Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[hotbird]

I had gotten Loongsheen and Hightop into a bidding war. They really didn't move much on their price, but Loongsheen kept throwing in attachments for me. I'm happy with my machine can't speak for the Hightop. I would make sure you can get the spin on filter put on there or see if they would use NPTF fittings. From what I can tell so far it's going to take 5 fittings to go from metric to NPTF. Three on the tank side and two on the hose.

So what prices are you folks getting, shipped to the US? I'm getting quotes all over the place and almost all don't match what's on the site.

Also, what are you recommending for spares/accessories to buy with the unit?

First time buying machinery on Alibaba, thanks for the help!

 

[dfkrug]

Also, what are you recommending for spares/accessories to buy with the unit?

I talk about the spares I bought the first time, and then the second. For sure, hoses and tracks, in addition to the attachments you want.

I do wish that I had purchased seal kits for the cylinders. Buying parts after the fact is problematic if you can not go thru Alibaba. You are forced to wire funds, since you can not open a Chinese bank acct.

BTW, one guy I know in the UK has had to re-seal the wheel motors on a unit that has no hydraulic pressure filtration. His spool valves are also getting a little "sticky".

Note that shipping costs to Omaha are going to be substantially different than shipping to Miami or LA. Customs, tariffs, taxes, logistics will cost more than shipping.

 

[hotbird]

I talk about the spares I bought the first time, and then the second. For sure, hoses and tracks, in addition to the attachments you want.

I do wish that I had purchased seal kits for the cylinders. Buying parts after the fact is problematic if you can not go thru Alibaba. You are forced to wire funds, since you can not open a Chinese bank acct.

Those are good suggestions, thanks! How long it took for you to have to change the seals, just curious?

Note that shipping costs to Omaha are going to be substantially different than shipping to Miami or LA. Customs, tariffs, taxes, logistics will cost more than shipping.

I was asking about the item price, in general. Shipping quotes are pretty consistent for me, the excavator itself is the one that varies all over the place. Even for the same engine I get up to $2-3k differences.

 

[dfkrug]

How long it took for you to have to change the seals, just curious?

I did not buy seals from China, since I had no reasonable way to pay. I was quoted 4 kits at only $60, shipped DHL. I buy most of my seals by size from Hercules. I just finished a Kubota loader cylinder re-seal, and I might have taken an hour to do it. I do boil the piston main seal in water and clamp it to cool. My XN08 bkt cylinder leaks but not enough to be an emergency.

I see base prices for 1T minis ranging from $3500-5000, FOB Qingdao. There are differences between units: engine, Hyd oil filter, hyd oil cooler, etc. I see that Xiniu has upgraded the XN08 that I bought to the XN10. I see changes to the house, plus use of some Eaton hyd components.

 

[mxr662]

I have read through this thread a couple times. Made an account with a customs broker. Currently have discussions going with 3 sellers on Alibaba.

 

[dfkrug]

I have read through this tread a couple times. Made an account with a customs broker. Currently have discussions going with 3 sellers on Alibaba.

I would be curious if or when the 25% tariff goes away now that there is a new China-friendly administration.

 

[mxr662]

I would be curious if or when the 25% tariff goes away now that there is a new China-friendly administration.

I have been dragging my feet on this due to the complexity and also hoping the tariff will go away.

 

[hotbird]

I have read through this thread a couple times. Made an account with a customs broker. Currently have discussions going with 3 sellers on Alibaba.

Which broker are you using, if you don't mind me asking?

Looks like they are putting the 420cc B&S engine in it, isn't 14HP underpowered?

 

[dfkrug]

Looks like they are putting the 420cc B&S engine in it, isn't 14HP underpowered?

The usual ChangChai or Koop 500cc Diesel engines are only about 10hp, but make their power at lower RPM. The 420cc gasoline thumpers are 14-16hp and have plenty of power, but need to run a bit faster. I asked the makers to reduce their 6.5cc/rev gear pump to 5.5cc so it is less jerky.

 

[4570Man]

Which broker are you using, if you don't mind me asking?

Looks like they are putting the 420cc B&S engine in it, isn't 14HP underpowered?

My 5 ton excavator is only 38 hp. 14 should be enough power for a 1 ton machine.

 

[hotbird]

Thank you both!

I asked the makers to reduce their 6.5cc/rev gear pump to 5.5cc so it is less jerky.

This is a good idea, thanks for sharing!

 

[Neil82]

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

Where did you purchase your HT10 from?

 

[Todd6094]

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I am wanting to buy one of these. Is there anyway you could call me and give me your opinion on the machine?

 

[Todd6094]

Where did you purchase your HT10 from?

I’d like to know as well

 

[dfkrug]

The HT10 and all the other units mentioned in this thread can be purchased directly from the manufacturers in Shandong, via their Alibaba storefronts. All logistics can be handled thru Alibaba as well.

Hightop Machine, which makes the HT10, can also be contacted directly at hightopmachine.com. I have not seen one of their units personally, but there continues to be rapid improvements from all these mini-X makers in China.

In many parts of the world, someone has imported containers of these minis to sell locally, sometimes at 2x markups. There are at least 2 sellers here in N. California trying to do exactly that.

 

[Mwkoreen]

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.

Hi kb3.

I am by Monroeville. I just ordered an HT-10 on alibaba. Who did u use for a broker, forwarder ?

 

[nmz787]

I just paid my deposit for a YFE20 from Infront (Epa Ce Mini Excavator 1 Ton 1.5 Ton 1.7 Ton 2 Ton Mini Excavator With Competitive Prices Lower Than Xn For Sale - Buy Cheap Mini Excavator For Sale,Mini Excavator Price,Mini Excavator Product on Alibaba.com) based on a UK guy on YouTube using them for a 1 ton machine and having a good experience. I totally failed to do any price check from other suppliers, oops, hopefully I didn't agree to pay too much!

 

[nmz787]

Anyone know a good import broker that works in Portland OR?

 

[dfkrug]

I have some updates on this Chinese mini-excavator thread:

A local contractor, Jason, just imported 3 of the latest 1-ton minis from Xiniu, aka Shandong Landworld. They seem to want to use the name Rhinoceros, which is the English translation of the Mandarin word Xiniu. They will still put any name on them that you request.

He brought one by my place for me to test out. The improvements include installation of a Kubota D722 EPA-certified diesel engine, check valves on the boom and dipper circuits, hydraulic thumb, improved hydraulic filtration, 4-post ROPS, and a swing boom. There are also gauges to monitor engine oil temp and hydraulic oil temp. A Lovejoy-type coupler is used on the hydraulic pump instead of a rigid spline coupler.

Jason requested, specified, or designed most of these improvements. I suggested the improved pump coupling when I bought my XN08 from Xiniu 3 years ago.

 

[dfkrug]

Here are pix of the thumb. Note the two-piece design that allows partial removal if you don't need to use it. 4 bolts only. The thumb shares the bucket pivot pin.

The valve now uses a foot pedal with spring-centering. Definitely more convenient than my hand lever.