New Job

[Robban_C]

Nick, congratulations!
Are you changing back to Volvo from Komatsu now?

Tone:
The 135B is a GB-only product. Could it be that the problem is only with the English version of the 135/140?
I´m glad that they found the problem although it would have been better if the problem was fixed before delivery.
And as I´m living in "Volvo town" it makes me glad that you like the machine. It would have been even better if they where made here but you can´t always get it all.
I´ll try to get a test run on a 140 the next time I´m at Volvo but that is probably a C-model, not a B. And I´m not sure if I´m good enough as a driver to recognize those flaws.
I tested the 140B/160B/180B last summer but it was only ten minutes in each machine. I didn´t find any flaws but you have to drive them much more to find the flaws. Or you have to know about the problems to find them in only ten minutes.

[Nick Drew]

No Robban,

My heart is now set on a Komatsu, although I am going to delay any purchase till the new year as it is too close to Christmas now and things are definately slowing up as it always does here in the UK around this time of year

Tone, I am glad to hear that you are now happy with the machine and wish you luck for the next job.

Oh and please dont forget to ask the low loader driver for my Volvo key when you see him

Nick

[tone_rmz250]

no i wont mate ill make sure i get it back for you!!
although the volvo 135blc is a uk only model there are no mechanical differences between it and the 140blc!
so you may ask what is different and why they changed it!
and to be totally honest theres not alot of differences but ill give you a few examples;
the 140 comes fitted as standard with check valves and hammer lines, where the 135 doesnt!
the 140 was originally fitted with 10mm thick belly plates which are demolishion spec! and the 135 has 3-4mm lighter spec plates!
the 140 has an automatic cut off on the refueling pump. the 135 doesnt!
the 140 has a windscreen wiper on the lower window the 135 doesnt!
and thats about it really so as you can see thers not really that much of a difference, the volvo reps refer to the 135 as "groundworker spec"!
basically its cheaper and volvo have taken parts off the machine to make it a more competative price with the other big companys!
oh and also the 135 is fitted as standard with vandal gaurds and the 140 isnt!

[tone_rmz250]

i am also intrested to find out what the ages are of the members on this site! just wondered if i mite be the youngest operator at only 21!!

[Robban_C]

Yes, you´re youngest.

No, I´m pretty sure that Alexander (bm1113) is younger but he´s not working full time as an operator.
I´m 42.

And thanks for the info regarding 135/140.

[nixs]

I´m really surprised that Volvo not have a more proper and demanding product. They as is responsibility can´t say they not know about this serious defect. It is bad goodwill and can in the future be so they are forced cloce their excavator division if they are unlucky.

They have bought Ã…kerman and they should continue develop this make rather than destroy it. There is no sign after this legendary excavator when we are watching Volvo excavators.

If I was the highest Boss of Volvo Construction Equipment I should call to a crisis meeting. It is impossible understand how they can ignore do anything on the factory before they deliver their products around the world. It seems as they not care if they lose moneys which is what they do.

I read on HEF how a customer in USA had a lot of problems with a new 330 Front loader. I become scared when I read about it.

We as live will wait and see how it goes

Lars-Gunnar

Lars-Gunnar, i can´t let this pass by without pointing out some major mistakes you are making about this issue. Bad goodwill? Didn´t they fix the problem? Isn´t that goodwill? Or at least taking their responsibility? I mentioned earlier in this thread that we had some issues about grading with the new 210C series. But this was well knowned from the pre-series and they worked hard about it and there is a solution to it already but it takes some time to try out which modification made most effect. Its just like pulling the spools out and take a grinder and make a notch in it and try again! And facts talks for itself Volvo is the only major brand that toke marketshares in the worldmarket in the last years.

And ok for being nostalgic but you don´t need to be blind for facts anyways! Åkerman was almost bankrupt then Volvo bought it and they invested over a billion just to keep it floating several years before the closed it down, and the productline of Åkerman wasn´t up to date so it was definitely a better strategy to buy Samsung and upgrading their productline to the standards of Åkerman. You just can´t say that Volvos excavators is a bad product, it´s great!

About the 135 vs 140 and grading problems i think its something that happens then they strip the machine from the extra hydraulics and the checkvalves or what it was you mentioned earlier. I never heard it from the machines here in Sweden (140s) so i can imagine its a local problem on just this market since the product is specific to the UK (The 135). Hydraulics is a bite more complicated than many people think and then you remove some parts or change one thing it might get you some unwanted effects in the other end.

[tone_rmz250]

yes, i understand what your saying but the matter that still confuses me is, what is the difference between the 140 sold in the uk and the 140s sold to the rest of the world! is it the same machine or is there differences? i dont no! if it is the same machine why cant we grade with them in this country! is it us??? i suppose it is a hard test to carry out unless someone wants to pay to have a machine shipped over here! lol

[Nick Drew]

Well my latest job is proving to be a slow starter for the past 2 days I have spent more time stood around then working

I am operating a 2005 Volvo EC210B with 5,400 hrs on the clock, and for most of the time I think I am going to be used as a crane lifting drill rods I will post photos of this operation as the job progresses.

Nick

[tone_rmz250]

still looking very tidy for a machine with that many hours

[Nick Drew]

still looking very tidy for a machine with that many hours

Well Tone what did you expect it has already had a bit of the "Nick Drew Treatment" New Grey paint coming tomorrow

Nick