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.