Agrotk excavators: Does anyone have one? Opinions/comments/critiques?

[Topzide]

You just use the top plate and rubber that goes around the hose. Change out to right bolt and drill out threads on the bottom plate if you want to use it also. You don't need it since you have threaded hole on the boom already.

 

[ppeay]

You just use the top plate and rubber that goes around the hose. Change out to right bolt and drill out threads on the bottom plate if you want to use it also. You don't need it since you have threaded hole on the boom already.

Ok thanks
I didn't realize the base could be separated.
Agrotk finally admitted that they were out of the brackets and that they would reimburse me if I got them elsewhere.
I think they still probably claim that they are not supposed to be on the machine but can't seem to explain why it has the threaded unpainted holes in the boom.

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[Topzide]

They have to have to bottom plate separate to be able to weld it on, or you'd melt the rubber! I used some on a skid steer that had holes on the lift arms.

 

[Popisin]

I know this is an old thread but if anyone stumbles across it I got a little bit of insight.

I am bidding on these AGT NT 30's as they come around. I have a price I'll pay and it hasn't been good enough in the three or four auctions I bid but close enough I'm not going to throw more at it. I've seen them and played around with one. Nothing fancy. A good start for a 2 1/2 ton machine with a thumb that you don't need a tool to put to work.

I own a backhoe, a New Holland 675e. This is two different things.
I wouldn't stump out a 3' walnut with a taproot using a little China mini ex. I also won't get up against my house with backhoe to trench out for a retaining wall with a 2' bucket.

I say go ahead and buy a little mini ex for around the house. If you would buy a used zero turn mower and understand how flogged they get then you are probably tooled enough to keep up with a clapped out CAT or Deere mini ex. If you would buy a new Skag mower, then buy a new digger. The China machines are a third the price.

A word of caution if you do go China mini ex. They get some hot in the cab. You are sitting on top of the motor and the hydraulic pump and your seat is a heat magnet. If I was a southerner I would not even think about a cab model and AC is not going to save you.

 

[JPaganel]

I was originally here a year ago. This is my original post in this thread:

Agrotk excavators: Does anyone have one? Opinions/comments/critiques?

I've had my Kat 12 since May 2023. My honest opinion is to look at other brands. I've had to put lock washers, locktite and lock nuts (where I could get to the bolt end) on just about every thing bolted. The bolts on the track base got so loose one day that the whole top portion almost...

www.tractorbynet.com

I am now at a point where I am actually using this mini-ex to do my retaining wall project.

Things I have learned so far:

The one thing to break before any real use was the main battery switch. The way it was mounted, it collected moisture and died. I bought a better metal switch and mounted it in the vertical wall under the seat. Works much better.

Most grease zerks that came on it were the stupid flat ones that needed a needle. Replaced them with standard ones.

The angled zerk at the base of the boom would not take any grease gun tip I had. Replaced it with a 90 degree extension from LockNLube.

About half the lubrication points had no grease at all. They all worked fine with new zerks, but it looks like something they just skipped at the factory.

The motor runs fine, but hot as hell. I had gas boil in the tank. Plan A is to rig an intake duct from the outside to the motor fan. Plan B is to figure out some other place to mount the gas tank (or a different gas tank), besides top of the motor. It's kinda hard to fill there, too.

The electric fan I have seems to not really do much of anything. I think I need a better one.

One thing that really helps with controls is having longer levers. In an absolutely hilarious turn of events, I figured out that the levers are the exact same size and thread as Honda Civic manual shifters. So, I got some shifter extensions. They are like $5 on Amazon. Maybe I can get some street racer knobs for them...

Other than that, it's working pretty good.

 

[D'oh]

The Gas Cap's Charcoal Vent causes the Gas to boil in the Heat. The Cap can come apart and remove the Charcoal capsule, then snap it back together.

Still Heat but no Boil

 

[Sonny580]

I have the L-12 and motor was junk from the factory. ( long story) anyway the bucket is a big problem now---- too many blunt places on it and the motor dont have half enough power to pull it. ---needs at least 20 or more. the teeth are square not sharp, bucket sides and front edge are square and not sharp all adding up to power loss of the micro motor in this one.
The bucket design is VERY poor! YA built like a tank but useless as to function! Needs all edges sharp like a knife! PLUS some teeth that are not made from soft steel and bend every time they hit the dirt! I am digging an old broken clay tile line up to put new plastic in and digger works,--just a lot slower that it should.
I use it in the garden to dig potatoes and horseradish with and its great for that.

gas boils in the tank and motor loses even more power. tank needs to be relocated outside of machine.

 

[ksJoe]

There's a new H12R on craigslist near me for $3500. This guy sells several import items. A few weeks ago he was asking $4200.

https://wichita.craigslist.org/grd/d/beaumont-new-mini-excavator-h12r/7800236537.html

 

[RandyT]

There's a new H12R on craigslist near me for $3500. This guy sells several import items. A few weeks ago he was asking $4200.

https://wichita.craigslist.org/grd/d/beaumont-new-mini-excavator-h12r/7800236537.html

4 went for auction near me for $2910-2990 plus 5% buyer premium. So roughly $3.1K this past Saturday.

 

[Sonny580]

$2,600 to $2,800 and up depending on model here Saturday.