65TR EXCAVATOR

high-spec, 6-tonne-class Eurocomach 65TR midi digger for various forestry and trail building work in the Highlands.

Site visit 1

I caught up with Mark and his skilled team of trail builders high in the Abriachan Forest, close to the beautiful shores of Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. Mark explained that he and his team were working for the Abriachan Forest Trust on a number of projects in this area. He was restoring a long-established access walking route, which is believed to be hundreds of years old and once led to a peat area that locals used for winter fuel, known today as the peat path. Over time, it had become overgrown and was in need of repair.

This path runs from Balchraggan over two hills and continues to reach the main Abriachan Forest Trust car park, where a new mountain bike skills area has just been constructed by Mark, Ronan, and his team of skilled trail builders. Mark explained that this is his second Eurocomach machine, with the previous model being a smaller 40hp 60TR unit. He bought his new, 60hp high-spec Eurocomach 65TR from Robustrack, which is the dealer for Eurocomach, engcon, and other forestry and demolition attachments (see panel on page 16).

TECH SPECS Eurocomach 65TR

ENGINE 4-cylinder V2607-CR-T (Stage 5), 60.2hp

TRANSPORT WEIGHT 6,290kg

DIGGING ARM LENGTH 1,650mm (standard)

MAX DIGGING DEPTH 3,850mm (standard arm)

MAX DIGGING REACH 6,870mm

MAX KINGPOST SWING ANGLE 53 degrees right/65 degrees left

MAXIMUM WIDTH 1,980mm

TRACKS WIDTH 400mm

FUEL TANK 85L

While Mark has no issues with his main dealers, most of the servicing and repairs on his diverse eet of machines are carried out by Calum Fraser, who set up Kilmorack Plant Services and has a wide experience with all types of plant and machinery. Mark commented, “We have a bigger Hitachi ZX135 16-tonne TAB machine in our eet, but this 6.5-tonne Eurocomach 65TR is proving ideally suited for working in tighter spots, and you can feel the extra digging power with this newer 60hp model.”

This new Eurocomach 65TR was a cancelled order sitting in Germany and was highly specced, including a factory- t auto grease system, high-power LED lighting and so on. Mark intends to t a more powerful rear light for winter working. Mark said, “First impressions are good. The machine has plenty of power, very smooth controls and, despite being a compact cab, it also has reasonably good room and visibility. Overall, I would say I’m delighted with its performance, and the sales and service package from the dealer.”

Mark has changed the standard engcon Scandinavian-style grading bucket for a lighter version that weighs 90kg less, but