Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[BigBlue1]

My apologies - total newbie question. Thinking of picking up a 13.5HP gas-powered 1.5ton mini excavator. I'm on the Central Coast of California - San Luis Obispo area. I'm looking at one of the many that's available from local US stock via the interwebs... but I have no idea where I'd get the thing serviced, and none of the sellers I've found has a good answer for that question. Where do you take non-branded hydraulic equipment for routine maintenance and service? I'm mechanically inclined but a novice when it comes to dealing with hydraulic equipment (Covid-inspired career change from office work to farming a few years ago, so I'm on the very steep side of the learning curve).

None of the maintenance should be rocket science. If you can change the oil on your car you should be able to do most tractor/equipment routine maintenance and even repairs. YouTube is your friend.

 

[MattB4]

There are a few importers of these machines in the US that claim after market support for parts. Kymron, Groundhog, and one in California that the name escapes me.

 

[Agitator]

Well, there is no good answer, and any seller should be honest about that.

The reason I started this thread is to help others if they take the plunge in getting one of these machines. Since you are in SLO, you are welcome to come by here and try mine out, and I can show you the basics, or even the "advanced class".

Your best bet is DIY, and these machines are very simple. Even if you blow up the engine, you can drop a new one in there for about $400 (parts). If you have a handyman (or woman), they should be able to help with oil changes, hose replacements, etc.

That is an incredibly kind offer. Thank you. I'll probably just take the plunge and see how it goes... and may be in touch. Hopefully I can pay you in wine

 

[MattB4]

Some thoughts and images of my first project with the Typhon Baby ex.

Boy this thing gets hot after an hour. Good thing the last few days a nice cool front came through. I have ordered a fan for the unit and will install it hoping that it gives me a bit longer than an hours seat time before having to let the Ex. cool down. First off the unit takes some getting used to in order to be productive. The narrow track base and jerky turns is a bit disconcerting. Second observation is the bucket teeth are terrible in rocky soil. The flat hard sandstone rock I have in my soil caused the bucket teeth to slew inwards as it attempted to grab on them in the side of the trench. My first 50 ft trench was all done with the bucket and also a pick and shovel on my part. Real pain.

Yesterday afternoon I get in my ripper and it is a god send in terms of breaking up the soil and leveraging out the rocks. Along with the quick hitch to change to ripper and break up the soil and rock before switching relatively easily back to the bucket made the trenching possible. By the way one issue with the supplied 15 inch bucket and trench size is the width of the unit makes it impossible to straddle an already dug trench if your find that you needed more digging. It works alright with the ripper because you can push back in the ripped up dirt (after you pull out the boulders) before switching to bucket.

My dig time for the trenching was 7 hours. At 5 hours I drained and replaced engine oil.

 

[dfkrug]

By the way one issue with the supplied 15 inch bucket and trench size is the width of the unit makes it impossible to straddle an already dug trench if your find that you needed more digging. It works alright with the ripper because you can push back in the ripped up dirt (after you pull out the boulders) before switching to bucket.

Hmm. I never tried to straddle a trench, even when using my 12" bucket. I think that would make tipping over a very likely probability.

The ripper tooth is a must-have, IMO. When building my trails, I would hit many many rocks, and the house motor is quite powerful, allowing me to push my tailings off to the side.

That first oil change is very important. I go with 25h max after that. More often if you run really hot.

 

[Mldsr5]

This is the Diggit mini x being compared to a groundhog excavator

 

[dfkrug]

Interesting importer in the US, Groundhog Equipment. Lots of dealers back East, but no website. The bigger units, 2T and up, seem to have planetary final drives, Kubota engines, and better buckets.

It would be interesting to see what they do in terms of selling parts, and providing technical info. They seem to have been importing these for a year or so.

 

[Mldsr5]

Interesting importer in the US, Groundhog Equipment. Lots of dealers back East, but no website. The bigger units, 2T and up, seem to have planetary final drives, Kubota engines, and better buckets.

It would be interesting to see what they do in terms of selling parts, and providing technical info. They seem to have been importing these for a year or so.

Their website recently had a big overhaul. Here is a page with some parts and attachments.

Attachments | Groundhog Equipment

ATTACHMENTS The right equipment attachments can make all the difference when tackling a difficult job. That's why we offer heavy equipment attachments ...

groundhogequipment.com

 

[dfkrug]

Their website recently had a big overhaul. Here is a page with some parts and attachments.

Attachments | Groundhog Equipment

ATTACHMENTS The right equipment attachments can make all the difference when tackling a difficult job. That's why we offer heavy equipment attachments ...

groundhogequipment.com

Just found it. Very interesting, and markups not excessive. Nothing on wheel brakes or hydraulic filtration that I could find. One reference to an optional hyd oil cooler.

