks, BF 
I have a couple special tests that are potentially destructive and typically only available in the Mil Labs. Scheduling there is always a challenge, so it's great to have another contact. I wouldn't mind getting paid to go the Panhandle mid winter & blow some crap up while Reb freezes his nuts off.
Thanks again.

While you're down there enjoying the sunshine state i'll head north to help keep Lulu warm. 

[GiG]

That's a full time growed-up mans job, my young friend.
Better pack a lunch.
 

[Gavin_Sons]

 . Love you guys