A Hercules machinery duo from Brisbane Mini Excavator Sales is proving critical for a Queensland cattle farmer’s operations
Operating a 240,000-acre (97,124 hectare) cattle property in rural Queensland is no easy feat.
It’s why Brian Corbett has called upon the help of two heavy machines from Brisbane Mini Excavator Sales (BMES) to support his day-to-day work.
Situated between the towns of Clermont and Charters Towers, Corbett’s property encompasses 200km worth of fence line. His property is big – being 42km long in a straight line and 35km at its widest point.
“In a car, it can take about two hours to drive around our property,” the cattle farmer says.
Having never owned a wheel loader before, he found that some of his dams and water holes needed to be cleaned out – leading to the purchase of the Hercules HD668D loader from BMES.
Hercules machinery
A hydraulic quick hitch is provided with the loader, allowing attachments to easily be connected and disconnected.
To complement the machine, Corbett has acquired a 6m stick rake attachment to create fence lines as well as clearing vegetation and scrub.
Boasting a 245hp (182.7kW) Caterpillar nominated engine, and with a 21-tonne operating weight, six tonne rated load and a 4.2 cubic metre bucket capacity, Corbett has been using the loader day-to-day for two years.
So impressed with its performance, it led to his procurement of a Hercules HG140 grader from BMES – only 12 months after the initial loader purchase.
“I was really happy with the loader, so I decided to go with the Hercules grader because we were comfortable with the brand and the price was competitive,” he says.
“I needed to upgrade my original grader, so I spoke to another farmer based in Taroom, who happened to have his own Hercules HG140 grader.”
Speaking positively about the machine, that Taroom-based farmer helped reinforce Corbett’s decision to choose this specific grader.
Corbett says Hercules are made at a top assembly line in China, built by a trusted OEM that has a long history.
With his property located 225km from his nearest town and service centre, Corbett says another reason for choosing the Hercules brand was because of the minimal chance of breakdowns.
“The Hercules machines have more hydraulic and manual controls rather than electrics, which is perfect for me because electrics don’t work well with dust and dirt in the bush, and can lead to breakdowns,” he says.
Weighing 18 tonnes and encompassing a 180hp (132.4kW) Caterpillar nominated engine, the HG140 comes with a 14-foot blade (4.3m), a front blade and hydraulic rear rippers.
“I’ve got internal and boundary fences, so I’m grading fence lines and roads all the time with this machine,” Corbett says.
“The 14-foot blade pushes a full blade of dirt easily whilst in second gear.”
With a roomy cabin and a 1.9m height, the grader provides loads of comfort for Corbett when performing work on his property.
To enhance safety, the HG140 also comes with 360-degree bush guards as standard, providing extra protection for him when sitting in the cabin.
First class service
Having had a good run with both Hercules machines, Corbett has been grateful for the service from BMES and its relationship with customers.
“I’ve been very happy with the way the team has treated me,” he says.
A perfect example of BMES’ first-class service is when Corbett needed a small part for his loader, with sales executive Steven Ragenovich offering to fly someone up to the cattle property to install it.
“I said ‘no don’t do that, it’s only a small part and a five-minute job for me’,” Corbett says.
It’s just one of the reasons the Queensland cattle farmer has been so impressed with the service from BMES and its willingness to support its customers.
When asked if there is scope to buy more Hercules machinery from BMES, Corbett says he has his eye on a specific machine.
“BMES have got a Hercules dozer that I’m currently looking at and I’m wondering when Father’s Day is.”
For more information on the Hercules HD668D wheel loader and the HG140 grader, head to bmesales.com.au