 

[Fredrik]

Got the word my machine is finished and they sent me a test run video.
Not sure how to attach it, but I will try.

It says the video does not have an "allowed extension" so it won't let me post it.

Can't wait to see it Timber.

 

[Fredrik]

There are a few importers of these machines in the US that claim after market support for parts. Kymron, Groundhog, and one in California that the name escapes me.

If you're thinking of Tiller-King, aka Agrotech , don't hold your breath. They don't seem to offer much in the support area. I've got one , and since it was bought at auction ,they claim they didn't even make it even though they sell the same machine. Fortunately these machines are stupid simple as far as components and engineering goes.

 

[Fredrik]

Boy this thing gets hot after an hour.

You'r gonna need an oil cooler if you want this thing to last more than a few jobs.
Add a cooling fan to the dog house.

 

[TimberFarm]

Can't wait to see it Timber.

Yeah, me too. Scheduled to be loaded on ship Aug. 25. Then then the slow boat from China to Norfolk.

 

[MattB4]

You'r gonna need an oil cooler if you want this thing to last more than a few jobs.
Add a cooling fan to the dog house.

I admired your added oil cooler setup. I was looking at my Ex. and how I might install one. If I can figure out and find the necessary the connections I would simply reroute the present return hose to a cooler plus filter and add a new hose back to the tank. I have a 12v 80w radiator style fan on order that I intend to install to help keep the B&S from getting too hot.

BTW how are all your modifications working in terms of keeping things cool?

 

[MattB4]

I am noticing quite a large price drops on the 2 ton Chinese minis recently. They do have a lot more features to them as well as a Kubota diesel engine. I see a model selling for ~$13,000 with free shipping in US. Would love to try one.

 

[ptsg]

You guys get some crazy prices on those. Same machine with another name (Devil) as the post above, over here it's like $19,500.

If I had to choose between one of these Chinese mini ex or a backhoe on a tractor, I would much rather have the mini ex and the save the tractor from the stress of running a backhoe.

 

[dfkrug]

I am noticing quite a large price drops on the 2 ton Chinese minis recently. They do have a lot more features to them as well as a Kubota diesel engine. I see a model selling for ~$13,000 with free shipping in US. Would love to try one.

Your photo shows the crappy 1/8" shallow bucket. If you can get the better buckets you see on 2.5T-3T units, that would be a huge plus. The more powerful minis will rip that bucket to shreds.

At 2T and up, you also may have planetary final drives, which I have seen in some of the Typhon pix.

 

[MattB4]

Your photo shows the crappy 1/8" shallow bucket. If you can get the better buckets you see on 2.5T-3T units, that would be a huge plus. The more powerful minis will rip that bucket to shreds.

At 2T and up, you also may have planetary final drives, which I have seen in some of the Typhon pix.

I agree that the buckets on these Baby Ex's leaves much to be desired. Those bolts for the cutting edges and teeth reduce digging ability. Part of why they can be sold cheaply I imagine. I intend to weld on the side cutters (once the blasted heat abates outside) and I have on order 3 pin on-weld on teeth that will replace the present ones. One thing I noticed when making prep for welding is the buckets have a rather thick paint on them. Pretty resistant to removal.

I have done some looking about for options for my new Typhon but have not found much available. I would like a larger ditch cleaning/light grading bucket than the 500mm (20 inch) that is imported. 36 inch would likely max out the capacity.

 

[Fredrik]

I admired your added oil cooler setup. I was looking at my Ex. and how I might install one. If I can figure out and find the necessary the connections I would simply reroute the present return hose to a cooler plus filter and add a new hose back to the tank. I have a 12v 80w radiator style fan on order that I intend to install to help keep the B&S from getting too hot.

BTW how are all your modifications working in terms of keeping things cool?

Hey MattB4,
My oil never gets above 45c and the dog house stays cool enough to put your hands on.
I've run my mini for 6 hours at a time and have no issues (stoping only to fill the gas up).
You may have noticed that I enlarged and added more holes in the dog house, this really solved the dog house problem.
I've got about 45 hours on my mini now and my only complaint is retightening every bolt before use.
If it does'nt have a lock washer on it put one on and use some red lock tight . Still inspect each time you use it. Treat it like an airplane, do a walk around.

 

[MattB4]

I now see why the digging teeth slew inwards. The holes in the bucket are punched at 15mm versus the bolt size of 12mm (18mm head). This gives plenty of space between the 2 bolt holes to allow a fair amount of movement. Considering the removable teeth mounting holes are 12mm the bucket holes should also be that size.