Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[oldrustysteel]

And where is that relief valve adjustment? The only thing I have found was under the right stick valve body (boom up/down, bucket in/out) but left it alone until I get more into it. No other visible adjustment for anything else other than the tracks. Also, this system here does not send me notices when someone posts or replies? My settings say to do it, but...............View attachment 842661

Its the gold looking thing with the locknut and the allen head screw in the bottom. However, will be better if dfkrug confirms it.

 

[dfkrug]

And where is that relief valve adjustment?

In the center of your photo is the system RV assembly. The gold colored part is the body, the black nut is to lock the setting, and you adjust the end with a hex key. Clockwise is higher pressure.

On more sophisticated equipment, you will have a work-port RV, aka shock-relief, on some of the work-port circuits. Even most compact tractor backhoe attachments have a shock RV on at least the boom-down work port.

 

[Schmecky]

In the center of your photo is the system RV assembly. The gold colored part is the body, the black nut is to lock the setting, and you adjust the end with a hex key. Clockwise is higher pressure.

On more sophisticated equipment, you will have a work-port RV, aka shock-relief, on some of the work-port circuits. Even most compact tractor backhoe attachments have a shock RV on at least the boom-down work port.

Thank you Sir. I will play with it this coming spring when its outside. Possible to blow a hose off a fitting and that would be very bad if done in my shop. Got a 67 C10 Chevy 98% restored/modified sitting right beside it.

 

[Fredrik]

Well folks I finally nailed down the brass tacks on my excavator.
Here are the specs
* Kubota 902
*Telescoping tracks
*320 MM wide tracks
*Side swing arm . 56 degree each side.
*Hydraulic oil cooling and filtration.
*SAE controls/ Backhoe.
*Three Japanese Pumps
*Northern Hydraulics valve block
*Enclosed,Inside the track, 2 speed travel motors, plunger type.
*Oversized cylinders.
*In the arm hoses
*30 mm pins
*800mm tilt bucket
*Log Graber
*Ripper
*Narrow bucket
*Trash/Brush rake
*Third function
*Quick hitch
*Extra slew motor
*10 extra attachment pins/ attachments didn't come with.
*2Year Parts and labor on all components.( we shall see how this is gonna work)
*Cheapo canopy/ They couldn't do ROPS
*All up weight ...2.1203 tons dry
* DDP $ 14,670.
PHEW!!
Crated and on its way through Alibaba. Felt safer this way.

 

[Fredrik]

 

[dfkrug]

*2Year Parts and labor on all components.( we shall see how this is gonna work)

Yeah, who will do the labor?

As for 320mm tracks, that's pretty wide. Mine have all been 180mm.

I am sure you will post when it shows up.

Congrats in advance.

 

[oldrustysteel]

Well folks I finally nailed down the brass tacks on my excavator.
Here are the specs
* Kubota 902
*Telescoping tracks
*320 MM wide tracks
*Side swing arm . 56 degree each side.
*Hydraulic oil cooling and filtration.
*SAE controls/ Backhoe.
*Three Japanese Pumps
*Northern Hydraulics valve block
*Enclosed,Inside the track, 2 speed travel motors, plunger type.
*Oversized cylinders.
*In the arm hoses
*30 mm pins
*800mm tilt bucket
*Log Graber
*Ripper
*Narrow bucket
*Trash/Brush rake
*Third function
*Quick hitch
*Extra slew motor
*10 extra attachment pins/ attachments didn't come with.
*2Year Parts and labor on all components.( we shall see how this is gonna work)
*Cheapo canopy/ They couldn't do ROPS
*All up weight ...2.1203 tons dry
* DDP $ 14,670.
PHEW!!
Crated and on its way through Alibaba. Felt safer this way.

WOW!! Looks like you didn't miss anything, you ordered the best of the best.. Cant wait to see it.. Cant wait to borrow it! Thats a heck of a deal too!! Be sure to keep us posted!!

 

[TimberFarm]

Well folks I finally nailed down the brass tacks on my excavator.
Here are the specs
* Kubota 902
*Telescoping tracks
*320 MM wide tracks
*Side swing arm . 56 degree each side.
*Hydraulic oil cooling and filtration.
*SAE controls/ Backhoe.
*Three Japanese Pumps
*Northern Hydraulics valve block
*Enclosed,Inside the track, 2 speed travel motors, plunger type.
*Oversized cylinders.
*In the arm hoses
*30 mm pins
*800mm tilt bucket
*Log Graber
*Ripper
*Narrow bucket
*Trash/Brush rake
*Third function
*Quick hitch
*Extra slew motor
*10 extra attachment pins/ attachments didn't come with.
*2Year Parts and labor on all components.( we shall see how this is gonna work)
*Cheapo canopy/ They couldn't do ROPS
*All up weight ...2.1203 tons dry
* DDP $ 14,670.
PHEW!!
Crated and on its way through Alibaba. Felt safer this way.

Sounds like a good deal. Let us know when it comes in.

