Learning curve on a mini-excavator?

[JFoy]

We have about a 1/2 acre of land the is overgrown. Land was cleared about 10yrs ago so most of the trees are from 1in to 8in diameter. Soil is sandy loam on top and down to clay beneath. Composition of trees range from maples, winged elm, pines, coppells, etc. I want to selectively clear the pines and other junk trees. The BX25 backhoe is just underclassed to do the job in a timely manner plus having to relocate it over and over.

Was thinking of renting a mini-excavator as it seems to be more powerful and easier to maneuver. Only have weekends and after work now to work the lot so I'm wondering what the learning curve would be on a Bobcat 331 or Kubota KX040. If it is a large learning curve, I would be wasting my time and money trying to do this. Could use some insight from those of you who know better than I.

Thanks,
John

 

[Tomtint]

You can pretty easily do 1/2 acre clean up in a weekend. Rent a mini that has the same controls as your. BX backhoe and the learning curve will be about 2 hours.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

You should be able to do at least 10x more clearing with the mini excavator than with your BX. Most mini excavators can switch the way the controls work so that you should be able to operate it the same way you do your BX. This would make your learning curve a lot shorter.

I also agree that you should be able to clear your 1/2 acre in a weekend with a mini of the size you indicated.

 

[1bush2hog]

Go for it. You will have no problem. Make sure you get one with a thumb. You can push a lot of smaller trees over by getting bucket higher on tree and then just pop the roots out. The thumb works with bucket curl so you can easily move the trees you take down

 

[Code54]

The Kubota's have the switchable pattern lever down by your feet. You can set it like the backhoe and go to town! - only learning will me running he tracks and the power/speed.
I have a KX91 mini and we have a BX25 - the mini can clear 10x faster then the bx, maybe 20x faster. I love our little BX don't get me wrong but they are not even close to being in the same league. ½ acre is doable in a weekend with the small trees you mention. 8" trees are pretty easy - mostly break a few roots and push right over. IF you can get it with a thumb you shouldn't have any problem lifting and stacking them up.

 

[JFoy]

Thanks for the info and encouragement everyone!

 

[rswyan]

You haven't mentioned the type of terrain you're going to be using this on.

One thing you do need to be aware of, is that these units can be tippy ... large bucket full of wet dirt or something heavy, with the arms anywhere near, or at, full extension ... on a hillside or un-level ground ...

You'll likely learn about this when you go to unload the unit off trailer ... might want to have those arms extended out, back towards your tow vehicle ... as you attempt to back down the trailer ramp ...

Do it the other way (arms on the downside of the unit) and you might end up being very surprised at what will happen ... particularly if they are extended.

If you are operating on a hillside, plant the blade on the downhill side to level up the machine as much as possible ... and use caution when rotating ... particularly if you have a full bucket ... or have the arms extended.

Having said all that, Kubota mini-ex's a breeze to operate ... very responsive controls.

 

[JFoy]

You haven't mentioned the type of terrain you're going to be using this on.

That's a good point. The land is sloped from flat to maybe 10 degrees. For the work part, I should be facing downhill. So, are you saying I should lower the front blade so as to level the unit on all sides?

 

[Ed of all trades]

That's a good point. The land is sloped from flat to maybe 10 degrees. For the work part, I should be facing downhill. So, are you saying I should lower the front blade so as to level the unit on all sides?

Yep that helps. Just be careful the trees can and will hurt you if you are careless. Ed

 

[The Fred]

Rent a large machine don't fool around with a mini. Also get one with a hydraulic thumb as most of those stumps can be ripped right out of the ground quickly.

I have a 10K lbs. machine of my own and if I was going to do what you are asking just get a larger one and get the job done quickly. Some of those 8 inch stumps take time to dig out even with that size machine.

Good luck, Fred

 

[Egon]

The BX 25 would do just fine. Just take a little more time.

 

[rswyan]

That's a good point. The land is sloped from flat to maybe 10 degrees. For the work part, I should be facing downhill.

When digging on slopes I generally prefer for the blade to be below/behind me - on the downhill side - and for the actual work to be above me on the uphill side.

If at all possible, you don't want to be uphill of the work and using the machine to dig uphill - which in effect is pulling the machine in the direction of the location of the work (downhill)

Sometimes there isn't any other choice ... and assuming the blade has sufficient downward travel, you can get the machine sitting relatively level and it won't be a problem ... just be careful about how far out you extend the boom ... the further it's extended, the more leverage it has.

So, are you saying I should lower the front blade so as to level the unit on all sides?

Yes ... the blade should be lowered so that the machine is as level as you can get it ... even to the point that the tips/ends of the tracks on the end that the blade is on, are raised above the ground.

You want the blade engaged into the ground, with a substantial portion of the unit's weight ... so that the unit is less prone to being pulled/pushed around.

Whether the blade is "front" or "rear" depends on the orientation of the cab on the unit ... most of the them rotate a full 360 degrees ...

