February 24, 2011 @ 1:56 pm
Several members of the American Independent, Inc. staff will be attending ConExpo 2011 in Las Vegas on March 22-26. We would like to use the opportunity to meet many of our customers face to face for the first time. Please contact us if you'd like to schedule a meeting. We look forward to seeing you all at ConExpo!
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January 25, 2011 @ 4:11 pm
That's right, our mechanics almost never use parts books or service manuals anymore preferring instead to utilize their own individual computer terminals that contain the equivalent of thousands of pages of data and no more finger prints! Not only that but the information is more current and they can network to our intercompany data making it possible to learn the whole history of the component they are rebuilding from start to finish.
We didn't do it to be green, we did it because it's faster and more efficient keeping our cost down so that we can be competitive!
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September 30, 2010 @ 1:00 pm
This rebuilt 992D transmission was the victim of some rough handling by the shipping companies.
-Looks like someone needs to put away the cell phone while he's on that forklift.
Since this is a fairly late model transmission from a popular machine, we could not locate a used case and a new one from CAT® was $10,000!
At first we thought we were going to have to braze in a big patch involving lots of work and machining, but then we started noticing the similarities between this and a case from a much older application.
By simply replacing the dimensionally less critical valve section, we were able to completely avoid machine work and perform a far less technical repair saving the customer thousands!
June 18, 2010 @ 10:00 am
We all know and live by the old adage "experience is the best teacher." It is true of course, but what to do about older mechanics who have not embraced newer technology?
Remember when the microfiche revolutionized our industry? Allowing us to have all the information countless parts books provided in an easily accessible shoe box. How about the fax machine? Saving us the many hours that we used to spend reading
off long lists of part numbers to a counter man on the other end of the phone, thusly freeing up two people, both of whom were capable of typos. (This one time resulted in us getting a dozen radiators instead of dozen cap screws!)
Computer technology is one of the biggest changes we've seen in our industry in decades. Its ability to gather and process information is a tremendous time saver. Unfortunately, while many experienced mechanics not only don't use computers, some want nothing to do with them! The problem is that, to see the benefit of a computer, one must possess some basic computer skills. If these skills are not acquired, it can render even the best mechanics slow and inefficient.
For a state of the art rebuild shop like ours, bridging the generation gap has been challenging but achievable through constant training and 
encouragement. When we made the transition several years ago to do away with printed parts books and service manuals, it was difficult getting our people to stop habitually using them. Eventually and reluctantly, they adapted. Years later, we embrace tools like the new Cat SIS information system which is nothing short of amazing! Filling a warehouse with equipment support literature would still not have the amount of data provided by that program. Not to mention, the time savings of quickly retrieving the specific details needed for each tractor by just clicking a few buttons. Today we also do our own online ordering, utilizing tools like frequent order lists, as well as bypassing the counter man to give us instant status of pricing and availability. The work that Caterpillar has done in this area is a testament to their unparalleled commitment to product support and no doubt a big reason for the long term value of their machines.
Equipment mechanics are a tough breed that know how to adapt and improvise like no other. They can be hard headed at times, but from our experience, we have learned that if you show them a better way to get the machine back in the dirt faster, they will eventually come on board. Just beware of power outages and be ready for a few "I told you so's."
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March 23, 2010 @ 7:45 am
Today we finished another
turn-key project. This one was a 2006 824H wheel loader. Over the last few weeks, we stripped it down to the frame, rebuilt and reinstalled the wheel planetaries, brakes, axles, differentials, pumps, transmission, torque converter and radiator. We finished it off with a rebuilt C15 engine and all new hoses. We're happy to report that the machine was completed in one month as promised, and returned within the agreed budget.
While this 824H tractor is only four years old, it runs double shifts in a mine and has already accumulated over 15,000 hours. For this high usage machine, we agreed to modify our usual warranty to meet the customer's needs. Instead of the standard 1 year / 2000 hour warranty, we increased it to a 1 year / 5000 hour warranty. With the vast majority of our components far outperforming the standard warranty period, we are confident that they will withstand the increased usage.
