I finally saw what a difference a new cutter head made on the old Erie dredge

We were working a stretch of the Ohio River near Cincinnati, and the old machine was just dragging. It felt like we were moving half the mud we should for the fuel we were burning. The boss finally okayed a new Hardox cutter head after, I don't know, maybe six months of us complaining. The swap took the better part of a day, but the next morning was like night and day. We went from maybe 80 cubic yards an hour to pushing 140, easy. The whole rig just ran smoother, less vibration, and the engine didn't sound like it was straining anymore. It was one of those things you know is worn out, but you don't realize how bad it is until you see the new part work. Has anyone else had a single part change make that big of a jump in production?

2 comments

2 Comments

derekp701h ago

Ever wonder what else is just limping along?

campbell.mary3h ago

Ever get that feeling where you're just used to the struggle? That's exactly it, you don't know how bad it is until it's fixed. Sounds like a whole new machine with that one swap.