A couple more things: I generally prefer to traverse any slopes straight up and down if possible ... and not travel sideways across them ... with the boom (and/or cab) facing towards the uphill side, with the boom arms lowered and even possibly extended somewhat to provide a counter-balance - regardless of whether I'm going up (forward travel), or coming down (reverse travel ... with me and the cab facing up the slope)

Sometimes, you have to cross a slope sideways to get where you need to go ... in that case, the boom arms (and/or cab) need to pointed uphill and at a minimum lowered, and possibly even extended somewhat to provide counter-balance ... which leaves you sitting perpendicular (90 degrees) to the direction of travel.

 

[rswyan]

Yep that helps. Just be careful the trees can and will hurt you if you are careless. Ed

Re-examine the post you are replying to ... you answer is confirming a very less than ideal operating scenario.

The OP asked if he should be facing downhill ... ideally, he would be facing uphill.

 

[mike69440]

Rent a large machine don't fool around with a mini. Also get one with a hydraulic thumb as most of those stumps can be ripped right out of the ground quickly.

I have a 10K lbs. machine of my own and if I was going to do what you are asking just get a larger one and get the job done quickly. Some of those 8 inch stumps take time to dig out even with that size machine.

Good luck, Fred

Depends on the ground

I have had 5" oaks etc, stop my 18K machine when the roots grow under ledge or the roots are mixed into surrounding larger trees.
I have had 12" trees come out of the ground like I was pulling weeds in soft soil.

12- 18k machine should be fine in normal ground, full size in tough situation.

Yes, get a thumb

 

[Ed of all trades]

Re-examine the post you are replying to ... you answer is confirming a very less than ideal operating scenario.

The OP asked if he should be facing downhill ... ideally, he would be facing uphill.

Yep you are right, I missed that. Thanks Ed

 

[DavesTractor]

Here is the real problem. Once you run one of these for a day or two, you will have to own it. I have a Yanmar Vio55 with a thumb and I'd about clear somebodies acreage for free. It's a kick to see how much you can get done in so little time. For sure get the thumb. A smaller excavator without a thumb is simply incomplete.

 

[DieselBound]

My favorite rental guy has a Takeuchi TB285. This is a fantastic machine- ~ 18k lbs. I've done stuff with it that I probably don't want to be made public! (the owner, however, is well aware of my exploits; he even has had his hand in some of it!) Dug out a stump from a freshly cut Cottonwood tree measuring about 44" at the butt: I've had old cedar stumps that were WAAY bigger!

My first rental was a smaller Vio30 (I think it was a 30). Starting out with a bigger machine you're going to have to be a lot more careful because things can go WRONG in a lot bigger proportions: I got a 331 Bobcat stuck last summer- I was able to get it out using my truck (winching off of it); if I were to stick the TB285 I'd be in a world of hurt (I never get close to soft ground with it)!

To the OP, go watch some instructional videos on Youtube. Yup, they're a big help to get you going right out of the gate.

Go slow. If you find that you're jerking around (Bobcats, to me, seem easier to jerk around) you're probably trying to work too fast; try to concentrate on doing functions more serially than in parallel. What I mean is that if you're curling and raising the bucket and swinging the carriage it's easy to start bucking around- slow the swing and get the bucket movement more complete and THEN get more into the swing. I find that when I get tired (these things will work you!) I start getting jerky.

At first you'll try to THINK too much about operating it. You really need to FEEL operating it. It's like riding a bicycle, if you try to think about all the stuff that's needed to ride it you're going to get stupid and crash:laughing:

As folks suggest: MUST HAVE A THUMB! Only time you wouldn't need one is if you're digging in clean soil.

Have fun! Be safe!

 

[Ed of all trades]

If I had a hoe on my tractor I would not rent an excavator. I hate being rushed and rent tends to do that. Take your time and enjoy the hoe you have. I know that is not the answer everyone likes but it is what I would do because I like running a hoe. Ed

 

[DieselBound]

If I had a hoe on my tractor I would not rent an excavator. I hate being rushed and rent tends to do that. Take your time and enjoy the hoe you have. I know that is not the answer everyone likes but it is what I would do because I like running a hoe. Ed

I'd hope that if one shelled out for a backhoe that they used IT instead of running out and renting an excavator!

It really depends, though. Life has lots of variables.

I'm slow about things. I like to think a lot about what I need to do: sometimes, however, I can be pretty compulsive and kind of operate under ADD impulse:laughing: I keep a "project" list of what requires "bigger power" (than what I have). When I'm ready I'll rent and then cross items off that list: just did that, 2 day rental of an excavator and I removed something like 17 stumps (some attached to small trees), two MASSIVE stumps that, I'm figuring, no backhoe could deal with (OK, no backhoe that would be able to travel on the property without rutting the heck out of it): I could post an example of a picture but I'd rather not put something out in the public domain such as it out of fear of the authorities knocking on my door (seriously).

Given how carried away I can get digging with an excavator I figure it's probably best, for me, to not have a full-time digger available!

 

[JFoy]

Well, I caved and just ordered the BXpanded ripper tooth. I'd love to get the excavator but just started a new job and I'd feel rushed to use it. Like DieselBound, I'm an adult ADD case and always thinking of the fastest way to do something even though I might have slower but usable tools around me. If nothing else, I'll chime in on how well the ripper tooth works.