Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[jjfmetal123]

Yes it's a hightop came with a Briggs 420cc sending pics to PC now will post asap.

 

[jjfmetal123]

Yes, please post some pix!

You have a "HighTop", and I have been in contact with them as well. I tried several times to meet up with a guy who imported several of the HTs in wine country, but I have not been successful. This company has made serious efforts to meet requirements for US export, incl CARB/EPA gas engine.

I have overflowed the hyd fill tube only when adding fluid, so yours must be quite different.

Pls post your location and tell us more.

 

[jjfmetal123]

 

[dfkrug]

Yes it's a hightop came with a Briggs 420cc sending pics to PC now will post asap.

I can see already that your hyd oil tank is in a different location, and I imagine you have a short fill tube, causing your problem. Often, when they make a design change, the consequences are not fully anticipated.

The new passive temp gauge inside the sight glass is nice, but you can not see it while operating. The one I installed is also passive, but it has a gauge near the left side console. At least it now has a temp gauge! I changed my hyd oil within a few hours of first operation, and you should do so with the engine as well. I plan engine oil changes about every 25-30 hours after the first one.

Have you pulled the rear body panel off yet? Are you in the US?

 

[jjfmetal123]

Why did you change hydraulic oil so soon? Yes I have had rear body panel off. They actually did not install a choke for some dumb reason so I added my own. I'm in Northwest Arkansas. I think im gonna try and extend my fill tube. Do you have a picture of yours?

 

[dfkrug]

Why did you change hydraulic oil so soon?

The first fill of hyd fluid has the most dirt and debris from manufacture in there. For tractors, too. I can't believe what I find in there. Also, they use the cheapest crappiest fluid they can get. My first unit had only a suction screen, but I added pressure filtration. I expect to change at maybe 200 hr or so.

See post 31, first photo for my fill/breather tube.

The choke connection on the new black Oking units is a pull knob and wire that goes thru the rear panel. I copied it for my yellow Xiniu machine. Engine is LCT, but identical to the Briggs.

 

[California]

The first fill of hyd fluid has the most dirt and debris from manufacture in there. For tractors, too. I can't believe what I find in there. Also, they use the cheapest crappiest fluid they can get.

Probably no longer relevant but when Jinma tractors were first imported from China, a dealer who set them up posted here that he thought the lubricants and coolant were merely shipping fluid, not intended for actual operation. I think one dealer suspected the green 'coolant' was just food coloring. Hopefully things are better now 20 years later. I commented this was China's way of getting rid of its hazardous waste, use it for shipping fluids to get that stuff out of the country.

 

[dfkrug]

I think one dealer suspected the green 'coolant' was just food coloring. Hopefully things are better now 20 years later. I commented this was China's way of getting rid of its hazardous waste, use it for shipping fluids to get that stuff out of the country.

That's funny, CAL.

It is not just Chinese machines. My 15yo Kioti came new with clear hyd fluid in it, probably ISO 46 or something like that. You really want THF in there, esp when you have HST and wet brakes. I had a Bunch of machining "swarf" in there. Even worse, the coolant was weak, in terms of concentration, and I should have changed that in the first year. And this is a very well-made Korean tractor.

A lot of Chinese machines come new with lousy grease in the bearings, too. If you get a trailer or angle grinder from HF, make sure you clean out the yak snot, and replace it with real grease.

 

[dfkrug]

Here is a photo of the choke control that was installed on the newer Oking units. I copied it for my own LCT engine. It consists of a stiff push-pull wire inside a cable housing, similar to what you see on a lawn mower. The end is cut off and a Z-shaped end is bent to fit into a hole on the carb's choke lever. Works well.

The Oking unit features a small hatch cut into the back body panel, but I do not see much value in it. In my 3rd photo you can see where I added an outside combustion air port, and an external muffler to remove heat from inside the house.

The cupholder and cellphone holder on the Oking units is a nice improvement. All tractors and minis should have it.

BTW, I sold this improved eval unit at my cost ($8500), a few months ago.

 

[jjfmetal123]

Here is a photo of the choke control that was installed on the newer Oking units. I copied it for my own LCT engine. It consists of a stiff push-pull wire inside a cable housing, similar to what you see on a lawn mower. The end is cut off and a Z-shaped end is bent to fit into a hole on the carb's choke lever. Works well.

The Oking unit features a small hatch cut into the back body panel, but I do not see much value in it. In my 3rd photo you can see where I added an outside combustion air port, and an external muffler to remove heat from inside the house.

The cupholder and cellphone holder on the Oking units is a nice improvement. All tractors and minis should have it.

BTW, I sold this improved eval unit at my cost ($8500), a few months ago.

Nice.. I need to add a cup holder like you did. My unit had the perfect spot for the choke they just didn't add one, so i did. They had a spot for the diesel oil pressure gauge course i didn't need that but it made it nice adding the choke.

So on my HT10 I have noticed that the idler assembly squeaks (I think its the Idler assembly) yours do that? Is there anything I can do to quiet that down, Its not real loud or anything just kinda annoying.

 

[dfkrug]

So on my HT10 I have noticed that the idler assembly squeaks (I think its the Idler assembly) yours do that? Is there anything I can do to quiet that down, Its not real loud or anything just kinda annoying.

