For Caterpillar enthusiast, Link Club Director and specialist plant mechanic Tony ‘Lastability®’ Coates, Caterpillar equipment, in particular a D8K, is the only plant that is built to be rebuilt and rebuilt and rebuilt.

With his specialist skills Tony has rebuilt a D8K, originally built in November 1977 no fewer than three times for a landfill operator and haulage contractor Walton Hill Farm in Cheltenham. Pictured at an exhibition at the Welland Tractor show in July, the D8K is a perfect example of Lastability® at work.

Commenting on the machine and its owner, Tony said: “The D8K is an impressive piece of equipment that continues to reward its owner time and time and time again. It is proof that with care and attention and constant monitoring, a Caterpillar machine can itself have in this case four lives”.

“I put this extremely long lifetime down to the choices of its owner. Throughout the rebuild and maintenance stages of the machine, its owner Charles Russell has insisted on using genuine Cat parts and has spared no expense in the rebuild process.

“From my experience, this is why the machine has lasted so long. It has been operated with respect and care, but it has also been treated well. As an experienced plant mechanic, I know that if you try and cut corners on maintenance and in particular rebuild work, it only takes one item to fail and you can have a very costly repair or even total failure on your hands”.

“ It is also important in my opinion to recognise the benefit presentation and protection can give to a machine, particularly those working in tough environments like the D8K. This is why I always pay a lot of attention to the finish of a job and in particular the end paint work, as this not only makes the machine look as good as new, it also plays a key role in the protection of parts from corrosion”.

“From a personal perspective, I take great pride in seeing machines like the D8K proving time and time and time again that they have been built to last and can stand the test of time if looked after. I also feel that until now, thanks to Finning highlighting the roles of individuals on plant performance with its Lastability® campaign, the importance of input from owners, operators and maintenance staff to the successful use of plant has been overlooked”.

“I hope through highlighting stories like this one, that individuals can see the important role everyone has to play in achieving the benefits Lastability® can bring to the industry. I would also like to think that the D8K can play its role in contributing to help the industry and Finning achieve its Lastability® promise to save the industry £10m in 2010.”

To view more image of the D8K and other Link Club member machines visit
www.flickr.com/photos/link_club/

For more information on the latest Caterpillar dozer, the innovative electric drive D7E, visit www.cat.com/d7e or watch our ‘In Action’ video here