Due to the complexity of the electrical and hydraulic system in these new age machines, the routing and retainment of hoses, tubes and harnesses can be the difference between a durable low maintenance machine and a mechanic's nightmare. Being the first mechanic's to rebuild this machine since it left the factory, we were able to observe and improve upon some of these design weaknesses. For example, the fuel tank in this model has a design flaw in that it is held on only by a few small bolts, which in this machine had apparently been broken for some time. The tank was literally free floating in its cubby, held in only by the frame of the tractor and the inadequate brackets beneath it. We fabricated and reinforced a mounting system that will far outperform the original design.
If you haven't considered American Independent as a complete turn-key operation facility,
think again!
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January 16, 2010 @ 10:30 am
...HOPEFULLY
As we enter the third year of the deepest recession most of us have ever experienced, we begin with renewed optimism and thankfulness towards our loyal customer's and employee's. During these tough times, we are surviving through diversification and creative thinking which is causing American Independent, Inc. to be a considerably different company than it once was. We maintain that if a company has the right attitude and if it sticks to its core values, at the end of the day, tough times can serve to strengthen it.
At the risk of sounding like one of those annual holiday cards you get from friends and family about what has happened during the year past, please indulge us while we point out some of the advancements we have made as a result of the dreaded recession:
Inventory - Because the local housing market died three years ago we have had to go interstate and international to sell our services. This required us to acquire exchange components and parts for machines that didn't used to be that popular for us. The result is one of the largest inventories of power train components in the industry.
Quality - We've become better rebuilders! We're fanatics about double checking and testing to make sure that everything is correct when it leaves our doors. While we've always been attentive to detail, now even the slightest mistake has the potential to be disastrous with such long distances involved and the dispatching of one of our mechanics not an option.
Used Parts - Because of the overpopulation of big scrapers in Southern California, we have moved into the business of acquiring and dismantling machines. Not only has this helped to keep our crew busy, it has also helped many local mechanics hired for this messy job. The result is an extensive supply of used engines, tires, hitches, and other non-power train items that we used to shy away from.
Learning - Having been power train specialists for the last twenty one years, we lacked intimate knowledge of the rest of the machine. By entering the used parts business, we have gained a new perspective on our primary business that has really made us more of a holistic supplier. We now have broader understanding of how our power train knowledge relates to the rest of the machine.
Other industries - It's not all about construction anymore. We've been able to introduce our services into the mining, trash and scrap industries where we were previously unknown- a whole new breed of customers with surprisingly different cultures that we have learned to adapt to. The common denominator of course is Cat equipment but understanding how components wear in different applications has taught us a great deal.
Bottom line, we are a better company because of the recession. Diversifying, adapting, and evolving are all good things for any company- good times can cause complacency and overconfidence. We accept the challenges of our times and look forward to emerging from it all with a sharpened sense of understanding as to our important role in the heavy equipment repair industry.
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August 13, 2009 @ 8:00 am
We received this case in for repairs and it inspired us to write the following article:
DON'T WELD THAT CASE!
Cast iron is commonly used in the manufacturing of heavy equipment because it is the least expensive method of mass producing large housings and cases used throughout the machine. Unfortunately, because of its structural make up and high carbon content, cast iron is brittle and more susceptible to fracturing or cracking when exposed to impact or extreme fatigue. Unlike steel, cast iron cannot bend. Therefore, typical arc welding procedures that require the metal to contract or stretch will not be successful. In most cases, arc welding causes the fracture to grow which results in more extensive damage than before.
Damaged cases are often caused by a driveline failure or a "high-centering of the machine" on a rock. About half of all these external style fractures can be repaired in place without having to remove the component. However, if caution isn't taken in choosing the correct person for the job, a failed weld repair can cause additional damage to the point that the case must be removed. Anybody who has ever pulled a transmission out of a 988 Loader knows the kind of savings in machine repairs can offer.
Bottom line, the next time you have a fractured cast iron case, keep it a secret from your favorite welder. Call an experienced professional who knows how to braze cast iron. You will likely get your machine back to work much faster and at far less cost.
Our local customers that subscribe to the SCCA Magazine may recognize this article published in the Sep/Oct issue.
AMERICAN INDEPENDENT, INC. IS NOW ON EBAY!!!