I do not know what the idler you refer to is. Please post any photos, esp of inside the house.

I have no cupholder on my XN08, but wish I did. That is on the Oking unit, added by the factory. A very nice touch.

Also, you mentioned an oil pressure gauge. You mean oil temp?

 

[dfkrug]

Well, I was hoping to post some pix of one or 2 of the HighTop 1-ton minis by now, but the importer I was trying to meet up with has failed to follow thru.

Instead, I will show how I do a field oil change on my XN08. It was at about 90h when I did this, which is about 25h since the last change. These Chonda thumpers have no oil filtration so it's best to change often.

I wish it was easier. I love the remote oil change tubes on some small power equipment. There was no easy way to install such on this machine, tho I really wanted to.

So, what I do is put the machine on a slope, tip it up far enough so no oil will come out of the drain hole. Then I turn off the engine, remove the plug, and push in a temporary rubber hose. Then I start the engine, and tip it up the other way. With the engine off again, I put the hose into a collection bottle, and let it drain. These motors take only a bit over a quart.

In one photo, I show how steep this slope is with a level (at level) on the tracks.

At 25h, the oil is still pretty clean, but I try not to get it too hot.

 

[dfkrug]

So, I got the last of the 6 black Oking minis in the shop, to be improved before being sold. It has never been used, and I think the electrical system is plain unacceptable as-shipped. I will upgrade it as I did on the one above.

So, I updated my electrical schematic, showing an actual ignition switch you can buy with the right logic. A Stens aftermarket unit intended for lawn tractors. The terminals are marked in red, and also on the back of the switch, which is about $12.

 

[Clworth22]

Dfkrug,
Did you have any issues with your mini excavators meeting any sort of required safety standards? I’ve collected some quotes from a handful of manufactures on Alibaba. Most quotes are pretty close to each other price wise. All of them state their engines are EPA certified. I still need to find a customs broker/freight shipper before I commit to this purchase. Do you have any advice or Suggestions to give me more confidence on pulling the trigger on importing a cheap mini Ex?
Heck of a first post. Thanks, Clworth22

 

[dfkrug]

Dfkrug,
Did you have any issues with your mini excavators meeting any sort of required safety standards?

No issues here, but I am not using my mini in a commercial or industrial setting. I don't even know what the safety requirements ARE here. OSHA prob requires a ROPS/FOPS which comes with my units, but there is no certification stamp on it. Don't know if that is required and how it gets enforced.

Some safety devices are required of the makers, without an enforcement mechanism in the field.

Different states or countries will have different safety standards and enforcement schemes.

My state (California) requires lots of things perhaps not seen in many other places. e.g. makers are required to put Prop 65 warnings on nearly everything, which only tells the user that something might cause cancer. It does not say what might cause cancer, so is worse than useless, IMO.

I noted a number of ways to do diligence when considering one of these units made in China. Do as much research as you can, and use a third party like Alibaba to help with details and protection. Take note of makers that have provided units that have some good reviews by domestic users.

 

[3Ts]

Dfkrug,
Did you have any issues with your mini excavators meeting any sort of required safety standards? I致e collected some quotes from a handful of manufactures on Alibaba. Most quotes are pretty close to each other price wise. All of them state their engines are EPA certified. I still need to find a customs broker/freight shipper before I commit to this purchase. Do you have any advice or Suggestions to give me more confidence on pulling the trigger on importing a cheap mini Ex?
Heck of a first post. Thanks, Clworth22

I've not brought equipment in such as you're planning. But I've used "Well Worldwide Energy Logistics, Inc." as my broker. I've used them to import stuff from New Zealand, Thailand, and Spain and they seem to have different departments for a particular kind of product so they can keep up on the latest rules and regulations. I've never had any problems with them and they are cheaper than other brokers I've used. I don't know where you are located so Wells may not be the one to use, all my stuff comes into Houston International Airport.

 

[KB3]

Not sure if this thread is still being followed, but just in case it is. I purchased a Loongsheen 1ton excavator and should be picking it up in the next couple days. Is there anything I should be looking for or planning on changing when I get it other than fluids?

 

[MossRoad]

Not sure if this thread is still being followed, but just in case it is. I purchased a Loongsheen 1ton excavator and should be picking it up in the next couple days. Is there anything I should be looking for or planning on changing when I get it other than fluids?

Yes, you should plan on posting a bunch of pictures and process of purchase, etc...

Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

 

[KB3]

As for the process it was very easy. The sellers freight forwarder handled the shipping to Pittsburgh, my customs agent handled all the paperwork, and I'm stuck trying to be as patient as possible to pick it up.

 

[dfkrug]

I purchased a Loongsheen 1ton excavator and should be picking it up in the next couple days. Is there anything I should be looking for or planning on changing when I get it other than fluids?

Congratulations. Did you go thru Alibaba? Get the EPA gasoline engine?

Since you seem to be getting one unit, you will have to put the ROPS on, and check the hydraulic pressure. I dumped the original hydraulic fluid after just a few hours of use since I wanted to clear out manufacturing debris, and use a good quality fluid. Same with engine oil. Nice if your unit has hydraulic filtration and a cooler.

I just sold my second 1-ton mini that I got from Oking. My original XN08 is still working well.