Rick Ness Battles Breakdowns and Delays to Keep His Gold Mine Alive

Critical Breakdown on the 700 Excavator

At Rick Ness’s Duncan Creek operation, a serious mechanical issue strikes his most vital machine — the 700 excavator. One of the three upper carry rollers that support the excavator track bends out of alignment, preventing movement and threatening major structural damage. Upon inspection, the team discovers that a failed bearing caused the roller to seize, forcing the track out of place.

To resume operations at full speed, the roller must be removed and replaced immediately.

No Time to Wait — A Weeklong Delay Unacceptable

Rick quickly finds a new carrier roller but faces a major setback: it will take over a week to ship. With time being money in the Yukon, and the 700 being central to loading pay dirt, Rick cannot afford such a delay. He reaches out to local contacts and discovers a used part available in Dawson City — owned by none other than Tony Beets.

Tony Beets to the Rescue

Rick visits the Beets’ legendary Klondike boneyard, where Tony agrees to lend the needed part from his surplus inventory. Thanks to Tony’s generosity, Rick is able to secure the replacement roller without delay. He then makes the six-hour drive back to Duncan Creek to resume operations.

Repairs Underway and Full Speed Restored

Back at the site, mechanic Carl quickly gets to work installing the replacement roller. With the part fitted and tested successfully, the 700 excavator is brought back online. Its return instantly doubles the plant’s loading rate compared to the smaller 480 machine, allowing the team to resume full production.

Weekly Gold Weigh-In Falls Short

Despite the successful repair and resumed operations, the gold weigh-in reveals disappointing numbers. Rick’s crew recovers 51.55 ounces of gold, worth nearly $100,000. It’s a step forward, but still short of the 70 ounces per week needed to hit Rick’s season goal of 1,000 ounces.

Optimism Amid Setbacks

Rick remains optimistic. The past two weeks have been plagued by setbacks — mechanical breakdowns and slowed production — but with the 700 now back in action and pay dirt still rich, he believes stronger weeks are ahead. He acknowledges the critical role Tony Beets played in helping the team recover quickly, saving both time and money.

The Road to Redemption

As operations stabilize, Rick rallies his crew with determination. The gold is still in the ground, and with full capacity restored, the team is confident they can recover from recent shortfalls. With a few uninterrupted weeks of solid sluicing, Rick believes the 1,000-ounce goal is still within reach.