Chinese digger recommendations

[Carl_NH]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger on a Typhon XIX from USAExcavator.
Fingers crossed that I have as good an experience with the process as I have I heard from some of you (and other) guys.

Congrats on the new machine - did you negotiate any attachments and what was your final deal? All these attachments can be purchased later at a decent price.

 

[TexTrctr]

Thanks Carl, it was your suggestions that pushed me over the edge!
$9866. No attachments.
This brings up a question; there is a site on EBay, sdhxdz, which has really attractive pricing on the typical attachments, but it looks too good to be true. Example: Auger Assy for 1.5-2T Auger
$478.88.
Anyone dealt with these guys?
Are they legitimate?

 

[Carl_NH]

You got a good deal! I see sellers from China offering the XVIII on eBay for $5K, but that does not include the duty and brokerage fees and delivery to your door, just the shipping to a port—it's not worth the hassle and unknowns to save a few $, IMO.

There are many sellers of these attachments - be patient and buy what you need/want. The prices are all over the place and have dropped fast since last year, Paid $700 for a 600MM Hyd tilting bucket in July, and realized I wanted an 800MM - got one for $330 on Temu - trying to sell the 600MM now for $300 no takers. Temu has deals and Ebay does too - like the post hole Auger with 8" bit I got on Ebay for $320 delivered.

Ort if you have a Ritchie Bros or other auction house close to you, the pallets of attachments (8 pcs usually) sell for $9-1000 range plus fees so for under $1200 you get a set.

 

[TexTrctr]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm leaning towards buying attachments one at a time. I'd like to get the auger, a trenching bucket and a tilt bucket. The other stuff would probably just lay around, taking up space. Not sure about the quick disconnect. Did you get one of those? If so, how do you like it?

 

[TexTrctr]

BTW, the price I paid was plus tax. I still feel pretty good about it.
Also, that is a great price on the auger! They really are all over the map.

 

[Carl_NH]

I got the 8" Trenching bucket for $179 delivered, and its perfect for picking rocks and narrow trenching as I have 16" on the Kubota. Then the Quick attach works well - it does add about 2" to the length so check your thumb length first. The other option is 1" pins with handles on the ends you can get at TSC - or they sell the 25MM pins with grease zerks too. I have my buckets and stuff on dollys to roll around - have plans to make a covered outdoor rack this summer to store all my attachments for the mini and Kubota.

I have the threaded bolt version QA everyone is selling - , but there is another one with a spring and pin latching setup that would be better IMO.

Another thing is the Hyd Connection - I bought 4 -15MM QD connects for the Tilting Bucket and Auger, Worked great for the tilting bucket (even needed to reduce the flow via the valve to operate more smoothly) . But when I installed the Auger, it would barely turn and would not reverse - the QD restricts the flow too much - so I have gone back to using the direct connect for the attachments.

 

[dfkrug]

Also interesting is the pump manufacturers indicate the 80U on the inlet is all that is necessary. I guess as long as one changes the fluid these will run for 1000 or so hours.

Please cite a source for that.

Makers of hydraulic components (valves, motors, etc) use the ISO Cleanliness Code 4406. A quick check of an Eaton catalog uses a contaminant level limit of 20/18/13. Filtration to achieve that cleanliness is specced by filter suppliers at 10u.

Furthermore, good hydraulic system design calls for fluid filtration to happen primarily in the return line to avoid pump cavitation.

 

[Carl_NH]

Hi DF - here is a link to one article about suction line filtration and not to size below 78U to prevent cavitation. A Checklist for Sizing Hydraulic Filters

It was 6 months ago so this may or may not have been the article. I do agree adding a return line filter to prevent cavitation to filter the finer particles before they re-enter the tank.

 

[dfkrug]

Hi DF - here is a link to one article about suction line filtration and not to size below 78U to prevent cavitation. A Checklist for Sizing Hydraulic Filters

It was 6 months ago so this may or may not have been the article. I do agree adding a return line filter to prevent cavitation to filter the finer particles before they re-enter the tank.

I checked out that link, and it says 149-micron is finest filter on suction side for a high-pressure gear pump, which is what applies here.

They also say, for a high-pressure piston pump, minimum suction filter size is 74u.

My mini came with a large suction in-tank mesh filter, which looked like about 100u or so. That estimate is based on suction filters I have worked with on other machines. I like to have some sort of suction filter, tho some experts say having none is safer.

If you get water in the oil, plugging even a 100u suction filter is likely.

 

[TexTrctr]

Carl,how long did it take to get your unit and how was it delivered?
Any problem unloading?