 

[jaylast]

Nice Fredrik, the 12" trackwidth should be a nice upgrade, and larger pins- Is the width and length of tracks/base also longer/wider? I think 1250W/1500L is pretty good with ~2t machines. Is the reach imporved also? Think I've seen about 166 to 190 cm down fairly standard up to 2t.
I personally wanna learn more about the 3 pump arrangement - iirc this is the most desirable hydraulics setup with separated outputs for separate valve blocks/sections each for travel/pilot/functions.

Very very nice 4 the price, can't wait to hear/see more!

 

[Fredrik]

Yeah, who will do the labor?

As for 320mm tracks, that's pretty wide. Mine have all been 180mm.

I am sure you will post when it shows up.

Congrats in advance.

The company said they would give me credit on future purchases for labor with notarized bill . Of course this is strange , but might work, who knows. I'll be doing all the labor .

 

[Fredrik]

The Co. I'm getting it from is SDYD in Shangdong . They are a subsidiary of SAAO, who make much heavier machines. When I first got in touch with them most of the office must have been out sick because I got one of their engineers. The more I told him what I wanted the more interested he got. Remember though that none of these Co's. make a lot of their own parts.You need buckets , go see the bucket man, need slewing motors , see that man etc. What Mr Goa did for me was listen , take notes , shop around and offer suggestions . Many parts or suggestions I rejected. So he tried again. I ended up with about 90% of what I wanted . I spent way to many hours on this ( according to my wife ) because I had to communicate with him during engineers hours not salesman hours. This is a one off machine and I think only 8% of their market is to the USA. They have asked me for monthly reports on wear and tear and asked I collect others im put as to build quality, ease of use, etc. We shall see what we shall see. Worst case , I blew 15 grand, best case , a better cheap digger enters the market.. They did offer to put me up in a hotel, gratis, to view the factory, but I had to pay for the flight.23 hours of airports and flying sounds like purgatory but who knows ..................

 

[Fredrik]

I plan on posting how the DDP goes. Tracking , carrier service , transport time, paperwork , the full catastrophe.

 

[jodieadair]

I just received a new Hightop HT15 from a guy out of Memphis. He was very quick to respond to questions and had the best prices I could find anywhere.
The machine is the 1.5 ton version ( I think we all know it aint nowhere near that heavy). None the less it is a larger machine as far as the body goes. Some sites that have these listed show around 2200 pounds actual weight. I am quite happy with the purchase. I got the machine, hydraulic thumb, 16" bucket, 24" smooth bucket, quick attach and rake all delivered a couple hundred miles the next day away for $8200 total. He was very accomidating and says he can get any parts needed. He is from China so he may have better connections or at least better communication with them than some. The canopy blew off on the way down but he said he will order and ship anew one to me along with any other attachments I may want in the future.
There doesn't seem to be a counterwight but there is an abundance of space in the engine bay for some of the improvements listed here.

 

[dfkrug]

I just received a new Hightop HT15 from a guy out of Memphis.

Nice.

HighTop seems to be a reseller, selling product from different factories.

I see you have the pilot controls. Are you going to open up the house to check bolt tightness and if you have oil cooling and oil filtration?

Your hyd pump looks like a larger (greater than the usual 6.8cc) single-chamber pump. That means you have flow a divider, probably on main valve stack.

 

[jodieadair]

Nice.

HighTop seems to be a reseller, selling product from different factories.

I see you have the pilot controls. Are you going to open up the house to check bolt tightness and if you have oil cooling and oil filtration?

Your hyd pump looks like a larger (greater than the usual 6.8cc) single-chamber pump. That means you have flow a divider, probably on main valve stack.

I will be checking bolts, changing fluids, adding fan and filters.
Tell me where to look and I'll take some more pictures.

 

[jodieadair]

I'd like to hear some opinions on adding a counter weight. The rear panel is just sheet metal and doesn't seem like it could hold much added weight.
There is lots of room in the rear of the engine bay. Maybe atttach some weight to the rounded base in the pic?

 

[dfkrug]

I'd like to hear some opinions on adding a counter weight. The rear panel is just sheet metal and doesn't seem like it could hold much added weight.
There is lots of room in the rear of the engine bay. Maybe atttach some weight to the rounded base in the pic?

Your machine probably has the longer house, with 41 track links instead of 37. You could add some weights inside like my early mini has (3 25# steel plates). If your local recycler sells lead ingots, those are even better.

 

[jodieadair]

Your machine probably has the longer house, with 41 track links instead of 37. You could add some weights inside like my early mini has (3 25# steel plates). If your local recycler sells lead ingots, those are even better.

Thenks, I'll look for some.

 

[Fredrik]

I will be checking bolts, changing fluids, adding fan and filters.
Tell me where to look and I'll take some more pictures.

One more thing to check is track tightness. Minis will spit their tracks off in a heart beat if not tight. Tighten very tight. Dog house looks nice and open so should be easy to do your mods.

 

[jodieadair]

One more thing to check is track tightness. Minis will spit their tracks off in a heart beat if not tight. Tighten very tight. Dog house looks nice and open so should be easy to do your mods.

So don't leave any play in the tracks? On a Bobcat I had there was supposed to be some play. I know these are different types of machines that have their own quirks though, I'll take your adivice knowing you have experience. I don't want to mess with a track out in the field.
I checked the track links, mine has 37.