I
n the year 2013 we opened a thread at SS named FLU419 SEE HMMH HME Owners group.
And this is a spontaneous copied quotation from our SS member tennmogger.
"The SEE excavators aren't "an absolute orphan red headed step child begging to be kicked out of the orphanage onto the cold street!", and I know you know that
However, there are people who will try to convince us of that. Any one job might be easier with a dedicated machine, but the SEE is rather versatile for many different jobs, like a Swiss Army knife.
You will also have people tell you how hard it is to service the Unimog. That's just not true. I admit though that there is a lot of service required. There are many grease fittings and lube reservoirs on these vehicles. If maintenance is not done, as was NOT done on many of these vehicles, then they develop problems after 20 or 30 years (duh!). Repairs can be complicated on such a compact and unique machine. Once the machine is brought back to operating condition, maintenance is not bad at all.
The loader and hoe functions of the SEE (and of the MB-4/94 for which I have experience) do have some limitations. For the loader, the worst deficit is the sprung front end. As you push the loader into the load the springs will compress. It's just about impossible to level anything while pushing forward with the loader blade. It does work very well to move any loose material that is on top of a solid surface. That might be gravel dumped in a driveway or in a field, loading spoil from a trench to replace into the trench or load into a truck, or moving stuff like fire wood. I use mine often for such jobs. The MB-4/94's had available a suspension lockout device to eliminate the spring action, greatly improving front loader operation. The early SEE prototypes had hydraulic shocks that could be locked to achieve spring bypass but the SEE's do not have that, do they?
The backhoe on the SEE is a heavy duty full sized backhoe. It works well. Keep engine RPM up if you want speed. I seldom worry about hoe speed because my jobs are small. The down side of using the SEE for a backhoe is the inconvenience of moving the truck. You have to get up from the backhoe controls and climb into the cab. With a little practice, you can drag the SEE around with the backhoe, especially if you leave the loader bucket flat on the ground so it does not dig in. The hoe will lift the rear of the Unimog and swing it sideways. Once the backhoe is up on the stabilizers it will really dig. On a project like a trench you can dig continuously and shove the truck along with the boom.
Have you any of the hydraulic tools? A hydraulic chain saw is a pleasure to use. You don't need earplugs and can actually hear the teeth cut the log, a pleasant sound to me. No refueling, no chain oil (uses hydraulic oil), and no noise. It's easy to clear trees without disturbing the neighbors. Hydraulic tools used here are the chain saw, a circular cutter on a 10 ft boom (think super weedeater), and hydraulic drill/impact tool.
Here in the country I drive my MB-4/94 to the neighbors farms for projects. I remove trees, bury cows (lots of beef growers around here), prep driveways, remove stumps, etc. I don't charge them but you could. If they call anyone else to come do the job they have to pay a setup charge or transportation charge, plus hourly fee. If they rent a backhoe, the closest rental place is 10 miles away and no rental company wants their backhoe driven on the highway so they require trailering, but the SEE is made to drive on the highway! Speed limits around here range from 35 to 45 and the 406 (and SEE) will do that.
Both the front bucket and hoe are good crane substitutes. Loading trailers, moving engines, swinging logs onto a trailer are all easy. I welded chain hooks on my buckets but the SEE may already have those.
If you are a fabricator, adding a thumb to the backhoe would be a handy addition. I don't have that but sure want one eventually.
Hope this had given you some ideas.
Bob "
Thank you Bob, you nailed it.
The sound in the background made by these Tampers (self ignited)
This pic is not OSHA confirm, it´s a sample.