Old timer at the dock changed my mind about running the cutterhead slower

I used to run that cutterhead at full RPM all day. Thought faster was better. Then this guy Jack working the barge next to me pulls up on a break 3 months ago. He said 'you're just making mud, son. Slow it down and let the material come to you.' I tried it next shift. Cut my fuel use by almost 20 gallons a day and got cleaner product. Anyone else had a veteran change how you run your rig?

2 comments

2 Comments

verab2826d ago

Yeah, I used to think full power was the only way too.

carr.willow26d ago

Full power was the only way" - man I had a buddy who ran a dredge up near Portland and he told me this old guy Bill came over one day and literally just reached over and throttled him down. My buddy was about to get pissed but Bill said "watch the pile for 5 minutes and tell me I'm wrong." The next hour he was burning half the fuel and the material was coming out way more consistent. He still runs slower to this day and swears by it. Funny how the old heads just know stuff you don't learn in any manual.