Fixing a Chinese-Market CAT Excavator in Remote Alaska!

What happens when a CAT excavator arrives in remote Alaska with controls that make absolutely no sense? We're in Corner Bay near Tenakee Springs, Alaska, helping Gordon Chew of Tenakee Logging Company get his 2023 CAT 315 excavator working properly. This machine was originally built for the Chinese market and shipped to the United States in a container before eventually making its way into the wilderness of Southeast Alaska. But there's a problem! The joystick controls are completely mixed up. Instead of swinging the excavator left and right, the joystick operates the boom reach. And that's not exactly something you want to deal with when operating heavy equipment! After replacing a faulty alternator, Scott dives into a maze of hydraulic pilot lines, valves, and mismatched connections to figure out what's going on. And in remote Alaska, that's sometimes what it takes. With mechanics, parts, and supplies potentially a long boat ride or flight away, you've got to be willing to troubleshoot and figure things out. Will swapping the hydraulic connections actually solve the problem, or create a whole new one? Come along as Scott tackles another unusual repair project in the Alaska wilderness, with a little trial and error, plenty of head scratching, and some classic Scott humor along the way. We're Audrey and Scott, living aboard our 80-foot steel schooner, Alaskan Gypsy, and exploring the remote communities, projects, and adventures of Southeast Alaska. Thanks for following along! #alaska #alaskangypsylife #catexcavator #heavyequipment #tenakeesprings Chapters: