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.