Spent the morning wrestling with the old Delmag diesel rammer

I remember the first time I dragged our old Delmag H2S out of the shed for a retaining wall project. Those things are absolute beasts, but man, they can be finicky if the temperature drops even a little. I found that if I didn't get the fuel-to-air mix just right on the first few pulls, I’d be gasping for air before the machine even coughed. There’s a specific smell to that diesel exhaust that sticks to your clothes for days, something you just don't get with the newer Honda-powered Mikasas. One thing that helped me with the wandering issue was actualy backing off the handle pressure slightly. If you fight it too hard, it tends to dance sideways. I ussually aim for about 8-inch lifts with that machine; anything more and you're just making noise, but at 8 inches, it packs the stone so tight you can barely get a shovel tip into it. My lower back usually pays the price the next morning, but you can't argue with those density test results. We used to call ours "The Thumper" becasue the neighbors three houses down coud feel the vibrations in their kitchen floor.

I had to stop using those old Delmag units because of the vibration. My hands would be numb for hours after finishing a twenty-foot trench. We eventually switched to the Wacker Neuson BS60-2 gas models for most of our utility work because they’re just easier on the crew, even if they don't have that same earth-shattering punch.

What I found with those old diesel rammers is that you really have to watch the foot wear. If that wooden shoe or the steel plate gets even slightly out of alignment, the machine starts hopping sideways. We had an old H2S that would kick left every time it hit a cobble, and if you weren't ready, it would catch you off guard. I’ve found that while the compaction density is great for heavy clay, on clean 3/4-inch minus gravel, the modern high-frequency gas units seem to settle the fines better without making the operator miserable.

If you’re sticking with the Delmag, keep an eye on the lubricating oil in the crankcase. If it gets too low, the heat buildup is insane. We used to keep a rag soaked in diesel just to wipe down the barrel so the dust wouldn't cake up and cook the seals. It’s a lot of work to keep them running, but they certainly are built like tanks.

You gotta watch that bottom seal on the Delmags. If that leather gets dried out from sitting in the shed, you’re just wasting your time and wearing out your shoulder. We used to soak 'em in a bucket of oil overnight if they’d been idle too long. And watch your boots. I seen more than one greenhorn get a toe flattened because they weren't expecting the kickback on a slope. Those modern gas units are toys compared to a well-tuned diesel rammer, but you gotta respect the machine or it'll put you in the hospital before lunch.

Don't forget about the weight when you're tryin' to load 'em. Luggin' a Delmag into a truck bed solo's a quick way to blow out your back. They're way denser than the modern units. Also, gotta be careful about layin' 'em down; if you don't keep 'em upright in the truck, you'll have diesel leakin' everywhere. Ever tried usin' one in a tight three-foot trench? If that bell hits the sidewall, the handle'll buck and catch you right in the ribs. It's a different kind of sore the next day.