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HIGHWAY TO HELL (Almost)

  • grumpy
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  • If it's got t*ts, tires or tracks, don't mess with it.
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13 years 3 months ago #40974 by grumpy
http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/NR.jpg?t=1293061883

The size of the wheels on the rolling gear. 4 wheels on the front setup, same on the rear. That's one of the military guards that look after our well-being with his trusty rusty AK47.

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/NR2.jpg?t=1293062003

Four Kenworth 953's in Siamese formation. The lead truck picks the front of the rear truck up with its' winch so the steer clears the ground. It stops excess steering wander and puts a bit more weight over the drive of the lead truck. Good solid front bumpers and good solid rear crash plates are a must. KW 953's are powered by either a Cat 3406 or 3408, coupled to a Clark 6 speed auto (some also with a 4 speed joey box mid-mounted) and running through Clark diffs and hub reductions. There is no rear suspension at all. The sand tires run at low pressure seem to iron out the few bumps that are there.

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/NR3.jpg?t=1293062108

Gotta keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/NR4.jpg?t=1293062224

Rear view. Big tyres leave very little impression in the sand.

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13 years 3 months ago #40975 by kennymopar2
thats a beast but what exactly is it ?

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  • grumpy
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13 years 3 months ago #40976 by grumpy
Replied by grumpy on topic Re: HIGHWAY TO HELL (Almost)
KENNYMOPAR2

The photos are about moving the sub-base of an oil rig in Yemen in the Middle East. These drilling rigs are all rated around 1500 to 2000 horsepower and we move them once every three or 4 weeks. For real long moves we tear them right down, which takes a long time and at least 100 to 110 semi loads to move. Out here in the sand, we can move them in one piece. Sometimes we have to take the derrick off the sub-bases because of en-even ground and they are too top heavy. 90% of the lifting is done by winch trucks, normally KW 953's, fitted with 50 ton Braden winches. Double line these winches and they will pick up 100 ton easy.

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/nabors.jpg?t=1293152556

This 953 has just picked up one of the mud tanks. All he's gotta do now is cross chain it at the back and off he goes. All these drivers are Yemenis. It's a bit worrying to think that 5 years ago all these blokes knew how to drive were goats and camels.

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/yd3.jpg?t=1293152428

This is Rig 3, all set up and drilling. This photo was taken in central Yemen, not far from the Saudi Arabia border. Those wadis you see in the background cause a lot of grief. The next well for this rig to drill was 2 km away in a straight line, but 86 km by road. It's not the nicest scenery around, but you get used to it. Sure beats a "normal" job.

I GOT A COUPLE MORE TOPICS IN "OTHER OLD STUFF". Have a peek at "MOBILE DESERT RIG" and "PLAYING IN THE SANDPIT" too.

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  • Swishy
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  • If U don't like my Driving .... well then get off the footpath ...... LOL
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13 years 3 months ago #40977 by Swishy
Replied by Swishy on topic Re: HIGHWAY TO HELL (Almost)

Grumpy
GuddayM8

Stihl Gr8 Pix
Keep m Cummin

RE:953 has just picked up one of the mud tank

Jeeze He's almost got it to the back window n It aint 1/2 on yet
LOL

Spose tiz a case of
If it fitz.....it Goez

Wot year is the KW?

Do any of m run the V12-71 GM?

U got any pix of the push - pull of the derrick mast
lead truck has one end
the rear truck run n backwards with other end?

Thanx in advance


LOL
Cya
[ch9787]

OF ALL THE THINGS EYE MISS ................. EYE MISS MY MIND THE MOST

There's more WORTH in KENWORTH

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  • grumpy
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13 years 3 months ago #40978 by grumpy
Replied by grumpy on topic Re: HIGHWAY TO HELL (Almost)
SWISHY............WOTS A 12V-71GM................. Is that a tire size or wot ??????

Only jokin' Swishy. The guy here runs 99% KW, all Cat powered, mainly 3406 with a few 3408 tossed in. He has one 8V-92T in a KW twin steer bed truck that came out of Canada. It's always the last truck to be sent out on a job and always the first one sent home.

He has about 95 KW,s here in Masila (Central Yemen), about 60 KW's in Marib (West Yemen) and about 200 KW's in Sudan. There is also a sprinkling of Benzes, one Western Star, and a dozen or so MAN 8 wheel drive trucks.

He has about 40 KW 953's. The 953's are all 20-25 years old. There are a mob of Filipino guys in the truck workshop here that just keep building these things from scratch. Amazing what they can do with what they have got here.

He got a heap of KW's a while back that were ex KW Bayswater. They were RHD and built for a logging company in Indonesia. Some outfit from Dubai in the Middle East bought them, converted them to LHD and set them up as winch trucks. Should have left them in the original set up coz it's just a pain in the butt to try and do anything on them.

We got 2 Canadian guys that run the trucking side of things here. I mainly stick to the drilling side of things, but every now and again they come and seek my "expert opinion". I am ex KW Footscray (early to mid 70's) and ex KW Bayswater ex test pilot (Late 70's).

I will have a look see if I got some push/pull pics for ya.

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  • grumpy
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13 years 3 months ago #40979 by grumpy
Replied by grumpy on topic Re: HIGHWAY TO HELL (Almost)
PUSH-PULL DERRICK MOVE.

The derrick is 145 feet long and 27 feet wide at the footprint end. Drill line, traveling blocks etc etc is all left in place....all up weight is around 60 to 70 ton.

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/146.jpg?t=1293161021
http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/145.jpg?t=1293161155
http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/grumpyjeffs/bunk.jpg?t=1293161292

The crown bunk on the lead truck is just pinned near the crown (top section). The beam has a normal 4" king pin fitted and sits on a normal turntable.
The footprint end sits in a bolster and has a normal 4" king pin as well. The backwards traveling truck is normally left in neutral and is only put in gear to get over some of the jump ups.

You gotta remember that the biggest thing these guys drove up until about 5 years ago was a herd of goats.

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  • Swishy
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  • If U don't like my Driving .... well then get off the footpath ...... LOL
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13 years 3 months ago #40980 by Swishy
Replied by Swishy on topic Re: HIGHWAY TO HELL (Almost)

Sme Again

Gr8 pix
Keep m Cummin

any 1st prize for the truck th@ gets to the destination the quikest LOL

RE: Bayswater

Bound for South Africa = No Front Brakes
LOL

[img
......
[img

@ Kenworth Bayswater
;)

[img
.....
[img

@ the Port of Melbourne Wharf

Cya
[ch9787]

OF ALL THE THINGS EYE MISS ................. EYE MISS MY MIND THE MOST

There's more WORTH in KENWORTH

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13 years 2 months ago #40981 by prodrive
amazing shots grumpy, keep em coming!

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